Friday Focus

Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. This week, political correspondent Tal Schneider steps in for Berman. Unforgettable images of the Caracal's female tank unit crushing Hamas terrorists infiltrating southern Israel on October 7, 2023, brought home the realization that not only are women serving in the IDF, they're as eager -- and able -- to fight as their brothers in arms. Scheider describes a recent Knesset committee that discussed the phenomenon of the IDF's growing number of women warriors, which now make up almost 21 percent of all fighting forces. We review the history of battles to have female fighters in the IDF -- including several benchmark Supreme Court cases which paved the way for the next generation. Schneider, who has spent the past several months researching the contribution these women warriors made on October 7, talks about where the army stands today -- and what is on the horizon for other fighting units being opened up to women. Friday Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and the video was edited by Thomas Girsch. IMAGE: Mix-gender Caracal battalion troops at the end of their basic training. (IDF)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. Tens of thousands of IDF reservists are again being called up — Berman among them — and Israel appears to be standing at a crossroads in the Gaza War. In the first half of our program, we discuss Israel's strategy of conducting conflicts through a fighting force that is largely made up of reserve forces. Berman charts earlier wars and discusses the major takeaways from them. We then turn to the present war and discuss its rollout, pauses, surprises (beepers, anyone?) and successes. Berman discusses why it is imperative to end this war quickly -- for both Israelis and Palestinians. At this liminal moment, we take a look at the past, present and future of the operations in the Gaza Strip. Friday Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and the video was edited by Thomas Girsch. IMAGE: Undated image of IDF forces in the Gaza Strip. (Israel Defense Forces)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. This week, we look at Israel's long history of hostage release negotiations and how the price per captive has become increasingly inflated over the decades. To begin our discussion, Berman gives a brief survey of some traditional Jewish sources dealing with the subject, including the Bible, Mishna and the Rambam's writings. We then turn to 1950s Israel and hear a survey of hostage and POW situations -- and how many prisoners Israel released to free its citizens. Finally, we discuss the deal which released Gilad Shalit -- and saw 1,027 Palestinian security prisoners again walk free, including Hamas October 7 mastermind, Yihye Sinwar. Friday Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Illustrative image of now-dead Hamas head Yachye Sinwar at a rally to mark the annual al-Quds Day (Jerusalem Day), in Gaza City, April 15, 2023. (Atia Mohammed/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. Over the Passover holiday, some 6,315 Jews visited the Temple Mount, a 37% rise over last year. Among them, Religious Zionism MK Zvi Sukkot, where he participated in a prayer service and prostrated himself on the ground in worship — activities that are nominally prohibited for Jews at the flashpoint holy site. Sukkot hailed the “tremendous change” since he was arrested for the same act 14 years ago. Meanwhile, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who oversees the Israel Police, which enforces law and security on the Mount, boasted that a shift in the unwritten status quo that governs the site was a result of his policies. He was up on the mount earlier in the month. In a statement, Ben Gvir said, “I’m happy to see that MK Zvi Sukkot, like many thousands, is prostrating himself and praying at the Temple Mount.. What wasn’t done for 30 years is being done on my watch, and I’m glad to have the honor, by the grace of God, to lead this huge change.” So this week, Berman delves into whether this is such a "huge change" and how we arrived at the current precarious balance. Friday Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and the video was edited by Thomas Girsch. IMAGE: Jewish visitors walk protected by Israeli security forces at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, also known as the Temple Mount complex to Jews, in Jerusalem on April 9, 2023, during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, also coinciding with the Jewish Passover holiday. (AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. In today's episode, environment reporter Sue Surkes makes a guest appearance, stepping in for Berman. This is a week of spring holidays, and so we are dedicating the program to some of the biblical flora of the Land of Israel. In honor of Easter, which is celebrated by much of Christendom on Sunday, we begin with a date palm that was brought back from the dead and a plant that resurrects itself. In 2008, Dr. Elaine Solowey germinated a 1,900-year-old date palm seed that took the name Methuselah after the long-lived biblical character. She has since gone on to revive several more ancient seeds, including females that bear fruit. Surkes tells the story of Solowey's amazing success -- and describes how the dates taste. Next, we hear about the Rose of Jericho, which was named for the biblical city of Jericho that constantly rose from its ashes -- and still stands today. It's an extraordinary story of a plant surviving in the harshest of circumstances. We then turn to a tree that is called the Christ-thorn jujube (shezaf). Traditionally, this type of tree was used to create the thorny crown that Jesus wore on his last journey down the Via Dolorosa. Surkes then speaks about the olive tree -- both the last few remaining "wild" variety located near Atlit, and the cultivated variety. She turns to Psalm 128 to show how being acquainted with the flora of the Land of Israel gives a deeper meaning to the text. And finally, we speculate on the Garden of Eden's "forbidden fruit." Was it an apple? Or maybe a fig? Friday Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and the video was edited by Thomas Girsch. IMAGE: Dates harvested from 'Hannah,' the first female palm tree germinated from 2,000 year-old seeds discovered in the Judean desert, are displayed in Kibbutz Ketura in southern Israel, on September 27, 2021. (Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. In today's episode, military reporter Emanuel Fabian makes a guest appearance, stepping in for Berman. We take a deep look into the IDF probes into the failures leading up to and on October 7 by first taking a step back and discussing the goals of the investigations and their overall general findings. We then dive into a cluster of probes that were released in the past week, including the investigations into Kibbutz Nirim, the city of Sderot, Kibbutz Re'im and the Supernova open-air music festival. At the Nova festival alone, some 380 out of 3,500 people