Day 467 - Hostage deal could be signed Wednesday or Thursday

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

The Times of Israel

News

4.4 • 864 Ratings

🗓️ 15 January 2025

⏱️ 23 minutes

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Summary

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.

Reporter Amy Spiro filling in for diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman and environmental correspondent Sue Surkes join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

Spiro says there is optimism that the proposed hostage deal will be signed by Wednesday or Thursday, and reviews the proposed details of the deal that it is very similar to what was proposed last May, with a first stage of 33 hostages to be released in exchange for around 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and negotiations on a second phase of hostages 16 days into the ceasefire.

Spiro says that Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar calls this a gradual deal, not a partial deal.

She reviews the process of approving the deal, which would first go to the security cabinet and then to the entire government cabinet. Spiro remarks that Likud ministers have said the deal will pass, even without right-wing politicians National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir or Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on board, and that opposition leader Yair Lapid has said he will do what is necessary to ensure the deal goes through despite any longer-term political implications.

Surkes discusses the new reforms aimed at changing the range of imported goods from the European Union, intended to lower prices on goods in Israel.

Surkes also looks at a Tel Aviv University study regarding the lack of cave art in the Levant and a bereaved family member's newspaper that looks at how Israel could become a better place.

The printed newspaper, written only by bereaved families, aligns with the latest Yoni Bloch song that Steinberg speaks about briefly, with an AI clip that imagines the hostages released home and peace in the Middle East.

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

Discussed articles include:

Smotrich undecided on hostage deal at this ‘fateful moment’

Gaza ceasefire-hostage deal on brink of finalization, as reports spell out details

Israeli officials: Deal will see 33 hostages freed in 1st stage, most of them alive

Ben Gvir says he repeatedly foiled hostage deals, urges Smotrich to help him stop this one

Along with soaring prices, Israel rings in 2025 with economic reforms, but will they work?

Israeli researchers devise woolly solution to enigma of why Levant has no cave art

AI music clip imagines all hostages released, a new MidEast

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

IMAGE: Protestors at Begin Gate in Tel Aviv on January 15, 2025, calling for the release of all the hostages and the end to the war (Credit Yoav Loeff)

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, welcome to the Times of Israel's Daily Briefing. It's Wednesday, January 15th, and I'm Jessica Steinberg.
0:11.7	I'm speaking today with reporter Amy Sparrow, who's been filling in for diplomatic correspondent
0:16.5	Laser Berman and environmental reporters to Cirx. Good morning to you both.
0:21.1	Good morning.
0:22.2	Good morning.
0:22.9	Hi there.
0:23.9	It is day 467 of the war.
0:27.4	The country is waiting extremely anxiously for a final ceasefire and hostage proposal.
0:33.3	And this morning, finance minister Bissello Smotrich indicated that he is undecided whether
0:39.1	he will support the emerging deal.
0:41.9	Smotrich has previously opposed similar proposals.
0:45.3	And his coalition partner, Itamar Ben-Gvier, called upon Smotrich yesterday to join him
0:50.9	in rejecting the deal and bolting the government.
0:53.9	We'll discuss all the various aspects of the emerging deal, the protests for and against it,
0:59.2	as well as reforms that are on the table, the lack of cave art in the Middle East,
1:06.7	and a newspaper produced by Bereave families.
1:09.4	So stay with us. We'll be back in a moment.
1:18.2	Israel's IDF reservists are the heart of the nation's strength and security.
1:23.8	Leaving behind their homes, families, and livelihoods, they answer the call to defend their country without hesitation.
1:31.3	But reserve duty often comes with overwhelming financial and emotional challenges.
1:37.3	That's where Ogen steps in.
1:40.3	Through its Yuval Fund, Ogen provides interest-free loans and essential support programs to help reservists and their families navigate these difficulties with dignity.
	...

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