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.

Founding editor David Horovitz joins host Jessica Steinberg on today's podcast.

Horovitz first discusses the welcome release of the Israeli bus driving couple, Mordy and Natali Oknin, from a Turkish jail where they were being held for suspected espionage, conjecturing what was behind this mystifying diplomatic snafu.

He also speaks about the recent spate of financial revelations in the British government,

juxtaposed with

British government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson is currently embroiled in a seemingly endless stream of financial sleaze revelations,

Finally, Horovitz and Steinberg talk about concert dates being set up in Israel for the summer and fall, a promising turn of events for a return to normalcy.

Discussed articles include:

Israelis freed from Turkish prison: ‘A Hanukkah miracle — we were jailed for 8 days’

Media blackout and smokescreens: How Israel released a couple from Turkish detention

Israeli detained in Turkey: Do they think spies appear in bus company commercials?

New witness testimony indicates Netanyahu knew about illicit gifts for wife: report

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IMAGE: British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (L) shakes hands with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Foreign Office in central London on February 6, 2017. (AFP PHOTO/POOL/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

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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.

On today's show, we start with a look at this week's visits to Israel by US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield and US Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley – who they met and what message their visits send.

Magid tells us about Israel's newly appointed Ambassador to the US Michael Herzog and the message he brings with the beginning of his tenure.

Turning to Israeli politics, we assess the bill given initial approval by ministers this week to set term limits for the prime minister.

And, Schneider looks at a key witness set to give testimony in the ongoing criminal trial of Israel's longest-serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Discussed articles include:

Visiting US envoy to Bennett: Biden shares commitment to new ‘spirit of cooperation’

US envoy arrives in Israel on Mideast tour; not expected to meet PM Bennett

New Israeli ambassador to US Mike Herzog pledges to keep Israel a nonpartisan issue

Ministers approve bill setting term limits for prime ministers

Ex-Netanyahu aide said set to testify to family’s involvement in media matters

Netanyahu makes rare court appearance as ex-aide’s testimony delayed

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PHOTO: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses his supporters on the night of the election at Likud campaign headquarters in Jerusalem, March 24, 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.

Arab affairs correspondent Aaron Boxerman and military reporter Judah Ari Gross join Jessica Steinberg on today's podcast.

Boxerman and Gross discuss the timing and recent wave of settler violence attacks against Palestinians, and how the IDF handles, or keeps their distance from the clashes between these two groups.

Gross also looks at the recent joint exercise in the Red Sea by the navies of Israel, the United States, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in response to their shared adversary Iran’s presence in the waters of the Middle East, an exercise that would have been unheard of prior to the Abraham Accords.

Boxerman comments on recent activities with regard to the Palestinians' dire financial situation, and how Israel takes part in the efforts to restore some balance to the Palestinian economy.

Discussed articles include:

Settlers assault Palestinians, Israeli activists in West Bank; several hurt

Settlers said to attack Palestinians near evacuated outpost; IDF called in

Israel, UAE, Bahrain, US hold major Red Sea drill ‘to counter Iran’s aggression’

Israel shows off defense tech at Dubai Air Show for first time

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IMAGE: Illustrative photo of a member of the 'hilltop youth' rides a donkey at an illegal outpost in the northern West Bank. (Credit: Zman Emet, Kan 11) 

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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 Startup Israel editor Ricky Ben-David join today's podcast, hosted by Jessica Steinberg.

Jeffay opens the podcast with a look at the struggle to convince Israeli parents to vaccinate their children against the coronavirus, particularly in the Arab and ultra-Orthodox communities.

Ben-David then examines the government's new housing plan, with the aim to offer an increase in supply but the many issues that will hinder the plan, despite the best intentions.

Jeffay discusses the testing of an artificial intelligence tool to help hone the use of antibiotics, recently used in the Maccabi health organization with excellent results.

Finally, Ben-David talks about the four Israeli technologies that made it into Time Magazine's 100 Best Inventions for the year, as well as the recent skit on satire show "Eretz Nehederet," poking fun at the tech industry.

