Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-24 at 14:03

HEADLINES
Iran nuclear deal within reach in Geneva
Caine leads Iran policy debate
Iraq sanctions loom over Maliki bid

The time is now 2:02 PM 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, Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said a nuclear agreement with the United States is within reach if diplomacy is prioritized, as Geneva talks resume on Thursday. He described a historic opportunity to strike an unprecedented deal that addresses mutual concerns and achieves mutual interests, while stressing that redlines will be based on Iran's fundamental convictions. He insisted Iran will not develop a nuclear weapon and will pursue the dividends of peaceful nuclear technology for its people. The talks in Geneva are expected to be built on the terms agreed in the previous round and aim for a fair and equitable deal in the shortest possible time. Separately, US military policy leadership remains deeply engaged on Iran policy. US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine has emerged as the most influential adviser to President Trump on Iran since June 2025, with other top officials also involved as the debate centers on possible military scenarios and the costs of action. Reports cite Caine's central role since the 2025 conflict and note that his views command attention amid questions about the scale of any countermeasures. On Iraq, the United States has set a Friday deadline for Baghdad to form a government free of Iranian influence or face sanctions, centering on the nomination of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who is believed to have close ties with Iran. US officials warned that failure to meet the deadline could trigger punitive measures, with sanctions potentially levied on individuals and institutions if Maliki's nomination proceeds. US envoy Tom Barrack publicly described a recent meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani as fruitful.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, former prime minister Naftali Bennett criticized coalition lawmakers and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud Party on Tuesday for not stepping up against the government’s draft bill to conscript haredim into the army. He argued that reservists are being abandoned because there is no lobby in Likud, and warned that the coalition members would bear a mark of disgrace for abandoning IDF soldiers. He added that when something matters to Likud, they break sacred coalition discipline, and suggested that if they truly cared about soldiers they would have enlisted healthy ultra-Orthodox youths to replace the reservists. The government argues the law is needed to bring haredim into service, while critics say the move is a political gesture. At a Knesset committee hearing, survivors of sexual assault described police and court negligence in cases seeking justice. One survivor, identified as S, said she filed a report at 17 against her father, who raped her, but the case was closed for lack of evidence. The abuse continued for 13 more years, and she said her mother also raped her during that time. She described becoming pregnant by her father at age 30 and losing the child within a year, and she said she sought justice again in 2016, only to be told to drop the complaint. Years of efforts to have the case heard were described as stymied by repeated refusals. President Isaac Herzog spoke at the annual Iftar dinner, calling for a national emergency to confront violence in the Arab sector. He joined Arab leaders and other speakers, including Ihab Abu Ghosh, director of the Sharia Courts, and Rahma Mahamid, a researcher focusing on violence in aging Arab families, in urging decisive action. Abu Ghosh cited religious texts to stress the sanctity of life and lamented the rise in fatalities since the start of the year, saying the spike harms ordinary Arab citizens’ sense of security and calling for urgent measures to curb the violence.

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/middle-east/iran-news/article-887821
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-887820
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-887813
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-887822
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-887804
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-887810