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.

Editor David Horovitz and military correspondent Emanuel Fabian join host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Satellite images obtained by Fabian on Saturday showed heavily damaged structures at a Syrian weapons base near the northwestern city of Masyaf in a Thursday airstrike attributed to Israel. Fabian tells us more.

Russia has shipped its advanced S-300 air defense system in Syria back home amid its invasion of Ukraine, an Israeli satellite intelligence firm said Friday. Is this significant for Israel?

Former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has again brokered a cooperation deal between Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism that seems to assure that both parties will cross the electoral threshold. Horovitz speaks about the editorial choice of consistently raising the alarm against the Kahane-aligned party, as he did in a scathing op-ed last week.

Late last week during Defense Minister Benny Gantz's trip to Washington, DC, Israel received “good hints” with regard to the US having a working offensive plan against Iran. What does this mean, in practical terms even as both Gantz and the current Prime Minister Yair Lapid are overtly attempting to speak with the US about this deal.

The Maccabi Haifa soccer team has risen to the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time in over a decade. The group was placed in group H of the Champion’s League group stage, where it will face off against French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain on September 14 in Haifa. Horovitz shares his perspective on Haifa's chances.

Discussed articles include:

Images show heavy damage to Syrian weapons base in airstrike attributed to Israel

Russia sends S-300 back home from Syria amid Ukraine invasion, satellite images show

Beware Itamar Ben Gvir, rising far-right star with a destructive vision for Israel

Netanyahu brokers deal for far-right’s Smotrich, Ben Gvir to join forces in election

Meretz leader denounces merged far-right slate as ‘alliance of thugs’

Understanding the ominous rise of Israel’s most notorious ultra-nationalist

US hints to Gantz it’s preparing military option against Iran, Israeli official says

Maccabi Haifa advances to Champions League group stage for first time since 2009

Maccabi Haifa to host PSG in Champions League clash on September 14

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Illustrative image: Israeli right-wing lawmaker Itamar Ben Gvir gestures to a Palestinian protester during a news conference at the Damascus Gate to Jerusalem's Old City, where he protested police preventing him from entering the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, Thursday, June 10, 2021. The (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

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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.

Tech Israel editor Ricky Ben-David and Knesset correspondent Carrie Keller-Lynn join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast.

Ben-David talks about Israeli company StemRad, a developer of radiation protection suits that will be used in NASA’s Artemis I mission later this month.

She also discusses WeWork founder Adam Neumann who had a major fall from grace but now has a new residential real estate startup that nabbed $350 million from a major Silicon Valley venture capital firm.

Keller-Lynn reviews the somewhat similar reactions of current prime minister Yair Lapid and former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday to the current Iran nuclear deal.

Keller-Lynn then previews her piece on Likud party member Dan Illouz, a French Canadian who has a good chance of making it into the Knesset.

Discussed articles include:

Israel’s StemRad gears up for major demo of anti-radiation suit on NASA’s Artemis I

Live interview with WeWork’s Israeli founder Adam Neumann nabs Emmy nod

Bashing ‘bad’ nuke deal, Lapid says emerging pact violates Biden’s own red lines

Reviving 2015 protest, Netanyahu says ‘terrible’ Iran deal even worse than original

Meet Dan Illouz, Likud’s Canadian candidate who wants to beef up the Knesset’s power

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IMAGE: Adam Neumann, co-founder and CEO of WeWork, attends the opening bell ceremony at Nasdaq, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, in New York. WeWork is a privately held shared workspace company based in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

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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.

Senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur and our health reporter Nathan Jeffay join host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Yesterday, the far-left Meretz and far-right Religious Zionism parties held their primaries. In Meretz, it was a showdown between Zehava Galon, and Yair Golan. What was the final shake out there? Where there any changes for Religious Zionism?

Former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu again called for a merger between Religious Zionism and the even farther right Otzma Yehudit party. Why is he so keen?

Rettig Gur fills in the lay of the political land by speaking about what's new in Labor and Likud list shake-ups.

Jeffay explains Israel's tactics in fighting the spread of monkeypox, as well as how Israel can be uniquely effective.

Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa is the first Israeli hospital to introduce back operations via a small incision in the waist versus opening up the back. We hear why this is such an important step.

And finally, Israeli thermal imaging technology designed to track terrorists and defend borders is getting a new incarnation — helping doctors get a clearer view of what is happening in patients’ bodies.

Discussed articles include:

Galon wins Meretz leadership race, returning to head left-wing party after 3 years

Ben Gvir reaches out to Smotrich amid renewed push to unite the far-right

Israel using ‘vaccination nation’ chops to fight monkeypox, doctor says

New to Israel: Back surgery via the waist, using an advanced keyhole method

Israeli terror-fighting thermal imaging tech being adapted for medical purposes

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IMAGE: Meretz Chairwoman Zehava Galon (center) with Meretz MKs and party members after the results were announced in the Meretz party primary elections, in Tel Aviv, August 23, 2022. (Tomer Neuberg/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.

