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.

Today's podcast guests are diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman and Arab Affair reporter Aaron Boxerman with Jessica Steinberg hosting.

Berman discusses prime minister Naftali Bennett's recent Friday meeting with Russian premier Vladimir Putin, and his own conversation with Russian-born Knesset minister Ze'ev Elkin, who serves as the prime minister's translator when in Russia.

Boxerman offers some insights as to Defense Minister Benny Gantz's surprise announcement on Friday, declaring six Palestinian human rights groups to be “terror organizations," which caught the groups by surprise and is a situation that is still unfolding.

Boxerman also updates listeners about the status of the coronavirus and vaccinations in the Palestinian territories, where financial incentives have helped bring the numbers up.

Berman speaks about the recent five-day visit of India's foreign minister to Israel, with an in-depth look at the planned Arabian-Mediterranean Corridor that would form a regional economic network.

Discussed articles include:

Bennett wraps up Russia trip, gets invite from Putin to visit again

Gantz declares six Palestinian rights groups ‘terror organizations’

Palestinian rights groups push back after Israel outlaws 6 for terrorism

Expanded Israel-India ties start taking shape, after the Netanyahu-Modi bromance

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IMAGE: Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speak during their meeting in Sochi, Russia, Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett Friday for their first meeting, hailing friendly ties between the two countries. (Evgeny Biyatov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo 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.

Startup Israel editor Ricky Ben-David and science and health correspondent Nathan Jeffay join the podcast today, hosted by Jessica Steinberg.

Jeffay discusses results of two new studies, including one which found that almost one in three ultra-Orthodox Israelis has been infected with the coronavirus, showing that the large, tight-knit communities and close family quarters were some of the factors that brought about the high number of cases.

Ben-David takes a look at the agreement signed between Israel and the United Arab Emirates to collaborate on a number of space projects, including the Beresheet 2 space mission to the moon. Both countries have significant research and experience to contribute to the projects, said Ben-David.

Jeffay speaks about the advanced 3D technology used to successfully reconstruct the jaw of an IDF soldier who was shot in the face, and Ben-David talks about the new, foldable cars created by an Israeli automotive company that will allow for squeezing into tight spots in busy cities like Tel Aviv.

Discussed articles include:

1 in 3 Haredim caught coronavirus, double the national average – study

Large Israeli study finds Pfizer COVID shot keeps teens safe from Delta strain

New Israel-UAE agreement to promote innovation-based business ties

Israel, UAE to launch joint space projects, including Beresheet 2 Moon mission

After IDF soldier takes bullet to face, doctors rebuild his jaw in high-tech op

Israeli ‘foldable’ electric cars to make debut as emergency response vehicles

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IMAGE: Ultra Orthodox Jews walk in the Ultra orthodox town of Bnei Brak on October 14, 2020, during a nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Photo by 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.

Today's guests are senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur and political reporter Tal Schneider, with Raoul Wootliff hosting.

On today's show, we look at the physical fight that took place yesterday between Religious Zionism MK Itamar Ben Gvir and Joint List chair Ayman Odeh, and ask what it says about Israeli politics today.

And, following 26th-anniversary memorials for slain prime minister Yitzhak Rabin this week, we assess the ongoing battle over the lessons to be learned from the 1995 assassination of Israel's premier: how former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is still trying to challenge the stain of being part of the climate of hostility toward Rabin; Foreign Minister Yair Lapid's bitter speech over the "heirs" of Rabin's murderers; and the Rabin family celebrating Netanyahu's fall.

Discussed articles include:

Far-right and Arab MKs scuffle during visit to hunger-striking terror suspect

Law for one and one for brawl: What the press is saying about Knesset tussles

Lapid: Rabin assassin’s ‘ideological heirs’ are serving in Knesset today

Shaked slams coalition partners after Rabin memorial: ‘Stop the wild incitement’

At memorials, Rabin family hails gov’t that toppled Netanyahu: ‘The people won’

Netanyahu to skip official ceremony marking 26 years since Rabin assassination

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PHOTO: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a memorial service marking 23 years since the assassination of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, at Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem, on October 21, 2018. (Marc Israel Sellem/Pool/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's guests are diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman and US reporter Jacob Magid, hosted by Jessica Steinberg.

Berman discusses the possible candidates for Jewish Agency chairpeople, now that Intelligence Minister Elazar Stern’s candidacy has been withdrawn.

