Daily Briefing Sept. 1 - Back to school for most, with or without rapid testing

Zman Yisrael editor Biranit Goren takes a broad look at the return to the school year, and military correspondent Judah Ari Gross examines Israel’s NIS 500 million loan to the PA

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.

Today’s guests are Zman Yisrael editor-in-chief Biranit Goren and military correspondent Judah Ari Gross, with Jessica Steinberg hosting.

September 1 brings the first day of school in Israel, with questions about vaccinated students, rapid testing and Green Passes.

Despite tales of some parents and teachers rebelling against the current system, Goren provides a more positive spin on the bumpy beginning, looking at the 80% vaccination rate among older students, and the chance for teachers to finally look at their students face to face.

Gross weighs in on his report about the approved NIS 500 million loan to the Palestinian Authority, which was agreed upon during this week’s talks between Defense Minister Benny Gantz and PA President Mahmoud Abbas.

Finally, Gross and Goren discuss the deeper meaning of the slight thaw in Israel-Palestinian relations, agreeing that it could be due to the current government and the play between left and right under Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

Discussed articles include:

Israel hands every child a DIY virus test, in bold bid for safe school restart

Full text: The Education Ministry’s rules for opening schools

Israel agrees to send NIS 500 million to PA, bypassing terror stipend freeze

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