TOI talks: Buji does the Bibi and Blatt gets the boot

On this week’s episode, a fight for the right over Hebron houses; a war of words between Washington and Jerusalem; stalled ambassadors going nowhere; and Israeli basketball’s favorite son falls victim to LeBron’s cavalier attitude

By Raoul Wootliff 26 January 2016, 8:27 am Edit

Raoul Wootliff is a former Times of Israel political correspondent and Daily Briefing podcast producer.

The panel this week looks at the infighting on the right after Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon removed a group of settlers from a Hebron house they claim to have just bought.

On the other side of the aisle, however, opposition leader Isaac “Buji” Herzog seems to be presenting positions identical to those of Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu. The panel asks why the parties on the Israeli left are moving to the middle and why they are desperate for former chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi to join their ranks.

The war of words between Washington and Jerusalem continued to play out this week with critical comments from US ambassador Dan Shapiro. With a year left of the Obama administration, a look at what more we can expect, in word and deed.

Plus, Israeli basketball’s favorite son is given the boot by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Also on this week’s podcast…

TOI Podcast primer

Diplomatic correspondent Raphael Ahren tells deputy editor Joshua Davidovich about the effect of Brazil’s rejection of Israel’s nominee for ambassador, and its insistence on not backing down.

Blog spotlight

Malynnda Littky reads part of her blog “When you call me that, smile!” and tells Miriam Herschlag about her journey to prove the word “Kushi” is offensive.