US correspondent Jacob Magid and Religions and Diaspora affairs reporter Judah Ari Gross join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast.

Magid discusses why the Palestinian ambassador to the UN is once again seeking full member state status.

Gross looks at why Israel has decided to cancel all of its American medical programs, in order to free up spaces for Israeli medical students.

Magid talks about the US disapproval of the Israeli military raid of Palestinian human rights organizations.

Gross speaks about Israel's chief rabbi and the possible political reasons why he's signing conversion documentation once again.

Discussed articles include:

US says concerned by Israel’s raid on Palestinian NGOs, not convinced by prior intel

Israel ends lucrative American medical training programs to focus on local doctors

Palestinians aim to gain full UN member state status, but US law stands in their way

Chief rabbi held up conversions as leverage against government reform, group claims

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IMAGE: Student getting hands-on experience in Emergency Medicine Course at the Medical School for International Health (MSIH) at Soroka Medical Center. (Courtesy MSIH)

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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.

Political correspondent Tal Schneider and features writer Renee Ghert-Zand join host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Rabbi Shalom Cohen, the influential spiritual leader of the Shas political party, died in Jerusalem this morning at the age of 91. What else do we know about him and his role in the party?

We have two primaries coming up tomorrow, in Meretz and in Religious Zionism. Is there a revolution in the offing?

Otzma Yehudit MK Itamar Ben Gvir is staging new “statesmanlike campaign” tactics. He’s not really known for his level head. What’s going on here?

Ghert-Zand tells us about the new book "The Prophet of the Andes" by author Graciela Mochkofsky.

And finally, we hear about Nazi victim Karel Švenk’s "The Last Cyclist," which was rewritten based on survivor memories and recently filmed for television.

Discussed articles include:

Rabbi Shalom Cohen, spiritual leader of the Shas party, dies at 91

Jerusalem braces for mass crowds, traffic snarls at Shas spiritual leader’s funeral

How a Catholic-born Peruvian villager led hundreds to Jewish conversion – and Israel

A lost comedy cabaret from the Terezin ghetto is reconstructed and finally staged

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IMAGE: Inca Jew Iosef Sánchez and his family, Los Olivos, Lima, Peru, 2004 (Courtesy of Graciela Mochkofsky)

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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.

Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian and our real estate reporter Danielle Nagler join host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Saturday night an Israeli bus near the West Bank settlement of Ofra was shot at from a nearby Palestinian town of Silwad, leaving at least 8 bullet holes, but, thankfully, no injured. What else do we know?

Earlier on Saturday, three Palestinian women from Nablus were arrested near a checkpoint with a makeshift submachine gun in their car. First of all, what is a makeshift submachine gun?

Israel is set to allow an additional 1,500 Gazan residents into the country today, reaching 15,500. This rise was announced last month, but delayed. What are additional permits predicated on?

We speak about the case of hunger-striking Palestinian prisoner Khalil Awawdeh. What makes his case unique?

Nagler gives us an update on Israel’s rising real estate prices, including a few selections of home sales from the past month.

And finally, we hear about new tourism efforts by Israelis -- in Zanzibar!

Discussed articles include:

‘I’m still shaking’: Bus driver recounts West Bank shooting attack

Gunfire hits crowded Israeli bus in West Bank; IDF launches manhunt

3 Palestinian women arrested at West Bank checkpoint with makeshift submachine gun

Israel to allow 1,500 more Palestinian workers to enter from Gaza on Sunday

Israel temporarily freezes arrest of hunger-striking Palestinian as health falters

Inflation and housing prices continue to climb, breaking new records

Housing snapshot: 9 apartments and houses recently sold across Israel

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Illustrative: View of a collapse in a newly renovated section of the 'Tama 38' renewal project of an apartment building, in the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Bialik, on October 24, 2018. (Meir Vaaknin/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.

Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman and military correspondent Emanuel Fabian join host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

A Palestinian teenager was killed as heavy clashes broke out in Nablus late Wednesday and early Thursday while Jewish worshippers held a monthly pilgrimage to a shrine called Joseph’s Tomb in the Palestinian West Bank city under military guard. Fabian explains why this is such a conflict-ridden area.

We’ve been discussing the possibility of renewed diplomatic ties between Israel and Turkey for months. Berman enlightens us on what was the final impetus and what the new diplomatic ties mean for Israelis.

We spoke yesterday on the podcast about a statement made by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, in which he claimed -- and then somewhat walked back -- that Israel has inflicted 50 holocausts on his people. The fallout continues, including a defensive posture from Defense Minister Benny Gantz.

Media reports have leaked preliminary results of an IDF investigation into the deaths of five children in Gaza during the recent conflict. What are the unofficial findings?

Staff Sgt. Nathan Fitoussi was fatally shot this week by a comrade in arms when returning to his post after prayer. Fabian and Berman discuss some potential lessons learned from this, and other friendly fire incidents.

