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.

Political writer Tal Schneider and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman are today's guests with Jessica Steinberg hosting.

Berman discusses foreign minister Lapid's day-long trip to Bahrain late last week, when he inaugurated the Israeli embassy.

He also analyzes the deeper meaning behind Lapid's visit to the US Fifth Fleet, which operates in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, where Iran has been stepping up operations and covert attacks.

Schneider follows with a conversation about the opening session of the Knesset, where the opposition is back in power and the plenum discussions are expected to be intensive.

Berman and Schneider also take a look at the recent headlines about the 'Pandora Papers,' which may implicate financial misdeeds by Jordan’s King Abdullah and Likud lawmaker Nir Barkat.

Discussed articles include:

Lapid inaugurates Israeli embassy in Bahrain

On Lapid’s Bahrain visit, a photo op at a US Navy base meant for Iranian eyes

Former justice minister, billionaire among Israelis named in ‘Pandora Papers’

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IMAGE: Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, center left, is met by his Bahraini counterpart, Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani, center right, for the first high-level visit in Manama, Bahrain, Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 (Shlomi Amshalem/GPO via AP)

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