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.

Today is day 164 of the war with Hamas. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman and military correspondent Emanuel Fabian join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

The IDF released footage of what it says are Hamas operatives opening fire at troops from Shifa Hospital in Gaza City this morning as the army carried out a fresh raid on the medical center overnight. Why has the IDF returned to the medical compound now?

Israel’s negotiating team is expected in Doha today for some two weeks of indirect negotiations. Berman weighs in on what we possibly can expect.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was in Israel for the second time during the war with Hamas and he expressed concern for protecting civilians and providing humanitarian aid. How did Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu respond?

Thursday’s speech by US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is continuing to see ripples both in Israel and abroad. Berman weighs in with some Israeli responses and how this speech may affect US Jewry at this fraught time.

For the latest updates, please review The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.

Discussed articles include:

Live blog March 18, 2024

Israeli delegation to head to Doha for hostage talks Monday after security cabinet ok

As ministers meet, protesters block roads in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, urge hostage deal

‘We’re not a banana republic’: Netanyahu denounces Schumer’s call for Israeli elections

Germany’s Scholz meets PM, calls for hostage deal with ‘longer-lasting ceasefire’

THOSE WE HAVE LOST:Civilians and soldiers killed in Hamas's onslaught on Israel

THOSE WE ARE MISSING: The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.

IMAGE: File: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, meets with Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, March 23, 2010, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

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.
Today is day 164 of the war with Hamas. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman and military correspondent Emanuel Fabian join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.
The IDF released footage of what it says are Hamas operatives opening fire at troops from Shifa Hospital in Gaza City this morning as the army carried out a fresh raid on the medical center overnight. Why has the IDF returned to the medical compound now?
Israel’s negotiating team is expected in Doha today for some two weeks of indirect negotiations. Berman weighs in on what we possibly can expect.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was in Israel for the second time during the war with Hamas and he expressed concern for protecting civilians and providing humanitarian aid. How did Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu respond?
Thursday’s speech by US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is continuing to see ripples both in Israel and abroad. Berman weighs in with some Israeli responses and how this speech may affect US Jewry at this fraught time.
For the latest updates, please review The Times of Israel’s <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-march-18-2024/">ongoing live blog.</a>
Discussed articles include:
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-march-18-2024/">Live blog March 18, 2024</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-delegation-to-head-to-doha-for-hostage-talks-after-security-cabinet-approval/">Israeli delegation to head to Doha for hostage talks Monday after security cabinet ok</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-cabinets-meet-protesters-block-roads-in-tel-aviv-jerusalem-urge-hostage-deal/">As ministers meet, protesters block roads in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, urge hostage deal</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/wholly-inappropriate-netanyahu-blasts-criticism-from-schumer-white-house/">‘We’re not a banana republic’: Netanyahu denounces Schumer’s call for Israeli elections</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/germanys-scholz-meets-pm-calls-for-hostage-deal-with-longer-lasting-ceasefire/">Germany’s Scholz meets PM, calls for hostage deal with ‘longer-lasting ceasefire’</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/collection/those-we-have-lost/">THOSE WE HAVE LOST: </a><a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/collection/those-we-have-lost/">Ci</a><a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/collection/those-we-have-lost/">vilians and soldiers killed in Hamas's onslaught on Israel</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/collection/those-we-are-missing/">THOSE WE ARE MISSING: </a><a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/collection/those-we-are-missing/">The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown</a>
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-times-of-israel-daily-briefing/id1547404042"> Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1vhvFPvN0fFn5YRHCEcxrn">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnR6FOcOvFdMbb0w1n0Ev0orcVkufgZ89">YouTube,</a> or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by <a href="https://thepodwaves.com/">the Pod-Waves.</a>
IMAGE: File: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, meets with Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, March 23, 2010, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

Welcome to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing: Your update on what’s important in Israel, the Middle East and The Jewish World.

Welcome to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing: Your update on what&rsquo;s important in Israel, the Middle East and The Jewish World.

