Day 264 - Landmark decision to draft Haredim, starting July 1

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. Legal correspondent Jeremy Sharon and environmental reporter Sue Surkes join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. Sharon discusses the landmark decision by the High Court Tuesday determining that ultra-Orthodox men are obligated to perform military service, and the immediate draft of 3,000 yeshiva students starting July 1, as he looks at the legal issues that led to the decision. He also talks about the new report by the United Nations-linked Integrated Food Security Phase Classification organization, showing that there is no famine in Gaza, despite previous predictions to the contrary. Surkes explains the latest concerns about Israel’s power grid and its susceptibility to a possible attack by Hezbollah, with Israel's electricity companies taking a more urgent look at what can be done to offset an all-out blackout in case of war. She also mentions a high-tech, AI-powered 'weed wacker,' designed to bypass pricey human labor for crops and agricultural fields. For more updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: After court ruling, AG tells IDF to immediately start drafting 3,000 Haredi students In historic ruling, High Court says government must draft Haredi men into IDF Key food security org finds no famine in Gaza, says previous assumptions wrong As war with Hezbollah looms, concerns over vulnerability of power grid generate unease Confab shows off startups, from AI-driven weeders and tree tubes to alternative fats 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: An Israeli soldier and ultra-Orthodox Jews at the Western Wall on June 25, 2024. (Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.