Dan Ben-David: Israel is on the brink of a spiral of collapse

As PM rejects Gaza deal, Israel quietly begins reconstruction

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. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel “rejects” the Board of Peace Gaza disarmament roadmap. At the same time, Israel has essentially paused strikes on the Strip and there are reports that the premier and defense minister okayed a pilot reconstruction project in Rafah. Berman tries to separate rhetoric from facts on the ground. What is and is not in the defense pact that was signed last week [https://www.timesofisrael.com/saudi-arabia-turkey-and-pakistan-sign-joint-defense-deal-in-shadow-of-iran-war/] by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, wedding Sunni Muslim US allies -- and is it even defensive in nature? Berman explains why Israel should not be alarmed by the declaration, what it may mean for the region and what role these countries in particular want to play in it. US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Washington was “low-keying” its approach to Iran and only “semi-negotiating” with the Islamic Republic, as it suffers in dire economic straits. Could not acting really be the best play right now? Berman weighs in. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-august-10-2026/] For further reading: Netanyahu rejects Trump’s 15-point Gaza plan, insists he can stand up to US president [https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-rejects-trumps-15-point-gaza-plan-insists-he-can-stand-up-to-us-president/] Board of Peace envoy says full execution of Gaza plan only ‘guarantee’ Oct. 7 won’t recur [https://www.timesofisrael.com/board-of-peace-envoy-says-full-execution-of-gaza-plan-only-guarantee-oct-7-wont-recur/] Iran claims Saudi-Pakistan-Turkey deal shows ‘change in perception’ towards US [https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/iran-claims-saudi-pakistan-turkey-deal-shows-change-in-perception-towards-us/] Trump says US ‘low-keying’ Iran conflict, giving economic pressure time to work [https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-says-us-low-keying-iran-conflict-giving-economic-pressure-time-to-work/] 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.

Emigration, urban growth and a changing Jerusalem

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. Jewish world and real estate correspondent Zev Stub joins host Gabriella Jacobs for today’s episode. A record-setting wave of emigration from Israel continued in 2025, with nearly 50,000 Israelis leaving the country for more than 12 months. Stub describes how Israel’s prolonged military conflict and political tensions have contributed to elevated emigration that could threaten the country’s long-term strategic interests. Next, Stub recounts the reinterring of Zionist visionary Theodore Herzl's grandparents, Rivka and Shimon Herzl, in a ceremony on Mount Herzl, exactly 77 years after Herzl himself was reburied there on August 5, 1949. In the second half of our conversation, we look at the attractions of Carmei Gat, a growing city that Stub describes as Israel’s newest boomtown for English-speakers. Stub relates that the neighborhood is now home to more than 30,000 residents, and has become one of Israel’s fastest-growing destinations for national religious families seeking affordable housing. Stub describes how the neighborhood was the first in the country to be designed using a comprehensive “umbrella agreement” model in which housing, shopping, schools, transportation and parks were all planned together. The model, which is designed to ensure that residential infrastructure is available as soon as residents start moving in, has, according to Stub, been greatly successful. To close, Stub walks us through the planned renovations to Jerusalem's historic Mahane Yehuda Market, a proposed NIS 54 million ($17.8 million) upgrade scheduled to start in October 2027. We discuss how planners and businesses are navigating conflicting priorities involved in the remodeling.  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. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The Reel Schmooze on 'The Frisco Kid': A (gefilte) fish out of water in the Wild West

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jordan-hoffman/] and host Amanda Borschel-Dan [https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/], where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. We have two Jangles this week from our movie maven. In the first, we learn about just how Jewish the classic rock band Rush is, and how it was played up at its Madison Square Garden concerts this week. In the second, we learn about Spider-Man's Jewish roots -- and the Member of the Tribe who is third billing in the new blockbuster. The main feature this week is 1979's "The Frisco Kid," an extremely Jewish take on the Wild West starring Gene Wilder and Harrison Ford. We learn how both actors are Jewish according to Jewish law, but only Wilder claimed Judaism as part of his identity. For legions of American Jews, "The Frisco Kid" held pride of place in their VHS libraries. From all-Yiddish scenes to a deadly fight for a Torah scroll, the film was an outlier in mainstream Hollywood. So how did it get made at all? Hoffman fills us in on some of the backstory surrounding the making of the movie, as well as who was originally meant to play the goyische cowboy instead of Ford. Let’s hear who gave this film an “oy,” “meh” or the prized “not bad” this week on The Reel Schmooze. The Reel Schmooze is produced by Ari Schlacht and can be found wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Dan Ben-David: Israel is on the brink of a spiral of collapse

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 leading economist Prof. Dan Ben-David. Ben-David heads the Shoresh Institution for Socioeconomic Research [https://www.shoresh.institute/insights.html] and is a senior faculty member in the Department of Public Policy at Tel-Aviv University. Before Israel heads to the ballot box on October 27, Ben-David is on a crusade to raise awareness of just how crucial these elections are to stave off an almost inevitable "spiral of collapse." In economics, a "spiral of collapse occurs when a country starts to collapse economically; the first to leave are the most educated, the most skilled, the people with options, which means that there's a greater burden on those who remain," explains Ben-David. Right now, due to decades of sectoral politics, Israel is headed towards such a cliff, he feels. But through careful planning and a complete overhaul of Israel's education system, the country can still bounce back. Ben-David explains how the Jewish state needs to create one unified core curriculum for all of its citizens -- and teach it well. And so this week, we ask Dan Ben-David, 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 Yitzchak Ledee. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Is there really progress in Trump's Gaza, Lebanon and Iran talks?

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Lazar Focus. Each Friday, join host diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. On the three major fronts with which Israel is contending, there has been some progress on the diplomatic front -- with the caveat that not everyone believes that is a good thing. Lazar and Gabriella Jacobs look at the latest in each of the three theaters -- Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza. On Monday, President Donald Trump -- having called off a major joint strike with Israel -- said the US and Iran were in the midst of talks that could see the Strait of Hormuz fully reopened. Lazar argued that because of the November midterms and pressure from Gulf allies, Trump clearly doesn't want to go back to war, and Iran knows it. Tehran is not afraid of another major US campaign, and continues to raise its demands. The diplomatic process in Lebanon is more promising. Israel and Lebanon met in Rome for the seventh round of direct talks this week. Though Lebanon wants Israel to pull its troops back more quickly, the US is not about to pressure Israel to do so. Despite a bloody week in southern Lebanon in which two Israeli soldiers were killed, as well as several Lebanese, the two sides still met. At the same time, Lazar said, this process isn't about to disarm Hezbollah across the country. Major changes will need to take place within Lebanon for Hezbollah to decide that it has failed in its four-decade-long quest to destroy Israel through violence.  The Trump Administration and Board of Peace are claiming progress in Gaza, as they convince Hamas to sign on to a new disarmament roadmap. Israel has not ratified it, and insists it will continue to confront active threats. Indeed, Israeli strikes early in the week clearly frustrated mediators. Still, Lazar noted, officials tell him that noticeable restraint from the IDF is helpful, and there is cautious optimism coming from the Board of Peace. Gabriella asked if the three diplomatic processes are linked. Lazar explained that Iran has been trying to unify the fronts against Israel, and situate itself as the arbiter of what happens in Lebanon, and maybe someday, in Gaza. Israel has successfully de-linked the fronts, while stressing that if the Islamic Republic falls, Hezbollah and Hamas are likely to follow. 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.