Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-22 at 11:02

HEADLINES
US sticks to zero enrichment in Iran
Iranian universities clash as Basij confront protesters
Israel's youth swing Right poll shows

The time is now 11:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, US negotiators are preparing for another round of talks in Geneva on Friday if they receive a detailed Iranian proposal within 48 hours, with major gaps remaining over enrichment limits and President Trump’s stance on zero enrichment. In the last round, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that Washington maintains zero enrichment, but the US is open to considering an Iranian proposal that includes token enrichment if Tehran can prove it will block every pathway to a weapons capability. Separately, a senior senator indicated that some advisers near the president counsel against taking action in the region, while urging attention to the consequences of preventing confrontation with Iran. Meanwhile, clashes erupted at Iranian universities as Basij forces confronted protesters; at Sharif University there were celebrations for the lion-and-sun flag while pro-government demonstrators burned US and Israeli flags.

In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Israeli authorities extended the morning visiting hours for Jewish worshippers at the Temple Mount by one hour during Ramadan, marking the first such extension during the Islamic holy month.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Israel’s foreign minister Saar offered thanks to the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, for presenting the truth in a dispute framed against statements by media figures. Separately, Huckabee faced criticism after saying in a Friday interview that Israel “would be fine” taking biblical lands across the Middle East; the US Embassy said the remarks were taken out of context and do not reflect US policy, while more than a dozen Arab and Muslim nations condemned the comments as dangerous and inflammatory. Huckabee, a longtime evangelical ally of Israeli settlements, emphasized that Israel seeks only the land it currently occupies.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a new poll indicates a strengthening shift to the right among younger voters: 75% of first-time Israeli voters identify as right-wing, with 59% of new voters overall backing the Right bloc. The study also notes cultural markers, with 43% of new voters saying they kiss mezuzot compared with 33% of veteran voters. In the Bedouin sector of the Negev, police reported about 1,000 illegal firearms seized this year, though authorities estimate roughly 130,000 illegal weapons remain in the region, with some traced to stolen stock from IDF bases. The court case surrounding two Bedouin residents arrested last month saw their detention extended briefly before a house-arrest order was issued. Israel is also confronting a teacher shortage: authorities say 5,000 educators from Sri Lanka and India will staff kindergartens, while data from the Knesset Research and Information Center show one in ten new teachers leaves in the first year and one in five in the first five years, with about 3,000 graduates never entering the system; principals report shortages harming instruction in core subjects. A Hebrew-language report notes a tragic incident in which a Border Police fighter was shot dead by a colleague, with investigations intensifying suspicions of improper weapon handling.

In Uplifting News, thousands of Jewish teens from around the world are set to gather Sunday at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum for the closing ceremony of the CTeen International Summit, the largest global assembly of Jewish youth. The event, called “The Live the Life Event,” is expected to begin at 12:15 p.m. and will bring together about 8,000 attendees, with the ceremony broadcast worldwide to highlight teens who publicly affirm their Jewish identity amid rising antisemitism and social pressures.

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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