The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing. Today, we have a special episode that we pulled from our archives. Just ahead of this year's observance of Tisha B’Av on Sunday, which commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples, we are replaying an episode of our former weekly podcast, Times Will Tell, in which we went onsite in Jerusalem to the Temple Mount Sifting Project. We speak with archaeologist Zachi Dvira, who is the co-director of the project. He’ll explain its controversial genesis and continuing struggle. At the end of our conversation, you'll hear as we wet-sift a bucket of earth taken from the Temple Mount. Founded in 2004 near the Mount of Olives, it’s now at a location called Mitzpe Hamasuot, near the Hebrew University. The site is easily accessible and has an auditorium and a shady picnic grove, which was made possible with the help of American Friends of Beit Orot. Dvira calls for all who have not been to help sift through thousands of years of Temple Mount history to "hurry up!" IMAGE: Visitors sifting buckets of earth from the Temple Mount at the relaunch of the Temple Mount Sifting Project, June 2, 2019. (Yosef Huri) See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Ahead of the holiday of Tisha B'Av, we bring you this special What Matters Now podcast: Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/] speaking with author Daniel Taub. Taub is an Israeli diplomat, international lawyer and author born in Britain in 1962. He moved to Israel in 1989, later serving in the IDF as a combat medic and as a reserve officer in the international law division. He started his path in diplomacy in the Israeli Foreign Ministry in 1991 where he held many legal and diplomatic posts, including as  Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2011 to 2015. In his new book, "Beyond Dispute: Rediscovering the Jewish Art of Constructive Disagreement," Taub synthesizes his years spent at negotiating tables as a diplomat with his lifelong learning of Talmud.  Drawing on techniques from both spheres, Taub argues that disagreement can be even more constructive than easy consensus -- and is necessary for treaties to last. We begin the program speaking about the Tisha B'Av holiday marked this weekend and how Israeli society today -- specifically, the painful ongoing debate over universal draft -- is coming close to the senseless hatred that tradition ascribes as a reason for the fall of the Temples.  We then hear how one must pick a ripe time for negotiations, and how Taub's experiences on negotiation teams with Palestinians and Syrians make him think that Israelis, at the very least, are not ready to discuss a practical peace -- yet. And so this week, we ask Daniel Taub, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/il/podcast/times-will-tell/id1067953235?mt=2], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5Hqgs4Cy5VkdXB51eW2jjd], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnR6FOcOvFdMHmmVLVJUNrE198zXKQWna] or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves [https://thepodwaves.com/]. IMAGE: Author Daniel Taub (courtesy) / Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man pray as they gather for the mourning ritual of Tisha B'Av, in the Old City of Jerusalem, August 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg) See omnystudio.com/listener [https://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 [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jacob-magid/] joins host Jessica Steinberg [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jessica-steinberg/] for today's episode. With Canada announcing that it will recognize a Palestinian state in September, Magid discusses that Canada is conditioning its plan on Palestinian Authority reforms.  Magid also looks at the latest vote in the Senate to block arms sales to Israel, as an extension of distrust of Netanyahu government. The resolution proposed by progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders didn't pass again, but a majority of Democrats voted against it, a first that shows the distrust of the Netanyahu government, says Magid. As US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff makes his way to the region, Magid says that Gaza humanitarian aid is the main issue he'll presumably discuss with Netanyahu, with clear prioritization on how to aid the Gazans. Magid also talks about the alleged shooting of a prominent Palestinian activist by a known Jewish settler and the clear differences in how the suspected settler, Yinon Levi, was treated by Israeli civilian law as opposed to the Palestinian suspects involved in the case, who are being handled by the Israeli military legal system. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-july-31-2025/] For further reading: Following France and UK, Canada says it will recognize Palestinian state in September [https://www.timesofisrael.com/following-france-and-uk-canada-says-it-will-recognize-palestinian-state-in-september/] Israel said to warn Hamas it will annex parts of Gaza if no hostage deal reached [https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-said-to-warn-hamas-it-will-annex-parts-of-gaza-if-no-hostage-deal-reached/] As Trump promises new Gaza aid plan, White House says details forthcoming [https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-trump-promises-new-gaza-aid-plan-white-house-says-details-forthcoming/] IDF court extends Palestinians’ remand after Israeli in same incident freed to house arrest [https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-court-extends-palestinians-remand-after-israeli-in-same-incident-freed-to-house-arrest/] Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-times-of-israel-daily-briefing/id1547404042], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1vhvFPvN0fFn5YRHCEcxrn], YouTube, [https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnR6FOcOvFdMbb0w1n0Ev0orcVkufgZ89] or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Palestinians carry food supplies they received from the US aid center in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, July 30, 2025. (Photo by Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90) See omnystudio.com/listener [https://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 reporter Tal Schneider [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/tal-schneider/]and diplomatic reporter Nava Freiberg [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/nava-freiberg/] join host Amanda Borschel-Dan  [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/]for today's episode. