Day 455 - Why the IDF abandoned the offensive and ended up with Oct. 7

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.


Diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman joins host
Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's show.


In today's special longer Friday episode, Berman charts the
evolving essential purpose of the IDF, starting with its origins.
He speaks of the push-pull of a fledgling organization as both a
defensive and offensive body.


We learn how the fight for Israel's independence crystallized the
need for an easily maneuverable fighting machine that would not
hinder the Jewish state's need for a stable economy.


Berman explains how first prime minister David Ben-Gurion's
solutions worked well -- until with the shifting tides of
warfare, they really didn't.


In this podcast, the first installment of a two-part
conversation, we hear how after a series of wars and political
decisions, the stage was set for the IDF's catastrophic failure
on October 7.


For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s
ongoing live blog.


Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple
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podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.


IMAGE: A detachment of Haganah soldiers overlooking Acre relaxes
on May 21, 1948, after the three-day fight for the city, which
surrendered on May 18. 1948. (AP Photo/FN)


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