Day 487 - Annexation? Saudi normalization? What's on the table in DC
Day 487 - Annexation? Saudi normalization? What's on the table in DC  
Podcast: The Times of Israel Daily Briefing
Published On: Tue Feb 04 2025
Description: 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. Editor David Horovitz joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Eight were wounded, two critically, in the shooting attack at an army checkpoint near the northern West Bank village of Tayasir this morning. Horovitz updates on what we knew about the attack at recording time. Sadly, two soldiers' deaths were subsequently announced. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently in Washington, DC, and set to meet with US President Donald Trump today. Yesterday, reporters were given mixed signals surrounding the president's willingness to see Israel annex the West Bank. Horovitz explains. Amid mounting talk of a peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel, posters of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shaking hands with Trump against the backdrop of an Israeli flag were unveiled in Jerusalem and other cities across Israel with the message, “Israel is Ready.” Is it? Amid the expected restart of negotiations for the second phase of the hostage release-ceasefire deal, Netanyahu appears to be heading toward some personnel changes on his team. Who may be in -- and who is out? Finally, Justice Minister Yariv Levin declined Monday to sign the official announcement of the appointment of Justice Isaac Amit as the new president of the Supreme Court in the state gazette. While one may call this "petty politics," Horovitz warns that there are very serious repercussions for this type of behavior. Please see today's ongoing live blog for more updates. Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. For further reading: 2 soldiers killed, 8 hurt in shooting attack at IDF checkpoint in northern West Bank Asked about West Bank annexation, Trump says Israel ‘a small country, in terms of land’ Billboard campaign proclaims ‘Israel is ready’ for Saudi normalization Levin declines to sign official announcement of new Supreme Court president IMAGE: President Donald Trump speaks during a ceremony with the Florida Panthers NHL hockey team to celebrate their 2024 Stanley Cup victory in the East Room of the White House, February 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.