attending the party were slaughtered by Hamas and another 44 were taken hostage to Gaza. On this second Passover since the onslaught, 17 of those taken from the Nova party are still in captivity, including 11 living and six declared dead. In a very tough, at times graphic conversation, Fabian guides us through a handful of the dozens of battles on October 7, 2023. For further reading: Troops fended off 1st wave of terrorists at Nirim, but IDF left kibbutz vulnerable 1,000 troops were in Sderot on Oct. 7, when they were urgently needed elsewhere, probe finds IDF okayed Nova music festival, but didn’t inform troops deployed at border, probe finds Civil defense squad, cops battled 100 terrorists in Re’im before IDF arrived, probe finds From our archives: Camera in hand, partygoer captures escape from rave where Hamas killed 260 Israelis Thousands flee rocket and gunfire at all-night desert ‘Nature Party’; dozens missing Daily Briefing Mar. 4: Day 515 – Devastating IDF Oct. 7 probes depict years of misconceptions The Friday Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and the video was edited by Thomas Girsch.  IMAGE: Israeli soldiers drive by the Supernova rave party site, where almost 380 were killed, near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip border fence, on October 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. Berman is currently in Budapest covering Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's meetings with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Just before Berman packed his bags to fly on Israel's Wing of Zion plane, we discuss what Netanyahu is hoping to accomplish there, Israel’s relationship with Hungary in general, and Netanyahu's "bromances" with some of the leaders of what could be called “anti-liberal” democracies. Berman starts by describing a typical trip alongside the prime minister and how a lot of his work gets done while waiting around. We discuss the tricky diplomatic situation Israel finds itself in through its alliances with its eastern European friends, even as many countries in Europe are increasingly turning to the far right. While this podcast was recorded ahead of Hungary's announcement it was leaving the International Criminal Court -- which has a warrant out for Netanyahu's arrest -- the signs were plain that Budapest has the Israeli prime minister's back. And finally, Borschel-Dan asks a burning question: Just how many packets of hot paprika is Berman bringing back for her? This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and the video was edited by Thomas Girsch.  IMAGE: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, shake hands after a press statement at the Carmelite Monastery in the Buda Castle in Budapest, Hungary, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. Much of the Christian world is currently observing the period of Lent, which leads up to Easter, a very busy time in Jerusalem's Old City. However, along with the celebrations, Israeli Christians and foreign pilgrims often experience harassment and even sometimes attacks. This week, a second annual report from the Israel-based Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue documented 111 attacks against Christians, including 46 physical attacks, 35 attacks against church properties, and 13 cases of harassment. Last year’s inaugural report documented 89 cases, including 32 attacks on church properties, 30 formally reported cases of spitting, and seven violent attacks, most of them against multiple victims.  According to the report, most perpetrators appear to belong to the ultra-Orthodox and national-religious communities. The majority of the victims are clergy or people wearing visible Christian symbols.  On this week's Friday Focus, Berman puts on his Christian Affairs reporter hat and discusses this phenomenon, including why official Israel is increasingly paying attention to it. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.  IMAGE: Orthodox Christians walk in the Good Friday procession in the Old City of Jerusalem, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. Last week, Berman reported that Israel is aiming to establish full diplomatic relations with Lebanon in talks that could open as early as next month. After the military-to-military meeting in the United Nations peacekeeping headquarters in Naqoura, Israel and Lebanon agreed to open negotiations to delineate the border between the two countries, the Prime Minister’s Office said. For today's Friday Focus, we go back in time to understand how Lebanon and Israel were formed in order to discuss the evolving relations between the two countries today. We hear about the push-pull between the British and the French, who each shepherded their fledgling nations and indelibly marked the map of the Middle East. Finally, we speed up to modern day and learn about how the recent maritime border agreements have worked out for the two nations -- and whether they could be some kind of blueprint for a permanent land border. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.  IMAGE: UNIFIL peacekeeping troops patrol the southern Lebanese village of Ramia near the southern border on March 5, 2025. (Mahmoud ZAYYAT / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. Today, as the Jewish world celebrates the holiday of Purim, we delve into the State of Israel's turbulent history with modern Iran. We begin with a quick recap of the story of Purim, which takes place in Ancient Persia in the 4th century BCE. Jerusalem's First Temple had been destroyed over 50 years earlier, and the dispersed Jews were subjects of the Persian empire, which extended over some 127 nations. The Book of Esther, an extra-biblical book, relates that evil Haman, an advisor to King Ahasuerus, convinced the king to agree to the execution of Jews of his empire. His plot is thwarted by the secret Jew Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai. Fast forward to 1948 and the relations between the Iranian and Jewish peoples are cordial and flourishing. We hear about cooperative efforts and even a massive oil pipe line that still exists in Israel, which was initially constructed to bring Iranian oil to Europe. We hear how since the rise of the current regime in 1979, relations between the two countries have progressively soured, leading to nihilistic rhetoric by the early 2000s. Berman weighs in on the crossroads that Israel faces regarding Iran: Will the US succeed in negotiating a nuclear deal? Or will Israel need to take to the skies -- presumably with its closest ally -- to bring the nuclear program to a halt? And finally, to cap off the program, we learn about a special Purim in Jerusalem this year, which is celebrated from Friday through sundown on Sunday. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.  IMAGE: Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on March 12, 2025, during a meeting with Iranian students in Tehran. (IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER'S WEBSITE / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.