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.

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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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.

The Knesset on last night passed Israel’s first budget in over three years, averting the prospect of immediate early elections, as Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s coalition sought to overcome its differences and opposition objection to approve a series of bills meant to guide the country’s spending until the end of 2022.

Schneider and Retting Gur assess the momentous occasion in the life of the new government and ask what it means for the coalition, moving forward.

Discussed articles include:

Coalition passes 2021 budget, first in 3.5 years, averting early election threat

Coalition leaders cheer approval of state budget after ‘years of chaos’

In key test for government, Knesset votes on state budget, first since 2018

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PHOTO: Knesset members attend a plenum session and a vote on the state budget in the Knesset in Jerusalem, November 3, 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.

Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman and environmental reporter Sue Surkes join host Jessica Steinberg during today's podcast.

Berman speaks about Bennett's meetings with world leaders that were above and beyond expectations, as he engaged in a "diplomatic tsunami," said Berman, quoting one of the attending diplomats.

Many spoke with Bennett about Israel's experiences with the coronavirus, given the country's high vaccination rate and success with lockdowns. Those conversations led into other conversations about Iran and the need to recalibrate talks to figure out what's next, said Berman.

Berman also pointed out Bennett's far more personal meeting last night with England's chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, back at his hotel.

Surkes discusses Israel's participation in a Middle East climate plan put forward by Cyprus, a competition set forward by Israel's Foreign Ministry for an innovative Green Standard that its Jerusalem headquarters and missions abroad will have to meet.

Surkes also offers a more closeup look to the conference, to conversations she's had with fellow reporters and attendees, as smaller and larger nations look for a way forward from the climate change crisis.

Discussed articles include:

In Glasgow, world leaders seek new way forward on Iran — Israeli official

Israel to establish climate change working group with Bill Gates foundation

Bennett closes Glasgow trip with emotional visit with British chief rabbi

Regional leaders set to ratify Middle East climate plan next year

Foreign Ministry to get embassies, consulates competing for Green Standard

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IMAGE: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, is introduced to Israel's Energy Minister Karine Elharrar, second left, during a meeting with Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, center, on the sidelines of the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. The U.N. climate summit in Glasgow gathers leaders from around the world, in Scotland's biggest city, to lay out their vision for addressing the common challenge of global warming. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, 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.

Today's podcast guests are US correspondent Jacob Magid and investigative reporter Simona Weinglass, hosted by Jessica Steinberg.

Magid discusses US officials' reactions to the latest settlement approvals deep in the West Bank, after defense minister Benny Gantz had claimed he could limit the scope of construction.

Weinglass unpacks two investigative pieces on the site, regarding raids carried out by the FBI and German police against Israeli investment scammers, and cracking down on the owners and operators of web platforms underpinning illegal websites and call centers.

Steinberg describes the scene at the press tour of the long awaited Yayoi Kusama retrospective at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, where fans wore polka-dotted outfits in honor of the 92-year-old Japanese artist and her  infinity rooms and large-scale installations at the exhibit.

Discussed articles include:

‘Playing with fire’: By building deep in the West Bank, Israel risks DC’s wrath

October surprise: Who’s who in the unprecedented wave of investment scam raids

In major shift, Germany begins targeting platforms driving Israel’s online fraud

Massive Yayoi Kusama exhibit at TLV Museum of Art offers thrills and wonder

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IMAGE: In this Monday, Oct. 25, 2021 file photo, Palestinian laborers work building new houses in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Bruchin near the Palestinian town of Nablus, Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. An Israeli settlement monitor said Wednesday that Israel has approved about 3,000 settler homes in the occupied West Bank. The decision by a government committee came a day after the Biden administration issued its strongest condemnation yet of the proposed construction. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit, 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.

Today's podcast guests are political correspondent Tal Schneider and health and science writer Nathan Jeffay, hosted by Jessica Steinberg.

Schneider calls in from the opening of Glasgow summit, where she, diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman and environmental reporter Sue Surkes will be reporting for the next 48 hours.

While the topics at the conference are climate change, politics will also be under discussion with more than 120 world leaders present, including Israel's prime minister Naftali Bennett, who will use the opportunity to meet and greet his colleagues, said Schneider.

Jeffay discusses the welcome news of Israel opening its borders for the first time since March 2020 to tourists who are vaccinated against COVID-19 or have recovered from the disease. That does exclude most children and the regulations are very specific with regard to only those vaccinated within the last six months, but it is a start, according to Jeffay.

Jeffay also speaks about ambitious Israeli research expected to lead to better diagnosis and treatment for autism, a project based out of Beersheba.

Discussed articles include:

Bennett says Israel to set up fund to encourage investment in green technology

For first time in 20 months, Israel welcomes back tourists

With massive donation, Israel autism center aims to ‘impact policy worldwide’

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PHOTO: Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (C) meets British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (L) and UN Secretary-General Antonia Guterres at the COP26 UN climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, November 1, 2021. (Haim Zach/GPO)

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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 military correspondent Judah Ari Gross are on today's podcast, hosted by Raoul Wootliff.

On today's show, we start with a look at the week-long IDF national exercise beginning today, testing response to massive barrages of rockets, precision missiles, and multiple chemical attacks.

We assess the recent allegations of hacking by Iran against Israel -- and by Israel against Iran.

We take a look at the Glasgow climate conference which begins today and which prime minister Naftali Bennett is flying to this evening.

And finally, we hear from Horovitz about his recent trip to the UK where he got to see Van Gogh's 'Wheatstacks' and what is claimed to be the world's oldest constantly used synagogue.

