The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

Luke Tress, New York correspondent for The Times of Israel, dives into the heightened tensions surrounding anti-Israel activism at Columbia University. He discusses the university’s new security measures following federal scrutiny, especially regarding face masks during protests. Tress also touches on the case of detained student activist Mahmoud Khalil and the complex debates in the Jewish community about free speech vs. safety. Additionally, he highlights a rising trend among U.S. Jews exploring self-defense, including Krav Maga and investing in protection dogs.

David Horovitz, Editor of The Times of Israel, provides sharp insights into the complex political landscape of Israel. He discusses internal divisions and protests related to military actions and accountability after October 7th. Horovitz emphasizes the alarming security threats from Hamas and Hezbollah, revealing how leadership decisions are polarized. He reflects on the impacts of Prime Minister Netanyahu's governance on democracy and the urgent need for responsible leadership during this tumultuous time.

Lazar Berman, a diplomatic reporter for The Times of Israel, joins to discuss the unprecedented dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. He delves into Netanyahu's controversial reasons for the firing amid security concerns and public backlash. The conversation also explores the implications of this political move on Netanyahu's trustworthiness and power, alongside a look at the complex geopolitical dynamics between Israel and Lebanon, including historical border disputes and maritime tensions over gas fields.

Emanuel Fabian, a military reporter with expertise in the ongoing Gaza conflict, shares his insights on recent IDF operations, including the strategy behind troop deployments in critical areas. He discusses the implications of Yemen's Houthi rebels launching missiles towards Israel, highlighting Israel's successful interception efforts. The conversation also dives into the tragic and heroic episodes from the Kibbutz Al-Omim battle, bringing to light the challenges of military operations while striving to protect civilians amid escalating tensions.

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 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, a move that angered Israel. It appears that Steve Witkoff is back in charge of the US negotiating efforts for Israel. Boehler spent the week in Montana, says Jacob, hosting a summit at his home with participants from several countries, part of a collaboration to ensure that the act of hostage-taking around the world is eradicated. Magid also discusses the latest in the US funding of Palestinian Authority security forces in the West Bank, as PA President Mahmoud Abbas canceled legislation that conditioned welfare payments to Palestinian security prisoners on the length of their sentences in Israeli jails. Instead, the PA will be basing payments to all Palestinians strictly on financial need. Please see today's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Israel resumes Gaza strikes, says Hamas collapsed truce by refusing to free hostages US envoy to UN says blame for renewed Gaza fighting ‘lies solely with Hamas’ Embattled US hostage envoy hosts summit for global counterparts in Big Sky, Montana 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: Israelis marching for hostages and efforts by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to try and fire Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, on Road 1 outside Jerusalem, March 18, 2025. (Photo by Yonatan SIndel/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 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 approach by the Trump administration, which has widely vowed to "end wars, not start them." CBS News reported on Monday that Israel and the United States are interested in resettling Gazans in Syria. The report came as Israel is working quietly to advance a controversial plan proposed by Trump, in which Gaza’s more than 2 million people would be permanently — or even temporarily — sent elsewhere. But does Israel want the Gazans sent to another volatile border nation? Please see today's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Trump said to ‘green-light’ renewal of Gaza strikes, as world laments truce collapse Israel resumes Gaza strikes, says Hamas collapsed truce by refusing to free hostages After deadlock in Doha hostage talks, Israeli team heads to Cairo in search of results US, Israel see Syria as possible home for relocated Gazans, says report 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: An Israeli army soldier signals for the driver of a Merkava battle tank attempting to park at a position in southern Israel along the northern Gaza Strip on March 18, 2025. (Menahem Kahana / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Forces on Sunday detailed the identities of six Palestinian terror operatives it said were killed in airstrikes in northern Gaza’s Beit Lahiya on Saturday, including a terrorist who participated in the October 7, 2023, onslaught. According to Palestinian media, the strikes killed nine, including journalists. What is the IDF saying about these allegations? Israeli soldiers shot dead two suspects who crossed into Israel from Jordan near the northern town of Beit She’an shortly after midnight between Thursday and Friday. The two suspects were part of a group of at least eight who were trying to cross into Israel together. We hear what we know about the group's intentions in entering Israel. Amid the unrest in Syria, Israeli fighter jets on Thursday struck a residential building that the military said served as a Damascus headquarters for Palestinian Islamic Jihad to plan and carry out terror activities. Fabian delves into the IDF's current approach to nipping Palestinian terror groups in the bud in tumultuous Syria. The IDF has taken a platoon of reservists out of the Gaza Strip after a video posted to social media showed the troops opening fire during the reading of the Book of Esther. Yesterday, the reservists were sentenced. Does the punishment fit the crime? Please see today's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Houthis claim 2 attacks on USS Truman; US strikes said to target seized Israel-linked ship Air Force on high alert for resumption of Houthi missile, drone attacks on Israel Netanyahu says he’ll fire Shin Bet chief Bar; AG says he can’t before legal review IDF: Oct. 7 terrorist and others ‘operating under guise of journalists’ killed in Gaza IDF troops shoot dead two suspects trying to cross into Israel from Jordan IDF strikes alleged Islamic Jihad nerve center in Damascus, said to be leader’s house IDF removes reservists from Gaza over video of them shooting during Purim scroll reading 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: Ronen Bar, chief of Israel's domestic Shin Bet security agency, attends a ceremony marking Memorial Day for fallen soldiers of Israel's wars and victims of attacks at Jerusalem's Mount Herzl military cemetery, May 13, 2024. (Gil Cohen-Magen/Pool photo via AP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Sokol joins host 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 investigation into the growing number of Haredi organizations offering advice to yeshiva students and families about how to dodge draft notices. Sokol is investigating the pattern of behavior that's emerging, the illegalities involved in advising someone to avoid the draft, and the security apparatus's reticence to take action on this growing trend. Please see today's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: AG, police silent in face of growing ecosystem of Haredi evasion organizations Hasidic MKs tell Netanyahu they’ll oppose budget if draft exemption law not passed Haredi lawmakers split on approach to budget, which must pass this month or gov’t falls ‘Do not cooperate’: Nonprofit linked to top Haredi rabbis encourages draft dodging 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: Haredi Jews clash with police during a protest against the ultra-Orthodox draft on Road 4 outside Bnei Brak on March 2, 2025 (Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 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 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 Israel's discretion, backed by national consensus and with the determination to realize the goal of destroying Hamas. And so this week, we ask Micah Goodman, what matters now. Please see today's ongoing liveblog for more updates. 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: A Palestinian boy carries a toy gun while standing with members of Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, during a rally in Gaza City on May 24, 2021. (AFP / Emmanuel DUNAND)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 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 Witkoff of 10 living hostages for 60 days of ceasefire. What is the new outline to extend the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and how are Israel -- and Hamas -- responding to it? Mahmoud Abbas may be the last Palestinian leader who believes in a two-state solution and opposes violence as a means for bringing it about, a potential successor to the PA president, Jibril Rajoub, told Magid in a recent interview. So what’s the alternative? Please see today's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Jewish kids in Israel and beyond dress up as Batman for Purim to honor the Bibas boys Witkoff reportedly presents new proposal for Gaza truce extension to Israel, Hamas Boehler to continue supporting Witkoff’s efforts in Mideast amid reports of sidelining Abbas may be the last PA leader who believes in two states, warns potential successor 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 man reads a scroll in front of a clock counting the time Israeli hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip since the October 2023 attacks by Hamas terrorists have spent in captivity, during the reading of the Scrolls of Esther at the start of the feast of Purim at Hostages' Square in Tel Aviv on March 13, 2025. (Jack GUEZ / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.