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 correspondent Tal Schneider and health editor Diana Bletter join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

Schneider discusses the latest in the hostage talks as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to be showing a growing interest in connecting with hostage families and discussing negotiations, possibly as a result of incoming President-elect Donald Trump.

She also looks at the visit of Housing and Construction Minister Yitzchak Goldknopf to sites in the Gaza Strip where he says he wants to reestablish Jewish settlements, and why an ultra-Orthodox Knesset minister would involve himself in that political storm.

Bletter speaks about her visits in the last week to several northern communities and cities that were devastated by the last 14 months of war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and what residents who were visiting their homes or stayed in the north have to say about the temporary ceasefire.

Bletter also looks at Tel Aviv University research that could be promising in terms of treatment for aspects of a certain type of autism.

For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.

Discussed articles include:

Netanyahu convenes discussion on hostage negotiations with new ceasefire push

Top Likud minister said to support ousting Netanyahu in talk with hostage relatives

Touring Gaza border region, senior Haredi minister calls to resettle the Strip

In northern border town of Shlomi, a wary trickle home in the shadow of a fragile ceasefire

Northern evacuees question whether a ceasefire deal is enough to see them home

Israeli study finds gene mutation that may cause some autism, possibly enabling treatment

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.

IMAGE: Minister of Construction and Housing Yitzchak Goldknopf at the Knesset on November 11, 2024 (Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

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