Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-12 at 01:02

HEADLINES
Melbourne protests swirl around Herzog Australia visit
France calls for UN rapporteur Albanese resignation
Israel faces looming burial space crunch

The time is now 1:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, pro-Palestine protesters are set to rally in Melbourne on Thursday on the final day of President Isaac Herzog's trip to Australia, following demonstrations in Canberra and violent clashes between protesters and police in Sydney during his visit. Herzog is in Australia at the invitation of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the wake of the December 14 Hanukkah shooting at Bondi Beach that killed 15 people. Protesters describe their demonstration as a call for solidarity with Palestinians, citing a United Nations Commission of Inquiry from last year that alleged genocide in Gaza and accusations that top Israeli officials, including Netanyahu and Herzog, incited those acts, a claim Israel has called scandalous. Jasmine Duff, co-convener of Students for Palestine, told reporters that the message to Australians is simple: the time to march is now, for those killed and for those still suffering. Graffiti appeared in Melbourne as activists prepared to protest outside a major railway station.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, editors and advocates also weighed in on UN actions linked to Israel and Jewish communities. France’s foreign minister has called for the resignation of UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese after remarks at the Al Jazeera Forum in Qatar, with lawmakers accusing the remarks of targeting Israel “as a people and as a nation.” France’s position is part of a broader pattern including references some describe as a “Jewish lobby” and comparisons to the Third Reich; over 20 French parliament members reportedly urged Albanese to be stripped of all UN mandates. The editorial urging removal argues that a UN special rapporteur is an independent expert who must uphold integrity and impartiality, and that removing Albanese would reinforce standards for Jews and Israel in international discussions.

Roi Kays reports that two Jewish detainees in Tehran and Shiraz, arrested over involvement in protests against the Iranian regime, were released after efforts by Jewish community leaders in Iran. One Jewish person remains in custody, and significant efforts are underway to secure their release. In total, three Jews were arrested in the recent wave of arrests carried out by Iranian authorities. In the past 24 hours, the Iranian Jewish community and some of its leaders participated in anniversary events marking the Islamic Revolution.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel may be approaching a burial-crisis point, with a new study warning that burial grounds will be in short supply longer than anticipated. Prof. Alex Weinreb, chair of the Demography Area and Research Director at the Taub Center, says population growth and policy push us toward a larger need for burial space than the state comptroller predicted in 2024. The population has grown about 1.9% to 2% annually for decades and is expected to keep rising. About 311,000 women were ages 28 to 32 in 2023, a prime childbearing cohort, and that group is projected to rise by roughly 23% by 2036. Even if fertility declines from an average of 2.9 children per woman to below 2.3, about 195,000 babies are expected to be born in 2036. With an average of 7,700 new migrants arriving each year, not counting their future children, the number of deaths is also projected to rise, likely beyond current levels. While public health gains reduced mortality in the past, deaths are still increasing at about 1.5% to 2% per year, underscoring the pressure on burial capacity.

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/diaspora/antisemitism/article-886413
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-886389
https://t.me/newssil/191098
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-886381