Tangled Israel-Jordan relations get knottier

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. Today’s panel comprises editor David Horovitz and diplomacy reporter Lazar Berman, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan. On Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned flight to the United Arab Emirates was suddenly canceled because he was refused permission to fly over Jordanian airspace. This is part of an ongoing tangle in the Israeli-Jordanian relationship, which Berman unravels for us. Tomorrow marks 10 years from the beginning of Syrian civil protests that led to the ongoing civil war. Berman gives a sneak preview of an analysis he'll publish on the anniversary. Vaccine diplomacy has been in the headlines for the past month. Was the opening of the new Czech Republic office in Jerusalem on Thursday linked to COVID vaccines? The recently announced winner of the prestigious Israel Prize and ZAKA founder Yehuda Meshi-Zahav is publicly accused of ongoing systemic sexual abuse dating back over four decades. Called by insiders an "open secret" in the ultra-Orthodox community, Meshi-Zahav's alleged behavior was tamped down by the same "code of silence" he railed against when calling on religious leadership to push for communal COVID vaccinations. Finally, we end on a quick blurb about the wild tulips temporarily seen all across Israel. Discussed articles include: Netanyahu forced to cancel trip to UAE amid dispute with Jordan Jordan confirms holding up Netanyahu flight permission due to Temple Mount spat Long-frustrated Jordan finally finds a way to hit Netanyahu where it hurts Czech prime minister opens embassy office in Jerusalem Netanyahu meets Hungarian, Czech leaders to discuss vaccine cooperation ZAKA emergency group co-founder accused of multiple cases of rape, sexual abuse More speak up about ‘widely known’ alleged sexual abuse by ZAKA head Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on iTunes, Spotify, PlayerFM, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts. PHOTO: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jordan's King Abdullah II in the East Room of the White House in Washington, September 1, 2010. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.