Discussed articles include:

Palestinian teen killed as rioters attack Jewish pilgrimage to Joseph’s Tomb

With reset, Turkey and Israel look to build durable ties that can reshape the region

Gantz defends Abbas meetings amid outcry over PA chief’s ‘holocausts’ comment

IDF finds Israeli strike killed 5 children in Gaza during recent operation – report

Family of soldier killed by friendly fire says not angry at comrade who shot him

Lawyers call to halt probe of soldier in suspected friendly fire killing

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IMAGE: Israeli and Turkish flags from a press conference between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, and Israel's President Isaac Herzog in Ankara, Turkey, March 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

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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.

Political correspondent Carrie Keller-Lynn and news editor Amy Spiro join host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Tuesday night during a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of committing “holocausts” against Palestinians over the years. What have the responses been so far?

Provocateur MK Itamar Ben Gvir is again in the news. First off, he is now eschewing a team up with far-right MK Bezalel Smotrich’s party, and he’s also calling for the transfer of disloyal citizens — including head of the Joint List Ayman Odeh. We hear about both moves.

And briefly, we hear how former prime minister Naftali Bennett is making life a little harder for MK Idit Silman, who was the domino that caused the fall of the Bennett coalition.

Spiro speaks about Kochava Levy, whom she labeled “The forgotten hero of the deadly 1975 Savoy Hotel attack in Tel Aviv.” We hear about the double standards in the fallout of the media coverage.

And finally, pop star extraordinaire Noa Kirel finally said yes! What did she finally agree to?

Discussed articles include:

German chancellor ‘disgusted’ by Abbas’s ‘intolerable’ 50 holocausts claim

In Berlin, Abbas says Israel committed ‘holocausts’; Scholz grimaces but is silent

‘A monstrous lie’: Abbas ’50 holocausts’ claim met with outrage in Israel, Germany

Ben Gvir says he’d seek to expel Arabs who attack IDF soldiers, ‘disloyal’ MKs

Far-right leader Ben Gvir declares solo run, blames Smotrich for collapse of talks

Bennett splits from Yamina, as ex-coalition MKs take revenge on renegade Silman

The forgotten heroine of the deadly 1975 Savoy Hotel terror attack

‘Fasten your seatbelts’: Noa Kirel confirms she’ll represent Israel at Eurovision

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Image: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, and Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, shake hands after a press conference after their talks in Berlin, Germany, August 16, 2022. (Wolfgang Kumm/dpa via AP)

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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.

US correspondent Jacob Magid and environmental reporter Sue Surkes join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast.

Magid discusses the current dilemma of UN official Sarah Muscroft, based in East Jlem, and currently on leave for a tweet about indiscriminate Islamic Jihad rocket fire. 

He also delves into the story about former Israeli ambassador to the US Ron Dermer backing his former boss, Benjamin Netanyahu — with regard to a claim in Jared Kushner's forthcoming book that the then-prime minister went off-script by announcing plans to immediately annex large parts of the West Bank.

Surkes talks about a more personal story, about her father-in-law, Ralph Friedland, who later became Freeman, who was saved from Nazi Germany by a soccer player from the British football association. 

Steinberg adds a mention about basketball team Hapoel Tel Aviv, now known as Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv, for its new sponsor, the vegan organization.

Discussed articles include:

Senior UN official loses her post after tweet condemning PIJ rocket fire at Israel

Backing Netanyahu, Dermer pans Kushner claim ex-PM went rogue with annexation pledge

ToI tale about soccer hero saving German Jew will be studied by Premier League youth

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IMAGE: Tottenham Hotspur's English striker Harry Kane, 2nd from left, vies for the ball with Roma's Brazilian defender Roger, center, during a friendly match between England's Tottenham Hotspurs and Italy's AS Roma at the Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa, July 30, 2022. (Jack Guez/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.

Political writer Tal Schneider and military correspondent Mannie Fabian join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast.

Schneider talks about former military chief Gadi Eisenkot joining the center-right Hamahane Hamamlachti and what Eisenkot, a newbie politician, will bring to the political scene.

Fabian looks at the recent changes in the Gazan economy, with exports up from Gaza to Israel, as well asincreased crossings at the border, with more people allowed to go in and out of Gaza for work, which creates higher salaries for some Gazans.

Schneider discusses her feature about Jewish-American businessman Bruce Gurfein, who has lived in Dubai for 25 years, and is looking at business-to-business relationships to strengthen relations.

Steinberg adds a word about Svika Pick, the pillar of Israeli pop who died Sunday at 72 after years of ill health. 

Discussed articles include:

Eisenkot marches into politics with much fanfare, little immediate effect on polls

IDF official says Gaza exports have soared, as Israel seeks to incentivize calm

Making inroads: An unlikely 38-hour drive from Dubai to Jerusalem, via Riyadh

Iconic Israeli singer-songwriter Svika Pick dies at 72

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IMAGE: The leaders of the new National Unity party at the party launch on Sunday night, August 14, 2022, in Kfar Maccabiah, from left to right: Gadi Eisenkot, Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar. (Elad Malka)

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