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.

Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman and Knesset correspondent Carrie Keller-Lynn join Amanda Borschel-Dan on this New Year's Day episode.

On Friday, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution to refer Israel’s “occupation… of Palestinian territory” to the International Court of Justice. What are Israel's next steps?

On Thursday, the new government was sworn in. Keller-Lynn describes the stormy Knesset proceedings, including demonstrations outside.

We discuss the final parceling out of the ministries, including a few last-minute ones to a pair of women. We hear about a precedent-setting Speaker of the Knesset, Amir Ohana, and what message is being sent with his appointment.

Former pope Benedict XVI, who in 2013 became the first pontiff to resign as head of the Catholic Church since the Middle Ages, died on Saturday aged 95, leaving a somewhat mixed legacy. Berman explains how he will he likely be remembered by the Jews.

Berman also fills us in on an annual interfaith ceremony that took place at the President’s Residence on Thursday.

Discussed articles include:

Netanyahu pans ‘despicable’ UN vote, says Jews cannot be occupiers in their own land

Likud’s Amir Ohana becomes Israel’s first openly gay Knesset speaker

Netanyahu offers condolences for death of ex-pope Benedict, recounts Israel visit

Former pope Benedict XVI, the first pontiff to resign in 600 years, dies at 95

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IMAGE: FILE - In this May 12, 2009 file photo, Pope Benedict XVI places a note in the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, in Jerusalem's Old City. (AP Photo/David Silverman, Pool)

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