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.
It is day 199 of the war with Hamas. Diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.
Following days of unrest and anti-Israel action at Columbia University in New York City, the university’s Orthodox rabbi sent a message to Jewish students urging them to stay away from campus until it is deemed safe again. The situation has spiraled so out of control that President Isaac Herzog and President Joe Biden are publicly denouncing the situation. Berman weighs in.
Two US sources told The Times of Israel yesterday that in addition to the Netzah Yehuda Battalion -- which the Biden administration is reportedly slated to sanction this week -- Washington is reportedly considering sanctions against other Israeli military and police units alleged to have committed human rights violations against Palestinians. Berman explains the 1997 Leahy law that is being enacted and how it was applied in the past on other countries' militaries.
In a pre-Passover video, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would “land additional and painful blows” on Hamas over the holiday to increase pressure on the terror group to free the hostages it has held in the Gaza Strip for over six months. Berman explores what is missing today versus in November when the sides successfully freed over 100 hostages. What would it take for Sinwar to unharden his heart and let our people go?
For the latest updates, please see The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.
Discussed articles include:
Biden blasts ‘alarming surge of antisemitism’ amid anti-Israel protests at Columbia
Columbia rabbi urges Jewish students to stay home until campus deemed safe
US mulling sanctions against other IDF units for alleged rights violations – sources
Netanyahu vows imminent ‘painful blows,’ diplomatic pressure on Hamas to free hostages
THOSE WE HAVE LOST: Civilians and soldiers killed in Hamas's onslaught on Israel
THOSE WE ARE MISSING: The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown
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IMAGE: File - Yahia al-Sinwar, the Gaza Strip chief of the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement, greets supporters as he arrives to attend a rally marking Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day, April 14, 2023. (Mohammed Abed / AFP)
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Day 252 - As US loses patience, Hamas support rises in Gaza
Day 251 - Will Hezbollah's 215 rockets spark full-out war?
Day 250 - A political psychologist takes Israel's temperature
Day 249 - Blinken meets with PM, hostage families in push for deal
Day 248 - Gantz busts up war coalition after not achieving goals
Day 247: Could the daring IDF rescue reframe hostage negotiations?
Day 246 - Dramatic daytime IDF operation rescues 4 hostages
BONUS: Archaeologist Jodi Magness on ever-changing, eternal Jerusalem
Day 245 - PM to visit DC in a month. Will Israel still be at war?
Day 244 - On Jerusalem Day, a celebratory march turns violent
Day 243 - Can Biden push Israel and Hamas to a hostage deal?
Day 242 - Will the deaths of four hostages push PM to a deal?
Day 241 - How many of Hamas's 4 Rafah battalions still stand?
Day 240 - Why did Biden urge Israel to take a deal it proposed?
Day 239 - ADL head Greenblatt on 900% rise in US antisemitism
Day 238 - Will Trump verdict give an antisemitic trope new life?
Day 237 - ToI reports back from inside Nablus and the Gaza Strip
Day 236 - MKs on right and left seek alliances, oppose PM
Day 235 - Will hostage talks resume as Rafah operation continues?
Day 234 - Hamas calls to 'rise up' after deadly airstrike in Rafah
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