The Times of Israel Daily Briefing The Times of Israel

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.

It is day 240 of the war with Hamas. Editor David Horovitz and US bureau chief Jacob Magid join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

On Friday afternoon in Washington DC, US President Joe Biden declared it’s “time for this war to end,” and presented what he said was the latest Israeli proposal for a hostage deal and ceasefire to end the Israel-Hamas war. He also repeatedly called on both sides to accept the offer.

According to Biden, the Israeli proposal was submitted on Thursday to Hamas via Qatar. Biden said the offer would “bring all the hostages home, ensure Israel’s security, create a better day after in Gaza without Hamas in power, and set the stage for a political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

We devote the entire episode to an attempt to unravel Biden's speech and sift for more details about the proposal. We hear how Israeli and American politicians are receiving the speech -- as well as the world.

And finally, we hear whether this speech will help Biden win voters, or bleed them.

For more updates, please check out The Times of Israel's ongoing live blog.

Discussed articles include:

‘Time for this war to end’: Biden tells Hamas to accept Israel’s hostage-ceasefire offer

Full text of Biden’s speech laying out hostage and ceasefire deal for Israel-Hamas war

Far-right parties vow to bring down government if PM backs hostage-ceasefire deal

‘Non-starter’: Netanyahu says no permanent Gaza ceasefire until Hamas destroyed

Netanyahu accepts invitation to address joint session of Congress

120,000 said to rally in Tel Aviv to demand hostage deal, denounce government

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: US President Joe Biden speaks about the situation in the Middle East, in the State Dining Room of the White House on May 31, 2024 (Brendan Smialowski / AFP)
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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.

It is day 239 of the war with Hamas. In this special deep-dive episode, Anti-Defamation League head Jonathan Greenblatt joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan in The Times of Israel's Jerusalem offices.

The ADL was founded over a 100 years ago at a time in which antisemitism was on the rise in the United States. As Greenblatt shares, those days are not over and in the past decade, he's marked a 900% rise in antisemitic incidents in the United States alone.

While headquartered in New York, the organization has dozens of regional offices throughout the US and is now partnering with international organizations and institutions, such as Tel Aviv University in its endeavor to document antisemitic incidents worldwide and in as real-time as possible.

This spring was marked with a new crop of threats against Jewish students as pro-Palestinian encampments sprung up on campuses. We discuss when freedom of expression crosses the line into dehumanization and how, with every new social media platform, there is a rapidly changing buffet of opportunities for hate speech.

Discussed articles include:

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: ADL head Jonathan Greenblatt at the Never is Now conference in New York, March 5, 2024. (courtesy)
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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.

It is day 238 of the war with Hamas. US correspondent Jacob Magid joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

Former US president Donald Trump was convicted by a Manhattan Criminal Court jury of felony crimes for falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election. And, of course, there’s an alleged Jewish connection. Magid explains.

Israel and Egypt have reportedly reached an agreement in principle to reopen the Rafah Border Crossing in southern Gaza to humanitarian aid for the first time since the Israel Defense Forces took control of the Gazan side of the crossing in early May. But there are still several wrinkles to iron out, says Magid.

National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi reportedly said Thursday that the current government will not agree to end its war against Hamas in exchange for the release of all the remaining hostages held by the terror group. The leaked message was made during a heated meeting during which Hanegbi reportedly rebuked and insulted the relatives of several hostages. With all the leaks, are officials now purposefully stating out loud what they want to get to the press?

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the Biden administration’s recent announcement that it won’t support sanctions against the International Criminal Court after its top prosecutor asked the tribunal to issue arrest warrants against the premier and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Magid describes how this lack of sanctions is in line with previous Biden administration decisions.

Fifty percent of Israeli Jews support Israel maintaining control of the Gaza Strip after the war against the Hamas terror group ends, according to a Pew Research Center survey published Thursday. What else did it show?

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

Discussed articles include:

‘Real verdict’ will be November 5 election, Trump says, blasting ‘Soros-backed DA’

Israel, Egypt said moving toward reopening Rafah Crossing amid US pressure

Blinken: In the absence of Israeli plan for day after, there won’t be a day after

Israel won’t end war for deal to free all hostages, PM’s aide said to tell families

Netanyahu ‘surprised, disappointed’ by US refusal to sanction ICC over warrants

Poll: Half of Jewish Israelis say Israel should run Gaza after the war; 0% say Hamas

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: Former US president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds up a fist as he arrives back at Trump Tower after being convicted in his criminal trial in New York City, on May 30, 2024. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP)
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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.

