The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus [https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/friday-focus/]. Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/lazar-berman/] and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/] for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. Just back from reserve duty, Berman has written an in-depth look at the war in Gaza and the questions it raises in Israeli society. For today's episode, we take a look at Berman's op-ed, "For now, victory is still within reach: 10 truths about the Gaza war, 20 months in [https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-now-victory-still-in-reach-10-truths-about-the-gaza-war-20-months-in/]," and discuss each point one by one. In a free-flowing conversation, we hear Berman assess the war's successes and failures and learn about the burning existential issues that Israelis have yet to address. Friday Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and the video was edited by Thomas Girsch. IMAGE: IDF troops of the Nahal Brigade operate in the Gaza Strip, in images released on June 5, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces) 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 Amanda Borschel-Dan [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/] for today's episode. US President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation banning travel from certain countries, citing national security concerns — and pointedly, the DIY flamethrower attack on Sunday in Boulder, Colorado. Magid explains which nations are -- and are not -- affected, and discusses the new ban on foreign students at Harvard University. For the first time since Trump took office, the United Nations Security Council discussed and voted on a substantive resolution related to the war in Gaza. The resolution, which was vetoed by the United states, called for a ceasefire, release of the hostages and surge of humanitarian aid into the Strip. Magid weighs in on the significance of the vote. Mediators are reportedly optimistic that Hamas will soon submit an updated hostage deal proposal that will be closer to what US special envoy Steve Witkoff presented last week, three sources familiar with the matter told Magid. But does this optimism have any grounds? What's changed? The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation announced that its aid distribution sites would again not open on Thursday morning to give time for the US- and Israeli-backed organization to carry out logistical work needed to accommodate larger crowds. We discuss this aid effort in the context of other, now suspended attempts, such as air drops from Jordan. Israel decided to block a Saudi-led delegation from visiting the West Bank earlier this week. It would have been the first visit by a Saudi foreign minister since Israel took over the West Bank in 1967, and had been intended to boost the legitimacy of the Palestinian Authority as a viable candidate to replace Hamas as the governing body of Gaza after the war. Magid adds nuance and context to this decision and its repercussions. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-june-5-2025/] For further reading: Trump bans travel from 12 countries, ties it to attack on Colorado Jewish rally [https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/trump-signs-proclamation-banning-travel-from-12-countries/]   Trump moves to bar US entry to foreign students planning to study at Harvard [https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-moves-to-bar-us-entry-to-foreign-students-planning-to-study-at-harvard/] US vetoes UN Security Council resolution calling for Gaza ceasefire [https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-vetoes-un-security-council-resolution-calling-for-gaza-ceasefire/] Mediators optimistic Hamas will soon submit softened hostage deal proposal — sources [https://www.timesofisrael.com/mediators-optimistic-hamas-will-soon-submit-softened-hostage-deal-proposal-sources/] GHF says Gaza aid sites won’t reopen Thursday morning as planned, after one-day shutdown [https://www.timesofisrael.com/ghf-says-gaza-aid-sites-wont-reopen-thursday-morning-as-planned-after-one-day-shutdown/] Saudi official says Israel harmed normalization by blocking West Bank visit – report [https://www.timesofisrael.com/saudi-official-says-israel-harmed-normalization-by-blocking-west-bank-visit-report/] 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 and video edited by Thomas Girsch. IMAGE: US Ambassador to the United Nations Dorothy Shea (C) speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting to vote on a resolution calling for a ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access in Gaza, at UN headquarters in New York City on June 4, 2025. (Leonardo Munoz / AFP) 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. