Israel should worry about Saudi deal, but there is good news in Lebanon

Israel should worry about Saudi deal, but there is good news in Lebanon

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Lazar Focus [https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/friday-focus/]. Each Friday, join host diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/lazar-berman/] for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. Even for Israeli standards, it's been a pretty wild week in Israel's neighborhood. The ceasefire war between the US and Iran continues to escalate. The threats from US President Donald Trump against Iran grow ever more bombastic, but there is a real feeling that he might carry out a significant attack soon that goes well beyond the limited strikes that we have seen over the past two weeks. Of course, Iran is hitting back, primarily at Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, saying it is targeting US bases in those countries. The Iran-backed Houthis struck two Saudi oil tankers, as that conflict begins to heat up. Houthi threats to the Bab al-Mandeb would mean the Iranian axis is closing the two waterways connecting the Middle East and Europe to Asian markets. There was slightly better news to the north. After six rounds of direct talks and an agreement that envisions peace between Israel and Lebanon, Lebanese forces began moving into the first pilot zone vacated by Israeli forces. Joined by Times of Israel colleague Nava Freiberg, Lazar made sense of the interconnected but distinct theaters that Israeli leaders and citizens are paying close attention to. He explained what Iran is trying to do with its attack on Arab countries. It is determined to impose its reading of the MOU on the world, especially as it comes to control over the Strait of Hormuz. That is why it hasn't hit Israel. Iran knows that Israel, Lazar said, isn't about to run to Trump and ask him to give in to Iran's demands to get it stop firing. Instead, Israel would relish the opportunity to carry out some of the attacks that it had to call off in April, and would likely go well beyond what the Americans are doing. It doesn't make sense for Israel to go out of its way to get involved either. For now, Iran is being degraded, it isn't getting economic relief, and Trump is becoming increasingly frustrated with his Iranian interlocutors.  Meanwhile, life is fairly normal in Israel, with flights returning to Ben Gurion Airport and citizens focusing on the election fight. Lazar also shed light on alternative energy pathways being developed in the wake of Iranian threats to the Strait of Hormuz. Israel might have an opportunity to be key element of some of these plans, but it has to change the tenor of relations with some of its Arab partners. Lazar explained why the Saudi-US nuclear deal is a problem for Israel. First of Israel, it shows that Israel is not being consulted by the White House on strategic decisions. In addition, it represents a potential proliferation risk, especially if the current regime in Riyadh is replaced. Turning to Lebanon, Lazar said that progress on the first pilot zone is undoubtedly a positive step. Still, the Lebanese army is incapable of taking on Hezbollah at this stage, and a lot will have to happen before disarming Hezbollah is a likely outcome. It will be important to help the Lebanese government show the public that negotiations with Israel achieve results, especially the return of some civilians to their homes. Lazar Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by Gabriella Jacobs and video edited by Ari Schlacht. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Big whoop? Mamdani admits he can't arrest Netanyahu

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. News editor Ben Sales [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/ben-sales/] joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/] for today's episode. The Iran-backed Houthis struck two Saudi oil tankers on Thursday that they accused of violating a naval blockade imposed by the group. These attacks signal a potential new front in the US-Iran conflict, as the US military struck Iran for the 12th successive night and Iran lashed out at its neighbors. Arguably related to stymying Iran and its ambitions, the United States and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday forged a new agreement that could potentially provide the kingdom with uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear program. We hear why Israel is worried. Overnight, the US House of Representatives narrowly passed its version of a massive defense policy bill, despite Democrats’ concerns about its huge price tag, the Iran war and a provision that would boost Pentagon ties to Israel. The NDAA includes several provisions that allocate hundreds of millions of dollars to US-Israel joint military projects. Sales explains the political considerations in voting for Israel aid right now. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday acknowledged that he cannot actually arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite his past pledges to do so. Most legal experts had come to that conclusion years ago. Why is this in the news right now? Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-july-23-2026/] For further reading: Yemen’s Houthis hit tankers in Red Sea as US strikes Iran for 12th consecutive night [https://www.timesofisrael.com/yemens-houthis-hit-tankers-in-red-sea-as-us-strikes-iran-for-12th-consecutive-night/] US confirms signing a nuclear cooperation pact with Saudi Arabia, to Israel’s alarm [https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-confirms-signing-a-nuclear-cooperation-pact-with-saudi-arabia-to-israels-alarm/] Mamdani’s vision of NY as ‘a city of international law’ runs up against reality [https://www.timesofisrael.com/mamdanis-vision-of-ny-as-a-city-of-international-law-runs-up-against-reality/] Mamdani admits he lacks power to arrest Netanyahu, after repeated pledges to do so [https://www.timesofisrael.com/mamdani-admits-he-lacks-power-to-arrest-netanyahu-after-repeated-pledges-to-do-so/] 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 Ari Schlacht. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

