Day 543 - PM questioned on Qatargate; proof of biblical Armageddon?

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.


Legal reporter Jeremy Sharon and
archaeology reporter Rossella Tercatin join host
Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.


Yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused police of
holding two aides “hostage” after they were arrested over their
alleged engagement in illicit ties with Qatar while working for
the premier, who interrupted his ongoing corruption trial to
provide testimony in the controversial Qatargate investigation.
Sharon delves into the latest developments.


The High Court of Justice ruled unanimously on Thursday that
Israel has taken a variety of steps to provide for the
humanitarian needs of Gaza’s civilian population during the
current war with Hamas, and that there was no cause for the court
to order the government and the army to take any additional
action. We hear why this ruling is important in the context of
other accusations against Israel on the international stage.


The IDF issued a statement on Monday night announcing
that it had disciplined several officers and troops for
vandalizing Palestinian property in Jinba after an investigation
it conducted into the incident. Villagers claim that troops had
stood by while the settler extremists attacked residents and
prevented a Red Crescent ambulance from evacuating the wounded.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir went to Jinba himself to
investigate the incident on Sunday, as did Sharon. He reports
back.


Almost one in four US adults who were raised Jewish no longer
identify as such, a new report by the prominent Pew Research
Center released on Wednesday has shown. The report focuses
on the phenomenon of “switching religions” around the world, and
it is based on data obtained by polling almost 37,000 Americans
and over 41,000 individuals in 35 other countries, including
Israel. Tercatin gives highlights.


For the first time, a team of Israeli archaeologists has
uncovered ancient artifacts at northern Israel’s “Armageddon”
site that might offer proof of an epic battle documented in the
books of Kings II and Chronicles between a king of Judah and an
Egyptian pharaoh. We hear how the old adage "an army marches on
its stomach" may give us insight into this historical battle.


Please see today's ongoing liveblog for
more updates.


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podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.


For further reading:


Netanyahu says his two aides ‘being held hostage’ in
Qatargate ‘witch hunt’


High Court says petitioners ‘not even close’ to showing
Israel starving Gazan civilians


‘There’s no justice’: Palestinian villagers reel after
brutal settler, IDF rampage


Pew Research Center survey: A quarter of US adults raised
Jewish no longer identify as Jews


Archaeologists find first evidence of epic biblical
battle at ‘Armageddon’


IMAGE: People protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's
government outside the Knesset, Israel's parliament in Jerusalem,
March 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)


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