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.

Today’s panel comprises Palestinian affairs correspondent Aaron Boxerman and senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Late Tuesday night, head of the Hamas Ismail Haniyeh declared a victory in the battle for Jerusalem, saying that Jerusalem is the axis of the conflict. But is this current flare-up, which has seen over 1,000 rockets and mortars shot from the Gaza Strip, really about the holy city?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared a state of emergency in the Jewish-Arab city of Lod following violence and rioting, including arson that destroyed a synagogue. Mayor Yair Revivo has compared the recent events to the 1938 Kristallnacht, saying this is an intifada of Arab-Israelis.

The much-awaited Pew Report on American Jewry came out amid the ongoing conflict. We start analyzing the 250-page survey and give a few highlights.

For more on the ongoing conflict please join the Times of Israel Community for a special live session tonight: Israel under fire: Join ToI Community for live Q&A with our senior editors.

Discussed articles include:

Hamas hails ‘victory in battle for Jerusalem’ after onslaught on central Israel

In Jerusalem crisis, Hamas sees opportunity to retake center stage

Overnight barrages kill father and daughter in Lod, woman in Rishon Lezion

‘Kristallnacht in Lod’: State of emergency as Arab mobs set synagogues on fire

10 key takeaways from the new Pew survey of American Jews

There are more American Jews – and they’re staying Jewish

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PHOTO: A car set on fire by Arab Israeli residents during riots and clashes with Jewish residents in the central Israeli town of Lod, on December 11, 2021. (Yossi Aloni/FLASH90)

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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.

Today’s panel comprises military correspondent Judah Ari Gross and US correspondent Jacob Magid, along with host Raoul Wootliff.

Amid rocket fire from Gaza toward Israeli cities, today's show looks at the escalation in the south and other incidents across Israel currently shaking the country.

Hundreds of rockets have been fired Hamas, eliciting an Israeli response that has seen multiple terror targets hit by airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. What is the state of play at the moment? Where are things headed?

And with the renewed violence also eliciting multiple international reactions, we assess the US response and its efforts to tone down a UN Security Council statement condemning both sides for the situation.

Discussed articles include:

Gaza terrorists hundreds of rockets at Israel; IDF pummels Hamas, Islamic Jihad

Gaza terrorists fire barrages at Jerusalem, southern Israel, raising fear of war

Netanyahu vows Hamas will pay ‘heavy price’ for firing rockets at Jerusalem

IDF sends reinforcements to Gaza border as Hamas issues ultimatum on Jerusalem

UN Security Council statement on Jerusalem held up by US

Israel pushes back against US ‘concern’ over Jerusalem violence

International condemnation of Israel grows over Jerusalem violence, evictions

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PHOTO: Rockets fired toward Israel from Gaza are intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome on May 10, 2021. (MAHMUD HAMS / AFP)

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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.

Today’s panel comprises senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur and health and science reporter Nathan Jeffay, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

A seething capital is marking Jerusalem Day, the day which “unified” east and west Jerusalem during the 1967 Six Day War. Due to the continuing clashes and rioting on al-Aqsa/Temple Mount, no Jews are permitted to visit the site today. Thousands of police are in the Old City and three extra battalions were deployed to the West Bank on this increasingly hot-button day.

Israeli doctors are on strike today over the potential firing of some 600 MDs who were employed during the coronavirus pandemic. Jeffay explains why the union heads believe this would be a tragic mistake.

What is happening with the next unity government? Rettig Gur shares why time is of the essence and why an agreement could be signed immediately — or pushed off to next week, or never.

Jeffay ends our program with a new brilliant, itsy bitsy molecular tweezer which may soon allow doctors to beat bacteria, without antibiotics.

Discussed articles include:

Major clashes at Temple Mount as police close site to Jews on Jerusalem Day

IDF sends 3 more battalions to West Bank in bid to curb violence

3 rockets fired from Gaza in early morning attack, at least 1 intercepted

Doctors strike Monday, say government neglecting health now that COVID is beaten

Active COVID cases in Israel fall below 1,000 for 1st time since March 2020

Lapid, Bennett know they must form a government quickly – or not at all

2 Haredi MKs call on Netanyahu to step aside to avert Bennett-Lapid government

Israeli scientists develop tiny swallowable ‘tweezers’ for use against bacteria

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PHOTO: Palestinians clash with Israeli security forces at al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, May 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

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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.

Today’s panel comprises editor David Horovitz and Palestinian affairs reporter Aaron Boxerman, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Jerusalem has so far experienced two consecutive nights of rioting on the al-Aqsa/Temple Mount compound. Boxerman rewinds time to fill in gaps and contextualize the strife in the holy site. As protests and rage spread, are we headed for another intifada? 

Israel's new Gulf State partners have condemned the Israeli police's measures in attempting to quell the unrest. Why is this significant?

