Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Legal correspondent Jeremy Sharon and environmental reporter Sue Surkes join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

Following Israel's procedural victory at the International Criminal Court, in which the Jewish state argued it could challenge the court's jurisdiction to try Israeli citizens for war crimes, Sharon examines the basis for the jurisdiction reasoning and what it could mean going forward regarding the arrest warrants issued last year for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.

Sharon also discusses the potential for a constitutional crisis following the allegations made in writing to the High Court by Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar against Netanyahu. Now that Bar has backed up his initial claims with documentation and evidence in his affidavit to the High Court, Sharon says it will be far harder for the court to avoid ruling on the substantive issues of the case, potentially bringing the government and judiciary into direct conflict.

A highly unusual shark attack in which an Israeli man was mauled to death brought visitors to the beach where it happened, reports Surkes, despite police attempts to keep people away. Surkes discusses the environmental changes that have affected shark behavior along the Israeli coast.

Surkes also discusses her visit to the southern city of Ofakim and the neighborhood that was most heavily attacked on October 7, 2023, and how the small city has reacted, with community efforts to draw together in healing and unity.

This conversation can also be viewed here:

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing live blog for more updates.

For further reading:

ICC Appeals Chamber rules lower court must hear Israel’s challenge to jurisdiction

Bar’s allegations against Netanyahu have raised the risk of a constitutional crisis

Diver missing, feared dead, after rare shark attack off the coast of Hadera

Seasonal fish mortality draws sharks to central beach, alarming bathers

A scarred Ofakim neighborhood grows into a community after October 7

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and video edited by Thomas Girsch.

IMAGE: 

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Legal correspondent Jeremy Sharon and environmental reporter Sue Surkes join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

Following Israel's procedural victory at the International Criminal Court, in which the Jewish state argued it could challenge the court's jurisdiction to try Israeli citizens for war crimes, Sharon examines the basis for the jurisdiction reasoning and what it could mean going forward regarding the arrest warrants issued last year for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.

Sharon also discusses the potential for a constitutional crisis following the allegations made in writing to the High Court by Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar against Netanyahu. Now that Bar has backed up his initial claims with documentation and evidence in his affidavit to the High Court, Sharon says it will be far harder for the court to avoid ruling on the substantive issues of the case, potentially bringing the government and judiciary into direct conflict.

A highly unusual shark attack in which an Israeli man was mauled to death brought visitors to the beach where it happened, reports Surkes, despite police attempts to keep people away. Surkes discusses the environmental changes that have affected shark behavior along the Israeli coast.

Surkes also discusses her visit to the southern city of Ofakim and the neighborhood that was most heavily attacked on October 7, 2023, and how the small city has reacted, with community efforts to draw together in healing and unity.

This conversation can also be viewed here:

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing live blog for more updates.

For further reading:

ICC Appeals Chamber rules lower court must hear Israel’s challenge to jurisdiction

Bar’s allegations against Netanyahu have raised the risk of a constitutional crisis

Diver missing, feared dead, after rare shark attack off the coast of Hadera

Seasonal fish mortality draws sharks to central beach, alarming bathers

A scarred Ofakim neighborhood grows into a community after October 7

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and video edited by Thomas Girsch.

IMAGE: Israelis on the beach in Hadera on April 26, 2025, where a man was attacked and killed by a shark during Passover (Photo by Yossi Zamir/Flash90)

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