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

The Daily Briefing

Day 164 - Why Schumer's speech fell on deaf Israeli ears

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 episode.

This morning, the Foreign Ministry officially informed the United Nations that Israel is withdrawing from the 1967 agreement recognizing the Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA after the Knesset passed legislation to severely limit the operations of the agency in Israel and in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. We hear about practical implications.

A round of talks between Hamas and Fatah officials in Cairo ended with an agreement to establish a technocratic committee composed of independent Palestinian figures to manage the Gaza Strip, according to an unnamed Hamas source quoted by the Qatari-owned paper Al-Araby al-Jadeed. Berman weighs in on the chances of this agreement coming to fruition.

Eli Feldstein, a spokesperson working with the Prime Minister’s Office, is accused of divulging top-secret information with national security implications to European media outlets, according to a ruling published Sunday evening by Rishon Lezion Magistrate Court head Menahem Mizrahi. The names of three other suspects remain gagged by the court, but it confirmed that they were connected to the defense establishment. Berman examines what we know about the case and how serious the charges are.

Touring the northern border on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that whether via a negotiated settlement or military force, Israel will achieve the conditions it needs to restore security to the area and keep the Hezbollah terror group at bay. Relatedly, we’re hearing that Iran’s president said a potential ceasefire between Israel and its allies Hamas and Hezbollah “could affect the intensity” of Tehran’s threatened attack. Could this added pressure see a ceasefire agreement solidify?

For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.

Discussed articles include:

Israel informs UN that 1967 agreement recognizing UNRWA is void

PM spokesman Eli Feldstein suspected of leaking intel that may have hurt hostage efforts

Visiting border, PM vows to restore security in north ‘with or without an agreement’

Iran said planning to use more powerful weapons in next attack on Israel

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.

IMAGE: Illustrative: Released hostages and their family members seen after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, outside the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, August 23, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

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.
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/lazar-berman/">Diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman</a> joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.
This morning, the Foreign Ministry officially informed the United Nations that Israel is withdrawing from the 1967 agreement recognizing the Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA after the Knesset passed legislation to severely limit the operations of the agency in Israel and in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. We hear about practical implications.
A round of talks between Hamas and Fatah officials in Cairo ended with an agreement to establish a technocratic committee composed of independent Palestinian figures to manage the Gaza Strip, according to an unnamed Hamas source quoted by the Qatari-owned paper Al-Araby al-Jadeed. Berman weighs in on the chances of this agreement coming to fruition.
Eli Feldstein, a spokesperson working with the Prime Minister’s Office, is accused of divulging top-secret information with national security implications to European media outlets, according to a ruling published Sunday evening by Rishon Lezion Magistrate Court head Menahem Mizrahi. The names of three other suspects remain gagged by the court, but it confirmed that they were connected to the defense establishment. Berman examines what we know about the case and how serious the charges are.
Touring the northern border on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that whether via a negotiated settlement or military force, Israel will achieve the conditions it needs to restore security to the area and keep the Hezbollah terror group at bay. Relatedly, we’re hearing that Iran’s president said a potential ceasefire between Israel and its allies Hamas and Hezbollah “could affect the intensity” of Tehran’s threatened attack. Could this added pressure see a ceasefire agreement solidify? For news updates, please check out <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-november-4-2024/">The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.</a>
Discussed articles include:
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-informs-un-that-1967-agreement-recognizing-unrwa-is-void/">Israel informs UN that 1967 agreement recognizing UNRWA is void</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-spokesman-suspected-of-leaking-intel-identified-as-eli-feldstein/">PM spokesman Eli Feldstein suspected of leaking intel that may have hurt hostage efforts</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/visiting-border-pm-vows-to-restore-security-in-north-with-or-without-an-agreement/">Visiting border, PM vows to restore security in north ‘with or without an agreement’</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-suggests-truces-in-lebanon-gaza-could-soften-retribution-against-israel/">Iran said planning to use more powerful weapons in next attack on Israel</a>
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-times-of-israel-daily-briefing/id1547404042"> Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1vhvFPvN0fFn5YRHCEcxrn">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnR6FOcOvFdMbb0w1n0Ev0orcVkufgZ89">YouTube,</a> or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.
IMAGE: Illustrative: Released hostages and their family members seen after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, outside the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, August 23, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Day 395 - Who is served by alleged leaks from PM's office?

