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 in chief David Horovitz and military correspondent Judah Ari Gross appear on today's podcast with host Raoul Wootliff.

On today's show, we look at the terrorist stabbing attack in Jerusalem yesterday in which two Border Police officers shot dead the Palestinian attacker.

Why has the incident caused such visceral reactions from both sides and what can we learn from past similar incidents about the potential fall out.

And, with Iranian nuclear talks already breaking down after just a few days, we assess Israel's attempts to block Iran from the bomb, and what it really means when it talks about striking Iran’s nuclear program.

Discussed articles include:

Border Police officers questioned amid fracas over shooting of Palestinian attacker

US official: Iran backtracked on all compromises; we’re preparing for no deal

War: What Israel talks about when it talks about striking Iran’s nuclear program

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PHOTO: Israeli security forces at the scene of a stabbing attack outside Damascus Gate in Jerusalem, on December 4, 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.

Political reporter Tal Schneider and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman appear on today's podcast with host Jessica Steinberg.

Berman discusses the progress in nuclear talks with Iran that began in Vienna on Monday and will finish up today. He says expectations are low and things remain tense, but Lazar and Schneider agree that the participating countries are paying attention to Israel and its arguments.

Berman then looks at foreign minister Yair Lapid's three-day trip to the UK and Paris, where he met with UK prime minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron.

While it's somewhat unusual for a foreign minister to meet with heads of state, both Berman and Schneider point out that Lapid is slated to be Israel's next prime minister, should his and Bennett's coalition hold.

Finally, Schneider offers a sneak peak to her analysis piece about president Isaac Herzog and his recent diplomatic stunts.

Discussed articles include:

Lapid tells Macron that only a credible military threat can stop Iran nuclear drive

As Iran talks begin, Bennett urges world powers: Resist regime’s ‘nuclear blackmail’

Lapid tells Macron that only a credible military threat can stop Iran nuclear drive

Lapid in the UK: Our fight against Iran and Hezbollah is good against evil

In seventh round of nuclear talks, Iran’s intentions will finally become clear

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IMAGE: Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (right) meets with French President Emanuel Macron in Paris, on November 30, 2021. (MFA / Quentin Crestinu)

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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 reporter Amy Spiro appear on today's podcast with host Raoul Wootliff

On today's show, we assess Israel's role in preventing Iran from reaching nuclear capability and the allegations that politicians’ inability to adopt a nuanced approach led to "colossal" policy failure.

We discuss yesterday's United Nations Security Council meeting on Israel/Palestine and the US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield's unexpected comments there.

After the World Squash Federation announced that the World Men’s Team Squash Championship scheduled for next week in Kuala Lumpur was canceled after Malaysian authorities refused to allow entry to Israeli athletes, we look at the ongoing efforts to boycott Israel in the world on the sport.

And we'll hear about Hanukkah in popular culture and its emerging role in festive flicks and romance novels.

Discussed articles include:

He led IDF intel gathering on Iran, was ignored and fears Israel is now paying price

US envoy to Security Council: Settlement building has ‘reached a critical juncture’

Squash world championship in Malaysia canceled over refusal to allow in Israelis

Love, laughter, latkes: Hanukkah rom-coms are having a moment

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PHOTO: In this photo released by the US Air Force, an Israeli Air Force F-15 Strike Eagle flies in formation with a US Air Force B-1B Lancer over Israel as part of a deterrence flight Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. (US Air Force/Senior Airman Jerreht Harris 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.

Military correspondent Judah Ari Gross and environmental reporter Sue Surkes appear on today's podcast with host Jessica Steinberg.

Gross discusses his visit to Morocco last week with defense minister Benny Gantz, on a trip that focused on the warming relationship between Israel and Morocco, particularly between the two armies.  The trip was of particular interest to members of Gantz's entourage, some of whom are of Moroccan heritage, and most of whom had never visited the country previously.

Surkes describes ongoing issues in the Knesset internal affairs and environment committee with the state company that signed a contentious deal with the United Arab Emirates to transport its oil from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.

She also looks at plans for building six new marinas around Israel, as environmental groups counter the plan, pointing out that it will interfere with marine life and can be avoided.

Discussed articles include:

Israel looking to deepen ties with Morocco, with plans for arms sales, joint drills

Hearing the cantor sing the prayer for IDF soldiers… in Morocco

Firm behind disputed UAE-Eilat oil pipeline: Ministries don’t have right to see deal

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IMAGE: The first Israel Defense Forces officers to ever visit Morocco in uniform, from left, Col. Noam Arbeli, Brig. Gen. Yaki Dolf, and Lt. Col. Netanel Kula in front of the Tomb of Moroccan King Muhammad V in Rabat on November 24, 2021. (Defense Ministry)

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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 Startup Israel Editor Ricky Ben David join host Jessica Steinberg.

Horovitz comments on the talks that have resumed with Iran, musing over Israel's political approach and its credible military options.

Ben-David then discusses the possible economic effects of the Omicron variant, particularly its ailing tourism sector.

Horovitz also looks at Bennett's functioning in the shadow of former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as the prime minister works to differentiate himself, on Iran and the new variant.

Finally, Ben-David remarks on the strength of the shekel against the weakened dollar, as well as the jitters of the Omicron variant and its effect on it.

Discussed articles include:

As Vienna talks resume, Israel, UK say they’re working jointly to block nuclear Iran

Slamming the door on Omicron, Israel closes its borders to tourists

Booming global markets kept shekel ‘too strong,’ says ex-Bank of Israel deputy head

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IMAGE: Travelers wearing protective face masks arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, Nov. 28, 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.

