Update from Israel

May 14, 2026

Prepared by and sent from Jewish Federations of North America's Israel Office 

• Knesset set to dissolve - Israel appears headed to early elections
• IDF reservist killed in Lebanon
• Netanyahu says NYT article claiming abuse of Hamas prisoners is “one of the most hideous and distorted lies ever published against the State of Israel in the modern press.”

Lebanon

• On Monday, an IDF reservist, Warrant Officer (res.) Alexander Glovanyov, 47, was killed when an explosive drone launched by Hezbollah struck Israeli territory near the northern border. Several additional explosive drones were launched in the same incident;  three soldiers were lightly wounded in separate Hezbollah drone attacks in southern Lebanon that day.  Alexander is survived by his wife and two children, including a newborn baby.
• A growing challenge on the northern front is Hezbollah’s increasing use of first‑person‑view (FPV) explosive drones both inside Israel and in southern Lebanon. These small drones are operated in real time by pilots wearing video goggles, similar to a video‑game interface, allowing precise maneuvering at the final moment before impact. Built with minimal metal components and small electric motors, they have very weak radar and heat signatures, making them extremely difficult to detect with standard air‑defense systems. Many are guided via long fiber‑optic cables that link them directly to the operator, eliminating radio transmissions and rendering electronic jamming ineffective. Because they remain under the operator’s full control, these drones can pursue moving targets, dive into open hatches, and strike soldiers, vehicles, tanks, or surveillance systems with high accuracy. The terrain and short distances in southern Lebanon are particularly well suited to this tactic. The IDF has said it is developing new methods to counter the threat but has not disclosed details.
• On Monday, the IDF reported multiple drone and rocket launches at troops deployed in southern Lebanon, with several drones striking unmanned engineering vehicles and causing damage but no casualties. The IDF said it carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure used for launching attacks near Israeli forces.
• Drone threats also extended into Israeli territory. Earlier today, three Israelis were injured –two severely – when Hezbollah drones attacked several northern communities, including Misgav Am and the Galilee Panhandle.
• The IDF said it struck Hezbollah infrastructure, weapons storage sites, and operational buildings across southern Lebanon, and issued evacuation warnings to multiple villages where Hezbollah activity was identified near Israeli forces. Lebanese officials reported casualties from Israeli strikes in several locations, while Israel said operations were aimed at removing immediate threats to troops operating in the area.
• The drone threat also affected international forces in Lebanon. Yesterday, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said multiple Hezbollah drones exploded in or near its Naqoura headquarters over several days, causing damage to buildings but no injuries. According to UNIFIL’s preliminary findings, the drones were of Iranian manufacture and likely launched by Hezbollah.
• The IDF says there are no new changes to Home Front Command civilian guidelines, despite repeated alerts and interception activity.

Iran

• Earlier this week, Iran submitted its latest response to the US proposal through Pakistani mediators. Tehran’s reply focused on ending the war across the region, especially in Lebanon; lifting sanctions and the US naval blockade; restoring unrestricted Iranian oil exports; and addressing arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also demanded reparations, the release of frozen assets, and what it described as full Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
• The US rejected the response almost immediately. President Donald Trump called Iran’s proposal “totally unacceptable” and said that the ceasefire was “on life support.” He also described the Iranian paper as “garbage,” and added that he was considering renewing the maritime operation in Hormuz. Senior US officials met to discuss whether to resume strikes, and Trump said that if Iran did not accept US terms, the US would “finish the job…. peacefully or otherwise.”
• Iranian officials responded by hardening their public line. Esmaeil Baghaei, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, defended the proposal as “generous.” Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran was ready to respond to any aggression and that the only alternative was accepting the “rights of the Iranian people” laid out in Tehran’s 14-point plan. In a significant threat, an Iranian parliamentary spokesman said one option in the event of another attack could be nuclear enrichment to 90%.
• Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war with Iran was “not over,” and that significant enriched uranium, ballistic missiles, and proxy capabilities still had to be dealt with. He also said neither Israel nor the US had had “perfect foresight” on the Hormuz standoff and said the fall of the Iranian regime was possible but not guaranteed.
• Earlier today, reports claimed that an international vessel off the UAE coast was captured by Iran and was now heading toward Iranian waters.
• Yesterday, Israel revealed that during Operation Roaring Lion (the war with Iran that began February 28), Prime Minister Netanyahu secretly visited the United Arab Emirates, where he met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, “the visit has led to a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the UAE.” The Israeli press reported that Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system has been deployed in the UAE.

