IDF chief’s plea for more troops collides with Haredi anti-draft push

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.

Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

IDF clashes with Hezbollah in south Lebanon continue, reports Fabian, but on a more limited basis following the recently signed Beirut-Jerusalem framework, in comparison to previous iterations of ceasefires with the Iranian proxy terror group.

The IDF targeted and killed a Hamas chief of security in Gaza who commanded a terror cell that raided the Nahal Oz army base and kibbutz on October 7, 2023, notes Fabian. The cell seized the body of tank commander Daniel Perez and took hostage Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz and Samar Talalka, who later escaped their captors and were accidentally killed in December 2023 by IDF troops in Gaza.

Fabian discusses a statement made by IDF chief of staff Eyal Zamir at an assessment on Thursday in which, without citing it explicitly, he takes aim at the government's advancing a Basic Law that would prioritize ultra-Orthodox Torah study over the army's stated need for more personnel as it battles on several fronts.

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

IDF says it killed armed Hezbollah operative after manhunt in southern Lebanon

IDF shells Hezbollah sites after soldier hurt in clash with gunman in south Lebanon

IDF says strike killed Hezbollah operative who emerged from tunnel in south Lebanon

IDF says it killed Hamas terrorist who abducted tank officer Daniel Perez, held hostages

After Basic Law exalting Torah study advances, IDF chief says soldiers must be prioritized

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.

IMAGE: Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian appears on the Daily Briefing podcast with host Jessica Steinberg (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.