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday that the UK would recognize a Palestinian state in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the war and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, and meets several other conditions, including recommitting to a viable peace process. This is happening while, for the past several days, high-level representatives at a UN conference have urged Israel to commit to a Palestinian state. We discuss fallout to Starmer's announcement, the “New York Declaration” and which other states may follow suit in potentially recognizing Palestine this fall. In his announcement, Starmer said that Israel could forestall the recognition by reaching a ceasefire in Gaza, making clear that it will not annex the West Bank (or Gaza), and committing to a peace process that results in a two-state solution. This comes as there are increased rumors of plans to annex parts of the Gaza Strip. But are these rumors just a negotiation tactic? Schneider weighs in. At the NY two-state solution conference this week, Arab and Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey, signed a declaration condemning for the first time Hamas’s onslaught of October 7, 2023, and calling on the Palestinian terror group to release all the hostages it is holding, disarm and end its rule of Gaza, in a bid to end the devastating war in the Strip. Schneider and Freiberg explain that all may not be as laudable it seems. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-july-30-2025/] For further reading: UK to recognize Palestinian state in Sept. unless Israel ends Gaza war, commits to peace [https://www.timesofisrael.com/uk-to-recognize-palestinian-state-in-sept-unless-israel-ends-gaza-war-commits-to-peace/] PM says ‘obstinate’ Hamas blocking hostage deal, as he weighs annexing parts of Gaza [https://www.timesofisrael.com/pm-says-obstinate-hamas-blocking-hostage-deal-as-he-weighs-annexing-parts-of-gaza/] In 1st, entire Arab League condemns Oct. 7, urges Hamas to disarm, at 2-state solution confab [https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-1st-entire-arab-league-condemns-oct-7-urges-hamas-to-disarm-at-2-state-solution-confab/] Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-times-of-israel-daily-briefing/id1547404042], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1vhvFPvN0fFn5YRHCEcxrn], YouTube, [https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnR6FOcOvFdMbb0w1n0Ev0orcVkufgZ89] or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a statement inside No. 10 Downing Street after the cabinet was recalled to discuss the situation in Gaza, in London, July 29, 2025. (Toby Melville, Pool Photo via AP) See omnystudio.com/listener [https://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. Times of Israel founding editor David Horovitz [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/david-horovitz/] joins host Jessica Steinberg [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jessica-steinberg/] for today’s episode. The situation in Gaza remains incredibly problematic and unclear, says Horovitz, with a lack of independent journalism in Gaza, complicating the narrative. For the moment, Israel has reversed its policy regarding aid to Gaza, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didn’t invite his two far-right coalition members, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to the cabinet meeting discussing an increase of aid to Gaza. Horovitz discusses the mixed signals and strategic incoherence from the current government on this mix of issues. There is talk about getting aid into Gaza at the same time as unsourced reports that the army has proposed a tightened siege in the Strip, and held discussions of annexation or occupation in Gaza, offering a great deal of contradictory information, says Horovitz. Horovitz also discusses the wave of recommendations about excluding Israel from academic projects alongside instances of Israeli tourists requiring security assistance in various EU locations, amid the rising tide of criticism against Israel. People feel deeply troubled by what they are seeing and hearing about Gaza, he notes. Israeli negotiators are no longer in Doha for the ceasefire talks, although the terrorist organization Hamas has said it is trying to make this current proposal work. Horovitz says that Israel’s strategy is hard to fathom, given its insistence on military pressure in Gaza and Netanyahu’s continued endorsement of US President Donald Trump’s initial idea of helping Gazans leave, something that the US leader isn’t saying that any longer. Check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing liveblog for more updates. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-july-29-2025/] For further reading: PM says Israel will ensure lots of Gaza aid; ministers said to mull occupation, annexation [https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-gaza-situation-is-difficult-israel-will-ensure-large-amounts-of-aid/?utm_source=article_hpsidebar&utm_medium=desktop_site&utm_campaign=liveblog-july-29-2025] ‘You can’t fake that’: Trump sees ‘real starvation’ in Gaza, says Israel must do more [https://www.timesofisrael.com/you-cant-fake-that-trump-sees-real-starvation-in-gaza-says-israel-can-do-more/?utm_source=article_hpsidebar&utm_medium=desktop_site&utm_campaign=netanyahu-gaza-situation-is-difficult-israel-will-ensure-large-amounts-of-aid] Image of Gazan child with genetic illness being used to falsely smear Israel, COGAT charges [https://www.timesofisrael.com/image-of-gazan-child-with-genetic-illness-being-used-to-falsely-smear-israel-cogat-charges/?utm_source=article_hpsidebar&utm_medium=desktop_site&utm_campaign=eu-proposes-cutting-israeli-access-to-research-funds-over-gaza-humanitarian-crisis] Smotrich signals he won’t bolt coalition despite objecting to Gaza humanitarian aid [https://www.timesofisrael.com/smotrich-signals-he-wont-bolt-coalition-despite-objecting-to-gaza-humanitarian-aid/?utm_source=article_hpsidebar&utm_medium=desktop_site&utm_campaign=you-cant-fake-that-trump-sees-real-starvation-in-gaza-says-israel-can-do-more] EU proposes cutting Israeli access to research funds over Gaza humanitarian crisis [https://www.timesofisrael.com/eu-proposes-cutting-israeli-access-to-research-funds-over-gaza-humanitarian-crisis/?utm_source=article_hpsidebar&utm_medium=desktop_site&utm_campaign=you-cant-fake-that-trump-sees-real-starvation-in-gaza-says-israel-can-do-more] Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-times-of-israel-daily-briefing/id1547404042], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1vhvFPvN0fFn5YRHCEcxrn], YouTube, [https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnR6FOcOvFdMbb0w1n0Ev0orcVkufgZ89] or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Palestinians at the site of an Israeli air strike, at the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, on July 29, 2025. (Ali Hassan/Flash90) See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.