HEADLINES
Kuwait Softens Stance on Israel Amid War
Spain Closes Airspace to US Planes
Ali Jaber Indicted for Iranian Intelligence Ties

The time is now 10:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Kuwait appears to be softening its stance on Israel as regional tensions rise, with a Kuwaiti dissident telling The Jerusalem Post that public perceptions are shifting amid the war with Iran and attacks on critical infrastructure, including a desalination plant and a power station, which he says reflect Israel’s actions against Hamas and Hezbollah. Spain’s defense minister said Madrid has closed its airspace to US planes involved in attacks on Iran, a move aiming to keep Spain from participating in the war and requiring military flights to bypass the country, though emergency operations are not covered. Hebrew-language reports describe additional sirens in Haifa and the Krayot, damage around Haifa’s refinery, and a broad wave of strikes across Iran, with claims of a senior figure killed in southern Lebanon and talk of thousands of American forces surrounding Iran as the conflict broadens, including reports of rocket launches from Lebanon.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Saudi Arabia condemned Saturday’s drone strike on the Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani’s home, joining Jordan in denouncing the attack as Iraq has allowed Iranian-backed militias to escalate strikes across the Kurdistan Region, which have totaled more than 500 attacks in the past month. Iran is also expanding its reach in Lebanon, with Hezbollah denouncing expulsions and Amal joining Hezbollah ministers in boycotting a cabinet session over the bid to expel Iran’s ambassador, who says he will not leave Lebanon despite being declared persona non grata as Beirut and Tehran remain aligned. Reports from Lebanon also note rocket launches from the country, underscoring a widening front as the region confronts cross-border hostilities.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Trump reiterated warnings to Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz or face US strikes on oil wells, power plants, and Kharg Island, while saying talks with a "more reasonable regime" are making progress and that a pause on attacks would last until April 6. Separately, senator Marco Rubio said he would not reveal who Washington is talking to in Iran, noting those individuals would be in trouble if disclosed.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, prosecutors in Jerusalem indicted 23-year-old Ali Jaber for knowingly maintaining contact with a foreign agent acting on behalf of Iranian intelligence, alleging he exchanged information that could aid the enemy. The indictment details that Jaber connected with a Telegram user identified as “Joan,” received assignments including photographing a traffic circle near Eilat, and sent a photo and identity details after payments through PayPal.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Toronto police face criticism for not fully enforcing a ban on pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Jewish residential areas, despite announcing the restriction a week earlier. Police were seen escorting protesters through the Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue intersection near Jewish institutions, with chants labeling Zionists as terrorists reported by the Israeli consul, Idit Shamir, and some small groups breaking off onto side streets to target local residents; there were no arrests, and city officials stressed the police are doing their best under difficult circumstances.

In Israeli Economy and Business, ScaleOps, an Israeli AI infrastructure company, announced a $130 million Series C, lifting its valuation above $800 million and bringing total funding to $210 million. The round was led by Insight Partners with participation from Lightspeed Venture Partners, NFX, Glilot Capital Partners, and Picture Capital, as ScaleOps positions itself in autonomous cloud management and real-time infrastructure optimization, with CEO Yodar Shafrir saying the new capital accelerates the shift toward self-managing compute as a core enterprise capability.

In Uplifting News, Staying put: Realizing a modern Exodus amid times of challenge presents a perspective on staying in Israel as an act of faith and belonging. The piece notes that thousands of international students studying in Israel chose to remain despite wartime uncertainty, with Bein Hazemanim holidays and the realities of travel disruptions shaping hard choices for those abroad, underscoring the enduring connection many feel to the land.

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
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https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-891647
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-891645
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