Discussed articles include:

Learning from May war, IDF simulates battle with Hezbollah amid domestic strife

Most Iran gas stations still offline three days after cyberattack

Iran official blames Israel, US for cyberattack that crippled gas stations

Suspected Iranian hackers publish user information from Israeli LGBT site

PM: Israeli tech must pivot from making cool apps to fighting climate change

Israel joins growing number of countries pledging to be carbon neutral by 2050

The day I got to see Van Gogh’s Nazi-seized ‘Wheatstacks,’ from both sides

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PHOTO: Police officers clash with Arab Israeli rioters in Ramle in central Israel, on May 10, 2021.(Yossi Aloni/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.

Ops and blogs editor Miriam Hershlag and reporter Amy Spiro join today's host, Jessica Steinberg.

Spiro begins with a look at her recent interview with the new head of Israel’s Reform movement, Anna Kislanski, who grew up secular in Moscow, and discovered Reform Judaism in Israel, as a young adult.

She and Herschlag discuss the larger issue of secular Israelis and Russian immigrants in particular, given the struggle over the lack of civil marriage in Israel.

Along those lines, Herschlag describes a blog recently written by a Russian immigrant to Israel whose pandemic-era marriage through the US state of Utah, conducted online, isn't considered legal by Israel, forcing the young couple to move to Europe.

Finally, Herschlag mentions recent posts written in memory of the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, who died one year ago.

Discussed articles include:

The new head of Israel’s Reform movement is cautiously optimistic

Forced to leave Israel by Rabbinate and Interior Ministry

Lessons in leadership from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks zt”l

Jonathan Sacks, morality and Facebook algorithms

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IMAGE: Members of the Women of the Wall movement hold Rosh Hodesh prayers as thousands of ultra-Orthodox women protest against them at the Western Wall in Jerusalem Old City, March 8, 2019. (Photo by Hadas Parush/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.

Senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur and health correspondent Nathan Jeffay are on today's podcast, hosted by Raoul Wootliff.

On today's show, we assess the decision of FDA advisers to back administering the Pfizer vaccine to US children ages 5-11, paving way for Israel to follow.

We look at where Israel currently stands in its fight with the virus and ask what it needs to do now to ensure the fading Delta variant or other variants don’t return.

With the deadline for the government to pass a budget just two and a half weeks away, the coalition appears to be preoccupied with infighting. We look at the battles between the government's left and right-wing parties and try to predict what might happen after the budget is, possibly, passed.

And finally, we hear the latest on the Netanyahu corruption trial and assess the damage the new stage of testimonies could cause to the former prime minister.

Discussed articles include:

FDA advisers back Pfizer shot for ages 5-11, paving way for Israel to follow

After FDA nod, Israel gears up to start vaccinating 5- to 11-year-olds

Health officials say Israel could start vaccinating kids 5-11 by mid-November

With 1.75 million unvaxxed or not boosted, Israel risks dropping ball – expert

Coalition increasingly split on left-right lines as budget deadline looms

Opposition drops boycott of Knesset committees after court ruling

Netanyahu trial turns to alleged benefits he provided Bezeq telecom company

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PHOTO: Children enter 1st grade on their first day of the new academic year at the Pola school in Jerusalem, September 1, 2021 (Yossi Zamir/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 environmental reporter Sue Surkes are on today's podcast, hosted by Jessica Steinberg.

Magid discusses the reopening of the US consulate in Jerusalem,  considered the defacto mission to the Palestinians closed by Trump. While Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced in May that the US would be reopening its consulate in Jerusalem, little progress has been made, a situation examined by Magid in a recent analysis piece.

Magid looks at why Israel didn't sign a joint statement at the United Nations last week expressing concern over Beijing’s treatment of its Muslim Uighurs.

He also examines a statement by a senior Sudanese diplomat, saying that the military’s takeover of that country is not expected to dramatically affect the normalization process with the Jewish state.

Surkes talks about Israel's 120-strong delegation to Glasgow climate talks, which she will be joining.

She also discusses the highlights of her recent feature about why Israel is taking so long to move ahead with solar power, and the decision by the UAE to distance itself from a controversial plan to channel oil from the Gulf to Europe via an overland pipeline through Israel.

Discussed articles include:

Dragging out consulate reopening, Biden does Israel a favor, but not himself

In effort to placate China, Israel refrains from signing UN statement on Uighurs

Sudanese diplomat to Israeli TV: Coup won’t dramatically impact normalization

Israel sending 120-strong delegation to Glasgow climate talks

UAE says nixing pipeline agreement won’t damage ties with Israel

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IMAGE: View of the U.S. Consulate General on Agron Street in Central Jerusalem, Israel, March 4, 2019. Photo by 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.

Today, Jessica Steinberg hosts, joined by political correspondent Tal Schneider and military reporter Judah Ari Gross.

Gross reports on the comments made Sunday by a former Israeli general regarding the IDF bombing of a tower that housed The Associated Press in the Gaza Strip during May’s conflict, calling it a "mistake."

He and Schneider then discuss the ongoing public relations hubbub over Defense Minister Benny Gantz's statement regarding six Palestinian civil society groups that are now being designated terror organizations by Israel.

Finally, Schneider offers a heads up about her latest investigative story about Israel’s aviation database that will gather every kind of information about travelers, including their credit card numbers, airport purchases and seat placement.

Discussed articles include:

Former IDF general: Bombing AP tower in Gaza in May conflict was an ‘own goal’

Shin Bet, Foreign Ministry rep heading to US over outlawed Palestinian groups

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IMAGE: In this May 15, 2021 file photo, the al-Jalaa building housing the offices of The Associated Press and other media and home to dozens of families, collapses after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City. On Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, Human Rights Watch a leading international human rights group, said Israeli airstrikes that demolished four high-rise buildings in the Gaza Strip, including the al-Jalaa building, during the May war apparently violated international laws of war. HRW called on the Israeli military to produce evidence justifying the attacks. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa, File)

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