Day 263 - Knesset faceoff against PM, compare him to 'emperor'

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 Sam Sokol and Arab affairs reporter Gianluca Pacchiani join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. Sokol discusses what led to the fierce debate in the Knesset Monday, after a commission that was looking into earlier defense purchases, sent letters of inquiry to several officials, including Prime MInister Benjamin Netanyahu. Opposition leader Yair Lapid used the opportunity to attack the prime minister in his faction's weekly meeting, joined by New Hope party leader Gideon Sa'ar as the prime minister defended his actions. Sokol notes that the debate concluded with a first vote on legislation regarding extending reservists' age while legislation is still pending regarding lowering the ages of exemptions for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students. Pacchiani talks about an interview with Palestinian laborers who have been mostly out of work for the last eight months, part of the work force of some 200,000 people who work mostly in construction and agriculture. He says it appears to be more of a political decision to push the Palestinian Authority toward bankruptcy, along with higher unemployment. He also mentions press reports about a "fishy" organized foreign press tour of the Beirut airport, as the Lebanese government attempted to prove they're not hiding weapons imported from Iran. For more updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: ‘Submarine affair’ inquiry finds Netanyahu’s decisions compromised national security Knesset to vote this week on bill extending retirement age for IDF reservists West Bank Palestinian laborers in despair after eight months without jobs in Israel Reporters denied access to Beirut airport area where weapons suspected to be stored 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 Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.  IMAGE: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a debate in the Knesset on June 24, 2024 (Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.