Podcasts about Israel Defense Forces

Guest: Teri NewcombTopic: a Christian who was inspired by a movie she watched to stand with Israel and the Jewish peopleOrganization with which she partners: Friends of the Israel Defense ForcesWebsite: BlessIsraelsSoldiers.org

CAPTION 1916 YEMEN FIGHTING.CONTENTS-JBS-9-14-2026Houthis Expand Reach Across Strategic WaterwaysBridget Toomey discusses how Houthi rebels rapidly expanded control across Yemen's western coast, seizing the strategic port of Mocha and Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb choke point. Yemeni armed forces conducted counter-operations in a designated killbox around Mocha while displaying strikes on Houthi positions. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabiaclosed its critical oil pipeline following drone attacks attributed to Iran-backed Iraqi militias operating in coordination with the Houthis. The Trump administration continues offering intelligence support to Saudi Arabia while maintaining its policy of avoiding direct airstrikes under an existing mutual non-engagement agreement. (1)Israeli Strikes Target Reconstituting Hamas LeadershipSamuel Ben-Ur analyzes recent Israel Defense Forces eliminations of key Hamas figures in Gaza, notably Khan Yuniscommander Muhammad Abdul Salam al-Yuzuri. Al-Yuzuri was actively attempting to rebuild the Qassam Brigadesand plan attacks prior to his elimination. Hamas maintains military dominance across thirty percent of the yellow line and remains heavily integrated within civilian population centers. Meanwhile, progress on the Board of Peace disarmament plan remains stalled until after Israeli elections due to political sensitivity surrounding territorial concessions. Ben-Ur notes that voluntary Hamas disarmament is improbable, highlighting alternative stabilization initiatives like pilot zones. (2)Historical Roots Shape Modern Yemeni ConflictGregory Copley details the deep historical context of Yemen, tracing its lineage from the ancient Sabaean kingdom through the Mutawakkilite Kingdom. He explains how Saudi hostility toward Northern Yemen stems partly from historical Hashemite claims to Mecca and Medina. Copley emphasizes that Northern Yemeni forces are tough professional fighters rather than simple rebel groups, driven to fight for survival against Saudi strikes. He suggests that Washington and London should engage in separate diplomatic negotiations, leveraging Oman's Sultan as a discreet mediator during upcoming visits to negotiate an accommodation and establish regional peace. (3)Latin American Leaders Engage European ForumErnesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa discuss their participation in Slovenia's Bled Strategic Forum, highlighting growing Eastern European engagement with Latin America. Araújo draws parallels between Eastern Europe's 1989 liberation and Latin America's current struggle against narco-socialism. Regarding Venezuela, Peña Esclusa emphasizes that citizens reject interim president Delcy Rodríguez despite opposition leader María Corina Machado's primary victory. Turning to Brazil's upcoming election, Araújo outlines a major judicial scandal tying Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to a fraudulent banker, severely impacting President Lula da Silva's reelection campaign against Flavio Bolsonaro. (4)Israeli Forces Detonate Strategic Hezbollah UndergroundDavid Daoud examines an Israeli detonation of Hezbollah's subterranean nerve center at Aita al-Shaab, which caused a 4.1 magnitude seismic event. The complex was originally designed for Hezbollah's planned invasion of the Galilee, a doctrine later mirrored by Hamas on October 7th. Daoud reports that Israeli forces are turning South Lebanon into a buffer zone to eliminate threats. However, he criticizes the Lebanese Armed Forces for failing to demonstrate real will to disarm Hezbollah, noting that 86% of reported LAF weapon seizures consisted merely of militarily insignificant bullets. (5)Canada Explores Strategic European Union AllianceConrad Black evaluates Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's proposal for a unique associate alliance with the European Union. Black notes Canadians would support freer trade and cultural exchanges, though full political submission to Brussels directives would be rejected. He highlights French President Emmanuel Macron's upcoming meeting with Carney in St. Pierre and Miquelon as a significant recognition of Canadian distinctiveness. Furthermore, Black criticizes U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats and trade deficit claims, pointing out that Canada sells oil at discounted rates and maintains balanced cross-border auto manufacturing integration. (6)Economic Analysis Exposes Costs Of TariffsVeronique de Rugy analyzes the economic consequences of trade wars, specifically examining cross-border tariffs between the United States and Canada. She refutes mercantilist arguments, demonstrating that domestic consumers shoulder tariff costs through higher prices and product scarcity rather than foreign producers paying the fees. De Rugy explains that protectionist tariffs harm domestic manufacturing by raising input costs on imported components. She notes that even domestic producers unexposed to foreign competition raise prices when shielded, and highlights how tariffs on Canadian lumber directly elevate American housing costs. (7)Russian Strikes Target Ukrainian Railway NetworksJohn Hardie assesses a Russian drone strike targeting a Ukrainian train near the Polish border where international VIPs and former European officials had recently passed. While French officials viewed the strike as intentional intimidation, Hardie notes precise Russian motives remain speculative. Additionally, Hardie analyzes reports surrounding President Trump's statements regarding an energy target ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. He defends Ukraine's strategy of striking Russian oil refineries, explaining that disrupting refined diesel production effectively squeezes Moscow's military budget and creates domestic public pressure. (8)United States Secures Historic Venezuelan PetroleumSamuel Ben-Ur provides updates on Venezuela's political transition and energy sector, detailing a massive 25-year oil agreement executed with interim president Delcy Rodríguez. The deal involves North American companies redeveloping 17 oil fields containing 65 billion barrels of proved reserves, redirecting petroleum exports exclusively to the United States away from China and Russia. Ben-Ur notes that major firms like Chevron will lead a hundred-billion-dollar infrastructure revitalization effort. However, he emphasizes that no firm election date has been established, leaving the political timetable for returning to democratic governance uncertain. (9)BRICS Summit Highlights Internal Geopolitical FracturesMelik Kaylan, co-host Gordon Chang: Kaylan and Chang analyze the BRICS summit in India, characterizing the bloc as an incoherent coalition marked by deep internal rivalries, particularly between China and India. Kaylan explains that while member nations grandstand against Western policies in the Middle East, they lack real unified operational strength. Turning to Turkey, Kaylan argues President Erdoğan pursues neo-Ottoman expansionism across Syria, North Africa, and the Horn of Africa to distract from severe domestic economic weakness. Chang adds that Erdoğan reversed his prior support for Uyghurs to secure Chinese financial backing. (10)

CAPTION 1898 GAZAIsraeli Strikes Target Reconstituting Hamas LeadershipSamuel Ben-Ur analyzes recent Israel Defense Forces eliminations of key Hamas figures in Gaza, notably Khan Yuniscommander Muhammad Abdul Salam al-Yuzuri. Al-Yuzuri was actively attempting to rebuild the Qassam Brigadesand plan attacks prior to his elimination. Hamas maintains military dominance across thirty percent of the yellow line and remains heavily integrated within civilian population centers. Meanwhile, progress on the Board of Peace disarmament plan remains stalled until after Israeli elections due to political sensitivity surrounding territorial concessions. Ben-Ur notes that voluntary Hamas disarmament is improbable, highlighting alternative stabilization initiatives like pilot zones. (2)

For review:1. A group of eight Muslim-majority countries, including Israel's ally the United Arab Emirates, praised the United Kingdom on Wednesday for announcing that it will impose sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and called on other countries to do the same.2. Iran's Guards said on Wednesday that a new “prohibited zone” outside the Strait of Hormuz would cover parts of the Gulf of Oman and beyond, adding that they would announce the exact coordinates later.3. Iran Claims Capture of US Navy Underwater Drone.4. The US military on Tuesday said it destroyed five oil tankers in Iran's so-called shadow fleet following a pair of attempted Iranian ballistic missile attacks targeting an American warship the previous day. 5. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir announced on Tuesday that the military would soon inaugurate a new “unmanned systems and artificial intelligence” branch.Currently, the Israel Defense Forces has three branches — the Ground Forces, Air Force, and Navy. The existing branches are each headed by a major general. A new fourth branch would be an unprecedented move for the military.6. Presidnet Trump told Russian President Putin that a swift resolution to the Ukraine war could pave the way for the countries to fully restore trade and economic ties, according to a Kremlin readout of a call between the two leaders.

There are writers who tell stories—and there are writers who use stories to explore the wounds, struggles and hopes of an entire people. Today, I am honoured to welcome Dr. Emmet Hirsch, a physician, medical researcher, former Israeli artillery officer and gifted novelist whose remarkable career has been devoted to healing the human body while exploring the deepest reaches of the human heart. Born in Chicago and raised in a deeply committed Jewish family, Emmet spent his formative years in Jerusalem after his father—a Reform rabbi, civil-rights activist and participant in the historic Selma march—became head of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. Emmet attended high school and university in Israel and later served as an artillery officer in the Israel Defense Forces. Today, he is a practising obstetrician-gynecologist in Evanston, Illinois, and a clinical professor at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine. His research has focused particularly on premature labour, infection and inflammation, and he has authored or contributed to more than 65 scientific publications. But Dr. Hirsch's search for truth and healing extends far beyond medicine. He is the author of The Education of Doctor Montefiore, a hilarious and poignant novel about the people, institutions, vanities and moments of selflessness that shape a young physician. His newest novel, The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb, is a powerful literary and historical thriller set against the turbulent birth of the State of Israel and the complex relationship between Jews and Arabs in the Middle East. At its centre is Joseph Friedmann, a Jewish child abandoned in a Catholic convent in Lebanon. There, he encounters antisemitism, betrayal and profound trauma. He eventually makes his way to Palestine, fights in Israel's War of Independence and later returns to Lebanon as an Israeli spy. Yet this is far more than a story of war and espionage. It is the story of one man's passage from abandonment to belonging, innocence to violence, secrecy to self-confrontation, and trauma toward redemption. It asks what happens when someone must conceal his true identity in order to survive—and what emotional price must be paid for living behind a mask. The novel honours the Jewish longing for safety, homeland and sovereignty while also recognizing the pain, suffering and humanity found on every side of conflict. Inspired. It raises difficult and enduring questions: Can we escape the wounds of childhood without first confronting them? Can a divided land become a shared home? And can Isaiah's prophetic vision of the wolf dwelling with the lamb ever become a reality? Please join me in welcoming the distinguished and multitalented Dr. Emmet Hirsch. ——

