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.

Senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur and our health reporter Nathan Jeffay join host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Yesterday, the far-left Meretz and far-right Religious Zionism parties held their primaries. In Meretz, it was a showdown between Zehava Galon, and Yair Golan. What was the final shake out there? Where there any changes for Religious Zionism?

Former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu again called for a merger between Religious Zionism and the even farther right Otzma Yehudit party. Why is he so keen?

Rettig Gur fills in the lay of the political land by speaking about what's new in Labor and Likud list shake-ups.

Jeffay explains Israel's tactics in fighting the spread of monkeypox, as well as how Israel can be uniquely effective.

Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa is the first Israeli hospital to introduce back operations via a small incision in the waist versus opening up the back. We hear why this is such an important step.

And finally, Israeli thermal imaging technology designed to track terrorists and defend borders is getting a new incarnation — helping doctors get a clearer view of what is happening in patients’ bodies.

Discussed articles include:

Galon wins Meretz leadership race, returning to head left-wing party after 3 years

Ben Gvir reaches out to Smotrich amid renewed push to unite the far-right

Israel using ‘vaccination nation’ chops to fight monkeypox, doctor says

New to Israel: Back surgery via the waist, using an advanced keyhole method

Israeli terror-fighting thermal imaging tech being adapted for medical purposes

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IMAGE: Meretz Chairwoman Zehava Galon (center) with Meretz MKs and party members after the results were announced in the Meretz party primary elections, in Tel Aviv, August 23, 2022. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

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