Female soldiers under attack in Israel

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.

ToI founding editor David Horovitz joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

While the prospect of American intervention in Iran appears to be receding, Horovitz discusses the mixed signals from the US and Iran and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's repeated remarks that Israel has multiple requirements for any deal that might take shape.

As election season nears, Horovitz reviews the latest efforts by the prime minister to minimize the blame attached to him for October 7, including recasting the war in Gaza as a war of revival, with that term used on the gravestones of the fallen.

Following a Haredi riot in the Tel Aviv suburb of Bnei Brak in which a mob attacked two young female soldiers visiting an ultra-Orthodox soldier, Horovitz discusses the riot, the lack of an immediate response from the police, and the idea that IDF soldiers can't move around freely in Israel.

Finally, Horovitz and Steinberg discuss some of the latest issues facing the former hostages, as some choose to share the atrocities of their captivity, others have taken to crowdfunding to raise funds for their rehabilitation, and many are staying firmly out of the public eye.

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

For further reading:

New anti-government chants reported across Iran after major rallies abroad

Trump told Netanyahu he’d back Israeli strikes on Iran if talks fail – report

2 female soldiers attacked by rioting Haredi mob in Bnei Brak, rescued by police

Former hostage couple dreams of space (travel) and time to recover and rebuild their home

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: A recycle bin for papers set on fire after two female Israeli soldiers were rescued from riots that broke out while they were performing a welfare visit in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv, Israel, February 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Associated Press, Oded Balilty)

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