There are writers who tell stories—and there are writers who use stories to explore the wounds, struggles and hopes of an entire people. Today, I am honoured to welcome Dr. Emmet Hirsch, a physician, medical researcher, former Israeli artillery officer and gifted novelist whose remarkable career has been devoted to healing the human body while exploring the deepest reaches of the human heart. Born in Chicago and raised in a deeply committed Jewish family, Emmet spent his formative years in Jerusalem after his father—a Reform rabbi, civil-rights activist and participant in the historic Selma march—became head of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. Emmet attended high school and university in Israel and later served as an artillery officer in the Israel Defense Forces. Today, he is a practising obstetrician-gynecologist in Evanston, Illinois, and a clinical professor at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine. His research has focused particularly on premature labour, infection and inflammation, and he has authored or contributed to more than 65 scientific publications. But Dr. Hirsch's search for truth and healing extends far beyond medicine. He is the author of The Education of Doctor Montefiore, a hilarious and poignant novel about the people, institutions, vanities and moments of selflessness that shape a young physician. His newest novel, The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb, is a powerful literary and historical thriller set against the turbulent birth of the State of Israel and the complex relationship between Jews and Arabs in the Middle East. At its centre is Joseph Friedmann, a Jewish child abandoned in a Catholic convent in Lebanon. There, he encounters antisemitism, betrayal and profound trauma. He eventually makes his way to Palestine, fights in Israel's War of Independence and later returns to Lebanon as an Israeli spy. Yet this is far more than a story of war and espionage. It is the story of one man's passage from abandonment to belonging, innocence to violence, secrecy to self-confrontation, and trauma toward redemption. It asks what happens when someone must conceal his true identity in order to survive—and what emotional price must be paid for living behind a mask. The novel honours the Jewish longing for safety, homeland and sovereignty while also recognizing the pain, suffering and humanity found on every side of conflict. Inspired. It raises difficult and enduring questions: Can we escape the wounds of childhood without first confronting them? Can a divided land become a shared home? And can Isaiah's prophetic vision of the wolf dwelling with the lamb ever become a reality? Please join me in welcoming the distinguished and multitalented Dr. Emmet Hirsch. ——

For review:1, The new head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council on Sunday said Tehran plans to announce a “prohibited zone” outside the Strait of Hormuz aimed at vessels it believes are attempting to transit the waterway.2. The Israel Defense Forces struck Hezbollah terror group targets in Lebanon overnight Sunday-Monday, reportedly killing eleven people, after the Iranian proxy fired two explosive drones at troops, the army said.The IDF said that no injuries were caused to troops in the Hezbollah attack, the third such incident in a week.3. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis on Monday accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out airstrikes around the country, including the deadly bombardment of a prison, as the rebels pressed an offensive to seize territory near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.4. A top official within the US-backed Board of Peace said on Monday that a failure to move forward in Gaza paired with rising violence in the West Bank are making a two-state solution “impossible.”5. The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, Indonesia and Pakistan on Sunday issued a joint condemnation of remarks by Defense Minister Israel Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir calling for plans to facilitate the emigration of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.6. Britain is set to announce wide-ranging economic restrictions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank on Tuesday, including a ban on trade in goods produced in the settlements, reports said Monday, in what would mark a significant escalation in London's pressure on Israel and possibly prompt similar measures by other countries.7. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he expects the war with Russia to continue into the winter, following talks with Donald Trump's top envoys in Kyiv.The discussions finished without an announcement of a major breakthrough, after Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner travelled to Ukraine for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion.The previous day, the pair had held talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow.8. Sweden to Procure US-Made M142 HIMARS; Croatia to Procure S. Korean-made K239 Chunmoo Systems.

As part of its occupation of southern Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces have systematically destroyed dozens of villages, many of them home to Shia Muslims. Special correspondent Simona Foltyn and videographer Adrian Hartrick traveled to two Christian villages and one Sunni village near Israel's occupation zone, demarcated by a so-called yellow line. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

We sit down with Yair Nativ to separate AI hype from measurable business impact, especially inside traditional companies where the biggest wins hide in plain sight. We dig into executive fear, frontline resistance, and the practical discipline it takes to turn agentic workflows into real P&L results without sacrificing original thinking.• Why confident AI output can trick smart leaders into accepting errors• The overlooked AI opportunity in non-tech companies and legacy workflows• What “boring problems” look like in finance ops and back office automation• How to tie AI adoption to KPIs and avoid performative AI theater• When value-based pricing makes sense and where it breaks down• How to turn worker anxiety into collaboration through empathy and upskilling• Lessons on resilience and delegation from building during a war*Leave a review with the one workflow you want AI to fix next.*AI does not fail in organizations because it is “not smart enough.” It fails because we deploy it like a magic trick, then act surprised when confident-sounding answers turn into expensive mistakes. We bring on Yair Nativ, co-founder and CEO of an AI adoption and strategy firm, to get brutally practical about what actually works when you want AI transformation that shows up on the P&L.We talk through why executives can be both skeptical and oddly trusting at the same time, how hallucinations slip past smart people, and what it takes to reward critical thinking instead of blind acceptance. From there we zoom in on the real market most people ignore: traditional industries and non-tech companies where workflows are still painfully manual. That “unglamorous middle” is where agentic workflows can collapse months of effort into days, but only if you anchor every build to clear KPIs, measurable cycle-time gains, and quality standards.We also get into the human side that kills most AI programs early: fear on the front line. Yair shares stories from factory floors and operations teams, plus the messaging that turns “Are you here to fire me?” into “How does this make my day better?” The conversation goes beyond tactics, too, touching on resilience and delegation while building a startup under extreme real-world pressure, and the origin of SafeLane, a road safety initiative born from personal loss.If you want a grounded AI strategy, practical change management, and a clear way to measure value without AI theater, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a leader who's stuck in hype. Yair Nativ: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yairnativ/Yair Nativ is the Co-Founder and CEO of Mateos, an AI adoption and strategy company.  A serial entrepreneur based in Israel, his previous ventures include Voiceable, a Nielsen-backed communication analytics startup and Safe Lane, a nationwide road safety initiative that mobilized over 100,000 volunteers with government backing. He is also the co-host of the podcast Futureproof: Automation, AI, and the New Human Condition.  He earned his Bachelor of Laws and Master's in Political Science and Government from the University of Haifa.  He's also served as a Combat Medic in the Israel Defense Forces, where he received the Brigadier Award for Excellence. Website: https://www.position2.com/podcast/Rajiv Parikh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajivparikh/Email us with any feedback for the show: sparkofages.podcast@position2.com

Below are headlines from the first quarter hour of this week's broadcast. There's much more to follow when you listen in, including response from listeners. --The Trump administration has confirmed that a new oil company will drill across more than a dozen oil fields in Venezuela and the administration will take a 35% equity stake in that new company. --Five energy companies have now signed deals with Venezuela to rapidly increase oil and gas drilling with some new wells expected to begin as soon as this week. --Iran attacked American military positions across the Middle East Wednesday after the U.S. carried out its largest strikes against the Islamic republic since July, raising fears that the six month conflict is returning to full scale, regional warfare. --Iranian hackers are relentlessly trying to get into U.S. critical infrastructure. --More than a half-dozen commissaries on military bases in the continental U.S. reported refrigeration outages this week. --Russia has been secretly helping Iran develop advanced supersonic cruise missiles capable of threatening U.S. aircraft carriers and other warships in the Middle East. --Tuesday, Israeli forces captured a senior Hamas official during an operation to remove threats in the northern Gaza Strip. --Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Iran that should Tehran attack the country, Israel will respond with retaliatory strikes targeting energy and other infrastructure. --Israel Defense Forces said yesterday it had completed clearing a strategic Hezbollah underground facility in southern Lebanon, preparing the tunnel complex for demolition.

Below are headlines from the first quarter hour of this week's broadcast. There's much more to follow when you listen in, including response from listeners. --The Trump administration has confirmed that a new oil company will drill across more than a dozen oil fields in Venezuela and the administration will take a 35% equity stake in that new company. --Five energy companies have now signed deals with Venezuela to rapidly increase oil and gas drilling with some new wells expected to begin as soon as this week. --Iran attacked American military positions across the Middle East Wednesday after the U.S. carried out its largest strikes against the Islamic republic since July, raising fears that the six month conflict is returning to full scale, regional warfare. --Iranian hackers are relentlessly trying to get into U.S. critical infrastructure. --More than a half-dozen commissaries on military bases in the continental U.S. reported refrigeration outages this week. --Russia has been secretly helping Iran develop advanced supersonic cruise missiles capable of threatening U.S. aircraft carriers and other warships in the Middle East. --Tuesday, Israeli forces captured a senior Hamas official during an operation to remove threats in the northern Gaza Strip. --Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Iran that should Tehran attack the country, Israel will respond with retaliatory strikes targeting energy and other infrastructure. --Israel Defense Forces said yesterday it had completed clearing a strategic Hezbollah underground facility in southern Lebanon, preparing the tunnel complex for demolition.

Below are headlines from the first quarter hour of this week's broadcast. There's much more to follow when you listen in, including response from listeners. --The Trump administration has confirmed that a new oil company will drill across more than a dozen oil fields in Venezuela and the administration will take a 35% equity stake in that new company. --Five energy companies have now signed deals with Venezuela to rapidly increase oil and gas drilling with some new wells expected to begin as soon as this week. --Iran attacked American military positions across the Middle East Wednesday after the U.S. carried out its largest strikes against the Islamic republic since July, raising fears that the six month conflict is returning to full scale, regional warfare. --Iranian hackers are relentlessly trying to get into U.S. critical infrastructure. --More than a half-dozen commissaries on military bases in the continental U.S. reported refrigeration outages this week. --Russia has been secretly helping Iran develop advanced supersonic cruise missiles capable of threatening U.S. aircraft carriers and other warships in the Middle East. --Tuesday, Israeli forces captured a senior Hamas official during an operation to remove threats in the northern Gaza Strip. --Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Iran that should Tehran attack the country, Israel will respond with retaliatory strikes targeting energy and other infrastructure. --Israel Defense Forces said yesterday it had completed clearing a strategic Hezbollah underground facility in southern Lebanon, preparing the tunnel complex for demolition.