It is day 237 of the war with Hamas. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

Two soldiers seriously hurt in a car-ramming attack near the West Bank city of Nablus on Wednesday night have died of their wounds, the military announced. An initial investigation into a ramming attack has found that the incident unfolded in a matter of seconds and that soldiers did not have time to open fire to attempt to stop the attack. Hebrew media reports said the suspect turned himself over to the Palestinian Authority’s security forces, after fleeing into Nablus. Berman was recently in Nablus with the IDF unit in charge of the region. What did he learn?

According to early results from South Africa’s elections yesterday, the African National Congress appears set to lose the parliamentary majority it has held for 30 years. Could Israel see any real change in agenda, for example at the International Court of Justice case alleging Israel is committing genocide in Gaza?

Brazil has reportedly formally recalled its ambassador to Israel and will not immediately appoint a replacement. Is this move as particularly harmful to Israel?

Yesterday National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said in an interview with Kan public radio that “this year, we expect another seven months of combat, in order to deepen our achievement and achieve what we define as the destruction of the military and governing capabilities of both Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.” Berman gives an overview of the IDF's recent achievements, including the operational control of the Philadelphi Corridor.

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

Discussed articles include:

Two soldiers killed in car-ramming attack outside West Bank city of Nablus

Israel watches as South Africa’s hostile ANC set to lose support but remain in power

Brazil said to withdraw ambassador from Israel, no plans to appoint new envoy

3 soldiers killed in blast in booby-trapped building in Gaza’s Rafah

IDF takes control of key Gaza-Egypt border road, locating at least 20 tunnels

Top Israeli official says fighting in Gaza likely to last at least another 7 months

Reports: In Rafah strike, IDF used US bombs designed to reduce casualties

Under a rug in Gazan home, IDF troops found shaft leading to bodies of 4 hostages

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: Israel Defense Forces operations in Nablus following October 7, 2023. (IDF Spokesperson)
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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.

It is day 236 of the war with Hamas. Political correspondent Sam Sokol joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

Sokol discusses an upcoming meeting on Wednesday of right-wing party leaders Gideon Sa'ar and Avigdor Liberman with opposition leader Yair Lapid, as they look to create a wider, right-wing alliance to oppose the current government, representing a constellation of hawkish parties that believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition is damaging the country.

He also talks about the landslide victory of former Meretz Knesset member and IDF general Yair Golan in Wednesday's Labor party primaries, and Golan's plan to unite all left-wing parties and protest movements into one bloc, aiming to reignite the Israeli left.

Sokol mentions the visit of former American UN envoy Nikki Haley to Israel's southern region on Tuesday, where she asserted that Russian intelligence and Chinese funds directly facilitated the devastating October 7 Hamas attacks.

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

Discussed articles include:

Sa’ar willing to make ‘concessions’ to create right-wing bloc opposing Netanyahu

Yair Golan wins landslide victory in Labor primary with promise to unite the left

Visiting southern Israel, Nikki Haley blames Iran, Russia and China for October 7

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: Former IDF general and former Meretz MK Yair Golan attended a protest outside of Jerusalem on May 4, 2024 (Photo by Yossi Zamir/Flash90)
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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.

It is day 235 of the war with Hamas. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

Berman comments about Israel's operation in Rafah and reactions to Sunday night's strike on two senior Hamas commanders that resulted in a fire that killed Gazans sheltering nearby. He notes that the US response has been muted compared with other countries, because the Israeli operation has been limited, as requested by the Biden administration.

He also looks at a shooting incident between Egyptian forces and Israel, in which an Egyptian soldier was killed. With Egypt positioning itself as a mediator in hostage talks, it is continuing to engage with Israel and appears to be more interested in brushing this incident aside.

Berman talks about the push to restart hostage talks and the leaked comments made by leading IDF hostage negotiator, Major General Nitzan Alon, who remarked that the current government will never sign on a deal. That said, Berman says it isn't clear if talks would take place in Egypt or Qatar, and who is Israel's preferred mediator right now.

Berman also speaks about Spain, Ireland and Norway planning to formally recognize Palestine as a state, which he believes is "a shameful move" that strengthens Hamas, offering them another small political victory by way of liberal Western states.

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

Discussed articles include:

US laments ‘devastating’ Rafah strike, urges Israel to better protect civilians

Shrapnel from Israeli strike may have ignited fuel tank near Rafah tents — report

‘No longer justifiable’: Israel faces international condemnation for strike in Rafah

Egyptian soldier killed in clash with Israeli troops at Rafah Crossing

Netanyahu denies claim he’s blocking hostage deal, calls Rafah strike ‘tragic mishap’

IDF negotiator said to pan PM’s handling of hostage talks as they’re set to resume

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: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at debate in the Knesset on May 27, 2024 (Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
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