Outrage Directed at The New York Times

• Commentators across the Jewish world joined Israeli officials to push back strongly against claims of “widespread sexual violence against Palestinians” in Israeli custody following a New York Times opinion article by Nicholas Kristof alleging systemic abuse in Israeli prisons.
• The Israel Prison Service (IPS) flatly rejected the accusations, saying all detainees are held in accordance with Israeli and international law, with their basic rights safeguarded and under the supervision of the courts, professional staff and multiple oversight bodies.
• According to IPS, prisoners have full access to civilian legal counsel and formal complaint mechanisms, and all allegations of abuse are subject to review and investigation. Officials said they had not received any formal complaints or substantiated allegations of sexual abuse by guards or authority figures. They emphasized that Israel maintains internal mechanisms to investigate misconduct and hold individuals accountable if violations are found.
• The article’s publication drew additional attention because it appeared shortly before the long-planned release of a separate report by the Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes Against Women and Children (see below), which documented what it described as systematic and widespread sexual violence committed by Hamas against Israelis during the October 7, 2023 attacks and during hostage captivity in Gaza. Israeli officials and commentators noted the difference between Israel’s investigative and accountability frameworks (see below) and the absence of accountability mechanisms within Hamas.
• Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called the article, “one of the most hideous and distorted lies ever published against the State of Israel in the modern press,” and have initiated a defamation suit against The New York Times.
• Watch Israel’s Ambassador in Washington’s response here, and read more here.

Elections in Israel

• Israel moved closer to early elections in recent days as both the coalition and opposition advanced legislation to dissolve the Knesset amid a deepening crisis over ultra‑Orthodox military conscription.
• Yesterday, the Haredi United Torah Judaism party announced it would support dissolving Israel’s parliament after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged there was no coalition majority to pass a draft‑exemption law for yeshiva students, a key Haredi demand. In response, the coalition submitted a bill to dissolve the Knesset to control the process and the election timeline, with elections required by law to take place within five months of passage, no later than October 27.
• Opposition parties backed dissolution as well, while preliminary votes were expected to follow in the coming week.
• Elections could take place as early as late summer or early fall, with either September 1 (traditionally the first day of the school year in Israel), or September 15, as likely dates.
• Several coalition members rushed to advance contested legislation ahead of a possible Knesset dissolution, including bills related to judicial authority, before the elections process could freeze parliamentary activity.
• Justice Minister Yariv Levin said he would allow the Supreme Court to “disappear” rather than appoint judges not aligned with his views. His remarks came as the High Court pressed the government over dozens of unfilled judicial vacancies and warned that delays were harming the functioning of courts nationwide. Petitions demanding the convening of the Judicial Selection Committee were heard in early May, with judges citing a growing backlog and rising crime as reasons for urgent action.

October 7 Sexual Violence Report

• A new report released on May 13 by the Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes Against Women and Children concluded that sexual and gender‑based violence by Hamas during the October 7 attacks and in the treatment of Israeli hostages was systematic, widespread, and deliberate. The report found that rape, sexual assault and sexualized torture were used as part of a calculated strategy during the attacks, the abduction and transfer of hostages, and throughout periods of captivity in Gaza, often intended to intensify terror, humiliation, and psychological harm.
• According to the commission, sexual abuse and humiliation persisted for extended periods while hostages were held in Gaza, constituting severe violations of international law. The investigation also documented that some acts of abuse were filmed by Hamas operatives and circulated online, including through victims’ own digital accounts. The commission reported that victims came from 52 nationalities, underscoring the global impact of the attacks.
• The findings were based on a two‑year independent investigation that included the review of more than 10,000 photographs and video segments, over 1,800 hours of visual material, and more than 430 interviews and testimonies with survivors, witnesses, returned hostages, family members, and experts; former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the report documented the profound harm inflicted on individuals, families, and communities.

