Day 117 - Knesset to vote on expelling MK who said war was 'genocide'

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.

Today is Day 117 of the war. Political correspondent Sam Sokol and news editor Amy Spiro join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

Members of the Knesset House Committee overwhelmingly supported a motion to expel Hadash-Ta’al party lawmaker Ofer Cassif on Tuesday. Sokol was at the 14-2 vote to advance MK Ofer Cassif’s impeachment to the Knesset plenum after two days of contentious debate and fills us in.

In a recently released report, Tel Aviv University’s Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry argued that the Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry was established for “petty political reasons,” “lacks vision and substance” and has “promoted few initiatives.” So should the ministry be shuttered?

Spiro, head of the Those We Have Lost series that aims to commemorate all who fell in the Israel-Hamas War, updates us on the 400 posts that represent some 485 of 1,200 victims. We hear about several trends noted by Spiro, including the popularity of tattoos among mourners as a way of becoming a living memorial.

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

Discussed articles include:

Live blog January 31, 2024

Panel votes 14-2 to expel MK Cassif for Gaza genocide claims; now Knesset will vote

An MK accused Israel of ‘genocide.’ Now he may be expelled from the Knesset

Damning Tel Aviv University report calls to shutter Diaspora Ministry

Chief Warrant Officer Ido ‘Crido’ Rosenthal, 45: A habitual hero

Cpl. Noam Avramovich, 19: Soldier was a ‘once-in-a-lifetime leader’

Eitan Ziv, 74, Tami Peleg Ziv, 72: Lives entwined with nation’s history

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: MK Ofer Cassif speaks during a press conference, at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on January 30, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.