Alleged Jewish-Iranian spy & why rats may decide a mayoral race

Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday. Political correspondent Tal Schneider and military correspondent Emanuel Fabian join host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's episode. Officials from the Civil Administration, backed by police, destroyed or evacuated five buildings in the “Aira Shahar” outpost near the settlement of Kohav Hashahar this morning. Why is this a surprise? On Friday, the chief of the Israeli Air Force, Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, admitted that the state of the force’s readiness was “worsening” in the face of the reservist pilots’ refusals to serve, after which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a pretty explosive reaction. Fabian and Schneider weigh in. A Jewish Iranian man who arrived to Ben-Gurion Airport was deported soon after on Friday. What are the allegations against him? Last night, hundreds of right-wing activists protested in Jerusalem over settler brawler Yehiel Indore’s continued remand over the death of a Palestinian man on August 4. Fabian updates us on the case and evidence against him. Schneider speaks about the looming municipal elections, which are arguably Israel’s midterm elections. She explains that she's set to take a tour in search of furry friends in Bnei Brak. Discussed articles include: In rare move, security forces evacuate illegal West Bank outpost PM said to have shouted at IDF chiefs: ‘It looks like the army is running the country’ Air force head warns damage to military readiness worsening amid overhaul split Jewish Iranian stopped at airport on spying suspicions, sent back to Iran – Shin Bet Hundreds at protest call to free settler suspected of killing Palestinian; 2 arrests Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on iTunes, Spotify, PlayerFM, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts. IMAGE: FILE - A rat crosses a Times Square subway platform in New York on January 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.