Daily Briefing June 11: Day 249 – Blinken meets with PM, hostage families in push for deal
Political correspondent Tal Schneider discusses details of proposed hostage deal and PMO denial, Blinken visit, Gantz quitting and ultra-Orthodox draft vote in Knesset
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.
It is day 249 of the war with Hamas. Political correspondent Tal Schneider joins host Jessica Steinberg for today’s episode.
Schneider discusses the latest regarding the hostage deal, including Channel 12 release of details regarding a permanent ceasefire, countering Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing statements about not ending the war. She also speaks about a reported US move for a hostage deal for captives with US citizenship, and what could be discussed regarding that possibility with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Israel on Tuesday.
Schneider then looks at discussions in the Knesset on Monday, following Knesset member Benny Gantz’s resignation from the coalition and war cabinet, and how that could affect the rest of the Netanyahu coalition.
She speaks about the vote and Knesset approval to revive an ultra-Orthodox enlistment bill that would lower the current age of exemption from service for Haredi yeshiva students from 26 to 21. The only coalition member to vote against the bill was Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, a brave political move for him, says Schneider, but unclear how that will affect the bill or coalition going forward.
Steinberg mentions the Shavuot cookbook put together by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, with recipes and stories about hostages from their families and loved ones, as they move forward into another holiday.
For more updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.
Discussed articles include:
Israel’s full offer said to provide for ‘permanent’ truce before all hostages return
Blinken discusses hostage proposal, ‘day after’ Gaza war in meeting with Netanyahu
Knesset approves revival of ultra-Orthodox enlistment bill; Gallant votes against
Gantz quits war government, says PM preventing ‘true victory’ over Hamas, urges elections
Hostages’ families share favorite Shavuot recipes as they hold out hope for loved ones
THOSE WE HAVE LOST: Civilians and soldiers killed in Hamas’s onslaught on Israel
THOSE WE ARE MISSING: The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown
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