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.
Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today’s episode.
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Iran’s parliament speaker has threatened to attack Israel and US military and shipping targets if the US were to launch a strike on the country, which is increasingly isolated from the world by its theocratic regime. As nationwide protests reached the two-week mark today, we discuss how Iran’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi is trying to position himself as a player in his country’s future and at the nexus between the anti-regime protests and Israel.
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The US military said on Saturday that it had carried out multiple strikes in Syria targeting the Islamic State terror group as part of an operation that Washington launched shortly after an attack on American personnel on December 13. At the same time, after talks in Paris last week, Israel and Syria agreed to create a mechanism that will facilitate de-escalation, diplomacy and commercial opportunities between the two countries, according to a joint statement from the two countries and the US that was released by Washington. We unwind what is happening on the ground.
Under a military aid package negotiated in 2016, Israel receives some $3.8 billion annually from the US, mostly in the form of subsidies to buy American-made arms. The aid package, which took effect in 2018, is set to expire in 2028. Recently, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been making statements that add up to a growing interest in Israel to weaning itself off of this aid. Berman weighs in.
Check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
Death toll in Iran protest crackdown said to pass 115; Trump reportedly considering strike
As Iranian regime shuts down internet, even Starlink seemingly being jammed
Iran’s exiled crown prince Pahlavi takes on leading role urging protests in former homeland
US military says it carried out strikes across Syria targeting Islamic State
Syria says Kurdish fighters being moved from Aleppo after days of deadly clashes
Israel and Syria agree on mechanism to share intel, seek economic ties
Netanyahu says he aims to end US military aid to Israel within a decade
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves and Ari Schlacht.
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