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/lazar-berman/] and reporter Ariela Karmel [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/ariela-karmel/] join host Jessica Steinberg [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jessica-steinberg/] for today's episode. As hostage family members met with members of the Trump administration in the White House on Tuesday, Berman discusses the latest developments in the hostage negotiations, as Hamas continues to leverage the remaining living hostages for political gain while negotiators say Hamas must accept US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff's latest proposal. He also looks at Iran's rejection of the nuclear deal proposal, after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that the US proposal for a nuclear agreement went against the country’s national interest of continuing to enrich uranium. Berman notes that Iran wants a deal of some kind, particularly one that will protect them against future Israeli attacks, and is continuing to negotiate, with another round slated for this weekend. Berman describes one of the aid sites in Gaza that was created by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and the complications of funneling Gazans into the space to receive their aid packages. He notes that the aid centers are closed today to fine-tune the process and prepare safe access routes after the IDF opened fire toward Palestinians who had approached troops after straying off a pre-approved path for reaching a Rafah distribution site. Berman also looks at Spain and its decision to cancel another arms deal with Israel, spiking a $325 million system that would have been developed in Spain by Pap Tecnos, a subsidiary of Israel’s Rafael Advance Defense Systems. Berman discusses that Spain is a long-time critic of Israel’s policies toward Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, and that it may be following other European countries with this step. Karmel speaks about ongoing government settlement policies that incentivize Israelis to move to the West Bank due to rising housing costs inside Israel, and how that situation has been concretized by members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government. She also relates the launch of a book by released hostage Eli Sharabi, the first book by a former hostage, and his determination to keep living despite the personal tragedies he has experienced. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-june-4-2025/?utm_source=article_hpsidebar&utm_medium=desktop_site&utm_campaign=spain-reneges-on-325m-purchase-of-anti-tank-missiles-from-israels-rafael] For further reading: Senior Israeli official: Hamas ‘must understand it has to accept the Witkoff outline’ [https://www.timesofisrael.com/senior-israeli-official-hamas-must-understand-it-has-to-accept-the-witkoff-outline/] Key US consulting firm withdraws from American- and Israeli-backed Gaza aid agency [https://www.timesofisrael.com/key-us-consulting-firm-withdraws-from-american-and-israeli-backed-gaza-aid-agency/] Israel punches back at UN chief for demanding probe into Gaza aid site shooting [https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-punches-back-at-un-chief-for-demanding-probe-into-gaza-aid-site-shooting/] Trump insists no enrichment in Iran deal after US said to offer limited nuke activity [https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-insists-no-enrichment-in-iran-deal-after-us-said-to-offer-limited-nuke-activity/] Spain reneges on $325m purchase of anti-tank missiles from Israel’s Rafael [https://www.timesofisrael.com/spain-reneges-on-325m-purchase-of-anti-tank-missiles-from-israels-rafael/] Is the government using the housing crisis to drive the settlement movement? [https://www.timesofisrael.com/is-the-government-using-the-housing-crisis-to-drive-the-settlement-movement/] A book to wake up the world: Ex-hostage Eli Sharabi launches memoir of captivity and survival [https://www.timesofisrael.com/i-always-chose-life-ex-hostage-eli-sharabi-launches-memoir-of-captivity-and-survival/] 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 and video edited by Thomas Girsch. IMAGE: The Al-Ansar Mosque in Gaza's Deir al-Balah after Israeli airstrikes, June 3, 2025. (Photo by Ali Hassan/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. New York reporter Luke Tress [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/luke-tress/] joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/] for today's episode. Twelve people were wounded Sunday in Boulder, Colorado — including at least one person in critical condition — when activists rallying for the release of the Israeli hostages in Gaza were attacked by a man shouting “end Zionists,” who fired a makeshift flamethrower and threw firebombs at them. Tress updates us with what we know so far about the suspect, Mohammed Soliman, and his motives. Tress compares Sunday's Boulder attack to the fatal shooting of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, less than two weeks ago. He reminds listeners of Jewish community leaders' warnings of potential copycat attacks on the horizon. To close, we learn about a new facility from the Community Security Service, a nonprofit that trains volunteer synagogue guards throughout the US, the first in the US dedicated to training synagogue guards as American Jews build out an array of connected security measures amid a global surge in antisemitism. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-june-3-2025/] For further reading: Three IDF soldiers killed by roadside bomb in north Gaza’s Jabalia [https://www.timesofisrael.com/three-idf-soldiers-killed-by-roadside-bomb-in-north-gazas-jabalia/] With attacks in Washington and Colorado, the global intifada lands in America [https://www.timesofisrael.com/with-attacks-in-washington-and-colorado-the-global-intifada-lands-in-america/] Colorado suspect planned attack for a year, wanted to ‘kill all Zionist people’ — FBI [https://www.timesofisrael.com/colorado-attacker-held-on-preliminary-murder-charges-though-cops-say-none-dead-as-of-now/] Trump pins Boulder attack on Biden border policy after suspect named as illegal alien [https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-pins-boulder-attack-on-biden-border-policy-after-suspect-named-as-illegal-alien/] After deadly shooting, US Jewish security leaders urge vigilance amid threat of copycats [https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-shooting-us-jewish-security-leaders-urge-vigilance-amid-threat-of-copycats/] In first, US Jewish security outfit opens boot camp for volunteer synagogue guards [https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-first-us-jewish-security-outfit-opens-boot-camp-for-volunteer-synagogue-guards/] 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 and video edited by Thomas Girsch. IMAGE: Law enforcement officials investigate after an attack on the Pearl Street Mall Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Boulder, Colorado. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) 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. Religions reporter Rossella Tercatin [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/rossella-tercatin/] joins host Jessica Steinberg [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jessica-steinberg/] for today's episode. Nearly two years after the ancient, nearly complete Codex Sassoon bible was first introduced at the Anu Museum, days before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, the book of Torah is inaugurated at the museum, in the presence of released hostage Agam Berger, in a moving, bittersweet ceremony, tells Tercatin. Another ancient bible, the Shem Tov bible, this one only 700 years old, was also inaugurated permanently at the National Library of Israel, both in time for the Shavuot holiday. Tercatin also looks at the ongoing issues of conversion in Israel, following a meeting last week of the Knesset Aliyah Committee devoted to the topic of conversions on Tuesday, ahead of the Shavuot festival. Only about half of those who start the process to convert manage to complete the journey, and the Conversion Authority is currently formally without a director, leaving nobody can sign the official conversion certificates, complex matters that Tercatin discusses. Steinberg talks about an art exhibit currently at Kibbutz Ramat Yohanan, marking the 80th anniversary of the kibbutz's Shavuot ceremony, created by two pioneering kibbutz members in the 1940s to mark the agricultural and harvest aspects of the festival. Finally, Tercatin discusses the Messianic community in Israel, and its connection to Yaron Lischinsky, the Israel Embassy staffer who was killed alongside his soon-to-be-fiance, Sarah Milgrim, on May 21 in an antisemitic attack at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-june-1-2025/] For further reading: Codex Sassoon, oldest near-complete Hebrew Bible, displayed in Israel after Oct. 7 delay [https://www.timesofisrael.com/codex-sassoon-oldest-near-complete-hebrew-bible-displayed-in-israel-after-oct-7-delay/] Ahead of Shavuot, thousands of converts remain unrecognized by state, stuck in limbo [https://www.timesofisrael.com/ahead-of-shavuot-thousands-of-converts-remain-unrecognized-by-state-stuck-in-limbo/] Kibbutz marks 80 years of Shavuot song and dance with pioneering artworks [https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3558266&preview=true] For Messianic Jews in Jerusalem, Yaron Lischinsky’s murder was a personal loss  [https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-messianic-jews-in-jerusalem-yaron-lischinskys-murder-was-a-personal-loss/] 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 and video edited by Thomas Girsch. IMAGE: The 'Codex Sassoon' bible is displayed at Sotheby's in New York on February 15, 2023. (Ed Jones/AFP) See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.