The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

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. Zman Yisrael founding editor Biranit Goren and environmental reporter Sue Surkes join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. Following the smothering of nationwide protests challenging Iran's theocracy, Goren discusses that US President Donald Trump appears to be backing down from his threats against Iran, possibly because the US hasn't made it a priority to topple the Iranian regime. With the technocratic board members chosen for the second phase of the Gaza plan, Trump is determined to push forward to the second phase of the ceasefire, says Goren, despite the remaining issues of disarming Hamas and returning the final hostage body of Ran Gvili. Kibbutz Be'eri is moving forward with its reconstruction, reports Surkes, with houses and several public buildings being rebuilt with primarily Tekuma Directorate funding, and expectations for residents to return in the summer. Surkes also looks at the use of so-called poultry manure as cattle feed in Israel, a practice that has been banned in many Western countries. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Iran’s nationwide protests appear smothered, with fate of potential US action unclear US, Britain issue travel warnings for Israel; several countries tell citizens to leave Iran US bullish as bodies tasked with replacing Hamas take shape, despite disarmament hurdle Kibbutz Be’eri chooses single burned-out house to bear testimony to October 7 Banned elsewhere in the West, Israel permitting farmers to use feces as cattle feed Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Pod-Waves. IMAGE: People walk past a poster by artist TVBOY depicting President Donald Trump wearing a construction worker outfit and holding a placard reading in Spanish: My Gaza is your Gaza, is posted on a street in Rome, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (Gregorio Borgia/AP PHOTO)See 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 joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. US President Donald Trump told protesters in Iran on Tuesday that “help is on its way” and urged them to keep protesting and take control of the country’s institutions. As the death toll rises -- with Iranian officials putting the figures at 2,000 and other sources stating over 5,000 -- we parse what Trump may be planning, from diplomacy to military force. A Hamas delegation led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya arrived in Cairo for talks with Egyptian mediators on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire. We hear about new efforts to create a board of Palestinian technocrats, as well as meetings held by former UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov, who is expected to serve as a top official for the supervisory US‑backed Board of Peace in Gaza. Israel has proposed using a portion of the several billions of dollars in clearance revenues it is withholding from the Palestinian Authority to pay for the clearing of rubble for construction projects in Gaza. Magid explains why Israel has these funds in its coffers and the blowback for using them to clear debris from the war. And finally, US President Donald Trump addressed the rumors of rising antisemitism in his MAGA movement and the Republican party in a lengthy The New York Times interview. Magid fills us in on what Trump said. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Israel, Arab nations said to urge US to wait to strike Iran until regime further weakened ‘Help is on its way’: Trump urges Iranians to keep protesting, seize institutions Palestinian technocrats invited to join transitional Gaza governing committee — sources Palestinian Authority VP meets diplomat expected to serve on Trump’s Gaza Board of Peace Israel proposed using PA funds to cover cost of Gaza rubble clearance — official ‘We don’t need them. We don’t like them’: Trump says MAGA has no room for antisemites 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 and Ari Schlacht. IMAGE: Iranians who live in Greece take part in a protest in front of the US Embassy in Athens, Greece, January 13, 2026, supporting the protests in Iran. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)See 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 Ariela Karmel and tech editor Sharon Wrobel join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. As the government coalition advances a bill aimed at scrapping some of the offenses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial for, Karmel reviews this latest step in a series of efforts by the coalition to protect him. Karmel also discusses the crux of an ongoing conflict between the High Court and the coalition concerning an investigation into the supervision of the ultra-Orthodox school system and how the Finance Ministry is handling the transfer of funds to Haredi schools. Following the central bank's recent decision to lower interest rates, Wrobel notes that it's a sign of support for the economy, given the lower inflation rate and strong shekel currency, despite the fragility of the Gaza ceasefire. Wrobel also reviews the recent farmers' protests about importing milk to Israel, a reform that would threaten the smaller dairy farms in a market of relatively few milk suppliers and manufacturers. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Coalition advances bill to cancel the criminal charge that Netanyahu faces in his trial High Court orders state to disclose ultra-Orthodox school curriculum and oversight In bold move, central bank cuts interest rates for 2nd straight time after ceasefire Hundreds of farmers protest ‘destructive’ dairy reform plan at junctions nationwide Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Protesters march toward the Supreme Court in Jerusalem holding signs reading 'Power, Money, Honor, Prison' against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, and in support of the Supreme Court, January 7, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)See 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. Legal and settlements reporter Jeremy Sharon joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Police declared Yisrael Einhorn to be a “fugitive criminal,” making the declaration about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ex-campaign adviser for the first time. The comment came during a hearing in Rishon Letzion over the alleged leak of classified documents. We learn about Einhorn's alleged role in the Qatargate scandal. Israel is in an election year and the government is set to attempt to pass a series of bills as part of its long-standing judicial overhaul. These bills are designed to loosen legal restraints on government decisions, actions and policies, and weaken the strength of the High Court. We delve into what is on the table and how it could impact Israeli society. A Jewish American man who had a three-year Israel residency visa was recently refused entry to the country by immigration authorities on the recommendation of the police for being a “left-wing anarchist." We speak about this case and the Law for Entry into Israel, which was amended in 2025, to stipulate that foreign nationals can be denied entry into Israel if they publicly call for a boycott of Israel; deny the Holocaust; deny the October 7, 2023, massacres; or publicly support putting Israeli citizens on trial in foreign courts for war crimes. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Police declare Netanyahu’s ex-campaign adviser Einhorn a ‘fugitive’ evading arrest Judicial overhaul redux: New laws aim to weaken legal checks on government action Jewish American academic denied entry to Israel for being a ‘left-wing anarchist’ 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. Illustrative image: Ex-aides Yisrael Einhorn (left) and Jonatan Urich (center) with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2019. (Courtesy/ File) See 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 joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Iran’s parliament speaker has threatened to attack Israel and US military and shipping targets, were the US to launch a strike on the country that is increasingly isolated from the world by the theocratic regime. As nationwide protests reached the two-week mark today, we discuss how Iran’s Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi is trying to position himself as a player in his country’s future and the nexus between the anti-regime protests and Israel. The US military said on Saturday that it had carried out multiple strikes in Syria targeting the Islamic State terror group as part of an operation that Washington launched in December after an attack on American personnel on December 13. At the same time, after talks in Paris last week, Israel and Syria agreed to create a mechanism that will facilitate de-escalation, diplomacy and commercial opportunities between the two countries, according to a joint statement from the two countries and the US that was released by Washington. We unwind what is happening on the ground. Under a military aid package negotiated in 2016, Israel receives some $3.8 billion annually from the US, mostly in the form of subsidies to buy American-made arms. The aid package, which took effect in 2018, is set to expire in 2028. Recently, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making statements that add up to a growing interest for Israel to wean itself from this aid. Berman weighs in. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Death toll in Iran protest crackdown said to pass 115; Trump reportedly considering strike As Iranian regime shuts down internet, even Starlink seemingly being jammed Iran’s exiled crown prince Pahlavi takes on leading role urging protests in former homeland US military says it carried out strikes across Syria targeting Islamic State Syria says Kurdish fighters being moved from Aleppo after days of deadly clashes Israel and Syria agree on mechanism to share intel, seek economic ties Netanyahu says he aims to end US military aid to Israel within a decade 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 and Ari Schlacht. IMAGE: Protesters participate in a demonstration in Berlin, Germany, in support of the nationwide mass anti-regime protests in Iran, January 10, 2026. (AP/Ebrahim Noroozi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.