Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East, and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

Today’s panel comprises Palestinian affairs correspondent Aaron Boxerman and senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Late Tuesday night, head of the Hamas Ismail Haniyeh declared a victory in the battle for Jerusalem, saying that Jerusalem is the axis of the conflict. But is this current flare-up, which has seen over 1,000 rockets and mortars shot from the Gaza Strip, really about the holy city?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared a state of emergency in the Jewish-Arab city of Lod following violence and rioting, including arson that destroyed a synagogue. Mayor Yair Revivo has compared the recent events to the 1938 Kristallnacht, saying this is an intifada of Arab-Israelis.

The much-awaited Pew Report on American Jewry came out amid the ongoing conflict. We start analyzing the 250-page survey and give a few highlights.

For more on the ongoing conflict please join the Times of Israel Community for a special live session tonight: Israel under fire: Join ToI Community for live Q&A with our senior editors.

Discussed articles include:

Hamas hails ‘victory in battle for Jerusalem’ after onslaught on central Israel

In Jerusalem crisis, Hamas sees opportunity to retake center stage

Overnight barrages kill father and daughter in Lod, woman in Rishon Lezion

‘Kristallnacht in Lod’: State of emergency as Arab mobs set synagogues on fire

10 key takeaways from the new Pew survey of American Jews

There are more American Jews – and they’re staying Jewish

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PHOTO: A car set on fire by Arab Israeli residents during riots and clashes with Jewish residents in the central Israeli town of Lod, on December 11, 2021. (Yossi Aloni/FLASH90)

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