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 correspondent Tal Schneider and Diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman join host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's packed episode.

The intensified situation on the border between Ukraine and Russia has Israeli officials updating plans for the possible evacuation of potentially some 75,000 Jews. Who is working on that?

Last week, the United Nations unanimously adopted an Israeli-led resolution against Holocaust denial. How did serial Holocaust-denier Iran try to play a role here?

Also late last week, Israel finally signed the controversial deal to purchase three submarines from Germany. Yesterday, the cabinet voted to create a state commission of inquiry into submarine and naval vessel purchases that occurred under former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Schneider takes a deep dive into the issue.

Aside from political aftershocks, Israel felt two earthquakes within 24 hours this week. Is the country prepared for the big one?

And finally, Berman sheds light on how Israel's relationship with the European Union may or may not shift with France at the helm.

Discussed articles include:

Israel said preparing for potential need to evacuate Ukrainian Jews in case of war

UN General Assembly adopts Israeli resolution aimed at combating Holocaust denial

Israel signs scandal-ridden €3 billion deal with Germany to buy new submarines

Cabinet votes to establish state inquiry into submarine affair

2nd minor earthquake within hours rattles northern Israel; some buildings evacuated

Israel-Europe ties may not get much warmer with Macron as president of EU Council

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Illustrative: Ivan Perchek dresses in a traditional bear costume ahead of the Malanka festival in the village of Krasnoilsk, Ukraine, January 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

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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.

Times of Israel founding editor David Horovitz and political and legal correspondent Carrie Keller-Lynn join host Jessica Steinberg.

Horovitz and Keller-Lynn discuss the ongoing possibility of a Netanyahu plea deal being considered by attorney general Avichai Mandelblit.

Keller-Lynn discusses that the possible plea deal is important for the government's coalition stability, while Horovitz makes the point that this is not an ordinary case, with the indictment of a serving prime minister who has since lost power and shouldn't be wrapped up in a behind-the-scenes negotiation.

Horovitz and Keller-Lynn also take a look at the ongoing case of NSO's Pegasus spyware and the Israel Police. While the police have acknowledged using it, they claim they haven't used it in breach of the law.

Keller-Lynn reports that a Knesset committee will be discussing the matter on Monday, given the suspicions that existing legislation isn't sufficient and the lack of oversight.

Finally, for some good news, Horovitz recaps Pfizer CEO's prediction that world should be back to near-normal in a few months.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, speaks with then-cabinet secretary Avichai Mandelblit, later Israel's attorney general, during a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, September 21, 2014. (AP/Menahem Kahana, Pool/File)

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Hey Daily Briefing listeners, we'll be back with more news about Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World on Sunday, but in the meantime, have a listen to Times Will Tell, the weekly podcast from The Times of Israel.

We’re taking a deep dive today into Israel’s kosher certification system, as the government undertakes the first step in overhauling the industry.

The new plan, unveiled in July by religious affairs minister Matan Kahana, would presumably end the monopoly of the chief rabbinate and local rabbinates as the only bodies that can issue kosher certificates, which costs businesses upwards of $2 million a year, and allow for other private kosher certification agencies.

This long-awaited privatization of the kosher certification industry follows a path paved by the religious Zionist Tzohar organization, which launched its own kosher certification agency in 2018. They took over for a grassroots group that first entered the industry years before, aiming to break the rabbinate’s grip on what can be considered kosher.

You'll hear from several people involved in this industry, including Rabbi David Stav, chairman of Tzohar; Tzvi Maller, the American-born owner of Crave, a restaurant in Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda market that grappled with a fakin' bacon issue; Itzik Kadosh, a pastry chef and owner of a beloved Jerusalem cafe who fought the rabbinate over turning his croissants into triangles; Yittie Lawson, who runs Tacos Luis, a Mexican restaurant down the block from Kadosh; Dan Male, who runs Jerusalem's Angelica, a fine chef restaurant whose customers won't stand for anything other than the rabbinate's stamp of approval and Leon Avigad, who owns and operates the Brown Hotel chain in Israel, Greece and Europe and just wants his kosher supervisors to tell him what to do and how to do it.

It's a wacky world of kosher laws and these people live it, every day.

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

IMAGE: Crave Jerusalem's 'facon' duck bacon on its Black Forest Special (Courtesy Crave)

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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 diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman join host Jessica Steinberg.