Discussed articles include:

Israel approves COVID shots for kids; experts predict uphill acceptance struggle

Government housing plan seen as just a ‘drop in the bucket’

35% fewer UTI patients given wrong medicine, thanks to Israeli AI tool

4 Israeli inventions feature in TIME magazine’s 100 Best Inventions for 2021

WeLaugh: Israeli satire show skewers excesses and fantasy in tech sector

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IMAGE: Nadir Hackerman and Didi from fictitious company Webos speak speak to a potential new tech hire in a November 2021 segment on Eretz Nehederet. (Screenshot)

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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 and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman are joined today by host Jessica Steinberg.

Horovitz and Berman first discuss the possible diplomatic reasons behind the Turkish government's detaining of a Modi'in couple who photographed the presidential palace.

Berman offers a brief snapshot of the delegation of American firefighters in Israel for five days of training and learning in Israel, after working with IDF rescuers at the Surfside, Florida rescue site.

Horovitz talks about his interview with modern Orthodox religious services minister Matan Kahane about a range of issues, including bringing ultra-Orthodox men into the workforce earlier, remaking the kosher certification process and bolstering conversion.

Discussed articles include:

Turkey weighs charges against Israeli couple detained in Istanbul — TV report

PM on Israelis detained in Turkey: ‘Innocent citizens, we are doing all we can’

After Surfside tragedy, US team visits Israel to develop joint rescue doctrine

An Orthodox minister and his hypocritical ultra-Orthodox critics

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IMAGE: Mordy Oknin, left, and Natali Oknin, right. (Courtesy/Facebook)

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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 political correspondent Jacob Magid and environemental reporter Sue Surkes join host Jessica Steinberg on today's podcast.

Magid reports from the West Coast, where he covered the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual leadership conference in Las Vegas. Magid fills us in on who was there, what topics were discussed and whether Jewish Republicans are interested in having Trump run again.

He also discusses the statement made at the conference by former US envoy to the United Nations Nikki Halley, who broadly criticized pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC for hosting politicians who support the Iran nuclear deal.

Surkes offers highlights, concerns and the to-do list for countries following COP26, the climate change conference she covered in Glasgow last week. The challenges are tremendous, says Surkes, as countries have a mighty task list ahead of them.

Discussed articles include:

In Las Vegas, Jewish Republican confab weighs one more roll of the dice on Trump

GOP senator: Flipping House and Senate will let Republicans pass anti-BDS laws

Nikki Haley goes after AIPAC for hosting lawmakers who support Iran deal

With 40,000 delegates, COP26 radiates energy. But will it bring real change?

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IMAGE: Former President Donald Trump appears on screen during the Republican Jewish Coalition's annual leadership meeting at The Venetian hotel-casino on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal 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 diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman join host Jessica Steinberg on today's podcast.

On today's show, we open with a look at the intensifying war in Ethiopia and its impact on Israel.

After reports that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed angrily complained in a phone call with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett that some of those airlifted to Israel were officers involved in war crimes, Israel promised to send back those found to have committed such crimes.

We look at how Israel got into the mess, and how it hopes to get out of it.

We assess the impact of claims that cellphones belonging to at least six Palestinian rights activists were hacked using the contentious Israeli cyber-surveillance firm NSO Group’s Pegasus software, and the international criticism of Israel after the government outlawed six Palestinian rights groups, accusing them of acting as fronts for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terror group.

We analyze the alleged Iranian-linked drone attack on the Iraqi prime minister and ask how destabilization in the country is seen by Israel.

And finally, we hear an update on the recent strikes in Syria attributed to Israel.

