PODCAST: Daily Briefing, Feb. 21 — Censoring the Israel-Syria prisoner exchange

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 panel comprises Times of Israel founding editor David Horovitz and military correspondent Judah Ari Gross, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

To begin the program, Gross lays out what we know — and what we’re allowed to say — about the 25-year-old Israeli woman who crossed into Syria in early February and was returned to Israel on Friday. What was Russia’s role, and what did Israel give up to get her back?

Next, Horovitz discusses the role of the Israeli military censor and the push-pull relationship Israeli journalists conduct with it.

United States President Joe Biden announced that his administration is ready to reengage with Iran on the nuclear deal through talks with the United Nations Security Council and the P5+1. Will Israel be in the loop?

And finally, a brief update on two sporting events from last week: the Australian Open that saw Russian-Israeli tennis player Aslan Karatsev reach unparalleled heights, and Tel Aviv’s Judo Grand Slam.

Discussed articles include:

Israeli woman who crossed into Syria returns to Israel on flight from Moscow

Israel agreed to more than just a prisoner exchange to get woman back from Syria

In exchange for captive, Israel said to buy $1m of Russian COVID doses for Syria

Diplomatic immunity: Netanyahu said to raise trading vaccines for normalization

In major speech, Biden indicates US ready to reengage with Iran on nuke deal

‘Life will never be the same’ for ex-Israeli tennis star who lost to world No.1

Winning silver in Tel Aviv, Iranian judoka ‘will never forget Israeli kindness’

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