Ben-David opens today's podcast reviewing her interviews with privacy experts who sharply criticized Israel police following revelations about their use of Israeli company NSO cyberweapons to spy on civilians.

Berman looks at situations unfolding in two regions with connections to Israel; the UAE's diplomatic handling of Tehran following the deadly oil field strike, and the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

Ben-David closes today's podcast with a brief look at Israeli startup Plantish, which says it has produced a 3D-printed, plant-based salmon fillet. 

She also discusses the first foray of Trigo, an Israeli company offering checkout-free shopping at a grocery store in New Jersey, aiming to compete with retail giant Amazon.

IMAGE: Israeli startup Plantish unveiled a 3D-printed, whole-cut, plant-based salmon fillet in January 2022. (Plantish)

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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.

Palestinian Affairs reporter Aaron Boxerman and Military correspondent Judah Ari Gross join host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's episode.

Israelis awoke to news of an overnight eviction from the much-discussed east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, the first eviction since 2017. The hot-button area has been the site of countless court cases and protests. What is different about this current eviction case -- and why was it carried out in the dead of night?

It's a few decades late, but it appears that Israelis are now experiencing shades of "1984" with the government's use of NSO Group Pegasus software on innocent-until-proven-otherwise citizens. Gross delves into what we know so far in this developing story.

Boxerman recently investigated one of the most lucrative industries for Palestinian residents outside of Hebron: metal salvage from electronic waste. This livelihood, they claim, comes with a terrible cost -- their health. Boxerman spent time with countless people who claim their families' cancer cases are due to rampant air pollution.

And finally -- snow! Find out what these ToI staffers do when the weather outside is frightful.

Discussed articles include:

Jerusalem police evict Palestinian family overnight, ending standoff; 18 arrested

In first since 2017, police try to evict family in flashpoint Jerusalem neighborhood

Israel Police accused of using NSO spyware on civilians for years without oversight

Comptroller to probe spyware use on citizens, as outraged lawmakers demand inquiry

Police chief doesn’t deny use of spyware, says it wasn’t deployed against protesters

A deadly trash trade is poisoning Palestinians in the West Bank

Golan covered in white as Jerusalem braces for snow

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IMAGE: The remains of a house that was destroyed by Israeli authorities in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, on January 19, 2022. (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.

United States correspondent Jacob Magid and Environment reporter Sue Surkes join host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's episode.

Magid reports in from Colleyville, Texas, where he has been working around the clock to update readers on the developing story of the attack on a Reform synagogue on Saturday. The question of whether or not the 11-hour hostage standoff was an antisemitic attack gains nuance as he speaks with one of the hostages and several locals.

Next we are joined by Surkes who speaks about new legislation in honor of Tu Bishvat, the new year of the trees. A bill proposed by MK Alon Tal updates a British Mandate-era law that aims to protect trees and increase urban green spaces.

We then speak about an ongoing case in which radioactive water pollution in the Zin Stream may be whitewashed by big industry.

And finally, Surkes sheds light on a new water purifier called Miriam's Well, which just may be a game-changer for the developing world.

Discussed articles include:

Hostage: Attacker chose synagogue, thinking Jews powerful enough to free ‘sister’

1,000-strong multifaith crowd rallies around Jewish community at post-standoff vigil

New bill seeks to replace British mandate law on protection, planting of trees

Chemical company’s expert in court case: Southern stream’s radiation not health risk

Israeli cleantech company aims Miriam’s Well water purifier at developing world

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

IMAGE: Pleasant Run Baptist Church's sign showing solidarity with Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas on January 16, 2022. (Screen capture/Lupe Zapata/Spectrum 1 News)

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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 health and science writer Nathan Jeffay join host Jessica Steinberg.

Jeffay discusses why the World Health Organization is taking a closer look at COVID-19 booster shots and explains the role of the booster as Israel continues its campaign offering booster shots for those 60 and older or immunocompromised.

Schneider looks at the effect of the possible plea bargain for former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his current chairmanship of the Likud party.

If Netanyahu accepts the plea bargain offer, he will have to give up his leadership of the party, making way for a new Likud party leader.

Discussed articles include:

WHO spurns boosters. That’s not the blow it may seem to be for jab-friendly Israel

Likud struggles for unified response amid reports that Netanyahu seeks a plea deal

Campaign to cover Netanyahu’s legal costs raises over NIS 2 million

Repositioned news channel 14 aims for mainstream while keeping pro-Netanyahu script

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

IMAGE:  A medical professional with Clalit Health Services waves in his next patient to receive a coronavirus vaccine booster shot, at the Cinema City complex in Jerusalem, Monday, Aug. 30, 2021. (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.