IDF Lebanon pullout takes shape as Gaza peace plan stalls

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 reporter Nava Freiberg [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/nava-freiberg/] joins host Gabriella Jacobs [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/gabriella-jacobs/] for today's episode. Following an 11th consecutive night of US strikes on Iran and Iranian strikes on its Gulf and Arab neighbors, Freiberg offers possible paths forward in the war. Freiberg analyzes US President Donald Trump's claim Tuesday that the US will be striking Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain “probably pretty soon,” amid reports that Tehran has moved nuclear centrifuges, and possibly even enriched uranium, to the secretive underground enrichment site. Is this bombastic threat just part of Trump's strategy to keep Iran guessing or could the US be prepping a ground invasion? Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday, where Aoun declared that his country will permanently end hostilities with Israel. Freiberg comments on Trump's remark at the meeting that he is open to speaking directly with the Iran-backed terror group -- if Beirut asked -- after Aoun requested backing in his efforts to disarm Hezbollah. In the second half, we move on to discuss Trump’s Gaza peace plan, which nine months ago was hailed as an end to the war in the Strip and the beginning of Gaza's reconstruction. Freiberg explains why the framework is only moving forward in “baby steps.” The episode closes with a special visitor, Sarah Tuttle-Singer, curator of the Peoples of Israel project, who introduces us to her work and the project's goals. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

IDF begins trial pullout from Lebanon buffer zone

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 [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/emanuel-fabian/] joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/] for today's episode. Israeli intelligence has reportedly assessed that Iran has moved thousands of nuclear centrifuges into a site in the Natanz area known as Pickaxe Mountain, burying them deep underground and making them harder to target in aerial strikes. We hear from Fabian about the IDF's current assessment of Iran's capabilities. Lebanese army troops began deploying in the southern Lebanese town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh this morning after Israeli forces withdrew from the area, the Lebanese Armed Forces said in a statement, in line with a US-brokered plan for “pilot zones” in the south. We learn which areas are in the pilot program and the IDF's readiness to step back into the vacuum. Hezbollah launched over 400 rockets from the Beaufort Ridge toward northern Israel during the current round of fighting, mainly at the border community of Metula, according to the IDF. Fabian visited a massive warren inside the mountain that the terrorists carved out over more than a decade. We get a sense of the scope of the underground base. An analysis by Fabian has found that, despite the ceasefire, the IDF has in the past few months stepped up a large-scale retribution campaign with the avowed aim of hunting down and eliminating every single terrorist who took part in the October 7 massacre. Fabian unwinds the competing narratives surrounding these targeted killings. After the Knesset voted to extend [https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/knesset-votes-43-12-to-extend-mandatory-idf-service-for-males-to-32-months/] the mandatory military service period for males to 32 months, the chief of the IDF’s Personnel Directorate said Friday that the move did not replace the army’s immediate need for more troops. Fabian explains why. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-july-21-2026/] For further reading: Iran says it’s in ‘full-scale war’ with US as mediators said to proffer 10-day truce [https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-says-its-in-full-scale-war-with-us-as-mediators-proffer-10-day-truce/] Israeli intel said to show Iran has moved centrifuges to Natanz’s Pickaxe Mountain [https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-intel-said-to-show-iran-has-moved-centrifuges-to-natanzs-pickaxe-mountain/] US indicates Lebanese army deploying to ‘pilot zones,’ including one IDF will withdraw from [https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-says-lebanese-army-deploying-to-pilot-zones-including-one-idf-will-withdraw-from/] Beneath Beaufort’s strategic bulwark, a Hezbollah lair built to attack Israel is unearthed [https://www.timesofisrael.com/beneath-beauforts-strategic-bulwark-a-hezbollah-lair-built-to-attack-israel-is-unearthed/] Israel steps up campaign to kill all 5,000 Oct. 7 terrorists; 1,200 were killed on the day, 1,500 so far since [https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-stepping-up-campaign-to-hunt-and-kill-every-oct-7-terrorist-despite-gaza-truce/] IDF says it killed terrorist who attacked Nova festival, abducted Inbar Haiman on Oct. 7 [https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-says-it-killed-terrorist-who-attacked-nova-festival-abducted-inbar-haiman-on-oct-7/] IDF manpower chief: Extension of service period doesn’t replace need for more troops [https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-manpower-chief-extension-of-service-period-doesnt-replace-need-for-more-troops/] 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 Ari Schlacht. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Iranian strikes on Jordan raise IDF hackles in Eilat

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/]joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/] for today's episode. US forces struck Iran for a ninth consecutive day on Monday as the number of confirmed American military deaths in the renewed fighting rose to three, and concerns grew over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which the Trump administration accused the Islamic Republic of seeking to control “as leverage against the world.” Yesterday, Israel launched interceptors after fragments from Iranian missiles fired at Jordan’s southern city of Aqaba potentially threatened the nearby city of Eilat. We discuss why the Iranians are trying to keep Israel out of the fray and why US President Donald Trump has not asked the Jewish state to join in the fight. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is in Washington, DC, this week in the first trip to the US capital by a Lebanese head of state since Michel Sleiman was received by Barack Obama in 2009. Aoun is slated to meet with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday. We learn what is on the agenda and why Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not invited. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-july-20-2026/] For further reading: US strikes Iran for 9th night, confirms American servicemember killed in Iraq [https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-strikes-iran-for-9th-night-confirms-american-servicemember-killed-in-iraq/] IDF fires interceptors over Eilat as Iranian missiles target nearby Aqaba in Jordan [https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-fires-interceptors-over-eilat-as-iranian-missiles-target-nearby-aqaba-in-jordan/] At meeting in DC, Rubio lauds Lebanon president’s ongoing push to disarm Hezbollah [https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-meeting-in-dc-rubio-lauds-lebanon-presidents-ongoing-push-to-disarm-hezbollah/] 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. Yitzhak Ledee filmed and edited this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.