ToI podcast

Daily Briefing Feb. 16: No invites abroad for PM; is Israel earthquake-ready?

US correspondent Jacob Magid discusses why Netanyahu isn’t heading to the US or UAE; real estate writer Danielle Nagler on construction reinforcement plans, and Jerusalem art

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.

US correspondent Jacob Magid and real estate writer Danielle Nagler join host Jessica Steinberg for today’s podcast, with a brief update from political correspondent Tal Schneider, currently in Kyiv with Foreign Minister Eli Cohen.

Magid discusses why Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu isn’t traveling yet to the US and UAE, while the second Negev Forum for foreign ministers, initially planned for Morocco in March, is on the back burner as well. He says it’s all due to the right-wing nature of the coalition.

Magid also looks at the Palestinian Authority pushing forward a vote in the United Nations Security Council to support a resolution to halt settlement activity, following the recent approval by the cabinet of several new outposts.

Nagler explains the Tama 38 building development plan, created to upgrade existing housing and make buildings earthquake-safe, but so far primarily carried out in larger cities, and not yet in the areas that are more vulnerable yet less attractive from a real estate perspective.

Magid talks about the emotional statement made by Channel 12 journalist Yair Cherki on Tuesday, when the Orthodox 30-year-old came out of the closet publicly and was greeted with widespread support from a range of followers and politicians.

Nagler speaks about the new, dramatic Bezalel School of Art and Design building in downtown Jerusalem, designed to join the avant-garde art created by the students with the city’s mixed population.

Discussed articles include:

Palestinians readying Security Council resolution slamming Israeli settlement plans

Prominent Orthodox Israeli journalist Yair Cherki comes out as gay

Knesset committee fails to update earthquake construction framework

Israeli buildings face major earthquake risk, despite efforts to upgrade them

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