HEADLINES
Secret Mossad Asset Highlights Israel’s Edge
Khamenei Funeral Plans Amid War Tensions
UAE US Israel Strike Iran Energy Facilities

The time is now 7:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the winners of the 2026 Security Prize, including a system that was key during Operation Roaring Lion against Iran, a classified Mossad asset, breakthroughs in the Ofek satellite array, a new development by Unit 81, and electronic warfare systems that became key to Israel's air superiority. The winning projects are shrouded in secrecy due to their classified nature, but they offer a glimpse of Israel's military edge. “The past year has proven to the entire world the tremendous strength of the State of Israel, of the defense establishment and of the Israeli defense industries,” Katz said of the winning projects. “The capabilities, systems and groundbreaking developments that were expressed in the campaign against our enemies - and hit and destroyed our enemies in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza and other arenas - have given the State of Israel unprecedented operational, intelligence and technological superiority,” he added. The prize will be awarded during an official ceremony at the President's Office with the participation of Katz, President Isaac Herzog, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir, and others.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Iranian authorities are laying the groundwork for a “grand” funeral for slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, official media reported Friday, following a lengthy postponement due to the Islamic Republic’s war with the United States and Israel. A special headquarters has been formed to prepare for the funeral ceremony, and various agencies are planning and making arrangements, state TV reported, citing Mohsen Mahmoudi, head of the Tehran Coordination Council for Islamic Propaganda. Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic for more than three decades, was killed in the first wave of US-Israeli strikes that launched the war on February 28. His son and successor Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded in the attacks and has not been seen in public since assuming office. An event paying tribute to the elder Khamenei was organized in April, but a state funeral could not be held because of the war. State TV, citing Mahmoudi, said, “Different organizations are working to provide the necessary conditions so that, once officially announced, a grand ceremony can be held.”

In US Military Role, The United Arab Emirates conducted dozens of airstrikes against Iran over the course of the war, ending the day after the US-Iran cease-fire was announced in early April, the Wall Street Journal reported. The UAE coordinated with the US and Israel, using intelligence from both, and targeted Iranian energy sites in response to Iranian strikes on UAE oil and gas infrastructure. Iran targeted the UAE with more than 2,800 missiles and drones, more than were fired at any other country, including Israel. In return, the UAE cooperated with the US and Israel to strike targets, including on Qeshm and Abu Musa islands in the Strait of Hormuz, Bandar Abbas, and the oil refinery on Lavan island in the Persian Gulf, according to the WSJ. Another strike was on the Asaluyeh petrochemical complex, carried out with Israel, and drew international condemnation, including US President Donald Trump asking Israel to stop striking energy facilities.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel Police’s Traffic Division issued over 4,000 tickets on Thursday as part of an enforcement campaign aiming to crack down on traffic offenses across Israel. Hundreds of police officers, patrol cars, motorcycles, and volunteers from police departments across the country participated in the operation, which used digital enforcement tools to identify incidents of dangerous driving. Drivers were captured on camera engaging in offenses such as distracted driving, using a cellphone while driving, and speeding, with many of the traffic infractions being repeat offenses. In one incident, a driver was stopped for driving while his driver's license was revoked; the driver was arrested, and his vehicle was impounded. In another case, a driver on Highway 6 was spotted using their cellphone while driving, with a child in the vehicle not properly secured with a seatbelt, posing a safety threat to the child and all other drivers on the road. Meanwhile at the International Writers Festival in Jerusalem, Italian author Erri De Luca said he is prepared to lose everything for his convictions as he spoke about Israel, Hebrew, and Zionism. Due to the uncertain situation with Iran, De Luca participated by video chat from Mishkenot Sha’ananim; he is not Jewish but has translated biblical books into Italian, including Jonah, Ruth, and Ecclesiastes, and is known for God’s Mountain.

In Israeli Economy and Business, at the American Innovation Forum in Jerusalem, hosted by Jerusalem Young Professionals Forum, America Hub Israel, Made in Jerusalem, and Startup Grind, entrepreneurs and executives discussed Jerusalem's growing hi-tech ecosystem. Amid the rapid reshaping of industries and careers by artificial intelligence, forum panelists delivered a message challenging conventional ideas of success: the future belongs to professionals willing to reinvent themselves. The panel featured Microsoft Europe South COO Orit Greenbaum Lipski, former head of R&D at Apple Rawabi and current AI entrepreneur Muawyah Akash, and Tamir Goodman, the former professional basketball player known as the “Jewish Jordan,” who now develops sports technology used by NBA teams through his American-based company, Aviv Sports. The conversation centered not only on investment and infrastructure, but on the mindset required to build a globally competitive innovation hub. “Jerusalem has incredible talent, but talent alone isn’t enough,” Greenbaum Lipski said, calling for real bridges to connect talent with opportunities.

In Uplifting News, What to watch in Israel this week: ‘Etty’ disappoints, ‘Euphoria’ stars move on, TV Time offers streaming picks from drama to documentary. If you were curious about the Israeli series Etty, by Hagai Levi, but did not manage to see it at the movies, it is now running on Hot VOD, Hot Drama, and Next TV, and will be available on Yes Binge starting May 31. It’s a fascinating and frustrating series, based on the diaries of Etty Hillesum, a Dutch-Jewish writer who chronicled her spiritual journey as the Nazis occupied the Netherlands and eventually murdered her and her family in Auschwitz. Those who want a traditional biopic will be disappointed, since this is not so much the story of her life as an attempt to dramatize her diaries and the ideas that fueled her writing. It stars Julia Windischbauer, who brings Hillesum’s contradictions and intensity to life, on screen, alongside a portrayal of Julius Spier, an unconventional psychologist who helped her navigate her path during that period.

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/israel-news/defense-news/article-897768
https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-preparing-grand-funeral-for-slain-leader-ali-khamenei-state-tv-says/
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-897771
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-897770
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-897695
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-897669
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-897693