For review:1. The Israel Defense Forces said Thursday night that it had finished clearing a “strategic” underground facility belonging to the Hezbollah terror group beneath a mountainous ridge in southern Lebanon in recent weeks.The Ali Taher Ridge is located within Israel's southern Lebanon buffer zone, near Nabatieh. According to the IDF, Hezbollah built tunnel systems beneath the hill, which served as the “nerve center” of the terror group's Badr regional division — a unit tasked with the area of southern Lebanon that is north of the Litani River.2. Iran has warned the United States that it would respond forcefully to any Israeli offensive on a mountainous ridge in southern Lebanon where Iranian military personnel are holed up alongside Hezbollah fighters, three officials briefed on the message told Reuters.3. US Vice President JD Vance says Washington will only return to negotiations with Iran if Tehran stops targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.4. South Korea is preparing to deploy military assets to support freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and aims to dispatch them before the end of the year, local media reports, citing government and military sources.5. Russia has been helping Iran develop supersonic cruise missiles, an advanced weapon that is harder to defend against than subsonic variants, the Financial Times reported Tuesday.6. The German Navy said on Wednesday that it had successfully tested an Israeli ballistic missile system the previous night and would now begin to advance plans to procure the projectiles.The Long-Range Artillery Weapon System, known by the acronym LORA, has a range of 400 kilometers and is accurate to within 10 meters, according to its manufacturer, Israel Aerospace Industries. It is classified as a short-range ballistic missile.7. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday there was a chance of reaching an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said U.S. negotiators trying to broker a deal would soon visit both Moscow and Kyiv.‌Putin, speaking at an economic forum in Russia's far east, said a number of countries including the U.S. and China were ready to support a peace settlement.8. The U.S. government on Thursday slapped new sanctions on Cuba in a fresh push to strangle the island's economy and deepen its multiple crises. 9. American Rheinmetall delivered the first Lynx XM30 prototype to the Army this week, the company said in a Tuesday statement, the latest move in the service's effort to replace the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle.The vehicle is slated to start testing, while seven additional prototypes are scheduled for delivery later this year. 

Send us Fan MailThere aren't enough mental-health professionals to assess everyone who needs help - and the people who need help most may sometimes be the least willing to ask for it. Now an Israeli AI platform called LIV is trying to change both sides of that equation: using an empathetic AI conversation to identify PTSD and other mental-health risks, triage patients, and give clinicians a structured picture before they ever enter the room.Iris Shtein is Co-Founder and CEO of Mentaily ( https://mentaily.com/ ), an Israeli health-tech company developing AI-powered tools for mental-health assessment and clinical decision support.Iris comes to this problem from a remarkably multidisciplinary background. She is a registered nurse who served in the Israel Defense Forces, including as Deputy Head of Medicine for the Southern Command, before moving into healthcare innovation and digital health at Sheba Medical Center. At Sheba's ARC Innovation Center, she led telemedicine and remote-care initiatives and later strategic partnerships.It was there that Iris became involved in the development of LIV, an AI-powered platform designed to conduct conversational psychiatric intake and triage, generate structured clinical summaries, help assess diagnosis and severity, and identify situations that may require more urgent clinical attention. LIV was developed with Sheba and technology partners including Microsoft, and Sheba says the platform has subsequently received approval from Israel's Ministry of Health as an AI-based psychiatric triage system.Today, Mentaily is taking LIV beyond the Israeli healthcare system, including work involving military and security populations and a collaboration with Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation focused on PTSD assessment.#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #MentalHealth #PTSD #PostTraumaticStressDisorder #MilitaryMentalHealth #Veterans #VeteranHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #Psychiatry #DigitalHealth #HealthTech #MedTech #HealthcareAI #GenerativeAI #AIHealthcare #MentalHealthTech #Trauma #PTSDTreatment #MilitaryMedicine #VeteransHealth #PsychologicalHealth #HealthcareInnovation #FutureOfHealthcare #IsraeliInnovation #WalterReed #ShebaMedicalCenter #Mentaily #LIVSupport the show

By the spring of 1948, three armed Jewish militias had been fighting and working towards the birth of modern Israel. There was the Haganah, under David Ben-Gurion, which would become the core of the new Israel Defense Forces. There was the Irgun, led by Menachem Begin, and a smaller group, the Lehi. Begin agreed to dissolve the Irgun units operating in Israel into the new army, a decision he made in the name of national unity and cohesion even though tensions between the Irgun and the Haganah were deep, and Haganah operatives had previously informed on their counterparts in the Irgun to British officials. Even so, the Irgun had pledged to become a part of the IDF in the newly formed state of Israel. A month after Ben-Gurion declared independence, a ship named the Altalena set sail from France under the auspices of the Irgun, carrying rifles and some 900 immigrants, many of them survivors of the Shoah. The ship left port the same day a United Nations cease-fire took effect, a truce that barred the importation of any new arms or combatants into the country. When it reached the coast at Kfar Vitkin just north of Tel Aviv, a dispute broke out over how the weapons would be distributed, and in particular over Begin's insistence that a share go to an Irgun battalion in Jerusalem, which he argued stood outside the truce's terms since Jerusalem's status remained unsettled under the UN partition plan. The standoff turned violent onshore, and Begin ordered the ship to sail south, to Tel Aviv, in full view of the city and the international press. Near what is today Frishman Beach, Ben-Gurion gave the order to open fire on the ship, and by this time, with Begin aboard, on his main political rival. Two officers refused before a third accepted the command. Sixteen Irgun men and three IDF soldiers were killed. And Begin, standing on the burning deck with comrades dying around him, ordered his own men not to fire back. He would repeat that order over the radio that night: never, he said, could he condone a war between brothers. The specter of the Altalena has haunted Israeli politics ever since. It plays a potent and mythological role in the imagination of the political right as one of the earliest examples of a centralized government dominated by the political left that uses the power of the state against its domestic opponents. Now, six weeks before an Israeli election, the wreckage of the Altalena has been discovered. To discuss the ship's sinking and the significance of its recovery, Jonathan Silver, the host of the Tikvah podcast and the editor of Mosaic, is joined by the historian, educator, and writer Avi Shilon. Shilon is the author of, among other works of scholarship, the definitive biography of Menachem Begin, published in 2012 by Yale University Press.

More than two years ago, Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom was killed by the Israel Defense Forces while travelling in a convoy with humanitarian organisation World Central Kitchen. Israel's decision on Wednesday to clear its soldiers of criminal liability has sparked widespread condemnation, from Frankcom's family to the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, who called the move an “outrage”. Now, as calls grow for accountability, an apology and potential reparations, political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to Reged Ahmad about a new low in Australia and Israel's relations You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport

For review:1. The United States tightened sanctions on Cuba on Thursday, blacklisting three officials ​tied to a state-run organization that promotes Cuba's ties ‌with foreign solidarity activists, along with nine state entities in the metals, mining and construction sectors.2. Israel reportedly claimed to the US that Turkey was planning to set up an air defense system on the airbase in northwest Syria that the IDF struck last week, according to the Kan public broadcaster.3. The Israel Defense Forces said it carried out an airstrike in southwest Syria on Saturday afternoon, adding it targeted an operative “who advanced terror attacks in the final stages of preparation.”4. The IDF said Saturday it had killed a Hamas commander involved in efforts to restore the terror group's tunnel network in central Gaza. It also said it had killed an October 7 terrorist who had held hostages.5. Iran on Saturday slammed US plans to announce new sanctions that could put further strain on the Islamic Republic's economy, and warned that any countries which take part in imposing these sanctions would be “considered an enemy.”6. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said on Thursday that they targeted an airport and a facility belonging to state-owned oil giant Aramco in Saudi Arabia's southern region, near the Yemeni border.7. A new wave of N. Korean Troops, already numbering 8,500 in Russia, contains a drone unit that could attack targets inside Ukraine, according to a senior Ukrainian intelligence official.8. Taiwan's budget agency has announced a proposed 18 percent increase in its defense budget for 2027 as the self-governing island continues efforts to deter a potential invasion from China. 9. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is looking to leave his role at the Pentagon around the end of 2026 a former White House official and another source familiar with the discussions told The Hill on Friday. 

For review:1. South Korea on Monday expressed hopes for resumption of diplomacy between the U.S. and North Korea to ease animosities on the Korean Peninsula, as President Trump reduces exercises with South Korea.2. The runway of a military airport in northwestern Syria was targeted by unidentified fighter jets overnight Monday, with Damascus blaming Israel for the airstrike and the United States denouncing Israel for the attack.3. The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog said Tuesday that its inspectors had found several tons of nuclear material in Syria, at a site which the authorities said they reported to the agency last month.4. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted during a meeting Monday with envoys from the White House and the US-backed Board of Peace that Israel would not redeploy any of its forces in Gaza or allow reconstruction to begin until the Strip was completely disarmed, a senior Israeli official told The Times of Israel.5. The Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday struck what it said was a meeting of Hamas commanders and elite operatives in Gaza City.6. US President Donald Trump threatened on Monday to bomb Oman and urged Iran to surrender, after Tehran announced that it had reached an agreement with Muscat on a plan for ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz, which lies between the two countries.7. The Navy has awarded RTX subsidiary Raytheon a $22.9 billion contract to ramp up production of Tomahawk Cruise Missiles to 1,000 rounds a year.8. US Army Selects Hanwha to Deliver 155mm K9 Mobile Tactical Cannon Prototypes.

