The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

Lazar Berman, diplomatic correspondent covering Israeli foreign policy and Iran, walks through reopening of Rafah and its limits. He outlines what might be on the US–Iran agenda in Istanbul: nuclear file, missiles and regional proxies. He also discusses the chances of military action, U.S. force posture, and why diplomacy offers face-saving options for both sides.

Luke Tress, New York correspondent for The Times of Israel, gives on-the-ground reporting from NYC and nearby cities. He covers a final Central Park rally for hostages and the mixed relief and sorrow it brought. He reports on a car ramming at a Chabad headquarters and emerging details. He outlines NYC Council’s new antisemitism task force and proposed limits on synagogue protests.

Emanuel Fabian, military correspondent who covers the IDF and regional security, shares on-the-ground reporting and analysis. He discusses Iran’s warning and Israel-US readiness. He explains how the Rafah crossing will operate and who can pass. He outlines the IDF’s assessment of Gaza casualty figures and the work of the Hostages and Missing Persons unit.

Haviv Rettig Gur, senior analyst on Israeli politics and security, provides sharp analysis of the Gaza conflict. He discusses the cultural duty to return the dead and the recovery of the final hostage. He examines why Hamas resists disarmament, the regional leverage on Hamas backers, and the political and practical hurdles to rebuilding Gaza.

Jordan Hoffman, film critic and movie reviewer, chats about cinema with quick wit. They dig into a newly unearthed Warsaw Ghetto photo trove and debate its pacing versus historical value. Then they revisit Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain, discussing its neurotic comic tone, standout scenes, and Eisenberg’s directing choices.

David Parsons, senior VP of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, is an attorney, minister, and longtime Jerusalem-based Christian Zionist leader. He explains why many Christians stand with Israel, rebuts claims they seek an Armageddon, discusses ICEJ’s diplomatic work and the impact of the Feast of Tabernacles, and outlines tensions between biblical Zionism and traditional church views.

David Horovitz, founding editor of The Times of Israel and senior commentator on Israeli politics. He unpacks Netanyahu's sharp criticism of Biden-era arms, the political fallout with Democrats, and reactions to claims about soldier casualties. He also surveys prospects for action against Iran and who might govern Gaza after the conflict.

Lazar Berman, diplomatic correspondent covering Israeli politics and foreign relations, offers on-the-ground analysis. He recounts the tense mood at Netanyahu’s press conference and the prime minister’s claims about Biden-era arms limits. They discuss Gaza’s demilitarization, public appetite for further operations, and shifting Saudi rhetoric in regional alignments.

Emanuel Fabian, a military correspondent covering Israeli defense and recovery operations. He walks through Operation Courageous Heart and the forensic teams that exhumed and identified remains. He outlines the long search, the roles of armed groups, and the field procedures used to return Ran Gvili’s body. Short, vivid accounts of planning, on-site forensics, and the national reaction.

Emanuel Fabian, a military correspondent reporting from the front lines, discusses the IDF’s forensic search for Master Sgt. Ran Gvili in a Gaza cemetery. He explains how that search ties to plans for reopening the Rafah crossing. He also covers recent Israeli airstrikes hitting Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and assesses Hezbollah’s current capabilities and the risk of wider escalation.