ToI podcast

Daily Briefing Jan 31: In Israel, Blinken gives PM some friendly relationship advice

Editor David Horovitz & diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman parse US secretary of state’s many statements, Egypt’s involvement in calming West Bank, plus a death penalty bill

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.

Editor David Horovitz and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in today’s episode.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is now in Israel. We begin by discussing his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blinken’s advice for Israel’s leader.

During both Blinken’s meeting with Netanyahu and with Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, the visiting envoy also seemed to urge Israel to expand its assistance to Kyiv. Is it possible that Israel will begin providing security support to Ukraine?

Blinken arrived in the region on Sunday, with a first stop in Egypt where he met with President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Could the US see Egypt playing a potentially larger role in brokering a halt to the increasingly violent conflict in the West Bank?

Yesterday, in a resounding 89-8 vote, a bill to revoke the Israeli citizenship or residency of terror convicts who receive financial support for their acts from the Palestinian Authority passed its first reading. At the same time, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said he would advance legislation allowing Israel to impose the death penalty for certain terror offenses. Do either of these measures counter Israel’s founding principles?

For the past several weeks, The Times of Israel has played host to an animated series called “Whispered in Gaza.” Horovitz reminds listeners what this project is and where they can find it.

Discussed articles include:

As Netanyahu talks Iran, Blinken makes US concerns over judicial shakeup clear

Diplomatically but firmly, Blinken advises Netanyahu not to harm Israeli democracy

Bill to strip Israeli citizenship from terror convicts paid by PA passes 1st reading

Ben Gvir to push for death penalty bill in wake of Jerusalem attack

Darkest tragedy, unrealized dreams: ‘Whispered in Gaza,’ the final interviews

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Check out yesterday’s Daily Briefing episode:

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