MKs on both sides contest cuts for northern recovery to bolster defense

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

The Times of Israel

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4.5 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 16 March 2026

⏱️ 32 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.

Political reporter Ariela Karmel joins host Jessica Steinberg for today’s episode.

As the Knesset increases its activity during the war, Karmel discusses the subjects up for debate, including controversial legislation regarding the politically appointed probe into the October 7 massacre.

Following last week’s announcement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to enact a 3% cut across the budget to bolster defense spending, including the earmarked funds for the long-awaited rehabilitation of the northern communities, Karmel discusses the contentious debate from the residents, coalition and opposition.

Karmel also reports on the severe lack of shelters in the Bedouin communities, predating October 7, brought to the forefront during the June war with Iran, and now leaving two-thirds of the community without any access to shelter during the current war.

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

For further reading:

Coalition advancing controversial legislation amid war with Iran

Northern communities protest cuts to rehabilitation budget amid war

As Hezbollah strongholds crop back up, northern farmers regrow destroyed fields

With missiles flying again, most Negev Bedouin still exposed without any shelter

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: Damage after a missile fired toward Israel overnight struck Zarzir, in northern Israel, March 13, 2026 (Michael Giladi/Flash90)

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, welcome to the Times Visuals Daily briefing.
0:06.5	It is Monday, March 16th, and I'm Jessica Steinberg,
0:09.3	and I'm speaking today with my colleague, political correspondent,
0:12.6	Aurella Carmel.
0:13.7	Ariela, how are you doing?
0:15.3	I'm still here, Jess.
0:17.3	I am very, very happy.
0:20.5	Right.
0:21.4	Yeah, so listeners, it is a little, it's after 10.30 a.m.,
0:26.4	Ariela, who's in Tel Aviv, I'm in Jerusalem.
0:29.2	She just got out of the shelter.
0:32.2	In our latest reports, there were just two impacts from the suspected Iranian cluster bomb in central Israel,
0:38.6	no injuries reported. And we're hoping there will be no injuries reported from that and from any
0:45.2	others and the rest of the day. In other headlines, the IDF is beginning its targeted ground
0:51.4	operation in South Lebanon to expand the buffer zone against
0:55.4	Chazbalah, which has been targeting and really pummeling Israel's north, certainly pretty
1:00.3	much every single night and throughout the day. We'll talk about what that means for the north
1:05.7	right now in terms of budgets, in terms of the Knesset. Ariela will take us into that.
1:10.1	We'll also look at what has just been happening in the Knesset. Ariela will take us into that. We'll also look at what has just
1:12.1	been happening in the Knesset right now, given this period of basically closure across Israel.
1:20.4	By the way, today is the day that some parts of Israel that have not really been targeted in strikes where some zones,
1:30.0	kids have been allowed to go back to school, very limited.
	...

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