The Times of Israel
Day 535 - IDF strikes Hamas leadership, preps for larger operation
- Title
- Day 535 - IDF strikes Hamas leadership, preps for larger operation
- Runtime
- 25:30
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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.
Military reporter Emanuel Fabian (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/emanuel-fabian/) joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today's Daily Briefing.
A 85-year-old man has been shot dead in a terror attack near the northern town of Yokne’am. Another person, later identified as a 20-year-old soldier, was seriously injured. Fabian updates us with initial accounts of the attack.
A string of senior Hamas officials have been targeted by the IDF in the past week. We learn about the uptick in their assassinations and who several of these figures are.
On Sunday morning, the IDF announced that it had restarted ground operations in northern Gaza’s Beit Hanoun a day earlier. With the former humanitarian zon...
- Title
- Friday Focus with Lazar Berman: Will Israel and Lebanon finally have a border?
- Runtime
- 32:20
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus (https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/friday-focus/) . Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe.
Last week, Berman reported (https://www.timesofisrael.com/senior-israeli-official-says-new-talks-with-lebanon-aimed-at-normalizing-ties/) that Israel is aiming to establish full diplomatic relations with Lebanon in talks that could open as early as next month. After the military-to-military meeting in the United Nations peacekeeping headquarters in Naqoura, Israel and Lebanon agreed to open negotiations to delineate the border between the two countries, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
For today's Friday Focus, we go back in time to understand how Lebanon and Israel were formed in order to discuss the evolving relations between the two countries today.
- Title
- Day 534 - Why Columbia U is a lightning rod for anti-Israel activism
- Runtime
- 23:17
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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.
NY correspondent Luke Tress (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/luke-tress/) joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today's Daily Briefing.
Columbia University has agreed to a series of changes demanded by the Trump Administration as a precondition for restoring $400 million in federal funding the government pulled this month over the school’s handling of antisemitism on campus amid pro-Palestinian protests against Israel. Tress has been covering the anti-Israel protests that have erupted since October 7, 2023, when Hamas slaughtered 1,200 in southern Israel. We speak about new measures that Columbia is taking — especially the restriction of face masks — and discuss whether they will change the intensity of the protests.
...
- Title
- Day 533 - David Horovitz on external threats and internal divisions
- Runtime
- 32:16
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/david-horovitz/) joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today's Daily Briefing, which is a bonus episode of our weekly What Matters Now series.
Recording at noon on Thursday in ToI's Jerusalem office ahead of a planned fateful cabinet vote on the firing of Shin Bet head Ronen Bar tonight, Horovitz attempts to summarize this fraught Israeli moment.
As Israel Defense Forces troops are again entering the Gaza Strip for ground operations, fears of a crumbling Israeli democracy are bringing thousands to the streets, alongside others who reject the notion of a renewed war in Gaza without a hostage deal first.
Horovitz takes us through a litany of i...
- Title
- Day 532 - Israel's Shin Bet head fired in unprecedented vote
- Runtime
- 40:51
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 reporter Lazar Berman (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/lazar-berman/) joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today's Daily Briefing, which will be followed by a full episode of ToI's newest series, the Friday Focus with Lazar Berman (https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/friday-focus/) .
For the first time in Israeli history, the government has fired the head of the domestic security agency.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet voted unanimously in the early hours of Friday morning to dismiss Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. If no other replacement is sworn in first, Bar's final day will be April 10.
Among others, Israeli opposition parties Yesh Atid, National Unity, Yisrael Beytenu, a...
- Title
- Friday Focus with Lazar Berman: Will Israel and Lebanon finally have a border?
- Runtime
- 33:09
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe.
Last week, Berman reported that Israel is aiming to establish full diplomatic relations with Lebanon in talks that could open as early as next month. After the military-to-military meeting in the United Nations peacekeeping headquarters in Naqoura, Israel and Lebanon agreed to open negotiations to delineate the border between the two countries, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
For today's Friday Focus, we go back in time to understand how Lebanon and Israel were formed in order to discuss the evolving relations between the two countries today.
We hear about the push-pull between the British and the French, who each shepherded their fledgling nations and indelibly marked the map of the Middle East.
Finally,...
- Title
- What Matters Now to David Horovitz: Terrible external threats, tremendous internal division
- Runtime
- 32:16
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 The Times of Israel editor David Horovitz.
