Daily Briefing Aug. 1: Saudi talks continue, as do warnings about Israel’s economy
US bureau chief Jacob Magid discusses Saudi normalization, Bahrain non-visit and a PA statement; tech editor Sharon Wrobel looks at Israel’s credit rating and angel investment law
Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.
US bureau chief Jacob Magid and Tech Israel editor Sharon Wrobel join host Jessica Steinberg for today’s podcast.
Magid looks at possible progress in contacts on Israel-Saudi Arabia normalization, with White House visits to Jeddah and Israel’s Mossad chief in the White House.
He discusses Bahrain’s postponement of Foreign Minister Eli Cohen’s planned trip following National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s visit to the Temple Mount last week.
Magid also speaks about unexpected comments made by a senior Palestinian Authority Preventive Security Service officer in Washington regarding Hamas pressure on impoverished Palestinian youth to carry out attacks on Jewish settlers.
Wrobel discusses warnings made by credit agency Standard & Poor and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange regarding the effect continued turmoil over the judicial overhaul could have on economic growth.
She also comments on the Knesset’s approval of the Angels Law, granting tax benefits to investors in the Israeli tech sector, a law that’s been under discussion for some time prior to the current political unrest.
Finally, Steinberg briefly comments on the opening of the Israel Festival on August 1 and the likely closure of a Jerusalem fixture, the Smadar movie theater.
Discussed articles include:
Biden hints at possible progress in potential Israel-Saudi normalization deal
Bahrain postpones plans to host Israeli FM, hours after Ben Gvir tours Temple Mount
Senior PA security official: Hamas, PIJ recruiting youth ‘with nothing to live for’
Moody’s ‘wake-up call’: Tel Aviv Stock Exchange head warns of looming financial crisis
Credit rating agency S&P warns lack of overhaul consensus imperils Israeli economy
Israel approves tax benefits to boost tech, as judicial jitters imperil investments
Mark Eliyahu lines up Rita, Shai Tsabari and more for Tu B’Av concert
Doors may close on German Colony’s 95-year cinema Lev Smadar
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