The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

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.

Political and diplomatic correspondent Tal Schneider along with religion and diaspora affairs correspondent Canaan Lidor join host Jacob Magid in today's episode.

Just two days have passed since Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad reached a ceasefire to end the latest Gaza conflict, and the focus of the Israeli news cycle here has shifted almost entirely from security to political. 

Schneider discusses the status of the judicial overhaul negotiations between the coalition and opposition, which hit another roadblock on Monday, as the initiative's architects threatened to rush forward with the initial legislation if the talks fall apart. 

She also reviews the 180 degree shift in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approach to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, whose ouster was unceremoniously announced just seven weeks ago but is now seen standing alongside the premier at just about every opportunity. 

Lidor reflects on the ramifications of last week's deadly shooting attack outside a synagogue on the Tunisian island of Djerba where hundreds of Jews had gathered for a Lag B'Omer pilgrimage. 

Currently on a reporting trip in Portugal,  Lidor shares how the country's Jewish community has grown in recent years while simultaneously grappling with several scandals related to citizenship applications. 

Discussed articles include:

Knesset to elect Judicial Selection Committee MKs but Levin unlikely to convene panel

Rothman: Some overhaul bills will be passed soon if talks with opposition fail

From pariah to bosom buddy in 7 weeks: Netanyahu’s rehabilitation of Yoav Gallant

Two worshipers killed in attack at Tunisia synagogue during pilgrimage

Tunisia terror attack threatens to deal ‘mortal blow’ to rare Jewish pilgrimage

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

IMAGE: Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, left, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a pre-Passover toast, April 4, 2023. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 correspondent Lazar Berman join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in today's episode.

After five days of fighting, the ceasefire ending Operation Shield and Arrow is holding. While the IDF, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant all claim its goals were met within seconds, Horovitz discusses why it was so difficult to lockdown a ceasefire. 

Hamas did not overtly join in on the barrage of rocket fire that rained upon Israel. What can be read into the passive permission Hamas gave to what Horovitz calls its "evil little Iranian-mobilized sister"?

Inconclusive elections were held in Turkey yesterday and a run-off is set for May 28. Berman weighs in on what either winner means for relations with Israel.

Borschel-Dan chimes in with a massive 1,800-year-old cargo of precious marble building materials that was recently discovered off the coast of Israel.  

Discussed articles include:

Rocket launched from Gaza shatters calm, but fragile ceasefire appears to hold

Israel’s Gaza operation met its goals in seconds; trouble is, it went on for 5 days

Hamas, undeterred, sat on the sidelines as Islamic Jihad and Israel slugged it out

Turkey set for historic run-off vote after Erdogan falls short of majority

Swimmer discovers precious marble cargo from 1,800-year-old Mediterranean shipwreck

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

IMAGE: Palestinian Hamas supporters take part in a festival in Nablus to support the Palestinian resistance in Gaza and the West Bank, May 11, 2023. (Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian and news editor Amy Spiro join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in today's episode.

After five days of fighting Operation Shield and Arrow has ended with a ceasefire brokered by Egypt. Fabian briefs us on the events of the past several days, as well as the victims of the rocket attacks on the Israeli side.

We hear about the IDF's goals going into the operation and whether they were met.

What was the role of Hamas in the rocket fire? And why are we seeing increased prominence of Palestinian Islamic Jihad?

Thursday marks the controversial right-wing flag march in Jerusalem’s Old City. Can we assume the ceasefire will hold?

Spiro is here to discuss Israeli singer Noa Kirel's performance in the Eurovision.  

Discussed articles include:

Tense calm between Israel, Islamic Jihad appears to hold, ending 5-day conflict

Gaza rocket killed Palestinian Abdullah Abu Jaba, also seriously injured his brother

Israel reopens Gaza crossings, shut since launch of Operation Shield and Arrow

Sweden wins 2023 Eurovision, while Israel’s Noa Kirel finishes in 3rd place

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

IMAGE: Noa Kirel of Israel during the flag ceremony before during the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool, England, May 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian, diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman and US bureau chief Jacob Magid join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in today's episode.

We are on the third day of Operation Shield and Arrow. Fabian debriefs on the events of the past 24 hours, including a targeted killing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad military commander Ali Ghali.

We hear about the first real-world interception for the David’s Sling air defense system.

Berman discusses the lack of a long-term strategy as Israel appears to face the same scenario in these too-often cycles of rocket attacks and air strikes. 

We hear how the world at large is responding to Operation Shield and Arrow in the diplomatic sphere.

Magid drills down into events that took place at the United Nations yesterday.

How is the Biden administration responding to the fighting -- and what is different this time to previous flareups. 

Discussed articles include:

Live blog May 11

Homes damaged as Gazan rockets bombard south, hampering ceasefire efforts

David’s Sling downs rocket headed for Tel Aviv in first real-world interception

Israeli airstrike in Gaza kills commander of Islamic Jihad’s rocket forces

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

IMAGE: Police and army at the scene where a rocket fired from Gaza into southern Israel, hit and caused damage between houses in the southern city of Ashkelon, May 10, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian, political correspondent Tal Schneider and Knesset reporter Carrie Keller-Lynn join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast.