He fills us in on the politics of filling the position, and what's needed in this significant job that oversees the cross-section of the global Jewish community and Israel.

Berman also speaks about Swedish foreign minister Ann Linde's visit to Israel, the first by a Swedish official in over a decade, as relations between the two countries have thawed in recent months.

Magid tells the podcast about the recent visit of Israeli ambassador Gilad Erdan to the South Side of Chicago, where an Israel trauma model is being used to cope with gun violence. He discusses the motivation of the Israeli embassy to work on a grassroots level in the US, finding a way to connect to communities and minorities.

Discussed articles include:

Jewish Agency postpones vote for chairman after Stern scandal

In decade’s 1st Israel visit by a Swedish FM, Linde vows to combat antisemitism

Enough of MLK and Heschel: Israel outreach in Chicago aims to form new narrative

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IMAGE: View of the Jewish Agency headquarters in Jerusalem, November 29, 2016. (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's guests are ToI editor David Horovitz and Arab Affairs correspondent Aaron Boxerman with Jessica Steinberg hosting.

Joining me today are founding editor David H and Arab Affairs Correspondent Aaron Boxerman.

With another Arab man gunned down Monday, Israel marks the 100th Arab homicide in 2021, and Boxerman and Horovitz what that means in terms of the crime wave in Israel and whether the Israel Police should have expanded tools to cut down on crime.

Horovitz looks at the Justice Ministry's decision to wipe out the NIS 65 million ($20 million) debt owed to the state by billionaire Idan Ofer for utilizing the country’s natural saltwater by his company, Dead Sea Works, and the effect that use has had on the diminishing waters of the Dead Sea.

Steinberg follows with a conversation about the Sunday photo shoot at the Dead Sea, when American artist Spencer Tunick photographed 200 volunteers modeling nude, in an effort to raise awareness about the shrinking waters of the Dead Sea.

Finally, Horovitz mentions TV show "Goliath," currently in its fourth season, tackling the thinly veiled subject of a major pharmaceutical family -- akin to the Sacklers -- and the current opiod epidemic.

Discussed articles include:

Man gunned down in Bi’na, marking 100th Arab Israeli homicide in 2021

Government moves to expand warrantless police searches to fight Arab crime

TV: State wipes out NIS 65 million debt owed by billionaire for Dead Sea water

Nude and painted white, 200 volunteer models pose at endangered Dead Sea

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IMAGE: Police at the scene of where Sahar Ismail, the Education minister's aide for Arab society, was found murdered in his home, in the northern Israeli town of Rameh. August 15, 2021. Photo by 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.

Today's guests are military correspondent Judah Ari Gross and senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur, with Raoul Wootliff hosting.

On today's show, we open with the alleged Israeli assassination of Midhat as-Saleh, once jailed in Israel on security-related crimes and since connected to Syrian intelligence, who was reportedly shot dead over the weekend in the Syrian town of Ain Eltinah.

We'll assess the latest settler violence towards both Palestinians and Israeli security forces in the West Bank.

And, we look at the killing of UK politician David Amess and ask what the rest of the world can learn from Israel's experience of politicide.

Discussed articles include:

Israel kills ex-security prisoner, intel agent near Golan border: Syrian media

Syria denounces Israel for allegedly killing ex-security prisoner, intel agent

Settlers light fires, throw rocks towards Palestinian home during clashes

Palestinian olive pickers attacked by large group of settlers, PA says

Terror suspect in murder of British MP David Amess identified

UK police: MP Amess killing was terrorism, potentially tied to Islamic extremism

Terrorist murder of David Amess threatens tradition of UK MPs’ ‘surgeries’

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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 guests are founding ToI editor David Horovitz and Startup Israel editor Ricky Ben-David with Jessica Steinberg hosting.

Horovitz discusses the recent ceremony he attended honoring WWII Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara, attended by his son Nobuki Sugihara, and their conversation about the father's bravery during his posting in Hungary, when he saved lives and future lives by churning out transit visas.

Ben-David follows with a look at why Israel’s tech sector is breaking capital-funding records in 2021, pointing to the more mature Silicon Wadi, second- and third-time entrepreneurs who have also spent time at tech giants, forging their own connections and contacts and technologies that require larger capital.

