Day 92 - Can Blinken douse the flames of war on Israel's north?

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.

US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for an in-depth one-on-one episode.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is now in Turkey as part of his fourth visit to the region in three months. It comes amid worrying developments, including attacks from Lebanon on northern Israel by the Hezbollah terror group, and assaults in the Red Sea and Iraq by Iran-backed groups. Magid explains what Blinken is trying to accomplish this time.

On Wednesday, the Biden administration tore into South Africa for filing an application at the International Court of Justice to begin proceedings to declare that Jerusalem was violating its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention in its war against Hamas following the Gaza-ruling terrorist group’s murderous October 7 onslaught. What are we hearing from US officials about this?

Last week, the US State Department on Tuesday called out far-right Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir for advocating the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza. What else are we hearing out of the US about this so-called “transfer” idea.

War cabinet minister Benny Gantz signed on for and on Friday, because of this and other issues, Gantz warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to choose between unity or playing politics. What was Gantz referring to?

For the latest updates, please look at The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.

Discussed articles include:

Live blog January 6, 2024

Blinken starts Mideast tour in Turkey in bid to prevent escalation into regional war

Blinken heads to Mideast for talks with Israel, Arab allies on war’s ‘next phase’

US lambasts ‘meritless’ South African request for ICJ to charge Israel with genocide

Gantz warns Netanyahu to choose unity or politics after cabinet attacks on IDF chief

US slams ‘irresponsible’ calls by Smotrich and Ben Gvir for emigration of Gazans

THOSE WE HAVE LOST: Civilians and soldiers killed in Hamas's onslaught on Israel

THOSE WE ARE MISSING: The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown

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IMAGE: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives on the island of Crete, Greece, January 6, 2024 during his week-long trip aimed at calming tensions across the Middle East. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool Photo via AP) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.