Recording at noon in ToI's Jerusalem office ahead of a planned fateful cabinet vote on the firing of Shin Bet head Ronen Bar tonight, Horovitz attempts to summarize this fraught Israeli moment.
As the Israel Defense Forces troops are again entering the Gaza Strip for ground operations, fears of a crumbling Israeli democracy are bringing thousands to the streets, alongside others who reject the notion of a renewed war in Gaza without a hostage deal first.
Horovitz takes us through a litany of issues fueling the domestic strife and assesses how Israel again finds itself at a crossroads.
"All of us want Israel to survive and to thrive and we have two things simultaneously: We have terrible threa...
- Title
- Day 531 - IDF renews ground operations in Gaza Strip
- Runtime
- 28:24
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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.
Military reporter Emanuel Fabian (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/emanuel-fabian/) joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today's Daily Briefing.
This morning, the Israeli military said it has deployed troops along the coast of the far north of the Gaza Strip, as well as in the Netzarim Corridor and in the southern Gaza Strip. We discuss the ongoing airstrikes -- and how targets are chosen -- and the potential goals of the increased ground operation so far.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels issued a statement claiming responsibility for the ballistic missile fired at Israel overnight, saying the Palestine-2 projectile targeted Ben Gurion Airport. Earlier, on Tuesday evening, the Houthis also launched a ballistic missile at Isr...
- Title
- Day 530 - US offers full support but no comment from Trump
- Runtime
- 25:23
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jacob-magid/) joins host Jessica Steinberg (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jessica-steinberg/) for today's Daily Briefing.
As Israel continued to bombard parts of the Gaza Strip for the second night in a row, Magid discusses the full-throttled support for Israel from the US. He comments that the Trump administration believes that Hamas is at fault, and the terror organization could have released hostages but refused and chose war instead. Magid comments on the shift from the Biden administration and the fact that US President Donald Trump hasn't yet commented on the military pressure.
Magid looks at the latest with hostage envoy Adam Boehler after his unsuccessful attempts to negotiate directly with Hamas,...
- Title
- Day 529 - With US backing, Israel ends ceasefire in Gaza
- Runtime
- 19:19
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 reporter Lazar Berman (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/lazar-berman/) joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today's Daily Briefing.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas collapsed early this morning after roughly two months, as the Israel Defense Forces launched dozens of strikes throughout Gaza and issued evacuation orders for parts of the Strip. We work through what brought Israel to the renewal of more intensive fighting.
Yesterday, US President Donald Trump declared he would hold Iran directly responsible for any future attacks by Yemen’s Tehran-backed Houthi rebels, who recently claimed to have targeted a US aircraft carrier and other foreign ships in the Red Sea. Berman weighs in on this new app...
- Title
- Day 529 - With US backing, Israel ends ceasefire in Gaza
- Runtime
- 20:00
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 reporter Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's Daily Briefing.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas collapsed early this morning after roughly two months, as the Israel Defense Forces launched dozens of strikes throughout Gaza under orders from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who cited the terror group’s “repeated refusal” to release Israeli hostages. We back up and try to understand what brought Israel to the renewal of more intensive fighting.
US President Donald Trump on Monday declared he will hold Iran directly responsible for any future attacks by Yemen’s Tehran-backed Houthi rebels, who recently claimed to have targeted a US aircraft carrier and other foreign ships in the Red Sea. Berman weighs in on this new approach by the Trump administration, which ha...
- Title
- Day 528 - What happens to security if the PM fires the Shin Bet head?
- Runtime
- 30:23
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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.
Military reporter Emanuel Fabian (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/emanuel-fabian/) joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today's Daily Briefing.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed on Monday to have twice attacked an American aircraft carrier group within 24 hours, calling it retaliation for deadly US strikes. How is Israel preparing for any retaliation as well?
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar for an urgent meeting in his office yesterday evening and informed him that the cabinet would vote for his dismissal later in the week. The role of Shin Bet chief is one of the most important for Israel’s security. Fabian weighs in on how the upcoming dismissal could potentially s...
- Title
- Day 528 - What happens to security if the PM fires the Shin Bet head?
- Runtime
- 31:54
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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.
Military reporter Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's Daily Briefing.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed on Monday to have twice attacked an American aircraft carrier group within 24 hours, calling it retaliation for deadly US strikes. How is Israel preparing for any retaliation as well?
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar for an urgent meeting in his office yesterday evening and informed him that the cabinet would vote for his dismissal later in the week. The role of Shin Bet chief is one of the most important for Israel’s security. Fabian weighs in on how the upcoming dismissal could potentially shake the country’s deterrence or security standing and we hear who may be in the running to replace Bar.
