Daily Briefing Aug. 9: Day 308 – As hostage talks to resume, PM often seen as obstacle

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 on today’s episode.

Magid discusses conversations he had in Qatar this week regarding the Israeli negotiating team, and their sense of a lack of credibility, as they make commitments during the negotiations, and then fail to get final approval from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon their return to Israel.

He also talks about the Arab countries that don’t want to participate in a peacekeeping role in Gaza after the war, although there could be pressure and leverage that would allow them to change their minds.

Magid also speaks about Vice President Kamala Harris’s comments at a rally in Detroit, as she navigates her course on the Israel-Hamas war.

And he discusses Harris’s recently chosen running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and his strong record with the Jewish community and Israel.

For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.

Discussed articles include:

Israel: Negotiators to fly out next week to finalize framework of hostage deal

Hostage deal won’t happen unless Biden squeezes Netanyahu harder, Arab officials say

Netanyahu accused of undercutting Israeli credibility in Gaza truce talks

Jordan, Qatar, Saudis hesitant to join US-driven postwar peacekeeping force in Gaza

Harris tells anti-Israel hecklers to be quiet unless they ‘want Donald Trump to win’

Aide says Harris opposes Israel arms embargo, after far-left group claims she may not

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. 

Check out yesterday’s Daily Briefing episode here: