Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-27 at 04:01

HEADLINES
- Kedumim Expands With 1338 New Homes
- Fourteen Refueling Aircraft Arrive in Israel
- Smotrich Reform Plan Crushed 59 To 25

The time is now 4:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Israel's Defense Ministry approved the construction of 1,338 housing units in the Samaria community of Kedumim, in the Nahalat Esther neighborhood, which will more than double the town's size from about 4,850 residents and is described as part of an effort to boost the Jewish population in the biblical heartland.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, fourteen US air-to-air refueling aircraft arrived overnight in Israel, landing at Ben Gurion Airport as part of American preparations for a possible attack on Iran.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a new Maariv poll shows former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot gaining to 14 seats, while Naftali Bennett's numbers slip, with the blocs remaining at 60 seats for the opposition and 50 for the coalition. The survey projects Likud at 26 seats, Bennett 2026 at 19, Yashar! at 14, Democrats 11, Otzma Yehudit 9, Yisrael Beytenu, Shas, and Yesh Atid each at 8, United Torah Judaism 7, and Hadash-Ta’al and Ra’am at 5 each, with smaller listings for Blue and White, The Reservists, Religious Zionism, and Balad below that threshold. In a separate analysis, an opinion piece argues that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Knesset reform plan was crushed by a 59-25 vote, underscoring his limits within a coalition that includes rival voices and illustrating the challenges of advancing policy reforms. The piece notes the reform aimed to raise the minimum taxed price for foreign-delivered packages from $75 to $150 and highlights pushback from importers and parts of the coalition despite Prime Minister Netanyahu’s backing. Separately, a Hebrew-language report forecasts large protests in the ultra-Orthodox sector over draft-related issues, noting an arrest tied to desertion two weeks before a wedding.

In Uplifting News, snow fell on Mount Hermon this morning.

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://t.me/ILtoday/17080
https://t.me/Newss0nline/58735
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-888200
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-888164
https://t.me/newssil/192730
https://t.me/newssil/192726