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 political correspondent Carrie Keller-Lynn join host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

From Saturday night, Israel no longer requires the use of masks in closed environments, aside from elderly facilities, hospitals, and air travel. Former COVID czar Prof. Roni Gamzu has also said that airport checks are now “unreasonable.” Will they soon be done away with as well?

The past week’s Passover holiday brought a record 4,600 Jewish visitors to the Temple Mount. Diaspora Minister Nachman Shai made a statement last night saying that Israeli Jews are increasingly flouting the status quo and praying on the Temple Mount. Where does Horovitz see this going?

On Friday, the Mayor of Umm al-Fahmm Samir Subhi Mahamed told off a group of young, masked men who were protesting Israeli actions at the Jerusalem holy site by trying to block traffic from entering the city. Why is this noteworthy?

Yamina MK Amichai Chickli is in the hot seat tomorrow. Ra’am has announced it will not be attending. Keller-Lynn tells us more about these hearings.

Former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ate his traditional mufletta last night. What was the atmosphere like?

Discussed articles include:

Former COVID czar calls for end to airport tests for arrivals

Diaspora minister warns of a ‘deterioration’ of the Temple Mount status quo

Mayor of Arab town of Umm al-Fahm confronts residents for rioting over Temple Mount

Report: Ra’am to boycott Knesset hearing on ousting Yamina rebel MK from party

‘We’re coming back,’ Netanyahu tells invigorated supporters, as government teeters

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IMAGE: Hamas supporters wave green Islamic flags while raise their hands up and chant slogans during a rally in solidarity with Palestinian residents of the West Bank and Jerusalem, at the main road of Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, April 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

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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 senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast.

Fabian looks at the latest events in Gaza and the Temple Mount, where violent clashes have quieted although there was a rocket attack fired from Hamas-controlled Gaza for the first time in nearly four months.

Rettig Gur discusses why Israel doesn't offer more of a public diplomatic response to the recent events on the Temple Mount, offering a historical context about Israel and its lack of hasbara, Hebrew for explanation, regarding internal events.

Discussed articles include:

Police reject plan by right-wing activists for march Wed. around Jerusalem Old City

Hamas says ‘finger on the trigger’ ahead of planned right-wing Jerusalem march

IDF says it struck Hamas weapons depot in Gaza in response to 1st rocket in 4 months

Gantz threatens Gaza if rockets continue, vows Temple Mount status quo protected

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IMAGE: Palestinians seen on the holy month of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City on April 17, 2022 (Courtesy Jamal Awad/Flash 90)

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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 political reporter Carrie Keller-Lynn join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast.

Keller-Lynn dives deeper into the internal politics of Arab Islamist party Ra'am and a recent conversation with party leader Mansour Abbas, who announced a temporary break from Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's coalition due to the clashes on the Temple Mount.

Magid looks at how the US and United Nations have reacted to the recent clashes on the "Holy Esplanade," as UN Envoy Tor Wennesland, called it.

He also talks about the seder hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris and the Second Gentleman, Douglas Emhoff, and where a Psagot wine, made in a West Bank settlement, was served, creating a Twitter storm.

Discussed articles include:

As Ra’am freezes ties with coalition, some ask if party should ever renew membership

UN Security Council to hold emergency consultation on Jerusalem unrest

VP Harris serves wine made in West Bank settlement at Passover seder

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IMAGE: Vice President Kamala Harris (R) and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff host a Passover seder in the Vice President's Residence, serving wine from the Psagot settlement winery, on April 16, 2022. (Doug Emhoff/Twitter) 

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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.

Zman Yisrael editor Biranit Goren and Tech Israel editor Ricky Ben David join host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Some 1,500 Jews attended the priestly blessing at the Western Wall, protected by a police force of 2,500 in Jerusalem's Old City. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said last night that police had "free rein" to quell problems. What did he mean by that?

Last night, Ra'am party leader Mansour Abbas said the Arab party was going to "freeze" its membership in the coalition for the next two weeks. Goren discusses the possible permutations of this.

