PODCAST: Daily Briefing Feb. 25 — Death, archaeology and COVID in wild West Bank

February 26th, 2021

Awake Goy

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 Times of Israel diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman and Palestinian affairs correspondent Aaron Boxerman, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

We start with a look at how Tehran appears to be jockeying for position ahead of talks on the nuclear deal by blackballing inspectors and threatening to increase enrichment. Berman tells us the risks that come with Iran’s posturing.

Boxerman gives us the lowdown on the murky West Bank “terror attack” that left the Palestinian family of Khaled Nofal grasping for answers. He then updates us on the latest West Bank coronavirus outbreak and ongoing efforts to vaccinate Palestinians and increased international pressure on Israel to participate.

Plus, we look at how the destruction of an ancient wall at an Iron Age Israelite cultic site deep in Palestinian Authority-controlled Area B created a media maelstrom, as a right-wing campaign claimed that Palestinians are destroying Jewish heritage sites.

And finally, we hear an excerpt from an interview with popular Israeli philosopher Dr. Micah Goodman from The Times of Israel’s weekly “Times Will Tell” podcast on why the Talmud says you are commanded to get drunk on Purim.