In Israel, Blinken gives PM some friendly relationship advice

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. Editor David Horovitz and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in today's episode. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is now in Israel. We begin by discussing his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blinken's advice for Israel's leader. Both during Blinken’s meeting with Netanyahu and with Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, Blinken also seemed to urge Israel to expand its security support for Kyiv. Is it possible that Israel will begin providing security support to Ukraine? Blinken arrived to the region on Sunday, with a first stop in Egypt where he met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi. Could the US see Egypt as playing a potentially larger role in brokering the increasing armed conflict in the West Bank? Yesterday, in a resounding 89-8 vote, a bill to revoke the Israeli citizenship or residency of terror convicts who receive financial support for their acts from the Palestinian Authority passed its first reading. At the same time, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said Monday he would advance legislation allowing Israel to impose the death penalty for certain terror offenses. Do either of these measures counter Israel’s founding principles? For the past several weeks, The Times of Israel has played host to an animated series called “Whispered in Gaza.” Horovitz reminds listeners what this project is and where they can find it. Discussed articles include: As Netanyahu talks Iran, Blinken makes US concerns over judicial shakeup clear Diplomatically but firmly, Blinken advises Netanyahu not to harm Israeli democracy Bill to strip Israeli citizenship from terror convicts paid by PA passes 1st reading Ben Gvir to push for death penalty bill in wake of Jerusalem attack Darkest tragedy, unrealized dreams: ‘Whispered in Gaza,’ the final interviews Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on iTunes, Spotify, PlayerFM, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts. IMAGE: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, meets with Israeli emerging leaders at 'Feel Beit,' an Israeli-Palestinian art and culture collective in Jerusalem, January 31, 2023. (Ronaldo Schemidt/Pool via AP)See omny.fm/listener for privacy information.