TOI talks: Praying, spying and struggling together

On this week’s episode: The French ultimatum; Obama’s ‘je suis Juif’ speech; praying together at the Western Wall; hacking and tracking Israeli drones; and Israel’s own vulture spy

By Raoul Wootliff 3 February 2016, 9:56 am Edit

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

The panel this week looks at the ultimatum presented by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who called for a peace summit and substantive talks between Israel and the Palestinians — or else. Could Paris’s threat to recognize Palestinian statehood start a diplomatic avalanche?

On the other side of the Atlantic, US President Obama became the first in office to speak at the Israeli Embassy in Washington. The panel asks whether Obama’s powerful speech on International Holocaust day, declaring “We are all Jews,” could help change his poor image in Israel.

Oratory aside, new intelligence leaks revealed this week that the US and Britain have spied on Israel for nearly two decades, hacking and tracking drone and F-16 communications. The panel discusses the new revelations, and what they say about Israel’s standing in the world and supposed cyber-security prowess.

Plus, the heights of Israel’s own espionage: the vulture spy captured in Lebanon.

Also on this week’s podcast…

Hot off the press

Deputy Editor Josh Davidovich talks with Jewish World Editor Amanda Borschel-Dan about this week’s historic government decision to establish a pluralist prayer plaza at the Western Wall.

Report spotlight

Simona Weinglass shares the findings, and the impact, of her recent report, “Sure you can make it in Israel — if your parents help,” on the challenges facing new immigrants seeking financial stability.