The Israel Defense Forc...
- Title
- Day 527 - Haredi groups help yeshiva students dodge draft
- Runtime
- 19:21
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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.
Political correspondent Sam (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/sam-sokol/) Sokol (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/sam-sokol/) joins host Jessica Steinberg (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jessica-steinberg/) for today's Daily Briefing.
As the IDF faces problems recruiting reserve troops after more than 15 months of war and mounting anger against the ultra-Orthodox for not shouldering the burden, Sokol discusses the latest in the Haredi draft issue, coming to a head in the current budget debates.
Sokol says the various ultra-Orthodox parties are playing this issue differently, although they all appear to want the same thing: exemptions for yeshiva students and will use different tactics to achieve their goals.
He also describes his ongoing...
- Title
- Day 526 - Micah Goodman on what Israel can trust about Hamas
- Runtime
- 38:27
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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.
Public intellectual Micah Goodman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today's Daily Briefing, a bonus episode of ToI's weekly podcast series, What Matters Now.
As 24 living hostages languish in Gaza, Israel finds itself at a crossroads: Will the nation sign a deal with the terrorist group the Jewish state is bent on destroying or return to war against Hamas to apply pressure for the captives' release?
Goodman explains how both sides of this argument see their position as protecting the nation. We hear, however, how the twin quests for national security and solidarity may appear to be in conflict with each other -- and how to overcome that paradox.
And as Goodman pushes for Israel to sign a deal to re...
- Title
- Day 525 - With Hamas immovable, extended ceasefire prospects dim
- Runtime
- 42:06
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jacob-magid/) joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today's Daily Briefing.
Children across the Diaspora came to school wearing Batman costumes in honor of the slain Bibas boys, Kfir and Ariel. And last night, thousands came to Tel Aviv's Hostages Square for the Purim eve reading of the Book of Esther. The gathering, which includes Israelis from different communities, sectors and denominations, included a call for the return of the 59 remaining hostages in one release. But that doesn’t appear to be the proposal on the table, currently.
We discuss reports out of Doha, which indicate a revision to a previously suggested proposal from US envoy Steve Witkof...
- Title
- Friday Focus with Lazar Berman: Dramatic saga of the temporary Israel-Iran alliance
- Runtime
- 30:25
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus (https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/friday-focus/) . Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe.
Today, as the Jewish world celebrates the holiday of Purim, we delve into the State of Israel's turbulent history with modern Iran.
We begin with a quick recap of the story of Purim, which takes place in Ancient Persia in the 4th century BCE. Jerusalem's First Temple had been destroyed over 50 years earlier, and the dispersed Jews were subjects of the Persian empire, which extended over some 127 nations.
The Book of Esther, an extra-biblical book, relates that evil Haman, an advisor to King Ahasuerus, convinced the king to agree to the execution of Jews of his empire. His plot is thwarted by the secret Jew Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai.
- Title
- Friday Focus with Lazar Berman: Dramatic saga of the temporary Israel-Iran alliance
- Runtime
- 31:10
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe.
Today, as the Jewish world celebrates the holiday of Purim, we delve into the State of Israel's turbulent history with modern Iran.
We begin with a quick recap of the story of Purim, which takes place in Ancient Persia in the 4th century BCE. Jerusalem's First Temple had been destroyed over 50 years earlier, and the dispersed Jews were subjects of the Persian empire, which extended over some 127 nations.
The Book of Esther, an extra-biblical book, relates that evil Haman, an advisor to King Ahasuerus, convinced the king to agree to the execution of Jews of his empire. His plot is thwarted by the secret Jew Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai.
Fast forward to 1948 and the relations between the Iranian and Je...
- Title
- What Matters Now to Micah Goodman: What Israel can trust about Hamas
- Runtime
- 38:27
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 philosopher and author Dr. Micah Goodman.
As 24 living hostages languish in Gaza, Israel finds itself at a crossroads: Will the nation sign a deal with the terrorist group the Jewish state is bent on destroying or return to war against Hamas to apply pressure for the captives' release?
Goodman explains how both sides of this dilemma see their arguments as protecting the nation. We hear, however, how the quests for national security and solidarity may appear to be in conflict with each other -- and how to overcome that paradox.
