Daily Briefing August 5 – Could northern border tensions escalate into war?

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.

Today’s panel comprises Zman Yisrael editor Biranit Goren and political correspondent Tal Schneider, along with host Raoul Wootliff.

We open today’s show with a look at yesterday’s rocket fire from Lebanon toward Israel, and the Israeli response. Could the tension on the northern border escalate into a war? We explain why further strife is possible even if neither side wants it.

With the Knesset yesterday closing its first legislative session of the new government’s term, we assess the success and failures of the new coalition and look ahead to the challenges it faces in the coming weeks and months.

And finally, with coronavirus cases continuing to rise, we ponder the possibility of a new lockdown and look at how the government is attempting to beat the latest outbreak.

Discussed articles include:

3 rockets fired from Lebanon at Israel; IDF responds with 3 rounds of shelling

Israel launches airstrikes in Lebanon as blaze from rocket engulfs northern hill

After all-day debate, Knesset cements Bennett-Lapid rotation in law

PM to opposition: We okayed budget in 36 hours, you couldn’t do it in 36 months

Health minister: Lockdown over holidays is a last resort

With over 3,000 cases for 2nd day, PM says ‘we’ll know when to hit the brakes’

Ministers approve slew of new restrictions to curb COVID resurgence from Sunday

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