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The Times of Israel Daily Briefing: Daily Summaries Delivered
by The Times of Israel
Your update on what’s important in Israel, the Middle East and The Jewish World.
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- Today20 min
Why Netanyahu got the side-door treatment at the White House
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House for his first in-person talks with US President Donald Trump since the Iran war began in February. Closed to the press, later statements about the meeting were laconic, with Israel describing it as “excellent” and “one of the best we’ve ever had,” and the White House calling the talks productive and positive. Magid reviews what we know about the meetup and hypothesizes why the long-awaited talks were held in such an atypically subdued fashion. We hear about overnight flare-ups in the Iran conflict after the regime targeted US forces in Jordan and the US and Saudi Arabia launched deadly strikes on Tehran-backed militias in Iraq, blaming them for drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities. How close were the sides to resuming the memorandum of understanding -- and what may happen now? Securing Saudi Arabia is the focus of our final item as well: Magid brings exclusive reporting on how Pakistani military chief Asim Munir leveraged a joint oil transport venture with Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Ahmad Vahidi to secure an agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia under which Tehran agreed to halt attacks against the Gulf kingdom. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Netanyahu: Meeting with Trump was one of our best ever; White House: Productive, positive Wary of perception that Israel driving war, Trump and Netanyahu opt to avoid optics altogether ‘He loved Israel’: Lindsey Graham eulogized by Trump and other dignitaries at DC funeral US-Saudi strikes target Iraqi pro-Iran militias as IRGC renews attacks on US forces Pakistan army chief leveraged private oil venture with IRGC head to shield Saudi Arabia Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Yesterday30 min
Points of friction as Trump and Netanyahu meet
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Editor David Horovitz joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with US President Donald Trump today in the White House, mediators believed they were close to a breakthrough that would revive the memorandum of understanding signed by the US and Iran last month. Reportedly, decisions are to be made following the leaders' meetup. Horovitz explains why resurrecting the MOU is not necessarily a positive step for Israel's aims and discusses other points of friction between the two leaders. Also on hand in Washington, DC, is Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who recently staged an attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea. What could Ukraine's flex mean for the balance of the conflict? Last week, Andy Burnham officially became Britain’s new Labour prime minister, raising questions about how he will navigate policy on Israel and rising antisemitism in his country. Horovitz discusses how Burnham came to office, who has so far been appointed to his government and how they may influence UK-Israel relations. And finally, we turn to Israel's upcoming October 27 election and reports last night that a new television poll showed Netanyahu neck and neck with his foremost challenger, former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot, when respondents were asked who they would choose to lead the country. How do these polls affect public opinion -- and how we report on the run-up to elections? Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Ahead of Netanyahu-Trump meeting, mediators believe US-Iran breakthrough near At odds with Trump on Iran, Netanyahu heads to DC to seek agreement where he still can Where does new UK premier Andy Burnham stand on Israel and antisemitism? UK PM Burnham’s new solicitor general met with Hamas in 2010 10 clues on how new UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband could deal with Israel Poll shows Eisenkot and Netanyahu neck and neck as public’s preferred PM Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Yitzchak Ledee.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 2 days ago26 min
Will Netanyahu-Trump meetup set stage for next Iran war?
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. After several nights without US strikes on Iranian targets, Israeli leaders still estimate that US President Donald Trump could soon be compelled to step up military action, according to Israeli reports. The US military has continued to send significant forces to Israel, including dozens of warplanes, refueling planes, air defenses and munitions — a similar deployment to the one that took place just before the US-Israeli war against Iran was launched in late February, according to the Kan broadcaster. At recording time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has boarded Israel's official Wing of Zion plane. Berman rolls out what he expects will be on the agenda for tomorrow's planned Trump-Netanyahu meetup. Netanyahu is set to attend the funeral of the late Republican senator Lindsey Graham. Yesterday, reports surfaced based on unaired footage seen by The Wall Street Journal that Netanyahu talked Graham out of convincing Trump to join Israel’s fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Berman shares other insights from the posthumously released excerpts from an upcoming documentary. Yesterday, after a deadly Friday shootout was sparked when settlers illegally entered a Nablus-area village, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed at a cabinet meeting to expand farming outposts and operations against Palestinian “terrorist strongholds” in the West Bank. This promise was made soon after leaked reports were published of Netanyahu's March condemnation of extremist settler violence. How do these conflicting statements play on the international stage? Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: As Trump pauses Iran strikes, Israel said to believe he’ll soon be forced to escalate Netanyahu says he’ll fly to DC for Tuesday meet with Trump, Graham memorial service; Trump confirms visit Netanyahu talked Graham out of lobbying Trump to join war on Hezbollah – report Netanyahu vows expanded operations against West Bank ‘terrorist strongholds’ Report: Cabinet quietly okayed plan to curb settler violence; PM called phenomenon ‘cancer’ Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Yitzhak Ledee filmed and edited this episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 3 days ago23 min
West Bank clashes turn deadly
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Legal correspondent Jeremy Sharon joins host Gabriella Jacobs for today's episode. We begin by reviewing Friday morning's gunfight in the northern West Bank village of Tell. A far-right hiking group of Israelis allegedly raided the town and a gunfight broke out between the Palestinian residents and Israeli hikers. Benayahu Mellet, a 32-year-old member of the neighboring Havat Gilad settlement’s civil security squad, was fatally shot by a Palestinian, along with Maj. Yuval Ezra, an IDF officer who had been dispatched to the scene. Four Palestinians were killed during the clash. Jeremy Sharon walks us through the parties involved in the fight and gives an overview of the different narratives surrounding why the group of settlers was in the area. How was the conflict initiated? From there we move on to discuss broader patterns in the West Bank since October 7, 2023. These include the rapid expansion of settlements in the area, and markedly higher rates of tensions and violence between Israeli and Palestinian residents. Following the break, we hone in on how Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has taken steps to entrench the powerful Settlements Administration agency he established in 2023. Sharon explains how these changes will help to continue expanding the settlement enterprise, and how they will make it more difficult for a new government to undo those gains. We hear about a variety of other ways the current administration has financed and supported the expansion of the settler movement. Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Yitzchak Ledee.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 4 days ago49 min
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib: Hamas still holds two million hostages
Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the head of Realign for Palestine, an Atlantic Council project that challenges entrenched narratives in the Israel and Palestine discourse. Alkhatib gives us an overview of the conditions on the ground right now in the Gaza Strip. We learn about an uptick in diseases such as chicken pox due to extreme unsanitary conditions and lack of vaccinations. There are new efforts to allow residents to open bank accounts -- but where is the money to be found even as paper bills are so worn they are disintegrating? Khalil al-Hayya has been elected to be the new leader of Hamas, the terror group announced Monday after months of speculation following a vote in the General Shura Council. We learn how, following the subjugation of protests in the Gaza Strip in late June, al-Hayya's annointing is another signal that the terror group is entrenching its ties with Iran and continuing consultations with Hezbollah. In the second half of the program, we discuss the intensity of support for Hamas in three population centers: the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Authority, and Jordan. Alkhatib's comment on the Palestinians living in the Hashemite Kingdom may surprise. Finally, Alkhatib describes his new short book, "Hamas and its Two Million Hostages." Part memoir, part explainer, the work is an attempt to offer an approachable take on the past almost three years of war and how Hamas's stranglehold is only tightening on the people in the Strip. And so this week, we ask Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, what matters now? What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 5 days ago41 min
The Reel Schmooze on 'Reading Lolita in Tehran': How the regime turned rotten
Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan, where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. This week, Hoffman starts the program with a unique dvar Torah, tying together the new blockbuster "The Odyssey" with James Joyce's "Ulysses" and antisemitism in Ireland. Goes well with white fish. Then we turn to the main event: "Reading Lolita in Tehran," which was directed by Israeli filmmaker Eran Riklis and is currently playing in select cinemas. Labeled "a memoir in books," the film is based on the bestselling autobiography by author Azar Nafisi, published in 2003. The film is divided into chapters based on famous literature, including "The Great Gatsby," "Daisy Miller," and "Pride and Prejudice." It stars Golshifteh Farahani (known from a Hoffman favorite, "Paterson"), Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Mina Kavani and Israeli mega-star entertainer Rita. Let's hear who gave this film an "oy," "meh" or the prized "not bad" this week on The Reel Schmooze. The Reel Schmooze is produced by Ari Schlacht and can be found wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 5 days ago31 min
Israel should worry about Saudi deal, but there is good news in Lebanon
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Lazar Focus. Each Friday, join host diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. Even for Israeli standards, it's been a pretty wild week in Israel's neighborhood. The ceasefire war between the US and Iran continues to escalate. The threats from US President Donald Trump against Iran grow ever more bombastic, but there is a real feeling that he might carry out a significant attack soon that goes well beyond the limited strikes that we have seen over the past two weeks. Of course, Iran is hitting back, primarily at Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, saying it is targeting US bases in those countries. The Iran-backed Houthis struck two Saudi oil tankers, as that conflict begins to heat up. Houthi threats to the Bab al-Mandeb would mean the Iranian axis is closing the two waterways connecting the Middle East and Europe to Asian markets. There was slightly better news to the north. After six rounds of direct talks and an agreement that envisions peace between Israel and Lebanon, Lebanese forces began moving into the first pilot zone vacated by Israeli forces. Joined by Times of Israel colleague Nava Freiberg, Lazar made sense of the interconnected but distinct theaters that Israeli leaders and citizens are paying close attention to. He explained what Iran is trying to do with its attack on Arab countries. It is determined to impose its reading of the MOU on the world, especially as it comes to control over the Strait of Hormuz. That is why it hasn't hit Israel. Iran knows that Israel, Lazar said, isn't about to run to Trump and ask him to give in to Iran's demands to get it stop firing. Instead, Israel would relish the opportunity to carry out some of the attacks that it had to call off in April, and would likely go well beyond what the Americans are doing. It doesn't make sense for Israel to go out of its way to get involved either. For now, Iran is being degraded, it isn't getting economic relief, and Trump is becoming increasingly frustrated with his Iranian interlocutors. Meanwhile, life is fairly normal in Israel, with flights returning to Ben Gurion Airport and citizens focusing on the election fight. Lazar also shed light on alternative energy pathways being developed in the wake of Iranian threats to the Strait of Hormuz. Israel might have an opportunity to be key element of some of these plans, but it has to change the tenor of relations with some of its Arab partners. Lazar explained why the Saudi-US nuclear deal is a problem for Israel. First of Israel, it shows that Israel is not being consulted by the White House on strategic decisions. In addition, it represents a potential proliferation risk, especially if the current regime in Riyadh is replaced. Turning to Lebanon, Lazar said that progress on the first pilot zone is undoubtedly a positive step. Still, the Lebanese army is incapable of taking on Hezbollah at this stage, and a lot will have to happen before disarming Hezbollah is a likely outcome. It will be important to help the Lebanese government show the public that negotiations with Israel achieve results, especially the return of some civilians to their homes. Lazar Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by Gabriella Jacobs and video edited by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 6 days ago23 min
Big whoop? Mamdani admits he can't arrest Netanyahu
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. News editor Ben Sales joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. The Iran-backed Houthis struck two Saudi oil tankers on Thursday that they accused of violating a naval blockade imposed by the group. These attacks signal a potential new front in the US-Iran conflict, as the US military struck Iran for the 12th successive night and Iran lashed out at its neighbors. Arguably related to stymying Iran and its ambitions, the United States and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday forged a new agreement that could potentially provide the kingdom with uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear program. We hear why Israel is worried. Overnight, the US House of Representatives narrowly passed its version of a massive defense policy bill, despite Democrats’ concerns about its huge price tag, the Iran war and a provision that would boost Pentagon ties to Israel. The NDAA includes several provisions that allocate hundreds of millions of dollars to US-Israel joint military projects. Sales explains the political considerations in voting for Israel aid right now. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday acknowledged that he cannot actually arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite his past pledges to do so. Most legal experts had come to that conclusion years ago. Why is this in the news right now? Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Yemen’s Houthis hit tankers in Red Sea as US strikes Iran for 12th consecutive night US confirms signing a nuclear cooperation pact with Saudi Arabia, to Israel’s alarm Mamdani’s vision of NY as ‘a city of international law’ runs up against reality Mamdani admits he lacks power to arrest Netanyahu, after repeated pledges to do so Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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