And as Goodman pushes for Israel to sign a deal to release the hostages -- living and dead -- he explains how we must trust Hamas "to give Israel 17 reasons to restart the war." He cautions it must be a war that is launched at Israe...
- Title
- Day 524 - Is Steve Witkoff the only hope for a hostage deal?
- Runtime
- 23:02
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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.
Times of Israel founding editor David Horovitz (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/david-horovitz/) joins host Jessica Steinberg (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today's Daily Briefing.
As Israel’s hostage negotiating team remained in Doha, Qatar overnight, Horovitz reviews the latest in the ceasefire situation and the sense that US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff appears to be the only person who can push Israel toward a second phase of a hostage deal. Horovitz discusses how it was Witkoff who pushed Israel toward the first stage of the deal that brought 33 hostages home, eight of them no longer living.
Horovitz also notes that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition are on a two-week deadline to pass the budget by March 31, and if ...
- Title
- Day 523 - Columbia anti-Israel activist's arrest makes some US Jews uneasy
- Runtime
- 20:31
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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.
New York reporter Luke Tress (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/luke-tress/) and NY stringer Cathryn J. Prince (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/cathryn-j-prince/) join host Amanda Borschel-Dan (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today's Daily Briefing.
US federal authorities on Friday announced the cancellation of $400 million in grants and contracts with New York’s Columbia University due to campus antisemitism. The cuts marked the most significant action yet taken by the Trump administration in its planned crackdown on anti-Jewish discrimination at universities. We discuss the White House's new efforts to stop antisemitism on campuses.
On Monday, President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform, “ICE proudly apprehended...
- Title
- Day 523 - Columbia anti-Israel activist's arrest makes some US Jews uneasy
- Runtime
- 21:29
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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.
New York reporter Luke Tress and NY stringer Cathryn J. Prince join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's Daily Briefing.
US federal authorities on Friday announced the cancellation of $400 million in grants and contracts with New York’s Columbia University due to campus antisemitism. The cuts marked the most significant action yet taken by the Trump administration in its planned crackdown on anti-Jewish discrimination at universities. We discuss the White House's new efforts to stop antisemitism on campuses.
On Monday, President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform, “ICE proudly apprehended and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas student on the campus of Columbia University…This is the first arrest of many to come.” Khalil was born and raised in Syria, however his...
- Title
- Day 522 - Gaza talks proceed as Israel smarts from US-Hamas meetups
- Runtime
- 25:19
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 reporter Lazar Berman (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/lazar-berman/) (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/sue-surkes/) joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today's Daily Briefing.
Yesterday, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said that deadlines were needed on a deal for the next phase of the hostage-ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas and that “all things are on the table” if the terror group agrees to demilitarize and leaving the Gaza Strip. We discuss who is in Doha right now and the so-called Witkoff outline, a framework would see Hamas release 10 living hostages, including American-Israeli Edan Alexander, in exchange for a further 60 days of ceasefire.
Israel received more clarity over...
- Title
- Day 522 - Gaza talks proceed as Israel smarts from US-Hamas meetups
- Runtime
- 26:16
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 reporter Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's Daily Briefing.
Yesterday, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said that deadlines were needed on a deal for the next phase of the hostage-ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas and that “all things are on the table” if the terror group agrees to demilitarize and leaving the Gaza Strip. We discuss who is in Doha right now and the so-called Witkoff outline, a framework would see Hamas release 10 living hostages, including American-Israeli Edan Alexander, in exchange for a further 60 days of ceasefire.
Israel received more clarity over US President Donald Trump’s hostage envoy Adam Boehler’s direct dealings with Hamas officials on the release of hostages in Gaza when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said they were a “o...
- Title
- Day 521 - Israeli banks gain in war, El Al's competition on NY route
- Runtime
- 23:10
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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.
Tech Israel editor Sharon Wrobel (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/sharon-wrobel/) and health editor Diana Bletter (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/diana-bletter/) (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/sue-surkes/) join host Jessica Steinberg (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jessica-steinberg/) for today's Daily Briefing.
As Israel's two largest banks, Bank Hapoalim and Discount Bank, posted massive financial gains for 2023, Wrobel discusses how Israel's banks achieved increases during months of war. She notes that Israelis may have ignored banking issues and statements while serving prolonged reserve duty and dealing with more heightened personal issues during the height of the war.
Bletter delves into her investigative piece of the allegations pointed at I...
- Title
- Day 520 - As Gaza ceasefire reaches day 50, no sign of IDF pullout
- Runtime
- 25:35
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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.