Horovitz also talks about the recent ransomware attack on Hillel Yaffe hospital in Hadera, an institution that was following cybersecurity protocol and is now dealing with the ramifications of the attack.

Ben-David discusses her interview with an Israeli expert regarding Facebook and the recent whistleblower testimony that will presumably change the trajectory of the social media company. She also offers a birds'-eye view of a drone-food delivery to reporters on the Tel Aviv beach.

Discussed articles include:

81 years later, Chiune Sugihara’s humanity continues to enable new lives

Israeli tech firms raised staggering $17.8b this year, almost double 2020 total

Israel on heightened alert after hospital hit with ransomware attack

Israeli hospital hit with ransomware attack

Regulation takes time but it’s coming for Facebook, says Israeli law expert

Drones deliver sushi, beer in Tel Aviv as Israel tests commercial UAVs

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IMAGE: The third out of eight phases of the National Drone Initiative's pilot project to create a national drone network, where amongst others the drones would be able to deliver food and medicine through an application, in Tel Aviv, on October 11, 2021 (Photo by 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 editor Nathan Jeffay and senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur join Jessica Steinberg on today's podcast.

Jeffay tells us about the encouraging falling coronavirus infection rates, and what that means for Israelis, and particularly for school-age kids.

Rettig-Gur discusses the Likud party's division into two camps, one supporting Benjamin Netanyahu and the other aiming to be rid of him, with Likud MK Yuli Edelstein vying to lead the latter group.

Finally, Jeffay talks about masking policies in the UK, where he recently visited, vis a vis standards in Israel, and what a lack of masks portends in society.

Discussed articles include:

Virus czar ‘optimistic’ about COVID-19 decline, but says restrictions to remain

Likud MKs pan ‘subversive’ Edelstein for challenging Netanyahu as party leader

Poll shows scant support for Edelstein in Likud leadership battle with Netanyahu

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PHOTO: Medical clowns wearing safety gear as they visit patients in the coronavirus ward of Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem, on February 3, 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.

Today's guests are US correspondent Jacob Magid and breaking news editor Emanuel Fabian, with Raoul Wootliff hosting.

On today's show, we start with an update on recent violence at the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem and near the West Bank settlement of Yitzhar.

We hear from Magid about his recent interview with the Palestinian Authority's ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour and how the Palestinians are trying to engage with the US.

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid lands today in the US. We look at what's in store on his trip.

And to finish the show, we hear about the tanks of the future being developed in Israel.

Discussed articles include:

Police, Palestinians clash by Damascus Gate for third consecutive night

Extremist settlers injure cop in clash near flashpoint West Bank settlement

Visiting US envoy raises human rights with Israelis, terror payments with PA

Lapid takes off for Washington ahead of likely restart of Iran nuclear talks

Defense Ministry selects IAI to lead development of Israel’s tanks of the future

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PHOTO: Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Karen Riyad Mansour listens to speakers during a meeting on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019 at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

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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 guests are political correspondent Tal Schneider and Arab affairs writer Aaron Boxerman with Jessica Steinberg hosting.

Schneider offers the scoop on Intelligence Minister Elazar Stern of Yesh Atid and his media apologies on Sunday regarding his comment about shredding anonymous complaints while IDF manpower chief.

Boxerman follows with a look at the history and plans for nearly NIS 35 billion ($10.3 billion) in the government budget for the Arab community over the next five years.

He and Schneider discuss the deep, pervasive needs in Arab villages and cities, including the ongoing internal violence stemming from systemic gang violence and a lack of options for many Arab citizens.

Schneider speaks about German chancellor Angela Merkel's visit in Israel, which didn't include any time spent with former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a surprise given their long working relationship.

Finally, Boxerman mentions an Arab-Jewish group he attended in Jerusalem Sunday night, a surprisingly friendly group of conversationalists.

Discussed articles include:

Ex-soldier says Elazar Stern threatened her for claiming sex assault by officer

As unprecedented billions planned for under-served Arabs, devil’s in the details

Merkel on farewell trip: Israel’s security will always be a priority for Germany

Laying a wreath at Yad Vashem, Merkel says museum is a ‘reminder’ and ‘warning’

Bennett said to tell Merkel Israel wants to advance controversial submarine deal

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IMAGE: View of the main road in the Arab-Israeli village of Majd al-Krum, near the northern Israeli city of Karmiel, on November 8, 2017 (Photo by Hadas Parush/Flash90)

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