We have a new real estate section at The Times of Israel. Ben David gives us the scoop.

And finally, Tel Aviv has installed the award-winning Lumiweave system at Atidim Park. What is this all about?

Discussed articles include:

With Jerusalem on edge, relatively low turnout at Western Wall Passover prayer event

Bennett says Israeli forces have ‘free rein’ to maintain security

Ra’am freezes its coalition and Knesset membership amid Temple Mount tensions

‘Like a diet during Ramadan’: Joint List mocks Ra’am for freeze amid Knesset recess

Real Estate Israel: Your open door to the property market

Tel Aviv pilots shade-giving, solar-powered fabric that lights up at night

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IMAGE: Israeli police is deployed in the Old City of Jerusalem, April 17, 2022. (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.

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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wished the Jewish community a happy Passover on Saturday. Let's hear what he said and how -- and where -- Ukrainian Jews observed the holiday.

Next we turn to tensions over the past several days on the flashpoint holy site known to Jews as Temple Mount and Muslims as Haram al-Sharif. Fabian rewinds to Friday morning and continues to update us on the skirmishes there.

Horovitz talks about the tightrope balancing act Israel must perform regarding freedom of religion and the status quo on the Temple Mount.

What is happening in terms of the government’s stability? Arab party Ra’am has called for calm in light of the skirmishes on Temple Mount and also indicated it will remain in the coalition. Why is this significant?

Turning back to Fabian, in light of the recent wave of terrorism, Israel’s security barrier is again in the news and holes that have deliberately left open are now being patched. Fabian explains where.

And finally, we talk about Iron Beam, a laser-based air defense system that can shoot down drones.

Discussed articles include:

Zelensky hopes for ‘defeat of evil’ as Jewish Ukrainian refugees mark Passover

Cops enter Temple Mount to clear obstructers as Palestinians hurl rocks at buses

At least 130 rioters remain detained after Friday’s Temple Mount clashes

Amid terror warnings, security forces begin to patch holes in West Bank barrier

In ‘game changer,’ Israeli laser-based air defense shoots down drones

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IMAGE: Palestinians chant slogans and wave Hamas flags during a protest against Israel, in front of the Dome of the Rock shrine at the Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, April 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

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Welcome to this week’s Times Will Tell, the weekly podcast from the Times of Israel. This week, ahead of Easter, host Amanda Borschel-Dan tours the Jerusalem Old City’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre with top archaeologist Prof. Jodi Magness.

Christian tradition holds that Jesus was crucified and buried on the spot of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. As we tour the church and its surroundings, we see parts of the ruins of earlier stages of the church, including a find from when it was built by Constantine in around 330 CE, as well as remains of earlier structures.

At the end of the tour, we see what Magness feels is the best evidence that supports the Christian tradition. 

For much of our tour, we are standing next to praying pilgrims, so to respect them, at times we’re almost whispering. Apologies as well for the background noise as Holy Week was being observed in Jerusalem.

Times Will Tell podcasts are available for download on iTunes, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, PlayerFM or wherever you get your podcasts.

IMAGE: Prof. Jodi Magness in the Jerusalem Old City's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Monday, April 11, 2022. (Amanda Borschel-Dan/Times of Israel)

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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 Tech Israel editor Ricky Ben David join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast.

Magid looks at Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's efforts to keep his coalition together, and how Defense Minister Benny Gantz fits into that puzzle.

Ben-David discusses Israeli technology companies raising $5.6 billion in the first quarter of 2022, and which sectors are engaged in that process.

Magid speaks about US President Joe Biden's efforts to bring the Palestinians into the Abraham Accords and in the new working groups discussed at the recent Negev Summit.

Ben-David offers an update on Mobileye's robotaxis, which took to the Jerusalem streets recently and will heading to Tel Aviv soon.

