Presented by Magen David Adom

Tokyo 2020 Winning judo silver in Tokyo, Iranian defector Mollaei dedicates medal to Israel By Amy Spiro and Agencies Judoka says ‘todah’ to Israelis for support; Israeli Sagi Muki, who had disappointing finish, congratulates his unlikely friend: ‘I’m so happy… He deserves it’

Tokyo 2020 International Olympic Committee ‘concerned’ by forfeits to avoid Israeli judoka By Amy Spiro IOC director of solidarity James Macleod says committee ‘will adopt a strict position’ on violations of the Olympic charter

Tokyo 2020 Record-breaking Israeli Olympian swimmer: I’m not done yet By Amy Spiro With more competitions to come, 17-year-old Anastasia Gorbenko says her goal ‘is always to advance as far as possible, and to break my own personal records’

Tokyo Olympics 2020 / Tokyo disappointment for Israeli swimmer Anastasia Gorbenko, judoka Sagi Muki By TOI staff

Over 2,000 daily virus infections for 1st time since March; serious cases rise By TOI staff 17 more patients in serious condition since Monday evening; health minister cautions against ‘indifference’ to rapidly rising case numbers

US advises unvaccinated to avoid travel to Israel amid surge in virus cases By TOI staff   Bennett says Israel is ‘very close’ to approving a COVID booster shot By TOI staff   Top health official: Proposed 48-hour quarantine for schoolkids ‘impossible’ By TOI staff

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Analysis After months of optimism, a return to the Iran nuke deal begins to look unlikely By Lazar Berman The Islamic Republic’s demands, along with progress in its program, make a return to the JCPOA seem much more difficult than when Biden came into office

Iran says armed Mossad cell arrested over plot to provoke clashes at protests By TOI staff Tehran claims to seize guns, grenades, ammunition to be used by Israeli spies to carry out ‘urban riots and assassinations’ during demonstrations over water shortage

ToI podcast Daily Briefing July 27 – Is Israel responsible for NSO’s spyware surveillance? By TOI staff Military correspondent Judah Ari Gross gives context to global Pegasus Project shonda; Jacob Magid from the US discusses how PM Bennett is in a bind ahead of an upcoming DC trip

Gantz heads to Paris to discuss NSO Group with French counterpart By TOI staff

Live updates Knesset approves Bennett-Lapid power-sharing deal after hours of debate By TOI staff Most opposition MKs skip vote; amendment enabling premiership rotation finalized with 61 in favor, 2 opposed

Top Ops

Lev Stesin The American colossus may crumble A confused and disoriented US population lacks the resolve and unity of purpose needed to defeat a looming new US-China cold war   Aaron Jacob Hezbollah’s defiance and the United Nations’ duty Flouting UN resolutions, the terror group has stockpiled arms, threatened, and attacked along Israel’s border. The Security Council must impose sanctions.   Shuki Friedman What Israelis want: Kosher food at affordable prices The new minister of religious affairs has a plan to provide more reliable supervision and lower food prices – all without harming the Chief Rabbinate   Anna-Christina Schmidl Germany is no poster child for dealing with the past The country’s official Holocaust reckoning has evaded most citizens, who remain conveniently oblivious to how ordinary Germans enabled the machinery of death

Analysis Jacob Magid Memory of Netanyahu era gives Bennett leverage over Biden, at least for now New government managed to delay reopening of consulate for Palestinians, and slack from Washington could extend to other contentious issues, but power dynamic goes both ways

Bennett aides to travel to DC for meetings with Biden staff ahead of PM’s visit By Tal Schneider and Jacob Magid

Analysis Message in a balloon: Hamas threatens violence unless Israel allows Qatari aid By Judah Ari Gross Amid now-resolved dispute over delayed entrance of Doha-purchased fuel into Gaza, terror group gives apparent approval for arson attacks along the border

Human Rights Watch accuses IDF, Palestinians of war crimes in May Gaza conflict By Lazar Berman Israeli forces struck civilian buildings with no military targets nearby, group charges in report; will release separate report on Palestinian rocket attacks

Jordan said to nab Islamic State terrorists for plot to attack Israeli soldiers By TOI staff

Itamar Ben Gvir dragged off Knesset podium for calling Arab chair ‘terrorist’ By Raoul Wootliff Ahmad Tibi ejects far-right lawmaker from plenum after he initially refuses to refer to him as ‘Mr. Deputy Speaker’

Litzman accuses coalition whip Silman of secretly recording MKs for news outlet By TOI staff   Haredi MK compares religious affairs minister to villain of Hanukkah story By TOI staff   After blunder, Knesset gives initial ok to bill for rabbinical court reform By TOI staff

Tokyo 2020 Home run: Olympic baseball players hope medal can boost the sport back in Israel By Amy Spiro The 24-man team will see its debut in Tokyo on Thursday with a game against South Korea, a day before it faces the US

More Headlines

Rat bones found in Israel suggest ancient Africa-Europe ecological travel route By TOI staff   5 arrested over shooting death of Islamic Movement leader in Jaffa By TOI staff   Health minister warns he won’t back budget unless healthcare funding is boosted By Raoul Wootliff   German man forced to remove statue at grave of father over resemblance to Hitler By TOI staff   Police launch probe of modeling agent for alleged sexual abuse By TOI staff   50 US professors quit union after it calls Israel a ‘settler-colonial state’ By JTA   Obituary / Nobel prize-winning physicist Steven Weinberg dies at 88 By AP and TOI staff   Hadassah chief Rotstein pushed out of position By TOI staff   Angry over settlement boycott, NYC grocery chain to limit Ben & Jerry’s sales By Shira Hanau   Adding tech twist to storytelling, entrepreneurs try to bridge generation gap By Shoshanna Solomon