The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

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 correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that the United States will cease providing $4 billion in annual military aid to Israel by the end of this year, in comments that reportedly caught Israeli security and financial officials off guard. Fabian describes what this could mean for the IDF's capabilities -- and how it may actually free Israel to operate on its own in the region.
The Israeli military on Monday morning wrapped up an 11-day operation in Hebron, launched following a deadly shooting attack at a checkpoint on the outskirts of the West Bank city, after the political leadership finally approved the withdrawal of troops. We learn about the goals of the operation, whether they were met and how the IDF chief of staff Eyal Zamir attempted to contain it ahead of its pre-election launch.
Seven Palestinian terror operatives, including a top Hamas commander who held an Israeli hostage, were killed in Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip earlier this week, the military and Shin Bet security agency announced on Wednesday. Concurrently, the IDF finally released details about early indications of the Hamas onslaught on southern Israel from October 6, 2023. Fabian updates us on both headlines.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
Trump aid bombshell could set off scramble to reprioritize upcoming arms buys
IDF ends controversial 11-day Hebron operation that followed deadly shooting attack
1 reported killed in first southern Lebanon IDF airstrike in weeks
IDF: Gaza strikes kill 7 terrorists, including Hamas commander who held hostage
IDF identified Deif, other top Hamas commanders entering tunnels on eve of Oct. 7
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 episode.
With Democrats sweeping control of Congress following the midterm elections, Magid attributes the shift to the deeply unpopular Iran war among voters, and discusses whether the change could lead to further alienation of Israel on Capitol Hill.
While in Michigan for Election Day, Magid reports on his conversations with Jewish voters, examining how the midterm elections and the race between the winning anti-Israel candidate Abdul El-Sayed and former Republican lawmaker Mike Rogers divided the local Jewish community that is normally heavily Democratic.
After US President Donald Trump announced during a Fox News interview that the US will end $4 billion in annual military aid to Israel by the end of 2026, Magid questions the timing of the statement, whether the date is correct, and notes that the White House was not clarifying the US leader's statements.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing live blog for more updates.
For further reading:
Democrats take control of US House and Senate in sharp rebuke of Trump, Republicans
Anti-Israel El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate race, pledges no money for ‘apartheid, genocide’
For pro-Israel diaspora, Israel’s Arab voters are a point of pride. For Israeli Jews, they’re a national security threat
Trump says US to end $4 billion in annual military aid to Israel by end of 2026
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Ari Schlacht produced this episode.
IMAGE: US bureau chief Jacob Magid appears on the Daily Briefing with host Jessica Steinberg (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.
US reporter Luke Tress joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.
As Democrat Abdul El-Sayed faces off against Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s midterm election, Tress discusses the latest antisemitic campaigning from far-left media personality Hasan Piker and where the Jewish vote may end up in the close race.
Tress reports on the races in New York, where candidates from both parties are generally supportive of Israel but the Jewish vote may show a broader dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party.
A House committee report on the premier organization for psychologists in the US, the American Psychological Association, shows anti-Israel rhetoric, notes Tress.
Israeli singer Omer Adam drew 20,000 people to a New York concert, offering a night off from antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment, and Tress brings up color from the scene.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
El-Sayed, AIPAC, antisemitism and Israel: 5 US midterm races to watch
Hasan Piker compares Michigan Jewish voters to Ku Klux Klan ahead of El-Sayed Senate vote
American Psychological Association brushed off antisemitism complaints — US House report
Israeli pop star Omer Adam provides NYC Jews with a celebratory refuge
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.
IMAGE: New York reporter Luke Tress appears on today's Daily Briefing with host Jessica Steinberg (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.
Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.
For months, analysts have pegged the conclusion of elections in Israel and the US as the benchmark for the restart of the Iran War. Berman looks at what is happening on the military and diplomatic fronts and where signs are pointing.
Ahead of the US midterm elections on Tuesday, a Gallup poll found that the unpopular Iran War ranked third in terms of issues Americans are voting on. With an increased buzz that it is the Jewish state that is pushing for a restart to fighting, where does this leave the US-Israel relationship?
And finally, could it be US Donald Trump who leads the push for a unity government in Israel? Berman sets the table in Washington. Who is invited?
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
Iranian army: War could be longer than previous one, Trump won’t dictate its duration
Trump said weighing who to scapegoat for Iran war as he clashes with PM over renewed attack
Bennett, Golan pledge to back Eisenkot as PM, as bloc mulls which coalition to seek
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Yitzhak Ledee filmed and edited this episode.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to "Still Life in Israel with Jessica Steinberg," a new weekly podcast in which The Times of Israel’s arts and culture editor explores what life in Israel looks and feels like right now, through conversations with the artists, writers, musicians and other voices helping us make sense of this moment.
For this first episode in the new series, we speak with former hostages Aviva and Keith Siegel.
Aviva Siegel was freed from captivity after 51 days and immediately turned to advocacy for her husband, Keith, who remained a hostage for 484 days.
The couple discusses the hours before October 7, when they went food shopping on the night of October 6, following a holiday evening with their family.
The pair talk about Keith's desire to return to their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, and Aviva's inability to do the same.
They talk about the need to tell the truth about what happened to them in captivity, as the couple's story was turned into a play that was recently performed at Tel Aviv's Habima National Theater on the third anniversary of October 7.
Aviva Siegel's book, "Survived to Tell: A Hostage’s True Story of October 7 and 51 Days in Captivity," was recently translated into English.
"Survived to Tell: A Hostage’s True Story of October 7 and 51 Days in Captivity," by Aviva Siegel is out now and available here.
Still Life in Israel podcast episodes are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.