Fabian discusses tension as Israel awaits response from Hamas terror group following the air force targeted killing of three senior members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group that also killed 10 civilians including four children.

He looks at restrictions placed on Israelis living close to the Gaza border, where schools are closed and residents are being told to stay close to shelters.

Schneider speaks about the current relationship between Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu given the Gaza operation, just weeks after the prime minister had fired the defense minister over his opposition to the judicial reform.

Keller-Lynn speaks about opposition leaders Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid and their unsurprising support of the Gaza operation along with fellow opposition leader Avigdor Lieberman who offered his stance on the stalled talks regarding the government's judicial reform.

Steinberg mentions the advance of Israeli pop singer Noa Kirel to the grand final of the 2023 Eurovision in Liverpool late Tuesday night following her performance during the contest’s first semifinal.

Discussed articles include:

All eyes on Hamas as IDF awaits reprisal for assassination of Islamic Jihad leaders

Thousands of Gaza border residents evacuated by IDF as precaution

Gaza op gets broad political support as some trade barbs over Ben Gvir

‘Legitimizing the illegitimate’: Liberman urges Gantz, Lapid to end overhaul talks

Israel’s Noa Kirel rides ‘Unicorn’ to Eurovision grand final

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

 IMAGE: Israeli soldiers block a road near the border with Gaza, southern Israel, on May 10, 2023 (Photo by Flash90)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian, Zman Yisrael editor Biranit Goren, and news editor Amy Spiro join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in today's episode.

Operation Shield and Arrow was launched with an early morning surprise attack in the Gaza Strip, targeting three high level Islamic Jihad leaders. At least 13 were killed after a coordinated attack throughout the Gaza Strip around 2:30 am Israel time. Fabian debriefs on who were the attack’s targets.

Fabian takes us through the airstrikes, which involved 40 aircraft, including fighter jets, that carried out the main strikes within seconds of each other, at three locations in the Strip. We hear how they are similar to previous IDF strikes.

As Israel awaits reprisal rockets that are expected to come after the three leaders’ funerals, the IDF’s Home Front Command has issued instructions for residents of areas near Gaza. Fabian updates on closures and other instructions, including for the Mount Meron site where thousands are celebrating Lag B'Omer.

Also today, the IDF is continuing to conduct raids in the West Bank and stop alleged terrorist attacks. We learn what happened in Nablus this morning.

Operation Shield and Arrow comes days after Gazan terrorists led by Islamic Jihad fired 104 rockets toward Israel on May 2. The right-wing fringes of the coalition were frustrated by Israel’s perceived lack of response then. Many coalition critics are suggesting that last night’s attack was in part to appease those elements -- or to deflect attention from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial, in which a key witness, Ari Harrow, is set to take the stand. Goren weighs in.

The show must go on: Noa Kirel is set to represent Israel in the first Eurovision semi-final tonight. Spiro explains Kirel's chances -- especially in light of the new system of popular voting to determine who makes it to the grand final on Saturday night in Liverpool.

Discussed articles include:

Live updates Tuesday, May 9

Top Islamic Jihad terrorists killed as IDF bombs Gaza; south girds for rockets

Gaza op gets broad political support as some trade barbs over Ben Gvir

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

IMAGE: A Palestinian man inspects damage to his building following Israeli airstrikes on an apartment of an Islamic Jihad commander in Gaza City, May 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

Senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur and religions reporter Canaan Lidor join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in today's episode.

The razing of Khan Al-Ahmar has become something of a symbolic battle for many since demolition orders were first issued in 2009. Rettig Gur describes the hamlet and delves deep into the many-sided issue, following the High Court of Justice's decision to let the government decide on the timing of its demolition.

Two years ago, the world watched with horror as we heard the news of the loss of 45 lives, many of them children, in a crush in a crowd at Mount Meron during Lag B’Omer celebrations. Lidor spoke with several family members who say that today, they feel even more connected to the place.

Ahead of tonight's celebrations, we hear what new safety measures have been implemented since the disaster two years ago.

Discussed articles include:

High Court rejects petition seeking immediate razing of Khan al-Ahmar

On Meron disaster anniversary, relatives of victims connect to the site ‘even more’

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

IMAGE: View of the illegal Bedouin village Khan al-Ahmar, just off of Road 1 in the West Bank, February 2, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian and environment reporter Sue Surkes join host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's episode.

To start the program, the panel weighs in briefly with thoughts on King Charles III’s coronation yesterday.

Unfortunately, over this weekend, there were numerous reports of violent incidents and murder. Fabian puts the numbers in the context of the past bloody week, as well as the total murdered this year.

