Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-07 at 15:04

HEADLINES Lebanon aims to disarm south by December Netanyahu eyes Gaza ceasefire phase two Saudi F-35 sale tests Israel edge The time is now 10:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. At 10:00 AM, a fresh look at the Middle East shows security concerns, diplomacy, and political calculation shaping events day by day. In Lebanon, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam says Beirut aims to disarm all armed groups in the south, including Hezbollah, by year’s end and to confine weapons to the state. He outlined plans to disarm the area south of the Litani by December and to move other regions next year, with talks with Israel moving above the traditional military channel. Hezbollah reacted angrily, calling the move a concession, while Israel warned that the group is rebuilding despite the ceasefire. In Gaza, the Israeli military says a fighter who crossed the Yellow Line and approached troops posed an immediate threat, and was killed when soldiers acted to remove the danger. Diplomatically, Prime Minister Netanyahu indicated that the second phase of the US-backed Gaza ceasefire plan could begin soon. The phase envisions disarming Hamas, establishing a transitional authority, and deploying an international stabilization force. Netanyahu spoke after meeting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Jerusalem, saying progress has been made and that the second phase will be more difficult. Merz, visiting Israel, reaffirmed Germany's commitment to Israel's security and to the pursuit of a two-state solution, while acknowledging there are differences to work through in the path to peace. The pair discussed regional diplomacy and security ties as part of a broader effort to stabilize the Gaza front. On the security frontier with Saudi Arabia, the United States announced the sale of up to 48 F-35 fighters. Israel expressed concern the deal could affect its qualitative military edge, though experts say the aircraft would not instantly erase that advantage and that Israel's pilots, weapons, and mission integration remain a decisive factor. The possible sale also signals how normalization dynamics in the region may unfold and how Riyadh balances ties with Washington, Cairo, and other partners in a changing security landscape. Domestically, Iran faced internal scrutiny after thousands of Iranian women ran a hijab-free marathon on a Persian Gulf island. Authorities have arrested the organizers, underscoring a hard line from hardliners and highlighting the ongoing tension inside Iran between social change and regime control. In the United Kingdom, officials acknowledged that a police briefing to members of parliament incorrectly indicated that Birmingham's Jewish community supported banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a local match, prompting a formal apology and renewed questions about how security assessments are presented to lawmakers. Finally, Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated that he will not retire from politics in exchange for a presidential pardon and remains focused on the wider security and diplomatic agenda, including the ongoing Gaza ceasefire arrangement and relationships with allies in Europe and the Gulf. More updates will follow as events develop. Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update. I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed. Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description. SOURCES https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-879503 https://www.jpost.com/science/article-879494 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-879501 https://www.jpost.com/podcast/jpost-headlines/article-879505 https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-879472 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-879497 https://t.me/newssil/182732 https://t.me/abualiexpress/110208 https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skezmg7m11l https://t.me/abualiexpress/110207 https://www.timesofisrael.com/uk-police-wrongly-told-mps-jewish-community-supported-maccabi-tel-aviv-ban-report/ https://www.timesofisrael.com/faulty-intel-on-nonexistent-pregnant-hostage-impossible-to-ignore-says-idf-official/ https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hj1qjzmf11e https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-879491 https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/12/netanyahu-expects-move-gaza-truce-second-phase-soon https://worldisraelnews.com/netanyahu-i-wont-quit-politics-for-presidential-pardon/ https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-879489 https://t.me/newssil/182731 https://t.me/Newss0nline/57403 https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-879487 https://t.me/newssil/182730 https://t.me/newssil/182729 https://t.me/newssil/182728 https://t.me/newssil/182727 https://t.me/newssil/182726 https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/12/07/netanyahu-will-not-retire-from-politics-in-exchange-for-pardon/ https://worldisraelnews.com/netanyahu-rules-out-pal