Day 102 - PM seeks to cut dependence on imported munitions

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 102 of the war. Political correspondent Tal Schneider and health reporter Renee Ghert-Zand join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

An elderly woman was killed and 17 people were injured, including at least seven children and teenagers, in a car-ramming and stabbing attack by two Palestinian terrorists in the central Israel city of Ra’anana early on Monday afternoon. Ghert-Zand updates us on the status of the injured.

Former IDF chief of staff Aviv Kohavi acknowledged Monday at a ceremony at Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl that his actions as the military’s top general will have to be scrutinized as part of investigations into the failures that enabled Hamas’s October 7 bypassing of Israel’s high-tech border barrier and the ensuing mass onslaught. Was Schneider surprised at the timing of the remarks?

Winter has arrived late in Israel this year, along with a correspondingly delayed beginning to the respiratory disease season. What are we seeing in Israel in terms of COVID and flu?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said twice this week that Israel intends to reduce its security dependence on the import of military products. Schneider reports on whether Israel may be able to carry this out.

On October 7, terrorists set fire to the Kibbutz Kfar Aza home of Ariel and Ellay Golan and their 18-month-old daughter Yael, who survived with serious burns. Taken by helicopter to the National Burns Center at Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv, the family was treated with NexoBrid, which was developed by Israeli company MediWound. We hear about this and other med-tech used in the current war.

Finally, as the war changes gears in the Gaza Strip, Schneider compiled a list of what IDF soldiers are reading based on their requests to their parents.

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

Discussed articles include:

Live blog January 16, 2024

Woman killed, 17 wounded in car-ramming, stabbing spree by 2 terrorists in Ra’anana

Ex-IDF chief Kohavi says probe into Oct. 7 failures should scrutinize his decisions

Winter arrived late this year, so Israel only now seeing surge in COVID and flu

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

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on iTunes, Spotify, PlayerFM, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

IMAGE: A US C-17 sits with crates of American munitions for Israel at the Nevatim Air Base, October 13, 2023. (AP Photos/Lolita Baldor) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.