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.
Editor David Horovitz joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today’s episode.
WATCH this episode here:
Former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad fled Syria for Russia a year ago as rebels commanded by Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, seized the country. Initially greeted with some skepticism for his terrorist ties, al-Sharaa is now feted on world stages. Horovitz shares impressions from what he heard from Syrian officials during a recent Damascus trip and how their new leader, under the Trump administration’s wing, is increasingly boldly criticizing Israel and its hold on the buffer zone between the two nations.
More from The Daily Briefing
September 25, 2026Daily Briefing Sept. 25 - The PM's speech: Fiery rhetoric, inside and outside the UN
September 24, 2026Daily Briefing Sept. 24 - Did Israel just bar all Arab political parties from running? Not so fast
September 23, 2026Daily Briefing Sept. 23 - Religious Zionism party doubles down on judicial revolution
September 22, 2026Daily Briefing Sept. 22: Did muting Macklemore make his message louder?
September 20, 2026Daily Briefing Sept. 20 - IDF bolsters forces on all fronts ahead of Yom Kippur
This morning, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz arrived in Israel for an official visit focused on advancing Washington’s peace plan for Gaza. Yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza is “almost” complete, and that he expects to move on to its second phase soon, at a joint Jerusalem press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. However, yesterday evening, the premier expressed skepticism about the notion that a multinational force meant to patrol Gaza could successfully disarm Hamas. We speak about Israel’s concerns, Hamas’s alleged readiness to “freeze” its weapons arsenal and the current facts on the ground in Gaza.
Israeli and Qatari officials met in New York on Sunday, according to a report, in the first of a series of trilateral meetings set up by US envoy Steve Witkoff, who is looking to mend ties that were frayed by Israel’s botched September strike on Hamas offices in Qatar. At the same time, the White House is also reportedly looking to broker a summit between Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Horovitz weighs in.
During his meeting with Merz yesterday, Netanyahu said that he will not retire from politics in exchange for a pardon in his corruption trial, and also that he is not interested in a plea bargain. Horovitz sets the scene and explains its significance in the ongoing Netanyahu legal saga.
Check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
Syria still struggles to heal from civil war, a year after Assad regime’s fall
Netanyahu says phase one of Gaza truce ‘almost’ complete, alongside Germany’s Merz
Eyeing phase two in Gaza, PM airs skepticism on whether international force can disarm Hamas
Hamas ready to discuss ‘freezing or storing’ its weapons, says terror group official
Israel, Qatar meet as US looks to mend relations, move to phase 2 in Gaza – report
White House said to be pushing for summit between Netanyahu and Egypt’s Sissi
Netanyahu says he won’t quit politics in exchange for pardon in corruption trial
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Pod-Waves.
Check out yesterday’s episode here:
The Times of Israel Community.