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 episode.

Top Hamas official Izz al-Din Kassab was killed Friday in an airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip, the IDF and Shin Bet announced. Kasab was one of the last remaining members of Hamas’s political bureau, where he served as head of national relations. Fabian weighs in on how functional Hamas is as an entity in the Gaza Strip right now.

Attack drones have emerged as one of the most potent threats to Israel’s home front since the beginning of the year. Yesterday, an Israel Air Force attack helicopter was filmed intercepting a Hezbollah drone in the Binyamina area, south of Haifa, after the drone set off sirens in area communities. Fabian speaks about how the IDF is adjusting how it takes down drones as the war progresses.

Israeli naval commandos captured a Hezbollah official in a raid in northern Lebanon late Friday, the military confirmed on Saturday night, marking an unusual operation both in its nature and location deep inside the country. We hear about the daring mission and what its goals were.

A reprisal attack from Iran is still on the horizon. We hear what preparations the IDF is taking.

For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.

Discussed articles include:

Three soldiers killed in north Gaza; IDF says 900 terror operatives dead in Jabalia op

IDF says it killed one of the last remaining Hamas politburo members still in Gaza

130 rockets, 10 drones fired at Israel Saturday; helicopter downs drone south of Haifa

Israeli commandos nab top Hezbollah naval operative in north Lebanon raid

Khamenei threatens Israel and US with ‘a crushing response’ to Israel’s airstrikes

US said to warn Iran it won’t be able to restrain Israel if Tehran attacks again

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.

IMAGE: A building, left, in Batroun, northern Lebanon, November 2, 2024, where a Hezbollah ship captain was taken away by IDF commandos who landed on a coast north of Beirut. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

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.
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/emanuel-fabian/">Military reporter Emanuel Fabian</a> joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.
Top Hamas official Izz al-Din Kassab was killed Friday in an airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip, the IDF and Shin Bet announced. Kasab was one of the last remaining members of Hamas’s political bureau, where he served as head of national relations. Fabian weighs in on how functional Hamas is as an entity in the Gaza Strip right now.
Attack drones have emerged as one of the most potent threats to Israel’s home front since the beginning of the year. Yesterday, an Israel Air Force attack helicopter was filmed intercepting a Hezbollah drone in the Binyamina area, south of Haifa, after the drone set off sirens in area communities. Fabian speaks about how the IDF is adjusting how it takes down drones as the war progresses.
Israeli naval commandos captured a Hezbollah official in a raid in northern Lebanon late Friday, the military confirmed on Saturday night, marking an unusual operation both in its nature and location deep inside the country. We hear about the daring mission and what its goals were.
A reprisal attack from Iran is still on the horizon. We hear what preparations the IDF is taking. For news updates, please check out <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-november-3-2024/">The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.</a>
Discussed articles include:
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/two-soldiers-killed-in-north-gaza-idf-says-900-terror-operatives-dead-in-jabalia-op/">Three soldiers killed in north Gaza; IDF says 900 terror operatives dead in Jabalia op</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-says-it-killed-one-of-the-last-remaining-hamas-politburo-members-still-in-gaza/">IDF says it killed one of the last remaining Hamas politburo members still in Gaza</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/130-rockets-10-drones-fired-at-israel-saturday-helicopter-downs-drone-south-of-haifa/">130 rockets, 10 drones fired at Israel Saturday; helicopter downs drone south of Haifa</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-commandos-said-to-nab-top-hezbollah-naval-commander-in-north-lebanon-raid/">Israeli commandos nab top Hezbollah naval operative in north Lebanon raid</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/khamenei-threatens-israel-and-us-with-a-crushing-response-over-israeli-attack/">Khamenei threatens Israel and US with ‘a crushing response’ to Israel’s airstrikes</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-said-to-warn-iran-it-wont-be-able-to-restrain-israel-if-tehran-attacks-again/">US said to warn Iran it won’t be able to restrain Israel if Tehran attacks again</a>
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-times-of-israel-daily-briefing/id1547404042"> Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1vhvFPvN0fFn5YRHCEcxrn">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnR6FOcOvFdMbb0w1n0Ev0orcVkufgZ89">YouTube,</a> or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.
IMAGE: A building, left, in Batroun, northern Lebanon, November 2, 2024, where a Hezbollah ship captain was taken away by IDF commandos who landed on a coast north of Beirut. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Day 394 - Naval commandos capture Hezbollah sea captain in daring raid

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.

Today, we bring you a bonus episode of What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World. This episode features host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with ToI senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur.

The United States is electing its next president on November 5 and according to a poll published this week, Israelis massively favor Republican Donald Trump over Democrat Kamala Harris.

So ahead of next week’s results, we take a closer look at exactly how Israelis are polling, which candidate they favor — and some reasons why. We also learn how the current polling matches previous surveys of Israelis ahead of past US elections and who was actually elected in the end.

We also hear from Rettig Gur, who has been touring Jewish communities over the past week, what concerns he’s gathered about both candidates from the American Jews he’s spoken with.

And finally, we look at the recently published AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey of Americans which, among other things, drills down into the US population’s partisan divide on all things Israel and the Middle East.

So this week, we ask Haviv Rettig Gur, what matters now?

For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.

Discussed articles include:

Poll shows Israelis massively favor Trump over Harris in US election

Poll: Democrats, Republicans split on Israel’s responsibility for war’s escalation

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.

IMAGE: This combination of pictures shows US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (L) speaking during a Get Out the Vote rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on October 30, 2024; and former US president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaking at a campaign rally at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on October 29, 2024. (Angela Weiss/AFP)

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.
Today, we bring you a bonus episode of What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World. This episode features host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with ToI senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur.
The United States is electing its next president on November 5 and according to a poll published this week, Israelis massively favor Republican Donald Trump over Democrat Kamala Harris.
So ahead of next week’s results, we take a closer look at exactly how Israelis are polling, which candidate they favor — and some reasons why. We also learn how the current polling matches previous surveys of Israelis ahead of past US elections and who was actually elected in the end.
We also hear from Rettig Gur, who has been touring Jewish communities over the past week, what concerns he’s gathered about both candidates from the American Jews he’s spoken with.
And finally, we look at the recently published AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey of Americans which, among other things, drills down into the US population’s partisan divide on all things Israel and the Middle East.
So this week, we ask Haviv Rettig Gur, what matters now?
For news updates, please check out <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-november-02-2024/">The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.</a>
Discussed articles include:
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/poll-shows-israelis-massively-favor-trump-over-harris-in-us-election/">Poll shows Israelis massively favor Trump over Harris in US election</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/poll-democrats-republicans-split-on-israels-responsibility-for-wars-escalation/">Poll: Democrats, Republicans split on Israel’s responsibility for war’s escalation</a>
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-times-of-israel-daily-briefing/id1547404042"> Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1vhvFPvN0fFn5YRHCEcxrn">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnR6FOcOvFdMbb0w1n0Ev0orcVkufgZ89">YouTube,</a> or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.
IMAGE: This combination of pictures shows US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (L) speaking during a Get Out the Vote rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on October 30, 2024; and former US president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaking at a campaign rally at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on October 29, 2024. (Angela Weiss/AFP)

Day 164 - Why Schumer's speech fell on deaf Israeli ears

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