Military reporter Emanuel Fabian (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/emanuel-fabian/) (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/sue-surkes/) joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today's Daily Briefing.
Tomorrow marks day 50 of the ceasefire agreement. Fabian explains where the IDF is currently operating in the Gaza Strip and how quickly it could reassemble into war footing.
A Syria war monitor reported on Saturday that over 745 civilians from the Alawite minority had been killed in recent days by security forces and their allies, as authorities clash with militants loyal to the former government of Bashar al-Assad. Coincidentally or not, the IDF said troops captured and destroyed numerous weapons during missions in so...
- Title
- Day 520 - As Gaza ceasefire reaches day 50, no sign of IDF pullout
- Runtime
- 27:26
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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.
Military reporter Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's Daily Briefing.
Tomorrow marks day 50 of the ceasefire agreement. Fabian explains where the IDF is currently operating in the Gaza Strip and how quickly it could reassemble into war footing.
A Syria war monitor reported on Saturday that over 745 civilians from the Alawite minority had been killed in recent days by security forces and their allies, as authorities clash with militants loyal to the former government of Bashar al-Assad. Coincidentally or not, the IDF said troops captured and destroyed numerous weapons during missions in southern Syria. Is this publication of the IDF's Syria mission a message to the new government there?
Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jews were escorted by the military on Friday to the trad...
- Title
- Friday Focus with Lazar Berman: During Gaza War, cold peace with Egypt gets frostier
- Runtime
- 31:50
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus (https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/friday-focus/) . Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe.
The "Peace Agreement between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Israel" was signed on March 26, 1979, following three wars and decades of bloodshed.
In today's Friday Focus, we delve into the history of bad blood between the two ancient nations and how a handful of pragmatic leaders curtailed further violence.
We also learn about Egypt's role as a mediator between Israel and the armed Palestinian terrorist groups that have ruled Gaza for the past two decades.
Likewise, even as reports accumulate that Egypt is building up its military forces on the border with Israel, Berman weighs in on whether, if pressed, the Jewis...
- Title
- Day 519 - Haviv Rettig Gur on Egypt’s 'silly' plan for postwar Gaza
- Runtime
- 33:20
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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.
Senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/haviv-gur/) (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/sue-surkes/) joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today's Daily Briefing, which is a bonus episode of our weekly What Matters Now podcast series.
At a Cairo summit of Arab leaders on Tuesday, a consensus of states adopted an Egyptian reconstruction plan for Gaza that would cost $53 billion and avoid displacing Palestinians from the enclave -- in contrast to US President Donald Trump’s “Middle East Riviera” vision.
The over 100-page “Early Recovery, Reconstruction, Development of Gaza” plan envisions a Gaza Administration Committee, made up of independent technocrats, to manage an initial s...
- Title
- Day 518 - Witkoff encourages Hamas to release US citizen as 'goodwill'
- Runtime
- 42:50
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jacob-magid/) (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/sue-surkes/) joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today's Daily Briefing, which is followed by a full episode of The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus with Lazar Berman. (https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/friday-focus/)
Magid focuses on some of the major developments in the hostage release-ceasefire negotiations, including Wednesday's revelation that the US has been conducting direct talks with Hamas to get hostages out. The US designated Hamas as a terrorist organization in 1997. Does speaking directly with Hamas contravene some kind of protocol for dealing with terrorist entities?
- Title
- Friday Focus with Lazar Berman: During Gaza War, cold peace with Egypt gets frostier
- Runtime
- 32:50
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe.
The "Peace Agreement between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Israel" was signed on March 26, 1979, following three wars and decades of bloodshed.
In today's Friday Focus, we delve into the history of bad blood between the two ancient nations and how a handful of pragmatic leaders curtailed further violence.
We also learn about Egypt's role as a mediator between Israel and the armed Palestinian terrorist groups that have ruled Gaza for the past two decades.
Likewise, even as reports accumulate that Egypt is building up its military forces on the border with Israel, Berman weighs in on whether, if pressed, the Jewish state could still handily defeat the Muslim giant next door.
And final...
- Title
- What Matters Now to Haviv Rettig Gur: Egypt's farcical plan for postwar Gaza
- Runtime
- 33:20
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 ToI's senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur.
At a Cairo summit of Arab leaders on Tuesday, a consensus of states adopted an Egyptian reconstruction plan for Gaza that would cost $53 billion and avoid displacing Palestinians from the enclave -- in contrast to US President Donald Trump’s “Middle East Riviera” vision.