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.On today's podcast:1) President Trump said he won’t try to revive a stalled truce with Iran, leaving the simmering conflict in the Middle East and a tussle for control of the Strait of Hormuz stuck in limbo. A memorandum of understanding the US and Iran signed in June that gave them a 60-day window to negotiate a lasting peace deal technically expired Monday, and when Trump was asked if he would seek an extension, he replied: “No.” The ceasefire had been repeatedly violated in any event, with intermittent clashes continuing, and both sides had declared it defunct. Brent crude climbed Tuesday - by its highest level in more than three weeks - as prospects dimmed for a swift reopening of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas transited before the war. Trump is demanding that free passage through the waterway be restored, while Iran said it will govern traffic in conjunction with Oman. 2) Jared Kushner assured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the Israeli army won’t be compelled to withdraw from Gaza until Hamas disarms, an official with knowledge of the talks said, a stance that will dim hopes for a Gaza peace deal anytime soon. Kushner met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday, a day after holding talks with a Hamas leader in Egypt. The US and Israel agreed there would be no Israel Defense Forces redeployment from Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed and all of Gaza is demilitarized, according to the Board of Peace official, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations. Those conditions are likely to be rejected by Hamas, which has insisted that Israel withdraw from Gaza before it gives up its weapons.3) Chinese leader Xi Jinping will forgo a stop in New York to address the UN General Assembly during a trip to the US next month to meet President Donald Trump, Politico reported. Politico cited four people familiar with the matter whom it didn’t identify. Xi plans to visit the US for three days, meeting Trump on Sept. 24, one of the people said. There’d been speculation that Xi would join other world leaders at the UN meeting as part of his US visit. Trump invited Xi to visit during his trip to Beijing in May. The two sides used their spring summit to steady ties that had deteriorated over trade, tech, Taiwan and other issues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brigadier General (Ret.) Israel Baharav is one of Israel's most accomplished fighter pilots, credited with twelve MiG-21 kills during his distinguished career in the Israeli Air Force. Over three decades of military service, he flew on the front lines, commanded a fighter squadron, served as Head of Air Force Intelligence, and led strategic planning efforts for the Israel Defense Forces, helping establish the framework for strategic cooperation between Israel and the United States. Following his military career, General Baharav transitioned into the world of technology and entrepreneurship, founding and leading multiple companies at the forefront of digital printing, 3D manufacturing, and healthcare innovation. In this episode, Cinco talks with Israel and he shares lessons from a lifetime of leadership in combat, and strategy, offering unique insights into what it takes to succeed in the world's highest-consequence environments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recorded August 10, 2026: Mike and Laureen continue their discussion about the growing political divide surrounding Israel, antisemitism and the Democratic Party. They are joined by University of South Florida Professor Cody Levine, an Israel Institute Fellow and former Israel Defense Forces soldier who teaches about U.S. and Middle Eastern relations. Levine discusses the current climate on campus and the concerns facing Jewish students, while examining how the sources, rhetoric and meaning of antisemitism have evolved. The conversation also asks a difficult but important question: What is a useful call to action in the current climate? The episode concludes with a discussion of the latest proposed peace plan for Gaza and the reasons Israel has rejected it, including concerns over Hamas disarmament and Israel's security.   Thank you for listening, sharing and subscribing to The Third Opinion Podcast.

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes. On today's podcast: 1) President Trump said the US was only "semi-negotiating" with Tehran on the Strait of Hormuz, and that the US was "low keying it" as Iran faces huge inflation and no money. Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's military adviser Mohsen Rezaee was named the new leader of the Supreme National Security Council, replacing Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, and has been an advocate for full Iranian control over Hormuz. Tehran published a list of demands for Washington as conditions for fully reopening Hormuz, including lifting the naval blockade, withdrawing forces, removing sanctions, and releasing frozen assets, which may be difficult for the US to meet alone.2) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a proposal by US-backed mediators for disarming Hamas, saying "Israel does not accept the 15-point document." Netanyahu stated that the Israel Defense Forces will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and it will continue to thwart threats against Israeli forces and citizens. The Board of Peace described the roadmap as its deal with Hamas, rather than with Israel, and said that nobody is required to do anything before verified steps are taken on the ground by the Palestinian cadres.3) The US Supreme Court has a reputation problem, with polls showing poor approval ratings and a record low support amid continued attacks on the institution from President Trump. A majority of Americans believe the justices tend to act for political reasons, not legal ones, which experts see as unhealthy and potentially dangerous. The court's reputation has been driven down by factors including a hyper-partisan confirmation process, polarizing decisions, and ethics controversies, leading to calls for Congress to impose term limits or expand the court.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What compels a young man from Long Island to leave behind the comforts of home and enlist in the Israel Defense Forces as a Lone Soldier? In this powerful episode of IsraelCast, Ira Kohler shares the extraordinary journey that took him from studying economics at the University of Delaware to serving in the IDF's elite 890th Paratroopers Battalion after making Aliyah in 2022. When Hamas launched its devastating October 7 attack, Ira found himself thrust into some of the war's fiercest fighting, including the battle for Kibbutz Be'eri, before spending more than 100 days operating inside Gaza. He reflects on the realities of combat, the bonds forged between soldiers, the sacrifices of those who fell—including his childhood friend Omer Neutra—and the enduring sense of purpose that carried him through war. Now back in the United States, Ira has transformed his experiences into his memoir, Once a Paratrooper, and has become a sought-after public speaker, sharing an intimate and deeply personal perspective on courage, service, resilience, and the profound connection between the Jewish people and Israel.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. In his first public comments on the matter, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel has not agreed to the Board of Peace’s Hamas disarmament plan, which was accepted by the terror group last week, and will not withdraw behind the Yellow Line until the terror group has laid down its arms. Fabian explains what the Yellow Line is and how it has shifted since the ceasefire began in October. An investigation by the Israel Defense Forces into last month’s deadly clash in the West Bank village of Tell has found that the hike by Israeli settlers in the area was not coordinated or approved by the army, and that officers did not respond to an ensuing clash with Palestinians with sufficient manpower. Fabian brings more conclusions and operational failures. Defense Minister Israel Katz said Monday that IDF Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, the army’s top officer in the West Bank, is “performing his duties well.” This is only news in light of Katz's comments on national TV the night before. Fabian unravels this knotty issue. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Netanyahu says Israel ‘didn’t agree’ to Board of Peace’s terms for disarming Hamas After dissing IDF West Bank chief, announcing replacement on live TV, Katz now says he’s doing ‘well,’ isn’t ousted Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I spoke with Sharren Haskel in mid July, within days of her resignation from the Knesset. Immediately after the coalition government voted to recognize religious study as being a national foundational value, Haskel left the Knesset chamber and went straight to the cluster of reporters in the hallway. She would not stand by as the government made decisions that immediately imperiled the safety and security of Israel. For months, the IDF Chief of Staff has been warning the government that the army is about to collapse in on itself. Prime Minister Netanyahu pushed ahead, regardless, with his promise to the ultra-orthodox parties to enact a law giving them a lifetime exemption from IDF service. This policy is pushing Israelis - exhausted from three years of war - to the brink. Perhaps over. National unity and values are shaping up to be the key issue in this election to be held on October 27. There is no more fundamental value than security and defense. And equality. Sharren Haskel has long fought for these core principles and is now staking her political future on ensuring that this next election brings the change that more than 70% of Israelis want. A universal draft and an end to the absurd financial and other entitlements allocated to the haredim. We discuss this critical moment in the history of Israel and how she intends to bring much needed change Sharren is also one of the few women in the political scene. Israel used to be so much more progressive than so many countries. Or so it seemed. As haredi power becomes more entrenched and Likud is a hollowed-out husk of talent, we see a government dominated by older men. Older tired men. It is time for a new wave of talent and leadership.Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivSharren Haskel is married and the mother of three young children.At 18, she served in the Israel Defense Force, as a combat soldier in the Border Guards during the Second Intifada. Following her military service, Deputy Minister Haskel pursued a career in veterinary medicine.Haskel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and International Relations from The Open University in Israel, where she also was the Israeli national debating champion. She entered the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) in 2015.In November 2024, she was sworn in as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. She resigned from her position in mid July, immediately following the Knesset vote recognizing religious study as a foundational value ofState of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

For review:1. Saudi Arabia is gearing up for a major offensive against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, by sea and possibly including a ground operation, The Guardian reported Thursday. 2.  The United States and Israel are planning what would be one of the harshest bombing campaigns to date against energy infrastructure in Iran, multiple sources told CBS News, with strikes possible throughout the weekend. 3.  The Israeli military blew up a Hezbollah tunnel system beneath the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced late Thursday night in a joint statement. They said the Israel Defense Forces used 700 tons of explosives to demolish the subterranean facility.  4. US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that his Board of Peace had reached an agreement on the “complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza.” 5. USMC F-35B crasheded today  in California, according to the service. The pilot ejected and is in stable condition at a local medical facility, the service said in a statement. The pilot is being treated and evaluated for non-life-threatening injuries, the statement added. No additional details were immediately available. 