In the political arena, efforts are full steam ahead to forge a unity government led by Yamina head Naftali Bennett and Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid. But it's not without its hiccups. 

Discussed articles include:

Jerusalem’s on fire, and it’s poised to spread in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank

90 Palestinians hurt in Jerusalem clashes; IDF strikes Gaza after rocket fired

Israel fears further escalation within days; Fatah warns of ‘all-out conflict’

UAE, Bahrain pan Israel’s ‘storming’ of Al-Aqsa, amid international condemnation

Lapid, Bennett know they must form a government quickly – or not at all

‘Change bloc’ seeking to swear in new government as early as Tuesday

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IMAGE: People hold Hamas flags as Palestinians gather at the Dome of the Rock after praying on the last Friday of Ramadan, to protest over the possible eviction of several Palestinian families from homes on land claimed by Jews in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, May 7, 2021. (Jamal Awad/Flash90)

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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.

Today’s panel comprises political reporter Tal Schneider and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

On Wednesday, President Reuven Rivlin tapped Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid to attempt to forge a new coalition. Can the former opposition leader herd the disparate parties together to get the numbers needed for a unity government?

Israel is on the line to purchase some 10 million superfluous vaccine doses from the Swiss-British company AstraZeneca. Berman explains the options the country has in getting rid of them — none of them good.

For the past several years, the United States has been mediating between Israel and Lebanon over the two Mediterranean countries’ maritime border. Find out why this is significant.

And finally, Rhode Island-native Berman gives an ode to his home state to honor its independence day.

Discussed articles include:

President tasks Lapid with forming coalition; Bennett would likely head it first

Bennett battles to keep his own party on board as he pushes for unity government

Israel may toss millions of vaccines. Why won’t it give them to the PA instead?

Israel and Lebanon wrap up six-hour-long maritime border talks

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PHOTO: Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid arrives at the president's residence in Jerusalem, May 05, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/FLASH90)

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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.

Today’s panel comprises editor David Horovitz and culture editor Jessica Steinberg, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Failing to form a coalition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned the mandate to President Reuven Rivlin last night. Today Rivlin is meeting with the head of the outgoing Knesset's opposition, Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid, and head of Yamin Naftali Bennett. Who will get the nod, and why?

The Jewish world continues to mourn the 45 victims of the massive crush at Mount Meron's Lag B'Omer celebrations on Friday. We highlight the entwined stories of the Hayut and Levy families, who each lost a son, and the moving shiva visit of Beduin police officer Rami Alwan, who rescued the Hayut family's younger son Shmuel. What do we know today about warnings ahead of the Meron disaster?

Tourism to Israel is set to reopen from May 23 for groups. What is in the forecast for individual tourists? Who is in, and who is out?

Coronavirus restrictions on culture and sporting events are being lifted and any with the "Green Pass" immunization record may attend. Steinberg explains what else is in store, and how Jerusalem Day has morphed into a weeklong celebration starting May 6.

Discussed articles include:

Rivlin starts talks on new mandate to form a government, expected to tap Lapid

Netanyahu blames Bennett, but it’s his own far-right protégés who doomed him

Man to Bedouin cop who rescued son at Meron: You saved my child, saved the world

TV: Police document warned of need to ‘widen exit’ where Meron disaster unfolded

Israel to lift all crowd limits at ‘Green Pass’ sports, cultural events

Back onstage, dance troupes work out the anxieties of the last year

Capital readies for solid week of Jerusalem Day festivities

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ILLUSTRATIVE IMAGE: Members of the Ra'am meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on April 5, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

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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.

Today’s panel comprises senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur and ops and blogs editor Miriam Hershlag, along with host Raoul Wootliff.

On today's show, we open with a look at the state of play in Israeli politics on the final day of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's opportunity to form a coalition, with his deadline to do so being midnight tonight.

What's his game plan right now? What last-minute maneuvers is he pulling from his bag of magic tricks? And what's next?

And, four days from the tragedy on Mount Meron that left 45 people dead after a deadly crush during lag B'Omer celebrations last week, we look at two voices from our blog platform trying to process the disaster.

Discussed articles include:

Last-minute maneuvers as Netanyahu’s mandate to form government set to expire

Netanyahu: I’ll let Bennett be PM first; Bennett: But you don’t have a majority

Netanyahu said to back Bennett forming coalition in return for legal protections

Rivlin said set to ask Lapid to form coalition, won’t give mandate to Bennett

Eyewitness: All I could see were faces of agony

Praying together in the depths

Mount Meron Disaster

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PHOTO: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a Likud Party election event in the northern Israeli city of Tzfat, March 8, 2021. (David Cohen/Flash90)

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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.

