The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

Available Episodes

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Day 703 - Trump warns Hamas to take deal, as Israel submits another proposal
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. US President Donald Trump is more optimistic about a hostage deal that will offer the immediate release of all living hostages, says Magid, discussing the President's Sunday tweet. He discusses the current plan offered by Trump and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, passed through unofficial Trump adviser Bishara Bahbah and Israeli activist Gershon Baskin. Magid also talks about another hostage deal proposed by Israel several weeks ago, which veers from the principles that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly insisted upon for several weeks. It calls for the release of all living hostages within 48 hours of a ceasefire, the disarmament of Hamas in a second phase, and a third phase of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza. Magid, currently in Israel, discusses the Saturday night protest for the hostages in Jerusalem, based on the idea of social cohesion as Israelis show up to support the hostages' families and the strongly held value that no one should ever be left behind. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: After Trump issues ‘last warning’ to Hamas, terror group says it’s ready to restart talks Israel submitted hostage deal offer that strays from PM’s public conditions for ending war ‘Traitor’: Mass Jerusalem crowd pans PM as hostage’s mom calls him worst foe of Jewish nation Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: Anat and Haggai Angrest, parents of hostage Matan Angrest, protesting outside the residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Azza Street in Jerusalem on September 6, 2025 (Credit Yael Gadot/Israeli Pro-Democracy Protest Movement)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Day 702 - Genocide claims based on false data, Israeli academics allege
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. Legal and settlements reporter Jeremy Sharon joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. A new study conducted by a team of Israeli multidisciplinary researchers delves into accusations that Israel committed crimes against humanity, such as planned starvation and genocide during the war in Gaza. The authors’ objective was to conduct a rigorous factual analysis of the methodologies and evidence behind genocide claims. Sharon fills us in on how faulty source data used by reports accusing Israel of genocide may be partly to blame. Greta Thunberg has again set sail for Gaza on another so-called peace flotilla. We learn about the legalities of Israel's eventual interception and deportation of the crew. The High Court of Justice decided unanimously last week on Monday to recommend to the government that it cancel its decision to fire Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. The court told the government to inform it by September 14 whether it accepted the court’s recommendation to abolish the new method for firing the attorney general that the government established in June, and by extension to cancel the dismissal of Baharav-Miara. The clock is ticking. What are the next potential moves? A kindergarten was opened in the illegal settlement outpost of Homesh on Monday, 20 years after it was evacuated under the 2005 disengagement plan, in a step that was praised by Education Minister Yoav Kisch and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich as boosting Israel’s control over the West Bank. Sharon delves into what this overt government support represents.Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: US said to give Hamas, via mediator, principles for comprehensive hostage deal High Court unanimously urges government to revoke attorney general’s dismissal New kindergarten established at West Bank outpost evacuated under 2005 disengagement Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: Displaced Palestinians fleeing northern Gaza carry their belongings along the coastal road toward southern Gaza, September 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Day 701 - Deborah Conway & Tamar Paluch: Australia is rife with antisemitism
Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Jessica Steinberg speaking with Australians Tamar Paluch and Deborah Conway, the editor and a contributor to "Ruptured, Jewish Women in Australia Reflect on Life Post-October 7," a book of essays. Paluch, who edited the book with Lee Kofman, discusses how the idea came from a painful place, after the events of October 7 brought a deluge of antisemitism upon Australia's Jewish community. She talks about putting together a book written and edited by women, as it was the silence of women's organizations regarding the sexual crimes committed by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 terrorist attack that prompted her and her co-editor to launch the project. Conway, one of the contributors and a well-known Australian musician and performing artist, speaks about the antisemitism and hatred she experienced in the wake of October 7, as many of her appearances and performances were canceled and sometimes interrupted by virulent pro-Palestinian protestors. Both women discuss the historical background of Australian Jewry and the sense that the dream of a Jewish paradise has ended, and how they plan on moving forward. And so this week, we ask Tamar Paluch and Deborah Conway what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Palestinian supporters wave flags as they march to the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Oct. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Day 700 - Yaakov Katz on why Israel was asleep on Oct. 7
Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. This week, Berman takes up the host role for an in-depth interview with author Yaakov Katz about his new book, "While Israel Slept: How Hamas Surprised the Most Powerful Military in the Middle East," which he co-wrote with Amir Bohbot. A former military correspondent, Katz served as editor in chief of The Jerusalem Post from 2016-2023, leaving just before the war. Currently a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute in Jerusalem, Katz is the author or co-author of four books. Katz talks about the ignored "alarm bells" indicating that Hamas was about to launch a major attack prior to October 7, 2023. He speaks about the uncertainty whether Hamas was conducting a drill and how warning signs were disregarded because they didn't fit the paradigm built by Israel around the capabilities of Hamas. "We were so infatuated, in love with the signal intelligence, the visual intelligence. We knew everything because we had the technology. But while we thought we knew, we did not know what their intentions were, we did not know what they were really planning," said Katz. Katz delves into the goals of Hamas head Yahye Sinwar and how many he achieved, despite the terrorist group's degradation. We hear an assessment of the war, almost two years in, as well as who should be running Gaza in the day after. Friday Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Yaakov Katz (courtesy)/ Israeli soldiers walk past houses destroyed by Hamas militants in Kibbutz Be'eri, Israel, October 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit, File)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Day 699 - In Abu Dhabi, UAE tells ToI annexation is a 'red line'
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 episode. In an interview conducted in the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, Emirati special envoy Lana Nusseibeh warned Israel that annexing the West Bank would cross a “red line” that would “end the vision of regional integration.” Today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is meant to hold a major ministerial consultation on whether to advance. Magid sets the scene and explains what Nusseibeh and the Emiratis are trying to get across to the Israeli public. Earlier in the week, on Monday, in Doha, Magid spoke with Majed al-Ansari, the spokesperson for Qatar’s lead negotiator, Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, and heard the backstory of their frustrations over the negotiation process. We reset the scene and delve into the role of Qatar as negotiator for the Gaza war -- and other global conflicts. The United States said on Friday it will not allow Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to travel to New York next month for a United Nations gathering of world leaders, where several US allies are set to recognize Palestine as a state. A State Department official told Magid that a US visa ban on Palestinian officials planning to attend the United Nations General Assembly, would cover Abbas along with 80 other PA officials. Magid explains the mechanism of withholding the visas and how it dates to a report written during the Biden administration. Last week, Magid spoke with Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon about the impending slew of recognitions of a Palestinian state. Borschel-Dan notes that his remarks could be construed as dismissive: “These countries want to show that they are doing something, so they blow off steam by coming up with these declarative statements.” We hear Magid's takeaways from the conversation. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: UAE warns Israel: Annexing West Bank is a ‘red line’ that would ‘end regional integration’ After US cools on phased Gaza deal, senior Qatari official laments ‘moving goalposts’ US says it will ban PA’s Abbas, 80 other officials from attending UN General Assembly Israel’s UN envoy: Western leaders recognizing Palestinian state to ‘blow off steam’ Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: US President Donald Trump, center, with from left, Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan, during the Abraham Accords signing ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House on September 15, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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