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 podcast guests are Startup Israel editor Ricky Ben-David and Arab Affairs correspondent Aaron Boxerman, hosted by Jessica Steinberg.

Ben-David discusses her investigative report about the astronomical housing prices in Israel, which have nearly doubled in the last decade, delving into declining housing affordability, a weakened middle class, investors and a weakened middle class.

Boxerman offers a deep-dive into the Arab-Israeli community as mayors and leaders spoke to him at length about the government decision to step up Shin Bet involvement in fighting rising organized crime in Arab communities.

Discussed articles include:

Israeli housing prices have nearly doubled in a decade, with no signs of slowing

Government move to enlist Shin Bet to fight rising crime splits Arab Israelis

IDF, Shin Bet will aid illegal weapons crackdown in Arab towns, ministers decide

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IMAGE: View of the southern Israeli city of Ashdod, on August 4, 2021 (Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90)

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