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HEADLINES US Eyes Diplomacy with Iran Amid Tensions Knesset No-Confidence Motions Press Ahead Beersheba Aims for Hub as Nvidia Expands The time is now 2:01 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, the United States appears to be edging back toward dialogue with Tehran as tensions rise and Iran is described as being at a weak point. The report recalls that in 2019 President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the nuclear deal, reimposed sweeping sanctions, and in the weeks prior to that had seen Iran shoot down a US drone and strike oil tankers in the Gulf, moves that prompted a US military buildup and consideration of retaliatory strikes that were ultimately halted at the last moment. Today, with signs that Washington and Tehran may sit down in Oman, observers are weighing whether military pressure or diplomacy will more effectively alter Iranian policy. The question echoes Trump’s remark that Iranians “never won a war” but “never lost a negotiation,” a reminder of a past cycle as current tensions reemerge. Debates have also resurfaced over what sparked the confrontation, with some arguing the focus was Iran’s crackdown on protesters rather than its centrifuge program. In Israeli Domestic Politics, the scene inside the Knesset is shaped by high-stakes partisan maneuvering and conflicting interpretations of accountability. A response from Minister Dudi Amsalem to three no-confidence motions, delivered under tight time constraints, highlighted the government’s effort to frame the discussion around its liaison role between the government and parliament. The session, held on the anniversary of the Rabin memorial, saw the opposition pressing forward with the motions to gain media exposure, while the speaker limited the minister’s remarks to about 24 and a half minutes out of a 30-minute allotment. Amsalem defended his duty to respond to the motions as the government’s link to the Knesset and concluded his remarks ahead of the allotted time. Separately, a column on the reforms path to what is described as a political trap argues that with a weakened finance minister and a rigorously cautious legal apparatus, the prospect of lowering living costs remains remote, suggesting reforms have bent to political calculations rather than delivering material relief. A third piece on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s appearance before a covert subcommittee of the Foreign and Defense Committee portrayed mixed reactions from lawmakers: some praised his steadiness and focus, while others were unsettled by his tendency to attribute responsibility away from the leadership and security establishments, with one commentator even noting a perception that he performs best when presenting a narrative that some view as deceptive. In Israeli Economy and Business, Beersheba is urged to rise as a true regional hub rather than be treated as a peripheral beneficiary of others’ growth. The analysis argues that a policy of building satellite towns around Beersheba weakens the city by dispersing talent and economic activity rather than concentrating it. It contends that Beersheba should attract and retain middle-class and upper-middle-class residents for durable, high-quality urban life—quality housing, cultural amenities, restaurants, and opportunities in education, medicine, science, and technology. The piece notes that Nvidia’s expansion of activity in Beersheba, potentially tripling its footprint, signals the city’s growing importance and argues that Beersheba cannot be treated as a fallback. The author invokes a historical verse to underscore the ideal of a prosperous, integrated southern metropolis, framing Beersheba’s future growth as essential to the broader competitiveness and resilience of the region. 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-885784 https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1281719 https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1281718 https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1281717 https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1281725