Discussed articles include:

As coalition scrambles for stability, sources warn divisions with testy Gantz remain

Israeli tech companies raise $5.6 billion in first quarter of 2022

US aims to fold Palestinians into expanded cooperation between Israel, Arab states

Mobileye gives sneak peek into ‘robotaxi’ ride ahead of Israel, Germany launch

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IMAGE: Head of the Blue and White party and Minister of Defense Benny Gantz speaks during an event of the Blue and White party in Tel Aviv, March 21, 2022 (Avshalom Sassoni/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.

Health and Science writer Nathan Jeffay and senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur join host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

A space capsule carrying four astronauts, including Israeli Eytan Stibbe, docked at the International Space Station Saturday in the first fully private mission to the station, and Stibbe and his fellow passengers entered the station. What is he meant to do there?

Rettig Gur just returned from a journalists' trip to the European Union and came back with the feeling that the EU is ready to stand against Russia. Let's hear more.

Jeffay updates us about the new Israeli study on the effects of the 4th shot in the over 60 crowd.

A new hospital opened up in the Negev and is located at the ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran Rehabilitation Village. Why is this significant?

And finally, Jeffay wrote a story about promising research on a food supplement that may help fight viruses. What is this concoction?

Discussed articles include:

Arriving at ISS, Israeli astronaut Stibbe gives station its first taste of Hebrew

2nd Israeli to blast off to space, will perform experiments seeking health advances

Israeli study: 4th COVID shot halves death risk among severe patients over 60

In Negev Desert, where healthcare lags, new rehabilitation hospital opens its doors

Israeli-made dietary supplement fights off viruses in lab tests, scientists say

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IMAGE: Eytan Stibbe pictured by SpaceX before the April 8 launch of the Dragon spacecraft at Cape Canaveral, Florida (SpaceX)

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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 Arab affairs correspondent Aaron Boxerman join host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

We hear first from diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman who is on a journalists’ trip in Turkey. What is the goal of this government-organized trip?

Israelis awoke to two disturbing reports of terrorist attacks. A policeman was lightly wounded after being stabbed by a Palestinian man in the southern city of Ashkelon this morning. And also this morning, we learned of a deflected attack earlier in the week, in which a Palestinian security officer attempted a shooting in the West Bank settlement of Vered Yericho. What has been the response from the Palestinian Authority.

We turn now to politics and drill down into a series of controversial remarks made by Joint List head Ayman Odeh that have made waves here in Israel. Let's hear some context.

Finally, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett interviewed on the three major Israeli television networks last night. What did he say, and what did he not say?

Discussed articles include:

Palestinian stabs policeman at Ashkelon construction site, is shot and killed

Report: Palestinian officer attempted shooting attack in West Bank settlement

Odeh’s comments imperil prospective cooperation between coalition and Joint List

Conceding coalition management errors, PM vows more focus on politics moving forward

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Check out yesterday's Daily Briefing episode:

https://omny.fm/shows/the-daily-briefing/was-israeli-media-inappropriate-in-coverage-of-tlv

Image: Joint List head MK Ayman Odeh gestures as he speaks during a conference in Jerusalem, March 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

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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 reporter Amy Spiro join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast.

Keller-Lynn discusses the latest waves in the disintegrating coalition and what are the chances for salvaging it.

Spiro and Keller-Lynn look at the criticism of Israel's television media during Thursday's Tel Aviv terror attack, whether it was warranted and how coverage of this event differed from others.

Spiro also reviews the recent visit of Ukrainian Eurovision contestants in Israel and how the Jewish Agency helped them get here.

Discussed articles include:

Yamina moves to label rebel Chikli a defector, in warning to party members

Joint List leader urges Arab Israeli cops to quit force, is accused of incitement

From Lviv to Jerusalem, Ukraine’s Eurovision act sends message of defiance

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IMAGE: Police and rescue workers at the scene of a terror attack on Dizengoff Street in  central Tel Aviv in which three people were killed and several more injured in the attack on April 7, 2022 (Avshalom Sassoni/FLASH 90)

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