Donald Trump has announced that a deal has been reached to disarm Hamas in Gaza, while also forcing Israel to withdraw its troops from the strip. The President is hailing it as a ‘monumental step towards lasting PEACE and SECURITY'. But can it succeed where so many other attempts have failed?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Michael Evans, contributor and former defence editor, The Times.Jonathan Conricus, former spokesperson of the Israel Defense Forces and senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank.Hosts: Ryan Tubridy, Ayesha Hazarika.Producers: Lewis Decker, Musty Aziz.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Trump hails historic Gaza deal – but will it work?Further listening: The ticking time bomb Netanyahu faces at homePhoto: Getty Images. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. A drone hit a US-owned gas storage tanker at Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta yesterday. No party has claimed responsibility, and authorities are continuing their investigations; however, two unnamed Iranian sources are quoted by The New York Times as heavily implying that Tehran was behind yesterday’s attack, marking the first targeting of that country in the current war. As Iran flexes, Fabian describes the role of CENTCOM in the region and discusses recent cooperative strikes held by the US and Saudi Arabia. We explore the concept of Israeli air supremacy and learn what US assets are currently on Israeli soil -- and flying off of it. Fabian updates on the Hezbollah drone that hit an Israeli armored bulldozer stationed in the IDF’s south Lebanon buffer zone overnight Tuesday, in violation of the ongoing truce. We next turn to Gaza, where the Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday struck a mosque in Gaza City, saying Wednesday that it was one of several Hamas weapons depots in the central and northern Gaza Strip that it destroyed this week. In the second half of the program, we turn to the case of an Israeli civilian who previously served in the military in a classified unit who has been arrested and charged with spying on behalf of Iran. Fabian touches on similar recent cases and explains that perhaps these would-be spies are not only in it for the money. And finally, yesterday IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir again said that the military must expand its ranks and draft more ultra-Orthodox soldiers, as data showed an increase in Haredi enlistment over the past year. We learn about whether the new Haredi brigade is meeting expectations. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Drone strikes US-owned gas tanker in Egyptian port, in possible expansion of Mideast war Hezbollah drone hits IDF bulldozer, violating Lebanon truce, IDF says, days ahead of talks IDF strikes Gaza City mosque, claims it was used for weapons storage ‘I know a lot’: Veteran of secret IDF unit charged with spying for Iran IDF chief tells Haredi commanders army must grow, as data shows uptick in enlistment Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For review:1. Iran fired multiple ballistic missiles at a U.S. base in the Middle East on Tuesday evening, in what U.S. Central Command called an attempted surprise attack.2. US Central Command announces that it has renewed airstrikes in Iran, in what it calls “a powerful response to yesterday's attempted Iranian attacks on US forces based in the Middle East.”3. A drone hit a US-owned gas storage tanker at Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta, British maritime security firm Ambrey said on Wednesday, citing an initial assessment of the incident.There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the incident.4. Iran is expected to receive within weeks a first shipment of up to 400 Chinese-made shoulder-fired air-defense missile launchers, as it rebuilds its defenses amid ongoing fighting with the United States, three sources told Reuters.5. Yemen's Houthis are considering imposing fees on commercial ships sailing through the southern Red Sea, a week after declaring a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, regional sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.6. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not push any one particular strategy regarding Iran during his Oval Office meeting with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, according to a senior Israeli official, who characterized the sit-down as an “exchange of ideas.” 7. The Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday struck a mosque in Gaza City, saying Wednesday that it was one of several Hamas weapons depots in the central and northern Gaza Strip that it destroyed this week.8. The Pentagon has formally launched the Europe force posture review Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced last month, beginning a process to examine U.S. military troop presence, force posture and basing across Europe.

For review:1. The United States refrained from striking Iran overnight Friday-Saturday for the first day in two weeks.After the quiet night in Iran, there were also no reports on Saturday of attacks by Iran on its Gulf neighbors, which have been taking place daily as well.2. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet US President Donald Trump on Tuesday at the White House, the premier's office announced Friday, in what will be the leaders' first sit-down since the outbreak of the Iran war on February 28.3. The Israel Defense Forces has in recent days announced a series of strikes in the Gaza Strip targeting Hamas and Islamic Jihad members who it said were involved in the October 7 attack, or the subsequent holding of hostages.4. Khalil al-Hayya has been elected to be the new leader of Hamas, the terror group announced Monday.Al-Hayya, who previously served as the head of the group's political bureau in Gaza, defeated former Hamas chief and veteran leader Khaled Mashaal.5. US President Donald Trump's administration has maintained that Turkey does not currently meet the criteria necessary for purchasing F-35 fighter jets from the United States.To address US concerns, Turkey has been in talks with Washington about offloading the S-400 system.6. Ukraine and the U.S. are coordinating a new round of peace proposals to present to Moscow, hoping that changing war dynamics could create the opportunity to push Russia toward negotiations, Ukrainian and U.S. officials told the Kyiv Independent.7. Greece has approved the purchase of a multi-layer air defense system worth up to €3.5 billion ($4 billion) from Israel, its defense minister said on Thursday.Greece wants to build a multi-layer anti-ballistic, anti-aircraft and anti-drone system, called “Achilles Shield,” with Israeli radars and missiles from Rafael and IAI defense companies forming the core of the system.8. Australia successfully tested a “Frankenstein” medium-range air defense system last month, harnessing existing and new capabilities in a way nobody has tried before.This first-of-type integration, which successfully fired an SM-2 interceptor missile, offers an alternative to buying expensive air defense systems.

This week's Torah portion covers Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11. It is called Va'etchanan, which translates to “I pleaded,” because it begins with Moses pleading with God for permission to cross the Jordan River. This week's Torah portion also includes the most important proclamation in all of Judaism. As Moses contemplates the preservation of the Israelite faith and how best parents can impress the teachings upon their children, he pronounces: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. (Deut. 6:4)This verse is known in Hebrew as the Shema. It is considered the most critical piece of liturgy in all of Judaism, the great declaration of God's oneness and his kingship. Jewish morning prayers and evening prayers include the Shema. The Shema is also part of the Shabbat prayers. On Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, the service climaxes with the communal recitation of the Shema.According to tradition, if a Jewish person believes their death is imminent, they should recite the Shema so that it can be the last words on their lips. I have read stories of soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces in wartime reciting the Shema together in their tanks and from their lookouts.Support the showConsider donating (one-time or recurring) to www.TheJerusalemConnection.us so we can continue to bring valuable content via podcasts free to the public. Help us increase our audience reach and improve production quality. Your donation is 100% tax-deductible to our non-profit organization. Bible Fiber and The Red Alert Report are available via YouTube and all major podcast platforms. The Jerusalem Connection also engages in additional educational and advocacy programs. Check our "Projects" tab for all the endeavors we invite YOU to be part of.

For review:1. US Central Command (CENTCOM) says it has completed its 11th consecutive evening of air strikes against Iran to further degrade the country's “ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz”.2. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday that his country was in a “full-scale war” with the United States and that Tehran should accept the repercussions of the conflict, even as mediators reportedly proposed a 10-day truce to deescalate the fighting.3. US President Donald Trump claimed Tuesday that the US will be striking Iran's Pickaxe Mountain “probably pretty soon,” amid reports that Tehran has moved nuclear centrifuges, and possibly even enriched uranium, to the secretive underground enrichment site.4. Houthi Rebels on Monday announced they are imposing a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia  in retaliation for a blockade on Yemen and a recent attack on the Sanaa Airport. 5. Israeli intelligence has reportedly assessed that Iran has moved thousands of nuclear centrifuges into a site in the Natanz area known as Pickaxe Mountain, burying them deep underground and making them harder to target in aerial strikes.6. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday, where he declared that his country will permanently end hostilities with Israel and asked for backing in his efforts to disarm Hezbollah. 7. Lebanese army troops began deploying in the southern Lebanese town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh Tuesday after Israeli forces withdrew from the area, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) said in a statement, in line with a US-brokered plan for “pilot zones” in the south.8. Two Hamas terrorists, including a commander, who invaded Israel on October 7, 2023, and were responsible for the abduction of hostages, were killed in separate recent airstrikes, the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet announced on Tuesday.9. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman warned Bulgaria on Tuesday against allowing the U.S. to use its territory for operations against Iran.The Bulgarian government has said it will seek parliamentary approval to station up to eight U.S. tanker aircraft at an air base in the Balkan country, which is a member of NATO and the European Union.

In this situational briefing, MirYam's In-House Analyst Yaakov Lappin outlines three security priorities for Israel:US-Iran Gulf Conflict: As the MoU lies in tatters and Iran and the U.S. trade strikes, what are the red lines that Israel must declare and strictly enforce.Lebanon Pilot Program: A US-brokered test calls for the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (L.A.F.) in southern Lebanon with a view to keeping the area clear of Hezbollah. But can L.A.F. be depended on to do that? IDF Personnel Crisis: Severe troop shortages have prompted societal and military demands for the government to enlist ultra-Orthodox Israelis into the Israel Defense Forces. This is coupled with a written alert from the IDF Chief of Staff warning of the dangers of any legislation that seeks to exempt the ultra-religious from military service.Support the showThe MirYam Institute. Israel's Future in Israel's Hands.Subscribe to our podcast: https://podfollow.com/1493910771Follow The MirYam Institute X: https://bit.ly/3jkeUyxFollow Benjamin Anthony X: https://bit.ly/3hZeOe9Like Benjamin Anthony Facebook: https://bit.ly/333Ct93Like The MirYam Institute Facebook: https://bit.ly/2SarHI3Follow Benjamin Anthony Instagram: https://bit.ly/30m6uPGFollow The MirYam Institute Instagram: https://bit.ly/3l5fvED