President's Conference

• Together with Jewish Federations of North America, Combined Jewish Philanthropies - the Boston Jewish Federation, and other partners, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog convened the President’s Conference for a Shared Israeli Future in Jerusalem on May 13, bringing together public figures, civil society leaders and international partners to focus on social repair and rebuilding ahead of Israel’s 80th anniversary. Opening the gathering, Herzog emphasized the need for dialogue and compromise on divisive national issues.
• Speakers included Rebecca Caspi, Senior Vice President, Jewish Federations of North America, who underscored the strategic importance of the partnership between Israel and North American Jewish communities for Israel’s recovery and long‑term resilience. Caspi said, “Since the beginning of the war, we worked to respond immediately to the needs of Israeli society. Today, through Rebuild Israel, we are continuing to connect Israel with Jewish communities in North America and build partnerships to create a better shared future.” Rabbi Marc Baker, President and CEO of CJP,  delivered a  deeply personal and intellectual call for renewed Jewish peoplehood at the closing plenary; he argued that October 7 awakened not only vulnerability, but a shared responsibility to choose unity, dialogue, and a common future between Israel and global Jewry.
• Herzog also addressed rising antisemitism faced by Jewish communities worldwide, stressing that Jews outside Israel were looking to Israel as a source of stability, responsibility, and moral support. He warned against escalating rhetoric as the country moved closer to elections, calling instead for lowering tensions and expanding internal dialogue through initiatives such as his “Time to Talk” framework, which aims to acknowledge differing experiences and social change within Israeli society.
• In a conversation with First Lady Michal Herzog, actress Gal Gadot described the growing personal and public challenges of being Israeli abroad, citing fear, anger and frustration amid social‑media polarization, and said broader exposure to dialogue initiatives like the conference could help convey a fuller picture of Israeli society to the world. See more here.

Eurovision 2026 and Other Developments

• Israel advanced to the finals of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest amidst heightened security in Vienna this week, as its participation again drew international attention.
• Israeli singer Noam Bettan performed the country’s entry, “Michelle,” in the first semifinal on May 12, with some anti‑Israel chanting audible during the live broadcast. Austrian authorities said they did not deploy “anti‑booing technology,” while police prepared for demonstrations and attempts at disruption around the contest venues.
• Five countries boycotted this year’s competition in protest over Israel’s participation: Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland. Their public broadcasters said they would neither participate in, nor broadcast, the competition, reducing the field to 35 participating countries. The Eurovision contest is one of the world’s largest live entertainment events, with recent editions reaching some 170 million television viewers across dozens of countries, as well as hundreds of millions more through digital and social‑media platforms.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testified in court again this week, with hearings shortened due to security developments and government scheduling. Prosecutors continued cross‑examination in Case 4000, which centers on alleged regulatory favoritism toward the Bezeq telecommunications group in exchange for favorable media coverage. Netanyahu again denied the allegations, maintaining that the charges against him were politically motivated.
• An Israel Democracy Institute poll of Israelis released last week showed the following results:
  • 39% of respondents said they were optimistic about Israel’s future national security, down from 47% the previous month.
  • Optimism regarding social cohesion fell to 22.5%, compared to 30% the month before.
  • By political affiliation, optimism about the future of democratic rule stood at 60% among right‑wing Jews, 33% among centrists, and 16% among left‑wing Jews. Similarly, optimism about future national security was 58% on the right, 27% in the center, and 15% on the left.
  • 64% of Jewish Israelis and 48.5% of Arab Israelis believed that ending the war with Iran under current conditions was not compatible with Israel’s security interests.
  • 51% of Israelis said the US administration currently has greater influence over Israel’s defense decisions than the Israeli government.

Jewish Federations and Partners

The Jewish Agency for Israel

The Jewish Federations-supported Jewish Agency reports:

The Bnei Menashe community resides primarily in the remote northeastern Indian states of Manipur and Mizoram, along the border with Myanmar, and is part of the Kuki-Chin and Mizo ethnic groups. Claiming descent from one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, they have maintained a profound connection to Jewish tradition for over 2,000 years, preserving their history, heritage, and faith across generations despite geographic isolation. While approximately 4,500 Bnei Menashe have moved to Israel over the past 30 years, nearly 6,000 remain in India — many with family members eager to reunite with them in Israel.

Over the past two weeks, The Jewish Agency organized three flights bringing the first 600 members of the Bnei Menashe community to Israel, a moment they have been longing for. All 600 have family members already living in Israel whom they have not seen for years, making their arrival a deeply emotional reunion. The scenes of joy at the airport were unmistakable; even after the long journey, the excitement and emotion on the faces of the new arrivals were evident, as they set foot on Israeli soil and embraced family members for the first time in years.

This first cohort is now living at The Jewish Agency's absorption center in Nof HaGalil, where over the next six months, they will receive intensive, holistic absorption services designed to stabilize daily life as quickly as possible, particularly for children and families. Adults will participate in Hebrew language and Judaism studies, while children will be rapidly placed in schools and daycare. Alongside the intensive study schedule, olim will take part in a comprehensive program of workshops, seminars, and enrichment activities, including tours, cultural programming, welfare and resilience support, and health education. They will also receive a monthly living stipend to cover food and essential personal needs before transitioning to independent community living.

For more information, please contact: Jewish Federations of North America’s Dani Wassner [email protected]. Subscribe to this weekly update here.