Daily Briefing Aug. 17: Why the Haredim may halt support for the judicial overhaul

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.

Editor David Horovitz and environment reporter Sue Surkes join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in today’s episode.

A full front-page ad taken out in many Israeli newspapers this morning with an image of IDF chief Herzi Halevi and the famous David Ben-Gurion quote, “Every Israeli mother will know that she’s entrusted the fate of her children into the hands of commanders who are worthy of it.” Who took out the ad and what is its purpose?

On Tuesday this week, several ultra-Orthodox newspapers appeared to jump on the anti-judicial overhaul bandwagon. What is the motivation here?

Temperatures in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Gulf of Eilat are reaching near-record highs this year. How is this expected to affect the seas’ ecospheres?

The First International Resources public relations firm, headed by political strategist Zev Furst, has been employed by Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, Masdar, to improve the image of oil magnate Sultan al-Jaber, the controversial pick to lead this year’s United Nations COP28 climate conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Hear how the US Jewish community is being targeted.

The Environmental Protection Ministry recently published its annual index of wrongdoers. What topped this year’s list?

Discussed articles include:

Ultra-Orthodox push for draft exemption law strains the coalition’s docile unanimity

Netanyahu, Levin said to seek pause to overhaul after Haredi party revolt

Eastern Mediterranean turning tropical, as warming waters force native species out

PR firm says it may tap US Jews to boost image of UAE oil boss ahead of climate meet

Phosphate mining company ICL Rotem tops latest list of worst environmental offenders

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