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. The US military said it launched another round of strikes on Iran early Sunday, the third in recent days, after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps struck a container ship traveling through the Strait of Hormuz and declared the waterway closed until further notice. Fabian speaks to what it may take for the IDF to rejoin the fight. US Democratic lawmaker Ro Khanna said he was detained by Israeli settlers armed with US-made rifles during a West Bank visit late last week. Also making headlines, four Israeli settlers were detained for allegedly attacking a CNN media crew near the West Bank town of Sinjil on Saturday. After allegations of IDF inaction, Fabian reviews the military's role in defusing similar situations. The Israel Defense Forces on Friday announced that three Hamas commanders were killed in airstrikes in Gaza, including one who raided the IDF’s Re’im base in southern Israel during the October 7, 2023, onslaught that sparked the subsequent war in the Strip. This comes amid an uptick in similar announcements of targeted killings of terrorists who participated in the massacre or held hostages in Gaza. Fabian tells us about the apparent trend. Yesterday, a US military delegation met with Lebanon’s army in Beirut to discuss the implementation of Israel’s withdrawal from a “pilot zone” in southern Lebanon. We hear where and how it may take place. And finally, to end the program, we learn about Pvt. Yaakov Zarihan, killed in action on April 20, 1948, during Israel’s War of Independence. He had been considered missing for 78 years, and last week it was announced that he was identified as buried in a mass grave in a kibbutz near Jerusalem. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: US strikes Iran again, after IRGC attacks ship in Hormuz and declares strait closed US Democrat Ro Khanna says he was detained by armed settlers during West Bank visit 4 settlers detained for alleged attack on CNN crew in West Bank town of Sinjil Off-duty IDF soldier, two Israeli women extracted from West Bank’s Jericho IDF kills three Hamas commanders, including Oct. 7 invader, in Gaza airstrikes US military delegation visits Beirut to discuss IDF ‘pilot zone’ withdrawal IDF troops to withdraw from Lebanon pilot zones in coming days, says US official IDF says soldier missing since 1948 war determined to be buried near Jerusalem Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ralph speaks to historian Omer Bartov about his new book “Israel: What Went Wrong?” with special guest, international law expert Bruce FeinBruce Fein is a Constitutional scholar and an expert on international law. Mr. Fein was Associate Deputy Attorney General under Ronald Reagan and he is the author of Constitutional Peril: The Life and Death Struggle for Our Constitution and Democracy, and American Empire: Before the Fall.Many of the things that you describe in Israel apply in spades in the United States. We also have an administration that says we're being invaded militarily by Venezuela gangs, so we have to go kidnap their president and annex Venezuela. We've stated that Iran is an existential threat to the United States because at some future time, it's conceivable they may get one nuclear weapon. We have 5,000, Israel probably has 300 or 400. Or make the argument that we are being invaded by defenseless immigrants across the southern border. And it does seem to me that all countries—I don't think it's unique anyway to the United States or Israel, but it's generally true those in power are there to manufacture fear, to inflate fleas into elephants and say “My gosh, tomorrow the sky is falling down. We need to have national emergencies, rule by decree.” Everything is “an imminent danger”, the Communist domino theory. It's a very challenging issue. I say what you've described in Israel is not unique to Israel. We confront it every day right in the United States. And it works.Bruce FeinOmer Bartov is the Dean's Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University. A historian, Professor Bartov was born on a kibbutz, grew up in Tel Aviv, and served in the Israel Defense Forces during the Yom Kippur War. He went on to become a leading scholar of the German army and the Holocaust, before turning his attention to his native country. His early research concerned the Nazi indoctrination of the Wehrmacht and the crimes it committed in World War II. He then turned to the links between total war and genocide and interethnic relations in the borderlands of Eastern Europe. His current interest is reflected in his recent books, Genocide, the Holocaust and Israel-Palestine: First-Person History in Times of Crisis, Israel: What Went Wrong?, and the forthcoming The Broken Promise: A Personal Political History of Israel and Palestine. The whole idea of creating a Jewish state (and it says so in the Proclamation of the State from May 1948) is that it would be a state for Jews—that it would be both Jewish and democratic. And that has proven to be not possible. A Jewish state can be both Jewish and democratic only if the overwhelming majority (if not all) of its citizens are Jews.Omer Bartov[Zionist zealots] believe that history is on their side—so in that sense, they are similar to Communists they're similar to Fascists they're similar to Nazis in that they believe that they can see the way forward, they know the logic of history, and the logic of history as they see it is on their side.Omer BartovIn Israel, since the 1980s (really since after the War of 1973, with the rise of the right wing in Israel in particular) the Holocaust has come to serve a particular purpose. Instead of being commemorated as an event that happened in the past that we should remember and commemorate and research, it's become a kind of image of an imminent danger to Israel. And the farther Israel has moved from the actual event of the Holocaust, and the more the Israeli army has become the military hegemon in its region, the more this alleged threat of an “Auschwitz around the corner” has been used by Israeli governments. Why has it been used? Because Israel actually needs to explain to itself and to its citizens: Why is it bossing it over millions of Palestinians? Half of the population under Israeli control are Palestinians. Two million are citizens, but they don't have equal rights, and the others have no rights at all (they're simply under arbitrary military rule). So how do you explain that? You explain that by telling your population and the rest of the world that those Palestinians—who have no power, who can never pose a threat to you—are an existential threat. And in Israel, that has worked quite well.Omer BartovBecause of the focus on Hebrew—to create Hebrew as a mother tongue for children whose mothers didn't speak Hebrew—because of that, there was a great antagonism towards speaking any other language. And the notion of having bilingual schools (that is, of having schools in Palestine where people would learn both Hebrew and Arabic, the language of the place) is not entertained by the vast majority of educators. Now, if you think about what would have been the result of having bilingual schools already in the 1920s and 30s, that children could speak each other's language and recognize each other's culture—that could have had a huge effect on how Zionism developed and how the state would have developed. But in today's Israel, the only bilingual population are the Palestinians. Palestinian citizens of Israel speak Arabic and Hebrew. Most Israelis don't speak Arabic. And most Israelis who trace themselves (quite large numbers) not to Europe, but to North Africa and the Middle East, where their parents and grandparents spoke Arabic (this was their language) have forgotten that language and were ashamed of their parents speaking it because it associated them with the Arabs. So the loss in this kind of creation of a nation around one language was the ability to imagine yourself as sharing the space with another group.Omer Bartov * Our top story concerns a progressive insurgent running in a must-win Senate race – and not the one you're thinking of. Late last week, Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed won the endorsement of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The New York Times notes that this is AOC's first Senate endorsement of this cycle, coming just about a month ahead of the August 4th Michigan primary. El-Sayed is quoted saying that he is “honored for what her support says about what this campaign is building and what we're fighting for,” adding that he thinks that “too many establishment Democrats are…afraid that I will win.” He pointedly attacked Senator Chuck Schumer, charging that the Minority Leader “doesn't want to see me on the inside of the U.S. Senate,” because El-Sayed would “call out the kind of politics where we take money from corporations and AIPAC to run milquetoast campaigns and don't say anything about the problems that everyday people are facing.” El-Sayed has announced that he will campaign with AOC and Senator Bernie Sanders in Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids on July 18th and 19th, per MLive.* Another earthquake occurred in the Michigan Senate race on July 5th, when State Senator Mallory McMorrow announced that she would be withdrawing from the race – turning what was a competitive three-way race into a head-to-head between El-Sayed and the Democratic establishment pick, Congresswoman Haley Stevens. The Detroit Free Press notes that this announcement “comes after absentee ballots have already been mailed out to some voters and too late to remove her name from the primary ballot,” though voters are able to rescind their absentee votes and submit new ones up through Friday, July 24th. In a video statement, McMorrow maintained that “People are crying out for change and we need to listen.” McMorrow once led her opponents in this race but saw her support collapse and was trailing in a distant third place in recent polls. Rumor also had it that outgoing Senator Gary Peters was privately calling for her to exit the race so centrists could consolidate around Stevens. While many of her supporters are expected to go to Stevens, El-Sayed is energetically courting McMorrow's voters as well. The Detroit News reports McMorrow herself has announced that she will remain neutral in the remaining days of the primary, leaving her voters to vote their own consciences.* In more Michigan news, DSA-backed congressional candidate Donavan McKinney is running strong in his primary campaign against incumbent Congressman Shri Thanedar, whom McKinney has labeled “​​Detroit's own Elon Musk,” according to the New York Post. If McKinney pulls it off, he will join the growing group of DSA members in the House, along with Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier and AOC from New York, Chris Rabb and Melat Kiros from Pennsylvania and Colorado respectively, and Rashida Tlaib from Michigan. Another candidate endorsed by his local DSA chapter, Kyle Blomquist, is running for Congress in Michigan but even if he wins his primary he is not expected to flip the deep red 1st congressional district.* In Missouri, Cori Bush has also won the support of DSA for her comeback congressional run against Wesley Bell, who defeated her in the 2024 primary, Andrew Solender reports. Bush had already won the support of her local DSA chapter, along with many other progressive organizations, and has been endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, and former Congressman Jamaal Bowman. This week though, she won the support of the national DSA. In a statement, Bush wrote “I am honored to be once again endorsed by the Democratic [Socialists] of America as I campaign to return to Congress and keep building our movement to fight for economic justice, Medicare for All, abolishing ICE, and a world where everyday people have a real voice in our workplace's neighborhoods and society.” Bush also praised DSA for its “decades of organizing…[mobilizing] thousands of people across the country to demand an economy that works for all of us…[and] take on war profiteers, the for-profit healthcare industry, and the billionaire funded lobbies that subvert our democracy.” There has been little polling of this race, but what there has been appears to show the race in a statistical dead heat. One sign that Bush is being taken seriously is the new $865,000 ad buy taken out by the United Democracy Project, an AIPAC cutout.* Ironically, it would seem that American Jews have a more favorable view of the progressive left than Israel. According to the Forward, a new AP poll found that “44% of American Jews hold a favorable opinion of Zohran Mamdani, compared with 39% who view him unfavorably.” This is in contrast to the 32% of respondents who said they have a favorable opinion of Netanyahu and 59% who said they have a negative view of the Israeli PM. Perhaps more surprisingly, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a “staunch supporter of Israel,” garnered only a 41% favorability rating, though far more respondents said they don't know enough about him to have an opinion than said they have a negative view.* Turning back to the Senate, the other major story this week of course is the fall of Graham Platner. Accusations of sexual assault, detailed in a POLITICO article, resulted in a deluge of opprobrium that cascaded upwards culminating in Platner's earliest and highest profile supporter, Senator Bernie Sanders, calling on him to drop out of the Senate race in Maine. In a video message released Wednesday, Platner stated that he would be suspending his campaign effective immediately, later telling staff that he plans to wait until Monday, the final possible day, to formally withdraw from the race, Axios reports. In the same video, Platner categorically denied the accusations calling them “all false,” and maintaining that the “things that have been claimed did not happen.” He implied that the scandal was orchestrated by “those in power“ who would “rather see Susan Collins win than have me be the next Senator from Maine.”* Platner's impending, late-stage withdrawal from the race has set off a chaotic blitz primary to replace him as the Democratic nominee. Numerous candidates have announced they are running including former Maine Senate president Troy Jackson, former Director of Maine's Center for Disease, Control and Prevention Nirav Shah, co-founder of Maine beer company Dan Kleban, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and state lawmaker Valli Geiger, along with Jordan Wood and Paige Loud, both of whom ran in the Maine second congressional district Democratic primary. The actual process for selecting a nominee has been the subject of debate – with many progressives arguing for caucuses – but POLITICO reports that by July 27th, “600 delegates must be selected,” including 500 from the state's 16 county parties, and these delegates will decide on a candidate to replace Platner via “an unprecedented nominating convention,” wherein all delegates come in unpledged to any candidate setting the stage for “what could be a raucous and unpredictable free-for-all.” It remains to be seen how this will all shake out, but it is notable that almost all of these candidates poll very strongly against Senator Susan Collins, with many polling higher than Platner ever did, while the Democratic Party's handpicked primary candidate, sitting Governor Janet Mills, still polls lower than Platner even since the scandal broke.* For our final Senate story, we turn to the senior Senator from Kentucky, Mitch McConnell. McConnell was recently found unconscious in his Washington, DC home and has been hospitalized since, and while Republican Senators and media figures like Scott Jennings claim to have spoken with him directly, his being sequestered away from the public has fueled rampant speculation about the severity of his condition and why it is being kept so secretive. Forbes reports that some figures on the right, including Steve Bannon, are “suggesting the Republican establishment is shielding the state of McConnell's health from the public to allow him to remain in office long enough to avoid [Kentucky Congressman Thomas] Massie running for his seat.” Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene told TMZ, “Thomas Massie would make a great senator.” The Hill reports that Andy Beshear, the Democratic Governor of Kentucky, sent a letter to McConnell's Senate office strongly requesting an update on the Senator's health, noting that “Over the last several weeks, Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the health and well-being of Sen. McConnell,” and that “Allowing speculation to continue in the media is not fair to the Senator or to Kentuckians, and my hope is that this provides him the opportunity to share the information in a transparent manner, direct from the source.”* In more positive news, AP reports former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan, who helped an immigrant escape ICE by ushering him through her jury room door was spared prison time in her sentencing this week. After the incident in her court room, Dugan was convicted of felony obstruction in what was widely seen as a political trial designed to exact retribution on behalf of the Trump administration. Dugan resigned her circuit judgeship under this assault; in her resignation letter, she warned that this prosecution threatened “the independence of our judiciary.” Dugan was fined $5,000.* Finally, in spiritual news, a story in the National Catholic Reporter recounts how Pope Leo XIV excommunicated thousands of clergy and followers of the far right, schismatic group, the Society of St. Pius X. While bishops and priests are judged prima facie schismatic for their consecration in the Society, lay followers of the sect will be judged schismatic if they consciously choose “adherence to the society over obedience to the pope,” and “exclusive participation in Lefebvrian ‘ecclesial' acts, without taking part in the acts of the Catholic Church,” a reference to the group's founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. The proximate cause of this excommunication was the Society creating four new bishops in open defiance of Pope Leo, essentially daring the Church to act. This piece notes that the Society “has long been a thorn in the side of Rome,” and notes that the new papal decree rolls back privileges granted to the sect under Pope Francis, including administering the sacrament of penance and solemnizing marriages.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Join us for a critical update with Major David Tal of the Israel Defense Forces as he breaks down what is happening in the war with Iran right now. You do not want to miss this.

