How breaking bread with Abraham Accord partners fell flat

Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

Editor David Horovitz and diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in our Jerusalem office.

Government ministers voted to pass the formation of a national guard under National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir yesterday prior to the Knesset's Passover recess. How it will be funded was a sticking point during the voting yesterday. Horovitz weighs in.

The judicial overhaul compromise talks resumed today at President Isaac Herzog’s residence, even as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended his greater intervention in the overhaul process. Horovitz explains some of the reasons Netanyahu's lawyers give for ostensibly breaking his corruption trials’ conflict of interest agreement with the Attorney General.

Israel hosted an iftar “break fast” meal last night for diplomats from Muslim countries serving in Israel and local Muslim leaders, but there were a number of notable absences. Who didn’t show and what does this say about the strength of the Abraham Accords?

Jordan’s King Abdullah II stated yesterday, “It is the duty of every Muslim to deter Israeli escalations against… holy sites in Jerusalem.” Berman explains the context to this statement.

Ukrainian Jewish communities are preparing for Passover under drone fire again this year. The Dnipro Tiferet Matzot Bakery, the main matza factory for Ukraine, was set ablaze last week. Hear why the matza is so emblematic of freedom of worship in this former Soviet country and why Passover observance is on the rise.

Discussed articles include:

Ministers approve Ben Gvir-led national guard, major budget cuts to fund it

Herzog’s office says overhaul compromise talks to resume on Monday

UAE, Bahrain ambassadors skip Foreign Ministry iftar meal for Muslim diplomats

Jordan king says Muslims have ‘duty to deter Israeli escalation’ in Jerusalem

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Illustrative image: Palestinians read the Quran during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, at the Great Al-Awda Mosque in the city of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on April 1, 2023. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.