The over 100-page “Early Recovery, Reconstruction, Development of Gaza” plan envisions a Gaza Administration Committee, made up of independent technocrats, to manage an initial six-month transitional phase. It also urges elections in all Palestinian areas within a year, if conditions support such a move.
The rub? The plan doesn’t explicitly tackle the issue of Hamas and how the terror group will be disarming -- if at all. It also pushes f...
- Title
- What Matters Now to Haviv Rettig Gur: Egypt's farcical plan for postwar Gaza
- Runtime
- 33:14
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 ToI's senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur.
At a Cairo summit of Arab leaders on Tuesday, a consensus of states adopted an Egyptian reconstruction plan for Gaza that would cost $53 billion and avoid displacing Palestinians from the enclave -- in contrast to US President Donald Trump’s “Middle East Riviera” vision.
The over 100-page “Early Recovery, Reconstruction, Development of Gaza” plan envisions a Gaza Administration Committee, made up of independent technocrats, to manage an initial six-month transitional phase. It also urges elections in all Palestinian areas within a year, if conditions support such a move.
The rub? The plan doesn’t explicitly tackle the issue of Hamas and how the terror group will be disarming -- if at all. It also pushes for a Palestinian state b...
- Title
- Day 517 - Who will be on the squad that fires the attorney general?
- Runtime
- 25:45
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 reporter Jeremy Sharon (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jeremy-sharon/) (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/sue-surkes/) joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today’s Daily Briefing.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin initiated proceedings to remove Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara from office. He has accused her of having politicized her office to thwart the will of the government and has long threatened to take action against her. We learn what steps were taken.
A law dramatically changing how the state ombudsman for judges is chosen passed its third and final reading in the Knesset plenum early on Tuesday morning, following a full night of debate. We hear why this is such a potential game-changer....
- Title
- Day 516 - Arab states plan for Gaza, are frustrated with PA
- Runtime
- 23:33
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jacob-magid/) (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/sue-surkes/) joins host Jessica Steinberg (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jessica-steinberg/) for today's Daily Briefing.
Following US President Donald Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday, in the presence of several recently released Hamas hostages, Magid discusses that Trump did not mention any of the former Israeli hostages by name, although some were in the audience.
Magid speaks about his interview with a senior Qatari official who emphasized the need to stick to the current hostage deal and that any new ideas won't work, noting that Hamas won't accept releasing hostages en masse as suggested by the US, unless there's an end to the war.
- Title
- Day 515 - Devastating IDF Oct. 7 probes depict years of misconceptions
- Runtime
- 35:26
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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.
Military reporter Emanuel Fabian (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/emanuel-fabian/) (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/sue-surkes/) joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today's Daily Briefing.
Israel carried out an airstrike in Syria on Monday evening, targeting a military facility near the city of Tartous, in the country’s northwestern coastal region. And today, the Defense Ministry says it is carrying out activities to clear explosives from an area of the Golan Heights near the Syrian border. Fabian updates on IDF activities inside Syria.
We spend the rest of the episode on the series of IDF probes into the failures on October 7, 2023. We learn about the immediate failures, including that the attack was a ...
- Title
- Day 514 - Freed hostage Eli Sharabi is all business with PM
- Runtime
- 18:59
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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.
Zman Yisrael founding editor Biranit Goren (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/biranit-goren/) (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/sue-surkes/) joins host Jessica Steinberg (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jessica-steinberg/) for today's Daily Briefing.
Early this morning, a terror attack was carried out in Haifa's bus station, killing one man and injuring four others before the terrorist was neutralized by security forces. Goren discusses some of the known details of the attack, noting that it bore some resemblance to the terror attacks of the second intifada, targeting public transportation and carried out by lone attackers.
Freed hostage Eli Sharabi spoke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this morning, as he heads to the US to push on the hostage negotiations...
- Title
- Day 513 - Israel cites a Trump game plan but Hamas won't play ball
- Runtime
- 19:49
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 reporter Lazar Berman (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/lazar-berman/) (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/sue-surkes/) joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today's Daily Briefing.
Late last night, following a four-hour security consultation with top officials, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declared that it was endorsing what it described as a proposal by US President Donald Trump’s special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, which would see the ceasefire with Hamas extended through Passover, which ends on April 19. What is this plan and how is it being received?
Israel is not allowing any more goods to enter Gaza, says the Prime Minister’s Office, citing Hamas’s refusal to accept w...