On Thursday, two Palestinians accused of killing Lucy Dee and her daughters Maia and Rina in a shooting attack in the Jordan Valley last month were shot dead by Israeli troops in the West Bank city of Nablus along with a third Palestinian gunman. Leo Dee, the husband and father of the victims, said he was grateful the operation was “done in a way that has not endangered the lives of Israeli soldiers, nor innocent Palestinian civilians — in a way that only the Israeli army knows how to do.” Fabian explains how the operation was carried out.

Last week Surkes wrote about two environmental reports that indicate that Israel isn’t living up to its promises. The first reviewed existing data through the end of 2021 and states that Israel isn’t fulfilling its global warming emissions targets. The second report discusses an ombudsman’s findings on pesticide misuse and lack of environmental enforcement. She describes a dire situation.

For years, Surkes has followed the building and promised opening of the Tolerance Museum in Jerusalem. When will it finally be opening its doors?

Israel Aerospace Industries announced Thursday that it has been developing its first large autonomous underwater vehicle. It’s called BlueWhale and it is meant to gather covert intelligence and detect enemy threats. Fabian describes its capability.

Discussed articles include:

The Royal Family’s 800-year relationship with Britain’s Jews, in 7 historical tidbits

Young Arab man shot dead in apparent brawl on northern road; another killed in Acre

‘Scores settled’: IDF kills Palestinians who allegedly shot dead 3 Dee family members

Israel falling far behind its own global warming emissions targets

Number of Israelis harmed by pollution more than doubled in past decade — ombudsman

Climate bill delayed as Energy Ministry argues it should head panel on emission cuts

Tolerance Museum, a ‘people’s parliament,’ will partially open in mid-May

Israel Aerospace Industries unveils BlueWhale unmanned spy submarine

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

IMAGE: In this March 13, 2021 file photo, Jewish and Arab Israelis protest in Tel Aviv against police inaction, the surging crime and violence in Arab communities. (Flash90)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 correspondent Lazar Berman join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in today's episode from our Jerusalem office.

We have a lot to discuss as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition is threatening to break apart and today’s “day of disruption”. Lazar is here with better relations with the EU and what Israel can do to help get Ukrainian children back.

The protest movement against the government’s judicial overhaul is staging another “Day of Disruption,” with acts of civil disobedience and road closures around the country. The Knesset is now in session and the judicial overhaul legislation package is still frozen. Horovitz weighs in on whether it's possible that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu make keep it frozen indefinitely, similar to what happened with the Western Wall compromise.

The stability of the coalition is being threatened by its members. We hear why National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Housing and Construction Minister Yitzhak Golknopf are making waves right now.

Deputy speaker of Kyiv’s parliament Olena Kondratiuk was in Israel on Monday to ask for Israel’s help in the release of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children taken illegally from their homes to Russia. Berman explains what aid she is requesting and what the country can do.

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and the European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell met in Brussels on Tuesday to bury the hatchet after a period of strained relations with the EU. Why now?

Horovitz, just back from London, gives some color ahead of Saturday's coronation of King Charles.

Discussed articles include:

Protesters block Ayalon highway, other roads in ‘day of disruption’ against overhaul

Likud: If Ben Gvir doesn’t like how Netanyahu runs government, he can leave

Government will ‘fall apart’ without law on Haredi military exemption, warns minister

EU’s Borrell wins over foreign minister during long one-on-one chat

Foreign Minister Cohen buries hatchet with EU foreign policy czar Borrell

Help us get our kids back from Russia, urges senior Ukraine lawmaker visiting Israel

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

IMAGE: Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir walks next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other ministers in the plenum hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, on May 1, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

Health reporter Renee Ghert-Zand and religion reporter Canaan Lidor join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast.

Ghert-Zand discusses new research regarding Israel's growing opiod problem, which reached these shores later than in the US and other countries and is now being grappled with by doctors, HMOs and the health ministry.

Lidor speaks about his interview with Jewish Federation chairperson Julie Platt following last week's General Assembly in Israel, with interruptions and cancelations caused by the ongoing protests against the government's planned judicial reform.

Ghert-Zand talks about Sheba Hospital and its collaborative efforts with Dr. Anthony Fauci, in his soon-to-be former role as director of US infectious diseases institute.

Lidor looks at an unexpected glimpse of interfaith communal efforts in Haifa, where a Catholic march celebrating the Virgin Mary brought together Catholics and Moslems and Israeli and Palestinian flags.

Discussed articles include:

Now world’s no. 1 opioid consumer per capita, Israel faces addiction epidemic

JFNA Chairwoman Julie Platt ‘inspired’ by protesters despite Israel confab disruption

Sheba Medical Center presents Dr. Anthony Fauci with award for COVID cooperation

In Haifa, Catholics fly Israeli flags at mass march celebrating Virgin Mary

IMAGE: A teacher leads his students at the Virgin Mary Procession in Haifa, Israel on April 30, 2023. (Canaan Lidor/Times of Israel)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.