The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

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.
American Jews have plenty to fret about. Facing rising antisemitism even before October 7, 2023, the community has had to deal with a massive spike in threats, defamation, and outright violence since the Hamas attack.
While Israel was fighting to defeat Hamas and get the hostages home, US Jews were contending with anti-Zionist attacks from both the left and the right.
William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, has been a central player in the US Jewish communities' responses to October 7 and the subsequent two years of war.
He lays out his explanation for the spike in antisemitism in the US, and argues that with domestic focus on ICE, Israel has an opening to restart reconnecting with Democrats and young Americans.
He recounts his conversations with the Biden Administration at the start of the war, and explains why the relationship with Netanyahu became so strained.
Turning to the White House, Daroff offers insights into Trump's relationships with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatar. He argues that one should take Trump's threats seriously, both against Hamas if they don't disarm and Iran if they don't concede to US demands.
Lazar Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.
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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.
In the wake of reports that suggested that planned nuclear talks set for the end of the week were unravelling, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei "should be very worried." Magid describes the media storm and what may be in store on Friday in Oman -- if the talks do indeed take place.
Last week, Magid was able to get his hands on a draft resolution laying out the powers of various bodies tasked with managing postwar Gaza under US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace initiative. We hear how it appears to limit the significance of a panel, including Turkey and Qatar, that had sparked worries in Israel. We also learn about the current activities of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, or NCAG, which is still sitting in Cairo.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday that elections will be held on November 1 for the Palestinian National Council, the parliament of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Magid explains why this may not be the big deal it appears to be.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
US-Iran talks back on track after Trump warns Khamenei ‘should be very worried’
Board of Peace proposal appears to relegate Gaza panel with Turkey, Qatar to ‘advisory’ role
Palestinian Authority’s Abbas calls first-ever direct PLO parliament elections
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: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah, December 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, Pool)
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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.
Editor David Horovitz joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.
An Israel Defense Forces reservist officer was seriously wounded by gunfire from Palestinian operatives in the northern Gaza Strip overnight Wednesday. The IDF responded with a series of strikes on Gaza that Palestinian media said killed at least 20 people. Horovitz weighs in on the move to Phase 2 of the Trump-brokered ceasefire -- without the demilitarization of Hamas.
We also learn of the Palestinian Authority's current involvement in the Rafah Border Crossing and a kerfuffle over a logo that may indicate that ties between the PA and the council of Gazans set to rule the Strip may be tighter than anticipated.
A US Navy fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that was approaching the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday, in an incident that, Horovitz suggests, shows Iran's confidence level ahead of nuclear talks set for Friday. We hear about Israel's four conditions for a "good" deal with Iran as US President Donald Trump appears to prefer dimplomacy -- for now.
And finally, Israel's dairy farmers are protesting today in Jerusalem as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's "reforms" seek to disband the centralized coordination mechanism that has characterized the dairy industry since the state’s founding. Hear why more dairy imports may not be the right answer.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
Reservist seriously wounded in north Gaza ambush; 20 said killed as IDF strikes back
12 people let into Gaza from Egypt, of 42 who tried, on day 1 of Rafah opening – report
3 women returning to Gaza through Rafah say IDF bound, interrogated, threatened them
Gaza technocratic committee replaces its logo with the PA’s; Israel fumes
US downs Iranian drone flying toward aircraft carrier; PM to Witkoff: Iran can’t be trusted
Shoppers face empty milk shelves as dairy farmers ramp up fight against proposed reform
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.
IMAGE: The northern Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, February 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

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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.
The Rafah Border Crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip officially resumed operations on Monday for the first time in almost a year. We learn how many Palestinians were able to leave the Strip yesterday, versus the potential quota of pedestrians who should be able to cross.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with US special envoy Steve Witkoff at 4:30 p.m. today ahead of US talks with Iran scheduled for Friday in Istanbul. Berman explains what could be on the agenda for the talks and delves into the likelihood of a US offensive operation in Iran at this point.
The Prime Minister's Office's point man for hostages, Gal Hirsch, sat with Berman on Friday, days after the last slain hostage from the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks — police officer Ran Gvili — was finally laid to rest in Israel. Some of his remarks sparked controversy over the weekend. We hear why.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
‘A lifeline’: Gazans rejoice as Rafah Crossing opens for limited pedestrian passage
With US and Iran set for talks, Trump warns ‘bad things’ will happen if no deal is reached
Ahead of Friday nuclear talks with Iran, Witkoff heading to Israel to meet PM, Zamir
PM’s hostage czar Gal Hirsch says Biden pressure ‘screwed up’ deal talks, protests aided Hamas
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: People stand on US and Israel flags, outside the US Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, February 1, 2026, during a protest in support of the Iranian government. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
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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 reporter Luke Tress joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.
WATCH the full episode here:
Following reports of an anti-Zionist protest in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square, Tress discusses concerns that the rhetoric at such gatherings has become more violent.
After the final grassroots rally for hostages held at New York City's Central Park, Tress reports on the weekly gatherings, which continued until the body of the last hostage, fallen police officer Ran Gvili, was brought home for burial.
More details have emerged on the perpetrator of the car ramming last week at the Chabad headquarters in Brooklyn, reports Tress, although the full story remains murky.
Finally, Tress reviews the formation of an antisemitism task force in the New York City Council, whose speaker, Julie Menin, offers a more centrist Democratic approach than that of Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
‘All these people are so devoted’: Hostage advocates bid farewell at last NYC rally
Suspect in Chabad HQ ramming charged with hate crimes; had previously attended event there
NYC Council launches antisemitism task force; new bill would limit synagogue protests
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; The last rally for Israeli hostages, in Central Park, New York City, February 1, 2026. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)
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