- Title
- Day 513 - Israel cites a Trump game plan but Hamas won't play ball
- Runtime
- 20:46
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 reporter Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's Daily Briefing.
Late last night, following a four-hour security consultation with top officials, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declared that it was endorsing what it described as a proposal by US President Donald Trump’s special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, which would see the ceasefire with Hamas extended through Passover, which ends on April 19. What is this plan and how is it being received?
Israel is not allowing any more goods to enter Gaza, says the Prime Minister’s Office, citing Hamas’s refusal to accept what it says is an American proposal to extend phase one of the ceasefire through Passover and Ramadan alongside more hostage releases. Berman explains what else Israel is currently withholding, ...
- Title
- Friday Focus with Lazar Berman: Negotiating with terrorists, again
- Runtime
- 23:54
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus (https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/friday-focus/) . Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe.
The official end of phase one of the current hostage release-ceasefire deal is set for March 1. We currently don't know if phase two will be implemented or whether, potentially, a lengthened phase one may be negotiated.
Since the start of the war in Gaza following Hamas's October 7, 2023, murderous onslaught on southern Israel, a range of efforts have been made to free the over 250 hostages in terrorists' hands.
As we hear in today's in-depth conversation, the most effective way to get out as many hostages as possible has been through a pair of negotiated hostage release-ceasefire deals.
Among the questions asked and answered...
- Title
- Day 512 - All that is Jewish and controversial at the Oscars
- Runtime
- 42:49
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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.
Film critic Jordan Hoffman (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jordan-hoffman/) (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/sue-surkes/) joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today's Daily Briefing, a bonus episode of our weekly What Matters Now (https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/what-matters-now/) podcast series.
Ahead of the 2025 Academy Awards on Sunday night, The Times of Israel’s film critic gives his predictions on which of the five films related to Israel or the Jews will have any chance of taking home a statue.
We hear about how the ongoing war in Gaza is creating off-screen drama for a film, “September 5,” that has nothing to do with the current conflict but dares to show Israel as a victim after the c...
- Title
- Day 511 - As phase 1 ends, can Cairo talks get more hostages out?
- Runtime
- 32:29
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 reporter Lazar Berman (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/lazar-berman/) (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/sue-surkes/) joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today's Daily Briefing updates, followed by the weekly Friday Focus (https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/friday-focus/) , The Times of Israel's newest podcast series. Each Friday, catch Berman and Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe.
A Palestinian man steered his car into a crowd of people waiting at a bus stop in northern Israel in what is considered a terror spree that left 13 people injured, including a 17-year-old girl who is fighting for her life. We learn what we know about the perpetrator so far.
L...
- Title
- What Matters Now to critic Jordan Hoffman: 5 films for Jews to follow at the Oscars
- Runtime
- 42:49
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 film critic Jordan Hoffman.
Ahead of the 2025 Academy Awards on Sunday night, The Times of Israel's film critic gives his predictions on which of the five films related to Israel or the Jews will have any chance of taking home a statue.
We hear about how the ongoing war in Gaza is creating off-screen drama for a film, "September 5," that has nothing to do with the current conflict but dares to show Israel as a victim after the country's athletes were massacred in the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Hoffman weighs in on the merits of "A Real Pain" and pronounces it an excellent addition to the pantheon of Jewish film. About "The Brutalist," he has some reservations, although he applauds the film overall.
We learn how the Bob Dylan bio-pic may ...
- Title
- What Matters Now to critic Jordan Hoffman: 5 films for Jews to follow at the Oscars
- Runtime
- 44:31
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 film critic Jordan Hoffman.
Ahead of the 2025 Academy Awards on Sunday night, The Times of Israel's film critic gives his predictions on which of the five films related to Israel or the Jews will have any chance of taking home a statue.
We hear about how the ongoing war in Gaza is creating off-screen drama for a film, "September 5," that has nothing to do with the current conflict but dares to show Israel as a victim after the country's athletes were massacred in the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Hoffman weighs in on the merits of "A Real Pain" and pronounces it an excellent addition to the pantheon of Jewish film. About "The Brutalist," he has some reservations, although he applauds the film overall.
We learn how the Bob Dylan bio-pic may not have anything really overtly...
- Title
- Day 510 – 4 more hostage bodies arrive home, after Bibas burial
- Runtime
- 24:47
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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.
ToI founding editor David Horovitz joins host Jessica Steinberg for today’s Daily Briefing.
