HEADLINES
Trump Iran clash inevitable before talks
UAE shoots down two Iranian drones
IDF chief pushes draft of Haredim

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 US Military Role, President Trump shared an interview with Fox News’ Mark Levin in which he said there is no avoiding another round of fighting with Iran in order to achieve a stronger position ahead of the negotiations that will follow. The remarks were made in a Fox News interview with Mark Levin.

In Regional Impacts, the United Arab Emirates' air defenses dealt with two drones coming from Iran on Sunday, the Defense Ministry said, the latest in renewed attacks on the oil-rich Gulf country. Iran has denied carrying out operations against the UAE in recent days, yet it warned of a "crushing response" if any actions were launched from the UAE against it. The attacks prompted the UAE to shift to remote learning for schools last week, but authorities said on Sunday that in-person learning would resume from Monday. Qatar's prime minister told Iran's foreign minister that using the Strait of Hormuz as "a pressure tool" would only deepen the crisis in the Gulf, the Qatari foreign ministry said. Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al‑Thani also told Iran's Abbas Araghchi in a phone call that all parties in the conflict should respond to mediation efforts to end the war. Al-Thani is also Qatar's foreign minister. The ministry did not say when the call took place. Protesters in Hasakah and Qamishli objected to the removal of Kurdish from official signs on government buildings, highlighting tension over language as Damascus moves to finalize the integration of the Kurdish-led SDF into new security forces. Damascus has not budged on keeping Kurdish on signs, and state media noted that Syria’s Justice Ministry would pursue those involved in unrest targeting the Justice Palace. In Athens, Greek defense minister Nikos Dendias said that from now on every soldier in the Greek army will know how to operate drones, presenting the vision of Greece’s new army and the approach to address the significant Turkish threat, including how to deal with a country that produces vast quantities of unmanned aerial vehicles.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir pushed the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee (FADC) in a closed session on Sunday to draft large numbers of haredim into the military, as well as to pass other laws to expand the IDF. In late March, a warning Zamir gave at a security cabinet meeting about a manpower shortage and the potential collapse of the IDF was leaked, in which he said, “I am raising 10 red flags before the IDF collapses into itself.” The issue has sparked a public political storm, with FADC Chairman Boaz Bismuth seeking to clarify Zamir’s position and to summon the IDF chief for explanations. Zamir had postponed response during the Iran war but agreed to speak to the FADC by around mid-May.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Berlin’s Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe was found vandalized, with a stele covered in green graffiti containing inflammatory content, according to a Berlin police statement. The graffiti was covered by the site’s security, and a cleaning service was commissioned; state security took over the investigation, and there are no suspects. The Foundation Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe condemned the act and said it was reviewing the incident as antisemitic and seditious damage. Earlier in April, Berlin-Pankow saw antisemitic graffiti on apartment buildings, including threats and a swastika, further underscoring a surge of concern about Jewish safety. In the UK, a YouGov poll found that 63% of Britons say antisemitism is a major or significant problem in British society, the highest of the groups surveyed, with Muslims judged as the next most affected group. The concerns were higher among white British respondents and older age groups. In London, the British Jewish community and allies are scheduled to gather opposite Downing Street on Sunday from 1 p.m. for the Standing Strong rally against antisemitism, with the tagline “Britain stands with British Jews.” Organizers include the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Stand With Us UK, Stop the Hate, Campaign Against Antisemitism, Jewish Leadership Council, Maccabi GB, the Union of Jewish Students, JNF, the National Holocaust Museum, Masorti Judaism, the Office of the Chief Rabbi, and Progressive Judaism, and Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis is among the speakers; entrance will be via the Trafalgar Square end of Whitehall, with security restrictions on bags.

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/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-895689
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-895684
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-895683
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-895675