Daily Briefing March 22: Biden calls PM; Ben & Jerry's is called out for hypocrisy

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 correspondent Jacob Magid and New York reporter Luke Tress join host Jessica Steinberg for today’s podcast.

Magid discusses more missteps made by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, this time in Paris, where his remarks about Palestinians not existing — while standing in front of a map of Greater Israel that included Jordan — created a diplomatic furor.

Tress talks about the growing anti-judicial overhaul protests in New York and New Jersey, and how the American Jewish community views the issue.

Magid speaks about US President Joe Biden’s phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the imminent curbing of the Israeli judiciary and his words about democratic values.

He also reviews the meeting between Israel, Jordan, Egypt, the US and the Palestinian Authority in Sharm el-Sheikh amid rising tensions as Ramadan begins Thursday, with some guarded optimism about the cooperative efforts.

Tress discusses the latest Ben & Jerry’s brouhaha with the Vermont ice cream maker being sued for using child labor, an alleged activity seemingly inconsistent with the declared social mission — under which it made efforts at what amounted to a boycott of Israel.

Discussed articles include:

Jordan summons Israeli envoy over ‘racist’ Smotrich speech, ‘Greater Israel’ map

Hundreds demonstrate in New York, London against Israeli judicial shakeup plan

On trip to the US, high-level IDF veterans issue warning against judicial overhaul

Israel activists in New York take aim at US group backing judicial overhaul push

Leading NY rabbi: Israeli government speeding ‘headlong toward abyss’ with overhaul

Biden voices concern over judicial overhaul in ‘candid’ phone call with Netanyahu

Israel, PA renew vow to curb violence and halt unilateral moves at Egypt summit

‘Hypocritical’: Ben & Jerry’s sued over child labor, after attempted Israel boycott

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