Day 539 - Huckabee: Judge my actions, not my Judea and Samaria stance

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
Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's Daily
Briefing, which will be followed by a full episode of ToI's
newest podcast series, the Friday Focus with Lazar
Berman.


An Egyptian proposal to end renewed fighting in Gaza would see
five living hostages released on the first day of the restored
ceasefire, with another five living hostages released every 7-10
days, two foreign diplomats with knowledge of the details told
The Times of Israel on Wednesday. Magid delves into what else is
being reported about this proposal, one of several on the table
right now.


One well-connected US analyst of the Middle East told Magid this
week that the current Israeli government has all but foreclosed
any chance for a normalization deal. We hear what Brian Katulis,
a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute (MEI) who regularly
speaks to Saudi and other regional officials, has to say -- and
what the Saudis are potentially planning in the meantime.


US President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as ambassador to
Israel, Mike Huckabee, tried to present a more moderate stance on
Israel and the West Bank -- or Judea and Samaria, as he calls the
contested land -- and urged lawmakers at his confirmation hearing
on Tuesday to judge him based on his ability to represent the new
administration. Magid weighs in.


In the Friday Focus, Berman illuminates the ongoing prejudice
against Israel's Christians, who make up almost 2% of the
country's population.


Please see today's ongoing liveblog for
more updates.


For further reading:


Egyptian plan would free 5 living hostages on day one,
with releases every 7-10 days


Playing down normalization prospects, US analyst says
Saudis feel Israel ‘looking backward’


Mike Huckabee downplays pro-settler views at confirmation
hearing to be envoy to Israel


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


ILLUSTRATIVE IMAGE: Then-Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., takes
questions from the media, prior to laying a brick at a new
housing complex in the West Bank settlement of Efrat, August 1,
2018. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty, File)


 


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