The Israeli election must be held by October 27, latest, and Dr. Einat Wilf, former MK and prominent public presence (not sure what to call her - politician? Advocate? Public intellectual? All of the above?) is emerging as a strong voice in the mix of candidates vying for Israeli votes. Her newly constituted party - Oz - advocates a return to the fundamental principles of political Zionism, or, as she puts it - “from exilic mindset to sovereign conduct.” Einat was raised in a very progressive, left-leaning environment. I would not suggest for a moment that she has veered rightward. I happen to find the “right-left” paradigm obsolete these days but especially so when it comes to Israel. Those often tagged as being “right” are anything but. They have morphed into extremists of different types. What we have in Israel today is a large left/centrist/center right majority that is looking for a way to ensure that the extremist coalition that we have lived with for four years is not re-elected. Einat Wilf and the Oz party are solidly in that majority mix. We talk about her party's fierce dedication to the founding principles of the state of Israel; a pluralistic, liberal democracy. And she makes no apologies for standing firm.As I mention in the podcast introduction, I first met Einat Wilf when I began my tenure as Canadian Ambassador to Israel in winter, 2014. She has continued to embody the best of Israel. Proud. Strong. Knowledgeable and courageous. We need people with Einat's integrity and intelligence in the mix in the Knesset…….and, frankly, we need women in positions of leadership in Israel. In the last decade we have slipped terribly in that regard. Not only is the political sphere male-dominated, but they tend to be repressively so - towards women. That's my view. Do not attribute it to Einat - although I expect she would agree.We begin this podcast with the horrifying attacks recently on US Congressional candidate Scott Wiener. Why? Because the harassment of him is exactly what Oz is all about. Reclaiming our dignity and nationhood.Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivPodcast Notes* Link to five minute animation video recently released by Einat Wilf explaining the history and political concept of Zionism.* Website for Einat Wilf's Oz Party - in English (also Hebrew, if you prefer - just toggle in the menu at the top of the page. https://www.ozparty.co.il/enDr. Einat Wilf is Chair of Oz Party and a leading thinker on Israel, Zionism, foreign policy and education. She was a member of the Israeli Parliament from 2010 to 2013, where she served as Chair of the Education Committee and Member of the influential Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Born and raised in Israel, Dr. Wilf served as an Intelligence Officer in the Israel Defense Forces, Foreign Policy Advisor to Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres and a strategic consultant with McKinsey & Company. Dr. Wilf has a BA from Harvard, an MBA from INSEAD in France, and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Cambridge. She was the Goldman Visiting Professor at Georgetown University. Dr. Wilf is the author of seven books that explore key issues in Israeli society. “We Should All Be Zionists”, published in 2022, brings together her essays from the past four years on Israel, Zionism and the path to peace; the co-authored “The War of Return: How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace”, was published in 2020.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. News editor Ben Sales joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. A round of US-Iran negotiations on implementing the agreement to end the war was set to kick off in Switzerland today. US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly added a special session on Lebanon to their packed agenda. The talks come after an Israel Defense Forces soldier was killed and 13 were wounded in southern Lebanon in an attack by the Hezbollah terror group early Saturday morning, and a four-man IDF tank crew was killed early Friday. The IDF said Saturday it “halted its fire” outside its declared “security zone” in southern Lebanon, but would continue operations within it. Sales discusses how Vance's personal opinion of Israel -- including harsh statements on Israel's supposed ingratitude to the Trump administration and an accusation that Israel tries to kill its way out of every problem -- could color the negotiations. In the second half of the program, we ask, is it the end of a golden age of Jewish American travel to Israel? Is it because the sponsoring institutions have shifted away from thinking that an American Jew who has traveled to Israel is more likely to stay Jewishly involved, marry Jewish and support the Jewish state? And why, despite the offer of a free trip, are many fewer young adults coming? Sales weighs in. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: US-Iran set for new talks; Trump threatens US tolls in Hormuz if deal not reached in 60 days Vance slams Israeli ‘freakout’ over Iran deal, says Trump only world leader who still likes Israel IDF soldier killed, 13 injured in overnight Hezbollah attack in southern Lebanon Trump’s unfiltered commentary on Lebanon is leaving Israel with an impossible choice Canceled flights, high prices: Is the golden age of American Jewish travel to Israel ending? Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Yitzchak Ledee.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Tara Show (Hour 1, Segment 2) outlines a severe escalation where Hezbollah initiated a barrage of over 50 missiles and rockets into Israel, triggering immediate ground engagements and a massive Israeli counteroffensive. Following the initial rocket fire, Hezbollah deployed explosive drones and anti-tank missiles that directly hit an Israeli Merkava tank near the southern Lebanese border. In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched an immediate wave of airstrikes targeting over 80 Hezbollah military command centers and weapons hubs across southern Lebanon, killing dozens of operatives. The segment emphasizes that these heavy cross-border clashes constitute direct violations of recent ceasefire agreements and severely threaten ongoing diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that the framework for a peace deal with Iran that would end the months-long conflict was scheduled to be signed on Sunday and that the key Strait of Hormuz waterway would then be immediately “open to all.” Iran has denied the signing will take place so soon. Berman breaks down what could be part of any potential deal and assesses the feasibility of it being signed soon. As fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in south Lebanon continues, the government has instructed the Israel Defense Forces to avoid actions that could endanger the emerging deal between the US and Iran, Kan news reported Friday. Berman explores how else Israel is being restrained in light of the ongoing negotiations with Iran -- and how any deal may cement those fetters. Some international media is discussing the theory that Israel will soon turn its gaze to Syria -- where it holds a buffer zone -- and fight a proxy war there with Turkey -- which also holds territory. Berman weighs in. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Trump says US-Iran deal to be signed Sunday, contradicting Tehran Government reported to restrain IDF action in Lebanon to avoid derailing US-Iran talks Iran MOU would cap self-defeating ceasefire for Trump, marks huge problem for Israel Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Yitzhak Ledee filmed and edited this episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it mean to stand with Israel when the world seems to be turning against her? In this episode, Aaron Evans shares how October 7th became a turning point that moved him from passive support to active involvement with Friends of the IDF.  As antisemitism surged around the world, Aaron felt compelled to use his voice and resources to support Israel and its defenders. The conversation explores biblical foundations for supporting Israel, the challenges facing younger generations, and the growing influence of misinformation on social media. Most importantly, it shines a light on the men and women of the IDF - the people carrying the weight of defending Israel while balancing family, work, and the emotional toll of war. Key Takeaways October 7th awakened many Christians to the reality of antisemitism Biblical literacy is essential for understanding Israel's significance Young people are increasingly shaped by social media rather than Scripture The IDF is made up of ordinary people protecting their families and nation PTSD and emotional trauma are major challenges facing soldiers today Friends of the IDF provides practical and emotional support where it's needed most Supporting Israel requires more than agreement - it requires action Chapter Markers  00:00 – Introduction and Aaron's background 03:00 – Growing up with a biblical understanding of Israel 06:00 – October 7th and the decision to get involved 10:00 – Antisemitism and the influence of social media 13:00 – Why truth matters in a culture of misinformation 16:00 – Discovering Friends of the IDF 20:00 – Visiting Israel and meeting soldiers firsthand 23:00 – Why Christians should stand with Israel 26:00 – PTSD, trauma, and the hidden cost of war 29:00 – How Friends of the IDF supports soldiers and families 31:00 – Final challenge and invitation to get involved Visit https://thejewishroad.com for more conversations exploring Israel, faith, and the Jewish roots of Christianity. To learn more about Friends of the IDF and support Israel's soldiers and their families, visit: https://fidf.org You can donate, find a chapter near you, participate in educational events, or join an upcoming mission to Israel. Your support helps provide counseling, family assistance, educational opportunities, and critical resources for the men and women serving in the Israel Defense Forces.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Political correspondent Tal Schneider joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. The US and Iran are close to signing a deal involving a 60-day ceasefire extension, during which the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened, Iran would be able to freely sell oil, and negotiations would be held on curbing Iran’s nuclear program — including it giving up its stockpile of enriched uranium, the Axios news site reported on Sunday, citing a US official. Schneider gives insight into Israel's reaction to the potential deal and delves into what could happen on the Lebanon front: Is Hezbollah part of the package? A soldier was killed Friday by a drone near the Lebanese border, the Israel Defense Forces announced Saturday. The slain soldier was named as Staff Sgt. Noam Hamburger, 23, a technology and maintenance soldier in the 401st Brigade, from Atlit in northern Israel. Schneider underlines that this occurred on Israeli soil, where Hezbollah drone attacks are still an everyday occurrence for residents of the north. On Friday night, Yashar! party head Gadi Eisenkot gave his first major interview in recent memory to the Uvda TV news magazine. We hear what was said -- and unsaid. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, young women, from the age of 18, have been obligated to enlist in the IDF. We learn about how the ranks of female fighters have swelled in the past decade -- and the intense backlash from the religious community. Schneider brings us an update from this morning, which illustrates this delicate balance. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: US-Iran deal said to open strait for 60 days, Iran to discuss giving up enriched uranium Trump says deal with Iran ‘largely negotiated, will be announced shortly,’ Hormuz will be opened Liberman slams emerging Iran deal, accuses Netanyahu of failing to win war ‘on any front’ Soldier killed in northern Israel by Hezbollah drone from Lebanon Female troops are under assault, and not just in Bnei Brak Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan, where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use. We roll out with three Jangles -- news with a Jewish angle. Borschel-Dan gives her favorite actress, 96-year-old June Squib, a shoutout for her recent Tony nomination for "Marjorie Prime." Hoffman discusses his recent discovery of a famous Jewish porn star and also the new reboot of "Lord of the Flies" which hints that one of the boys is Jewish. We then turn to "Cast a Giant Shadow," the 1966 biopic of Colonel Mickey Marcus. David Daniel "Mickey" Marcus was a complicated character who was foundational to the organization of what became the Israel Defense Force. The United States Army colonel, who was later dubbed Israel's first general, was also instrumental at the Nuremberg Trials. Kirk Douglas plays Marcus and the rest of the all-star cast includes Senta Berger, Yul Brynner, John Wayne, Frank Sinatra and Angie Dickinson. The movie maven and our host disagreed about the film, so stick around to see if "Cast a Giant Shadow" gets an "oy," "meh" or "not bad" in this week's The Reel Schmooze. The Reel Schmooze is produced by Ari Schlacht and can be found wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. The Israel Defense Forces announced Tuesday that its troops recently crossed the Litani River for a weeklong raid against Hezbollah, as the terror group’s leader rejected any attempt by Israeli and Lebanese officials to achieve its disarmament during upcoming peace talks in Washington. We learn what is happening on the ground even as drones continue to penetrate northern Israel. On Friday, Israeli settlers forced Palestinians to exhume the body of a relative from a freshly dug grave and move it to another location, after claiming the deceased was buried too close to an Israeli settlement. We dissect allegations that IDF troops stood by during this event, as well as during other incidents, including violent acts against Palestinians. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: IDF says it carried out weeklong raid on Hezbollah sites beyond Lebanon’s Litani River IDF reservist killed in Hezbollah explosive drone attack in northern Israel Hezbollah airs drone footage showing strike on Iron Dome battery in northern Israel Settlers force Palestinians to exhume body of relative buried near West Bank settlement Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US media and Pakistan negotiators suggest Washington and Tehran are close to agreeing a deal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran. Donald Trump has warned the bombing would be more intense than before if Iran doesn't agree to peace deal. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces continue to strike Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.Also: The World Health Organization has confirmed an eighth case of Hantavirus on board a cruise ship at the centre of a deadly outbreak of the disease. Three passengers have died aboard the ship that is currently stuck at sea near the island of Cape Verde in the Atlantic. Spain insists the MV Hondius will dock in the Canary Islands despite objections from the local authorities. Four women linked to the IS miliant group are returning to Australia from Syria, along with their children and could face the prospect of arrest. Scientists are calling for Pluto to be reclassified as a planet, twenty years after it was demoted to dwarf planet status.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment.Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