ToI founding editor David Horovitz, senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur and US correspondent Jacob Magid join host Jessica Steinberg.

Horovitz and Rettig Gur discuss the possible plea bargain for Benjamin Netanyahu, a radical development in this ongoing situation and what it would mean for the former prime minister, who has repeatedly asserted that he is a victim of a frame-up.

Magid joins the podcast from Colleyville, Texas, outside Dallas, where he is reporting on the hostage situation that took place in a Reform synagogue on Saturday morning, in which the rabbi was one of four hostages.

Horovitz finishes up the podcast with a look at the unconfirmed report regarding an Israeli agreement to indirectly pump natural gas to Lebanon, moving it from its offshore field to Jordan, and from there to Syria and onto Lebanon, a possibly "surreal" deal, he said.

Discussed articles include:

It’s all about ‘turpitude’: Making sense of the Netanyahu plea bargain reports

Report: Netanyahu, AG may agree to leave ‘moral turpitude’ to judges in plea deal

‘Calm, collected’ synagogue rabbi wowed FBI through 10-hour Texas hostage crisis

Israel said to secretly ink unprecedented deal to supply gas to Lebanon, via Jordan

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IMAGE: Law enforcement officials gather at Colleyville Elementary School near the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022 in Colleyville, Texas. Authorities said a man took hostages Saturday during services at the synagogue where the suspect could be heard ranting in a livestream and demanding the release of a Pakistani neuroscientist who was convicted of trying to kill U.S. Army officers in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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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 Judah Ari Gross and Ops and blogs editor Miriam Herschlag join host Jessica Steinberg.

Gross first looks at the Shin Bet arrests of five Israelis, all regular folk with family ties to Iran, accused of assisting an Iranian operative who often pretended to be a Jewish man.

Herschlag then speaks about blogger Shana Aronson's non-profit work providing advocacy for ultra-Orthodox victims of abuse, following the Chaim Walder sex abuse revelations and his subsequent suicide.

Gross takes a look at the recently released numbers showing a slight increase in the number of IDF soldiers’ fatalities over the past year, including a slight uptick in suicides by members of the Ethiopian community.

Finally, Herschlag discusses points made by Professor Benjamin Porat about the first stages of the privatization reforms in kosher certification and conversion currently taking place.

Discussed articles include:

Shin Bet arrests 5 Jewish Israelis suspected of spying for Iran

IDF reports 31 fatalities in 2021, a slight increase; suicide still leading cause

The survivors spoke, the tears flowed, now what?

Israel’s Rabbinate should welcome these kashrut and conversion reforms

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

IMAGE: The flag of Iran waves in front of the the International Center building with the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, in Vienna, AustriaI, May 24, 2021 (Courtesy AP Photo/Florian Schroetter, FILE)

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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.

Palestinian Affairs correspondent Aaron Boxerman and Health Reporter Nathan Jeffay join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in today’s episode.

The forestation of parts of the Negev is sparking a coalition crisis and days of violence, including heavy stone throwing at vehicles and a train, and road closure. Boxerman dives into why Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael-Jewish National Fund's "greening of the desert" is viewed by Arab communities in southern Israel as a means of expelling those who live this contested land.

We then get an update on the high court's Tuesday ruling that Interior Minister Ayyelet Shaked must stop enforcing the expired Citizenship Law. With the lapsing of the law, Palestinians married to Israelis are currently legally no different from any other foreign spouse. Let's hear what's actually been happening.

Next, we turn to Jeffay, who recently visited two coronavirus hospital wards -- one for children at Sheba Medical Center and one at Hadassah Medical Center. Even as the Omicron variant rampages, is there room for optimism?

Discussed articles include:

FM Lapid calls to halt Negev tree planting amid violent protests, coalition trouble

High Court tells interior minister to stop enforcing expired ‘Citizenship Law’

1st kids’ Omicron ward opens with classes, clowns, and doctors bracing for ‘war’

View from a COVID ward: With Omicron, even the sickest patients are breathing easier

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Image: Israeli police detain a man as Bedouins protest in the southern Negev Desert against a forestation project by the Jewish National Fund (JNF), on January 12, 2022. (AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)

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