Today’s panel comprises health reporter Nathan Jeffay and Palestinian Affairs correspondent Aaron Boxerman, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Since Friday’s early morning disaster which left 45 dead and over 100 wounded, Jeffay has visited the site of Mount Meron, hospitals in the area and the United Hatzalah offices there. He recently spoke with Avi Marcus, Hatzalah’s chief paramedic, and describes the ripples of trauma felt by the first responders.

Jeffay has a long personal history with the holy site, which is the second most-visited Jewish holy site in the country. He describes its significance.

Condolences were sent to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin by leaders of nations around the world, including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who wrote Rivlin a letter. Why a letter? Perhaps because a day prior, the PA leader effectively canceled the first Palestinian Authority elections in 15 years — by staunchly blaming Israel.

Ramadan is in full swing and the coronavirus pandemic is on the rise in the PA and the Gaza Strip. Jeffay explains why this and the recent mass outbreak in India are causes for concern.

Discussed articles include:

‘Broken’: Meron tragedy reduced Israel’s toughest rescuers to tears, trauma

Palestinian leader Abbas, Jordan’s king, Gulf allies send condolences over Meron

Abbas delays first Palestinian elections in 15 years, blaming Israel

Hamas slams Abbas’s decision to delay Palestinian vote as a ‘coup’

The only real herd immunity is global: Why India’s COVID crisis threatens us all

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PHOTO: Israeli rescue forces and police at the scene after a mass fatality scene during the celebrations of the Jewish holiday of Lag Baomer on Mt. Meron, in northern Israel on April 30, 2021. (David Cohen/Flash90)

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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.

Today’s panel comprises editor David Horovitz and senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

On today's show, we focus solely on the disaster that took place on Mount Meron in the early hours of Friday morning, in which 45 people were crushed to death, including over a dozen children and teenagers.

What is the significance of the site, Israel's second most popular pilgrimage destination, and the Lag B'Omer festival during which the disaster took place? And how have police allowed the annual celebration, Israel's largest, to take place without adequate oversight?

Representing the country's deadliest-ever civilian disaster, the fatal tragedy appears to be forcing a reckoning within the ultra-Orthodox community over the benefits of the relative autonomy the community holds over various issues. Could the disaster represent a turning point?

And what of the state authorities, beyond the police, who were meant to be in charge of the event but appeared to have passed off responsibility for it to each other? Where does the buck lie?

Discussed articles include:

‘Death trap’: Packed walkway, slippery metal floor – how Meron tragedy unfolded

Victims of Meron tragedy include 2 sets of brothers, father of 11, 6 US citizens

Israel enters day of mourning for 45 victims of Meron stampede

Mount Meron, the disaster everyone knew was waiting to happen

Meron disaster site revealed as a place where nobody was ever really in charge

After tragedy, reports emerge that politicians pressed not to limit Meron event

State comptroller warned for years of overcrowding danger at Meron site

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PHOTO: A man weeps at the funeral of Rabbi Eliezer Goldberg, who died during Lag B’Omer celebrations at Mt. Meron in northern Israel, in Jerusalem on Friday, April 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

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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.

Today’s panel comprises editor David Horovitz and environmental reporter Sue Surkes, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Horovitz provides perspective on the fallout generated by the Knesset cabinet committee chaos that broke out on Tuesday night over a vote over the next Justice Minister. Has this spurred unlikely forces towards teaming up as the clock winds down on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's chance to forge a coalition?

The Jewish-founded, New York-based Human Rights Watch has come out with a new 213-page report condemning Israel as an "apartheid state" and stating that Israeli Arabs face widespread discrimination. What are some reactions?

Tonight the Jewish world marks Lag B'Omer. Have coronavirus restrictions gone up in smoke? Also, what is the environmental impact of this festival of pyromania?

Surkes discusses two man-made environmental issues facing Israel and the need for "eco-corridors" to protect biodiversity.

And, finally: Whale speech may soon be deciphered, thanks to Project CETI, some robot fish recorders, and a whole lot of intelligence -- artificial and human.

Discussed articles include:

Bennett, Sa’ar meet to talk unity gov’t, as Shaked said hoping to thwart efforts

Gantz appointed justice minister after Netanyahu U-turn; court cancels hearing

Rivlin: Constitutional functionality collapsed in fight over justice minister

Human Rights Watch lodges ‘apartheid’ accusation at Israel, which dismisses it

US rejects Human Rights Watch’s accusation of Israeli ‘apartheid’

For Earth Day, leading green group sets out its 10 priorities for Israel

A key stop on the great bird flyway, Eilat sees steep dive in migrating flocks

Deep thought in deep blue: 5 Israelis in pioneering project to decode whale talk

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Illustrative image: An ultra-Orthodox Jewish boy runs near a giant bonfire, during celebrations of the Jewish holiday of Lag Baomer in Jerusalem's Meah Shearim neighborhood, April 28, 2013. (Yaakov Naumi/Flash90)

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