This episode is sponsored by Brett and Susan Nadritch, who support creative initiatives that strengthen our love for and connection to the People and Land of Israel, in honor of all the lone soldiers in the most recent Hesder draft, the class of Nisan 5786. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Michael Olshin, educational director of Yeshivat Torat Shraga in Jerusalem, about the purpose of the gap year in Israel.In this episode we discuss: —What should our hopes and expectations be for the gap year in Israel?—How can we improve students' Hebrew proficiency?—Is it time to reimagine what the gap year in Israel could be, with a focus on contributing to the State of Israel in addition to Torah learning?Tune in to hear a conversation about our responsibility to create a Yiddishkeit that touches the lives of the wider world.Interview begins at 14:40.Rabbi Michael Olshin is the Educational Director of Yeshivat Torat Shraga in Jerusalem, bringing over 25 years of teaching and leadership experience from roles at Yeshivat Reishit Yerushalayim, Yeshivat Shaalvim, Bet Midrash L'Torah, and youth programs including NCSY, NCSY Kollel, and Camp Mesorah. He also serves as an educator and guide with Jroots, leading educational journeys across Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Austria, and Ukraine. He lives in Bet Shemesh with his family, and his children have served in elite commando units of the Israel Defense Forces.References:If You're Reading These Words by Shlomo Kavas and Racheli Palant-RozenA Dreamer and A Fighter: Reflections and Journal Entries by Capt Amitai Zvi GranotFor more 18Forty:NEWSLETTER: 18forty.org/joinCALL: (212) 582-1840EMAIL: info@18forty.orgWEBSITE: 18forty.orgIG: @18fortyX: @18_fortyWhatsApp: join hereBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Israel and Lebanon are holding a second round of rare talks in Washington, D.C., to discuss potentially extending the 10-day ceasefire with Iran-backed Hezbollah. The U.S. blockade continues in the Strait of Hormuz with CENTCOM saying it has directed 31 vessels to turn around or return to port. And a viral image has ignited controversy after it appears to show an Israel Defense Forces soldier in southern Lebanon vandalizing a statue of Jesus. FOX's Eben Brown speaks with E.J. Kimball, the Director of Policy for the US-Israel Education Association, who says only Israel has the power to remove Hezbollah, and get his thoughts on the condemnation of the IDF soldier's photo. Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Omer Bartov is an Israeli professor of Holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University. He grew up in a Zionist home and served as an officer in the Israel Defense Forces, but he has long been concerned about Israel's use of military power. In a new book called “Israel: What Went Wrong?,” Bartov argues that Zionism has morphed into an ideology of extremism that led to genocide in Gaza following the Hamas attacks of October 7th. “There is growing criticism of American support for these kinds of Israeli policies, both on the American left and on the American right,” Bartov tells David Remnick. Bartov believes that Israel requires “shock therapy” because “it has not still come to identify the limits of its own power, because those limits are in Washington, DC and it's there that those limits have to be set.” “For Israel, that would be good, because I think Israel needs to be liberated from that kind of dependence on American power. I think, for American society and for American Jewry, that's a very bad thing because there is a rise of . . . antisemitism from the Tucker Carlsons of the world, who are a rising force right now.”Further reading:  “Israel: What Went Wrong?,” by Omer Bartov “A Holocaust Scholar Meets with Israeli Reservists,” by Isaac Chotiner “How to Define Genocide,” by Isaac Chotiner The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine's writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week. Tune in to The Political Scene wherever you get your podcasts. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Omer Bartov is an Israeli professor of Holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University. He grew up in a Zionist home and served as an officer in the Israel Defense Forces, but he has long been concerned about Israel's use of military power. In a new book called “Israel: What Went Wrong?,” Bartov argues that Zionism has morphed into an ideology of extremism that led to genocide in Gaza following the Hamas attacks of October 7th. “There is growing criticism of American support for these kinds of Israeli policies, both on the American left and on the American right,” Bartov tells David Remnick. Bartov believes that Israel requires “shock therapy” because “it has not still come to identify the limits of its own power, because those limits are in Washington, DC and it's there that those limits have to be set.” “For Israel, that would be good, because I think Israel needs to be liberated from that kind of dependence on American power. I think, for American society and for American Jewry, that's a very bad thing because there is a rise of . . . antisemitism from the Tucker Carlsons of the world, who are a rising force right now.”   Further reading:  “Israel: What Went Wrong?,” by Omer Bartov “A Holocaust Scholar Meets with Israeli Reservists,” by Isaac Chotiner “How to Define Genocide,” by Isaac Chotiner   New episodes of The New Yorker Radio Hour drop every Tuesday and Friday. Join host David Remnick as he discusses the latest in politics, news, and current events in conversation with political leaders, newsmakers, innovators, New Yorker staff writers, authors, actors, and musicians. New Yorker Radio Hour listeners, we want to hear from you. We have a few questions about the show and how you listen to it. The survey takes about twenty minutes, and your feedback will help us make our podcast better. Take the survey here.

America launched a coordinated joint attack with Israel on Iran, in an operation known as Operation Epic Fury," which led to the death of the second supreme leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei. Many in the mainstream media were quick to denounce the attacks, and some media outlets quickly began spreading the false story that the attack also hit an elementary school, when in reality it was a failed launch within the Middle East that hit the school. Glenn also brings in his chief researcher, Jason Buttrill, to lay out how America got to this point and what we can expect in the coming months. Retired Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, former Israel Defense Forces spokesperson, joins to give his assessment of the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. Author of "The Terminal List" book series and executive producer of the TV series of the same name Jack Carr joins to discuss the strikes against Iran from a fiction author's perspective. Glenn lays out what he believes is Trump's true objective in striking Iran and why he believes the strikes were warranted. After a weekend of thought, Glenn gives his four conclusions regarding the U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices