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.

Today is Day 103 of the war. Political correspondent Sam Sokol and environmental reporter Sue Surkes join host Jessica Steinberg.

Surkes discusses a wide-ranging planning session organized to envision how to rebuild the Gaza border region after October 7, with dozens of organizations and departments involved in the brainstorming process.

She also talks about the future for the evacuees from the north, many of them have lived through other difficult security situations, but with no clear plan right now about when they will move back home.

Sokol offers an overview of the budget discussions that took place before its passage, a process that was streamlined because of the budgetary defense needs given the ongoing war and what that will mean for other ministries.

For the latest updates, please look at The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.

Discussed articles include:

Live blog January 17, 2024

Amid swarm of stakeholders, planners begin brainstorming how to rebuild south

Cabinet approves 2024 budget, making cuts to offset massive wartime defense boost

Minister storms out of cabinet as Netanyahu attempts to push through wartime budget

THOSE WE HAVE LOST: Civilians and soldiers killed in Hamas's onslaught on Israel

THOSE WE ARE MISSING: The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown

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IMAGE: A caravan camp being built near Shefayim for evacuees from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. December 24, 2023 (Photo by Michael Giladi/Flash90 )

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