Health and science reporter Nathan Jeffay and senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur join host Jessica Steinberg.

Jeffay discusses what details are already known about the Omicron variant and how Israeli government officials are working quickly to control its spread in Israel.

Rettig Gur and Jeffay reflect on the politics of the government's restrictions, the quick and efficient moves to contain the variant, as well as how that will affect the country and economy in the weeks to come.

Discussed articles include:

Full text: Israel’s new rules barring foreign tourists, tightening quarantine

Israel to bar tourists, renew travel quarantine rules to contain Omicron variant

Justice minister: New COVID measures unwarranted without ‘very, very strong reasons’

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

IMAGE: From left to right: Head of public health services at the Health Ministry Sharon Alroy-Preis, Prime Minister Prime Minister Naftali Bennet, Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz and Health Ministry Director-General Nachman Ash hold a press conference in Tel Aviv, November 26, 2021 (Moti Milrod/POOL)

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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.

Environmental correspondent Sue Surkes and reporter Mannie Fabian join host Jessica Steinberg.

Fabian discusses two disturbing articles, one involving the possible 'pimping' of female soldiers in the Gilboa prison, and an IDF officer who secretly filmed female officers under his command.

The only positive result of the allegations, comments Fabian, are that the incidents have been revealed, with perpetrators brought to justice.

Surkes reports on bottle recycling plans throughout Israel once the new law goes into effect on December 1, although the new recycling machines aren't in place yet.

She also talks about the discussions that took place at a maritime conference attended by different companies and institutions active on the Mediterranean Sea.

Discussed articles include:

Female IDF soldiers were ‘pimped’ to terror inmates, prison commander says

IDF officer arrested on suspicion of secretly filming female soldiers

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IMAGE: A man searches for a bottle he can return for a deposit in a Jerusalem recycling cage (Nati Shohat/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.

Editor in chief David Horovitz and Arab affairs correspondent Aaron Boxerman join Raoul Wootliff on today's podcast.

On today's show, we look at Israel's tentative agreement to permit Palestinian cellular companies to set up fourth-generation mobile networks, as part of a series of steps meant to strengthen the Palestinian Authority.

Boxerman also fills us in on the takeaways from the PA's donor conference last week in Oslo.

We then assess the proposal to enable thousands of illegally constructed homes in Arab Israeli communities to be hooked up to the electricity grid, which passed a vote in a key Knesset committee Tuesday.

We look at the mountain of travails facing Moshe Hogeg, the owner of the Beitar Jerusalem soccer club and an at-times celebrated Israeli entrepreneur, who has been arrested over a slew of damming fraud and sexual harassment allegations.

And finally, we hear about the rise, fall, and imminent repurposing of Atarot's Jerusalem Airport.

Discussed articles include:

Israel pledges to finally permit long-restricted Palestinian 4G cell service

Israel will push states to boost aid to Palestinians at donor confab, minister says

Proposal to hook illegally built homes to power grid advances after compromise

Long deprived of power in illegally built homes, Arabs hope change finally near

Alleged crypto scams, sex offenses, unpaid bills: The claims against Moshe Hogeg

Ex-model agency worker details Hogeg’s alleged assault on model, says he paid others

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PHOTO: A vendor offers mobile phone contracts from a booth on a street in Nablus in the West Bank on November 15, 2016. (Sebi Berens/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.

Political reporter Tal Schneider and US correspondent Jacob Magid join Raoul Wootliff on today's podcast.

We start the show with US-Israel relations and look specifically at Magid's interview with Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked and what she said about Jerusalem's ties with Washington.

We hear about the bill to limit the prime minister's term to no more than eight years that passed its first reading in the Knesset yesterday night.

And Schneider assesses yesterday's testimony of former Netanyahu top aide Nir Hefetz, the first of the prosecution's state witness in the ongoing corruption trial against the ex-prime minister.  

Discussed articles include:

Shaked: Bringing more countries into Abraham Accords will require US incentives

Israel will be added to US Visa Waiver Program by 2023, minister predicts

Knesset passes first reading of bill to limit PM’s term to 8 years

Nir Hefetz: Bezeq boss said his news site was ‘gift’ for Netanyahus to control

Ex-Netanyahu aide: Bezeq owner gave list of candidates for communications minister

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PHOTO: Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu at the Jerusalem District Court, November 22, 2021 (Oren Ben Hakoon/Pool)

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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 health and science editor Nathan Jeffay join host Jessica Steinberg.

Gross reports on the terror attack in Jerusalem's Old City Sunday, in which a terrorist with known ties to Hamas, shot and killed a 26-year-old Eliyahu Kay, a South African immigrant and lone soldier who was making his way to work as a professional tour guide at the Western Wall.

Jeffay discusses two Israeli scientific findings, one about the scents emitted by babies and how they affect mothers and fathers. The other study has resulted in a method for 'reading' miniscule movements in the face in order to spot fibbers.

Discussed articles include:

Israeli forces raid neighborhood of J’lem attack terrorist, relatives said arrested

Jerusalem terror attack fatality named as South African immigrant Eli Kay

Babies emit smell to get aggressively loyal moms and mellow dads, Israeli study says

Liar, liar! ‘Reading’ faces, Israeli tech spots fibbers with 73% accuracy

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

IMAGE: Eliyahu David Kay, killed in a terror attack in Jerusalem on November 21, 2021. (Facebook)

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