Daily Briefing July 20: Pres. Herzog to US Congress: ‘Let’s elevate our partnership’

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 bureau chief Jacob Magid and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman
join host Jessica Steinberg for today’s podcast.

Magid and Berman discuss the details of President Isaac Herzog’s speech to a  joint session of the US Congress, including a focus on the judicial overhaul and the protests against it — and whether or not they mark the strength of Israel’s democracy. They note Herzog’s skill in walking a diplomatic tightrope, bridging the gaps between US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

They also look at Herzog’s meeting with Biden prior to the speech, and why the Israeli president came to the US to speak to the American leader at this point in time.

Magid discusses a long-awaited pilot of the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP) in Israel, which will begin easing travel restrictions for Palestinian Americans as well as Israelis.

Discussed articles include:

In speech to Congress, Herzog lauds strong judiciary, says democracy in Israel’s DNA

Herzog tells Biden Israel’s democracy ‘resilient,’ as overhaul protests rage at home

Herzog’s ‘important’ speech to Congress wins plaudits from across political spectrum

Israel launches pilot for US visa waiver, easing travel for Palestinian-Americans

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on iTunes, Spotify, PlayerFM, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out yesterday’s Daily Briefing episode: