Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleWelcome 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 speaks about the ongoing Gaza hostage deal negotiations amid intense speculation in the media. He notes that any agreed-upon ceasefire would likely be longer and less fragile than the weeklong pause in fighting that took place in November 2023. He also discusses the unusual cooperation taking place between the outgoing Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration in the ceasefire negotiations.
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Magid discusses a reckoning by Biden officials following the Israeli attack on Hezbollah and the intense concern felt by US intelligence officials and the Israeli government beforehand over the possibility that an Israeli strike on Hezbollah could lead to an all-out war with Lebanon.
He also reviews the Biden administration’s decision not to sanction Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition partners National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich after months of considering such a move because of their roles as regards settler violence and instability in the West Bank.
For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.
Discussed articles include:
Netanyahu said set to huddle with top brass Thursday to discuss Gaza deal latest
Hamas fears Trump will allow Israel to resume Gaza war after 1st phase of hostage deal
US intel wrongly envisioned catastrophic outcome if IDF escalated against Hezbollah
US won’t sanction Smotrich and Ben Gvir before end of Biden’s term — officials
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