Following the heartbreaking Wednesday afternoon burial of Shiri Bibas, Ariel Bibas and Kfir Bibas, Israel receives the bodies of four more hostages, Itzik Elgarat, Tsahi Idan, Ohad Yahalomi and Shlomo Mantzur, returned in the middle of the night on Wednesday.
Horovitz discusses the ongoing national mourning for the hostages, including the outpouring of sorrow for the Bibas family, who became a symbol of the October 7 tragedy, highlighting the emotional toll on the mourning families and the nation as a whole.
The return of the four hostage bodies marks the end of the first phase of the hostage deal, and Horovitz reviews Israel’s military strategy and political dynamics that are closely intertwi...
- Title
- Day 510 - 4 more hostage bodies arrive home, after Bibas burial
- Runtime
- 23:47
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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.
ToI founding editor David Horovitz (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/david-horovitz/) joins host Jessica Steinberg (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jessica-steinberg/) for today's Daily Briefing.
Following the heartbreaking Wednesday afternoon burial of Shiri Bibas, Ariel Bibas and Kfir Bibas, Israel receives the bodies of four more hostage bodies, Itzik Elgarat, Tsahi Idan, Ohad Yahalomi and Shlomo Mantzour, received in the middle of the night on Wednesday.
Horovitz discusses the ongoing national mourning for the hostages, including the outpouring of sorrow for the Bibas family, who became a symbol of the October 7 tragedy, highlighting the emotional toll on the mourning families and the nation as a whole.
The return of the four hostage bodies ma...
- Title
- Day 509 - Bibas family buried as Hamas to release 4 hostages' remains (Full video)
- Runtime
- 27:51
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 reporter Lazar Berman, political reporter Tal Schneider and reporter Sue Surkes join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's Daily Briefing.
Hamas and Israel reportedly reached an agreement for the release of four Israeli hostages’ bodies and 602 Palestinian security prisoners, the terror group and an Israeli official said late Tuesday, which would an end to an impasse that risked collapsing the multiphase ceasefire agreement before its first stage was even completed. Berman weighs in whether this means that talks are now on track for phase two.
Speaking in Washington DC, yesterday Opposition Leader Yair Lapid presented a “day after” plan for Gaza, envisioning an extended Egyptian guardianship of the war-torn Strip. The plan would have Egypt take responsibility for managing Gaza for eight ...
- Title
- Day 509 - Bibas family buried as Hamas to release 4 hostages' remains
- Runtime
- 26:52
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 reporter Lazar Berman (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/lazar-berman/) , political reporter Tal Schneider (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/tal-schneider/) and reporter Sue Surkes (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/sue-surkes/) (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/sue-surkes/) join host Amanda Borschel-Dan (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/) for today's Daily Briefing.
Hamas and Israel reportedly reached an agreement for the release of four Israeli hostages’ bodies and 602 Palestinian security prisoners, the terror group and an Israeli official said late Tuesday, which would an end to an impasse that risked collapsing the multiphase ceasefire agreement before its first stage was even completed. Berman weighs in whether this means that talks ar...
- Title
- Day 508 - Is Hamas’s show of force in Gaza backfiring?
- Runtime
- 15:53
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jacob-magid/) (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/sue-surkes/) joins host Jessica Steinberg (https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jessica-steinberg/) for today's Daily Briefing.
The negotiations for extending phase one of the hostage deal will begin Wednesday, says Magid, with US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff's arrival first in Israel, as Israel is currently seen as the toughest partner. Any extension of the first phase of the ceasefire would include only a trickle of additional hostages, adds Magid.
Israel has also demanded that Hamas stop the ceremonies held upon each hostage release, arranged to show that the terrorist group is still in power in Gaza. However, says Magid, the grotesque ceremonies have push...
- Title
- Day 507 - Tanks in the West Bank and IAF buzzes Nasrallah funeral (Full video)
- Runtime
- 23:16
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- 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 reporter Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's Daily Briefing.
The White House says that it supports Israel’s decision to delay releasing 600 Palestinian prisoners, citing the “barbaric treatment” of Israeli hostages by Hamas. At the same time, we’re hearing for the first time from US President Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff that he will come to the region this week to try and negotiate an extension of the first phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, which is supposed to conclude at the end of the week with the return of four additional bodies of hostages. Berman updates us on the current status of the talks.
Yesterday, Israeli tanks deployed to the West Bank for the first time in over 20 years and Defense Minister Isr...
