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.
US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Jessica Steinberg for today’s episode.
Magid says the Biden administration has a slightly more positive outlook regarding the hostage negotiations, indicating that Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement on some 90 percent of the issues in the potential hostage deal. The two thorniest remaining issues are the Philadelphi Corridor and which Palestinian prisoners would be released. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that both of these are major issues.
Magid also comments on Israeli negotiators telling mediators they still support a complete withdrawal of the IDF from the Philadelphi Corridor, and the prime minister’s “wishy-washy” comments and double-speak on that topic to the Israeli and foreign press, and to Fox News in the last week, as the prime minister wants to “appear tougher.”
Magid turns to the US elections, and remarks made by presidential candidate Donald Trump questioning the continued existence of the State of Israel if Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, is elected.
For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.
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