The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

Available Episodes

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Day 617 - Haviv Rettig Gur on the existential Israel-Iran War
Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur. Since 3 am on Friday morning, Israel has been at war with Iran. We begin the program with a pause to look at how each of us sees this Israeli moment. Rettig Gur weighs in on how this war with Iran was inevitable ever since Hamas's murderous onslaught on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and began the ongoing war in Gaza. The IDF chief of staff Eyal Zamir told Israel's political leaders in the past day that the campaign in Iran is essential to ensure "the existence of the Jewish people," according to Israel's Channel 12. "The operation in Iran is an operation to defend the existence of the Jewish people. History will not forgive us if we do not act now." We discuss the tipping point of launching the operation and the international media's cynicism that it was begun in part as a ploy for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stay in power. A constant critic of Netanyahu, today, Rettig Gur applauds his courage in taking on Iran. Finally, we hear Rettig Gur's thoughts on Netanyahu's hopes that the Iranian people will use this opportunity to shake off their shackles of oppression and overturn the regime. And so this week, we ask Haviv Rettig Gur, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and video edited by Thomas Girsch. IMAGE: Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, February 7, 2025, . (OFFICE OF THE IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER via AP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Day 616 - Israel strikes Iran to thwart 'imminent' nuclear bomb
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 reporter Emanuel Fabian and diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Overnight, Israel launched a major offensive against the Islamic Republic of Iran, striking nuclear sites, military facilities, missile bases and senior leadership. Fabian describes how new intelligence indicated that the military assessed Iran currently has enough enriched uranium to build 15 nuclear bombs — as well as its ballistic missile factories and its military capabilities. We hear details about the "Rising Lion" mission, as well as Iran’s retaliation of 100 UAVs, as of recording time mid-morning Friday. We also learn about the behind-the-scenes cooperation between the United States and Israel and how the world is responding to this preemptive strike so far, especially the Saudia Arabia. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: After years of preparation, Israel launches major offensive against Iran and its nuclear program ‘An immediate operational necessity’: Why Israel finally attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities Explainer: The handful of facilities at the core of Iran’s nuclear program Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: An Israeli Air Force fighter jet departs for strikes in Iran, early June 13, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Day 615 - Will France declare Palestinian state to please Saudis?
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 Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. Magid offers the latest on the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, with recent reports of staffers killed and perhaps taken captive by Hamas terrorists, as well as the possibility of some 25 Palestinians killed at one of the aid sites. Magid reviews the latest Hamas claims and GHF responses, discussing the confusion in this ongoing initiative. As the French and Saudis host a UN conference next week advancing a two-state solution, Magid says there is speculation whether France will use it as an opportunity to declare a Palestinian state, making it the most prominent country in the West to do so, while remaining an ally of Israel. Magid says there is still much indecision about the unilateral step, which could interfere with the ongoing hostage negotiations and with concerns about how Israel would react. Talks with Iran continue, with US President Donald Trump publicly criticizing the Iranian republic for not negotiating seriously. Magid looks at some of the serious steps being taken by the US to shield US personnel in the Middle East, possibly indicating that an attack is coming, either by the US or Israel. Following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent video statement about possible progress in hostage talks, which was dismissed by others, Magid notes that the recent phone conversation between Trump and Netanyahu points to the US president's intention that the war in Gaza needs to end, despite the Israeli government's interest in contining the military pressure in Gaza. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Gaza aid group says Hamas killed at least 5 local staffers, possibly abducted others Palestinians say 25 killed near Gaza aid site; IDF says troops fired at threats MBS attendance at 2-state confab to signal that France will recognize Palestinian state US slams UN conference on Israel-Palestinian issue, warns of consequences US begins evacuating Mideast embassies, army bases as Iran nuclear talks come to a head Trump said to have told Netanyahu to end Gaza war, attacking Iran off limits for now Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and video edited by Thomas Girsch. IMAGE: French President Emmanuel Macron, right, speaks with Saudi Arabia's Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud prior to a group photo at an EU-Gulf Cooperation Council meeting in Brussels, Belgium, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Day 614 - 1st IDF naval strike on Yemen leaves Houthis undeterred
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 reporter Emanuel Fabian and political reporter Tal Schneider join host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Defense Minister Israel Katz agreed on Israel’s response to Hamas’s counter-offer to a US proposal for a hostage-ceasefire deal at their meeting yesterday, Army Radio reports. The response has been forwarded to mediators, the report says. Officials are now awaiting the terror group’s response, but in the meantime, fighting continues on the ground in Gaza. Fabian fills us in. In a first, Israeli Navy missile boats on Tuesday morning launched strikes against infrastructure at the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeida in western Yemen. Fabian explains the pros and cons of using the naval forces instead of the air force for similar future attacks. The UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway said Tuesday that they would freeze assets and bar the entry of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for having “incited extremist violence” against Palestinians in the West Bank. Schneider weighs in on all the various diplomatic efforts on the table designed to pressure Israel to stop the Gaza war, including the upcoming conference in New York co-sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia on the topic of the two-state solution. Leaders of opposition parties decided this morning to submit a private bill to dissolve the Knesset, starting the process of four votes that may -- or may not -- lead to new elections. Schneider dives into the thorny topic and explains the forces pulling strings behind the scenes. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Palestinians say 20 killed near aid site; IDF says troops fired at Gazans who posed threat Israeli Navy carries out Yemen strikes for 1st time, targeting Houthi port IDF shoots down Yemen missile; multiple interceptors launched as it breaks up UK, Canada and 3 other nations sanction Ben Gvir and Smotrich over settler violence Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and video edited by Thomas Girsch. IMAGE: Illustrative: An LRAD missile is launched from the Sa’ar 6-class corvette INS Magen during a test in November 2022. (Israel Defense Forces)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Day 613 - Under Gaza hospital, IDF reveals Hamas HQ
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 Ariela Karmel for today's episode. Berman discusses new developments in the ongoing Iran nuclear talks and daylight between US and Israeli leadership following a 40-minute phone call between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday evening, shortly after Iran announced that it would respond soon to Washington's latest proposal for a nuclear deal. Berman also describes his recent tour in Gaza with the IDF, during which he entered Hamas tunnels underneath an EU-funded hospital where Hamas command sat, including commander Muhammad Sinwar who was killed there in an Israeli airstrike in May. Hostages are believed to have also been held in the vast network of tunnels underneath the hospital, says Berman, noting that it is not clear who was held there or when but that forensic evidence pointing to the presence of hostages has been found. Finally, Berman discusses a new report detailing a series of multimillion-dollar deals approved by Netanyahu between top Israeli defense companies and Qatar. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Trump speaks with Netanyahu, stresses US wants Iran deal ‘so there’s no destruction and death’ Here, beneath an EU-funded Gaza hospital, Hamas military chief Mohammed Sinwar met his end Report: PM approved multimillion dollar deals between top Israeli defense companies and Qatar Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and video edited by Thomas Girsch. IMAGE: Troops from the IDF Golani Brigade guard the entrance to a tunnel underneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, June 8, 2025 (Lazar Berman/The Times of Israel)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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