Discussed articles include:

Israel said to promise to return Ethiopian immigrants who committed war crimes

Ethiopian PM said to complain 4 war criminals among those airlifted to Israel

Report: Palestinian activists’ phones hacked with controversial NSO Group tech

Europeans on Security Council criticize Israeli blacklisting of Palestinian NGOs

Iran-backed militia launched drone attack targeting Iraq's PM

Drone strikes Iran-backed militias in eastern Syria – report

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PHOTO: Tigrayan forces ride in a truck after taking control of Mekele, in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia on Tuesday, June 29, 2021. (AP Photo)

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

Schneider interviewed Religious Affairs minister Matan Kahana with founding ToI editor David Horovitz last week, just as the minister's legislation for major reforms in the kosher certification industry passed through a Knesset committee.

Schneider and Rettig Gur discuss Kahana, a modern Orthodox politician with a significant army career as an air force colonel, who is close friends with prime minister Naftali Bennett.

Rettig Gur looks at the historical ramifications of Israel's church-and-state government, while Schneider highlights aspects of Kahana's religious leanings and his avowed statements to her about the place of religion in Israel.

Discussed articles include:

Plan for major kashrut reform advances through Knesset committee

Religious affairs minister said planning shakeup of religious councils

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

IMAGE: sraeli prime minister Naftali Bennett (C), Intelligence Minister Elazar Stern and Minister of Religious Affairs Matan Kahana (left) seen during a plenum session at the Knesset on November 8, 2021 (Courtesy 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.

Health and science correspondent Nathan Jeffay and Arab Affairs reporter Aaron Boxerman join host Jessica Steinberg today.

Jeffay offers some COVID updates, including the $4.3 million awarded by the Gates Foundation for the development of an Israeli variant-proof vaccine in tablet form, which would conceivably change the way people receive vaccines going forward.

Jeffay also discusses the work of a Tel Aviv University scientist who has identified the virus proteins that are triggering strokes and heart attacks in COVID-19 patients.

Boxerman looks at the pros and cons of a recently approved pilot project that would issue 500 work permits to West Bank Palestinian tech employees over three years, a shift that is less than seismic, he pointed out.

He also updates listeners about the recent movement in the ongoing legal battle over Jewish-owned homes in the Arab neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah in Jerusalem.

Discussed articles include:

Israeli plan for COVID vaccine tablet gets $4.3m from Bill Gates-backed fund

COVID proteins that trigger strokes and heart attacks identified by Israeli team

In first, government approves small quota of tech work permits for Palestinians

Sheikh Jarrah Palestinians reject Supreme Court deal to stave off evictions

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

IMAGE: Palestinian medical workers work on samples test, at the coronavirus lab of the Al-Ahli hospital, in the West Bank city of Hebron, March 16, 2021v(Photo by Wisam Hashlamoun/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.

ToI founding editor David Horovitz and Startup Israel editor Ricky Ben David join today's podcast, hosted by Jessica Steinberg.

Horovitz looks at the political ramifications of the budget passed more than a week prior to the November 14 deadline, what that means for the Bennett-Lapid coalition and for former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his plans for the opposition.

Ben-David discusses the different aspects of the budget, the reforms included and what it will take to actually enact the ambitious plans being called for in health, housing, education, finance, agriculture, kosher supervision and other areas.

Horovitz takes a look at the Friday scuffles at the Western Wall and the changes that could take place in the ongoing battles over religion in Israel, with Reform rabbi Gilad Kariv in the Knesset and the presence of the modern Orthodox, not ultra-Orthodox Minister of Religious Affairs Matan Kahane as well as the ultra-Orthodox parties currently in the opposition in the Knesset.

Finally, Ben-David updates us about the Herzliya company that won an Emmy for its television technology.

Discussed articles include:

Even with budget test passed, challenges threaten unity of diverse coalition

Feting new budget, PM says government will last out term, vows to honor rotation

Budget in hand, Bennett’s once-brittle coalition proves it can take on Netanyahu

How much of a revolution? 13 key reforms in Israel’s new state budget

Scuffles at Western Wall as hundreds of Haredim try to block progressive prayer

Labor MK sits out progressive prayer service at Western Wall to calm tensions

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IMAGE: Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid and Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman give a press conference in Jerusalem on November 6, 2021 (Photo by Ohad Zwigenberg/POOL)

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