Daily Briefing Mar. 10: Day 521 – Israeli banks gain in war, El Al gets company on NY route

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.

Tech Israel editor Sharon Wrobel and health editor Diana Bletter join host Jessica Steinberg for today’s Daily Briefing.

As Israel’s two largest banks, Bank Hapoalim and Discount Bank, posted massive financial gains for 2024, Wrobel discusses how they achieved increases during months of war. She notes that Israelis may have ignored bank statements and overlooked money matters while serving prolonged reserve duty and dealing with pressing personal issues during the height of the war.

Bletter delves into her investigative piece on accusations that IDF troops targeted Gazan children during the war. She looks in particular at the allegations made in two essays printed in The New York Times and The Guardian, and discusses her interview with an American urban warfare expert, the lack of forensic evidence, and the long history of Hamas exploiting and harming minors and adult civilians to advance its goals.

As Israir becomes the third Israeli airline to join the Tel Aviv-New York route as a competitor to carriers El Al and Arkia, Wrobel discusses what it will take for Israir to gain customers, as travelers seek better deals. Wrobel also talks about Israelis booking cruises as they seek some relief from war and October 7 trauma and a secure vacation in light of anti-Israel sentiment worldwide and the high prices of airline tickets.

With thousands of residents of the Western Galilee heading home last week, Bletter visited Arab al-Aramshe, the only non-Jewish community evacuated in Israel during the war. The residents of this Bedouin village were hosted in hotels and other communities for the last year-plus.

Please see today’s ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

Israeli banks rake in record profits as their war-battered customers drown in debt

After doctors accuse Israel of shooting Gazan kids, experts see need for a second opinion

Israir set to become third Israeli carrier serving New York route, with lower airfare

As war brings spikes in airfare and antisemitism, cruise ships see a new wave of Israelis

Bedouin and Jewish residents who evacuated from north return home to mourn and rebuild

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.

Check out yesterday’s Daily Briefing episode here: