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.
Australia correspondent Nomi Kaltmann joins host Gabriella Jacobs for today's episode.
A royal commission is Australia’s highest form of public inquiry, with sweeping powers to compel witnesses and documents.
Australia’s royal commission into antisemitism was established by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese following the Bondi Beach Hanukkah massacre in Sydney. Kaltmann discusses to what extent its findings can shape Australian law, policy and society.
Kaltmann describes how the hearings have become a rare public forum for Australian Jews to describe how antisemitism has reshaped life in the aftermath of the bloody October 7, 2023, Hamas invasion of Israel and the subsequent war against the terror group in Gaza.
She describes two weeks of hearings which are now nearing their conclusion, in which Jewish Australians and other witnesses gave evidence before the commission.
Kaltmann concludes by explaining the trajectory of the commission going forward and its conclusions thus far.
She remains uncertain whether the commission’s recommendations will, in actuality, stem the surge of antisemitism that Australian Jews have been witnessing of late.
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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.
Political correspondent Ariela Karmel and reporter Amy Spiro join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.
It's been an intensive week for lawmakers, reports Karmel, as the government begins dissolving the Knesset to trigger earlier elections and accelerates several controversial pieces of legislation. Karmel discusses the attorney general bill, a final effort by the right-leaning coalition to remove what remains of the only checks and balances on executive power in Israel.
Another element of the attorney general legislation is intended to allow elected officials to operate with less scrutiny, says Karmel, making it more difficult to open investigations or indictments against a prime minister or cabinet members.
After singer Noam Bettan garnered second place in the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night, Spiro discusses the surprising result, given the intensive politics behind the competition, with several countries that dropped out of the contest in protest of Israel's participation.
If Bettan had won first place, Spiro notes that it would have complicated decisions about having Israel host the Eurovision next year, but notes that the song contest has survived other wars, boycotts and geopolitical dramas.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
MKs vote to advance bills splitting and weakening role of AG, making it harder to indict PM
New bill aims to make it harder to indict senior officials, including PM, ministers
Smotrich attacks AG, rule of law in dramatic Knesset committee hearing
Defying predictions, Eurovision juries gave Israel a boost amid voting reforms
Israel’s Noam Bettan finishes second at Eurovision as Bulgaria takes the win
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Yitzchak Ledee.
IMAGE: Political correspondent Ariela Karmel joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's Daily Briefing. (ToI)
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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.
US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.
As negotiations falter, again, between Iran and the US, and the Gulf States express wariness about renewing war, Magid discusses the two sides' current positions on terms to permanently end the war. Among other demands, Iran is seeking guarantees that hostilities will not resume and, in return, would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. It also continues to seek deferring negotiations over its rogue nuclear program — a stance President Donald Trump has thus far rejected.
In the meantime, Magid reports, the Board of Peace is getting nowhere regarding Hamas's disarmament. The terror group feels emboldened by Iran's ability to withstand US demands, says Magid, and is tightening its grip in the Gaza Strip.
Initial results from last weekend's elections for Fatah’s Central Committee show that PA President Mahmoud Abbas was elected to the panel, reports Magid, as well as his son, millionaire Yasser Abbas. Supporters of exiled prominent Palestinian Mohammed Dahlan were not permitted to participate in the elections, throwing the entire process into question.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
Trump says US attack on Iran called off after Gulf assurances that deal now possible
US-Iran talks stalled after Tehran tried skirting up-front nuke concessions — officials
US thought Iran war would hasten Gaza’s demilitarization. Instead, Hamas is emboldened
Board of Peace envoy: Hamas tightening its grip on Gaza, taxing those with nothing left
US mulls asking Israel to provide PA tax funds for Trump’s Gaza plan — sources
Early results in Fatah leadership vote show Abbas’s son, intelligence chief elected
Backers of Abbas rival excluded from Fatah confab, despite Egypt’s push for inclusivity
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: US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's Daily Briefing (ToI)
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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.
Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.
While Israel’s ceasefire with Lebanon was extended for 45 days, Fabian reports that, on the ground, Hezbollah continues to attack — and Israel to hit back, within US-imposed constraints.
The Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip demarcates the 53% of the territory that is under Israel’s control, and Fabian notes that the IDF has taken control of another 7% with a new “Orange Line” placed just below the Yellow Line, enabling the coordination of the movement of humanitarian aid or convoys.
The IDF has repeatedly warned of a severe personnel shortage, saying it urgently needs 12,000 more soldiers, and Fabian looks at the crisis in the context of the upcoming elections, with the coalition again seeking to advance a broad Haredi draft-exemption law. This bill, the IDF has made clear, is not the right legislation to address its needs. With tens of thousands of eligible ultra-Orthodox men not conscripted, and an intolerable burden on reservists, the IDF is also seeking to extend mandatory service time.
After a soldier was jailed for wearing a “Messiah” patch on his uniform, Fabian reports that IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir came across the enlistee during a routine troop visit and views this transgression as an example of lax IDF discipline.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
4 IDF troops wounded, one severely, by roadside bomb in south Lebanon
‘Now 60%’: Netanyahu admits Israel taking more territory in Gaza, despite ceasefire
IDF warns of severe personnel shortages, last window to solve crisis with legislation
Soldier jailed, commanders penalized after IDF chief calls out ‘Messiah’ patch
In first remarks on ‘Messiah’ patch incident, IDF chief says ‘path to victory’ goes through a disciplined military
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: Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's Daily Briefing (ToI)
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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.
US reporter Luke Tress joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.
Following Thursday's demonstration at The New York Times building regarding the Nicholas Kristof column about alleged systematic sexual abuse of Palestinian inmates in Israel, Tress notes that protestors discussed concerns about slanted coverage that can instigate violence against Jews or Israel-related targets.
As New York's New School student government tries to defund its local Hillel chapter, accusing it of violent international crimes following recent student trips to Israel, Tress discusses the dispute and the trend toward colleges attempting to exclude chapters of the international Jewish student organization.
An anti-Israel protest held in Midwood, a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn, showed the ability to get more personal and ugly than those held at public spaces, reports Tress.
The presence of swastika graffiti has become more prevalent around New York City, notes Tress, and comes from both the far left, who want to demonize Israel and from far-right pro-Nazi movements.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
Jews protest at New York Times office against column alleging systematic sexual abuse of Palestinians
Accused of ‘blood libel,’ NYT defends column alleging Israeli rape of Palestinian inmates
Citing Israel’s ‘international crimes,’ NYC student government trying to defund Hillel
Anti-Zionist protesters march through NYC Jewish neighborhood, chanting for intifada
On synagogues, playgrounds: In NY, swastika graffiti is increasingly common and rarely prosecuted
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: Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's Daily Briefing. (ToI)
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