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.

Health and science writer Nathan Jeffay and Startup Israel editor Ricky Ben-David join today's podcast, hosted by Jessica Steinberg.

Jeffay opens the podcast with a look at the struggle to convince Israeli parents to vaccinate their children against the coronavirus, particularly in the Arab and ultra-Orthodox communities.

Ben-David then examines the government's new housing plan, with the aim to offer an increase in supply but the many issues that will hinder the plan, despite the best intentions.

Jeffay discusses the testing of an artificial intelligence tool to help hone the use of antibiotics, recently used in the Maccabi health organization with excellent results.

Finally, Ben-David talks about the four Israeli technologies that made it into Time Magazine's 100 Best Inventions for the year, as well as the recent skit on satire show "Eretz Nehederet," poking fun at the tech industry.

Discussed articles include:

Israel approves COVID shots for kids; experts predict uphill acceptance struggle

Government housing plan seen as just a ‘drop in the bucket’

35% fewer UTI patients given wrong medicine, thanks to Israeli AI tool

4 Israeli inventions feature in TIME magazine’s 100 Best Inventions for 2021

WeLaugh: Israeli satire show skewers excesses and fantasy in tech sector

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IMAGE: Nadir Hackerman and Didi from fictitious company Webos speak speak to a potential new tech hire in a November 2021 segment on Eretz Nehederet. (Screenshot)

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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.

ToI founding editor David Horovitz and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman are joined today by host Jessica Steinberg.

Horovitz and Berman first discuss the possible diplomatic reasons behind the Turkish government's detaining of a Modi'in couple who photographed the presidential palace.

Berman offers a brief snapshot of the delegation of American firefighters in Israel for five days of training and learning in Israel, after working with IDF rescuers at the Surfside, Florida rescue site.

Horovitz talks about his interview with modern Orthodox religious services minister Matan Kahane about a range of issues, including bringing ultra-Orthodox men into the workforce earlier, remaking the kosher certification process and bolstering conversion.

Discussed articles include:

Turkey weighs charges against Israeli couple detained in Istanbul — TV report

PM on Israelis detained in Turkey: ‘Innocent citizens, we are doing all we can’

After Surfside tragedy, US team visits Israel to develop joint rescue doctrine

An Orthodox minister and his hypocritical ultra-Orthodox critics

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IMAGE: Mordy Oknin, left, and Natali Oknin, right. (Courtesy/Facebook)

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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.

US political correspondent Jacob Magid and environemental reporter Sue Surkes join host Jessica Steinberg on today's podcast.

Magid reports from the West Coast, where he covered the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual leadership conference in Las Vegas. Magid fills us in on who was there, what topics were discussed and whether Jewish Republicans are interested in having Trump run again.

He also discusses the statement made at the conference by former US envoy to the United Nations Nikki Halley, who broadly criticized pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC for hosting politicians who support the Iran nuclear deal.

Surkes offers highlights, concerns and the to-do list for countries following COP26, the climate change conference she covered in Glasgow last week. The challenges are tremendous, says Surkes, as countries have a mighty task list ahead of them.

Discussed articles include:

In Las Vegas, Jewish Republican confab weighs one more roll of the dice on Trump

GOP senator: Flipping House and Senate will let Republicans pass anti-BDS laws

Nikki Haley goes after AIPAC for hosting lawmakers who support Iran deal

With 40,000 delegates, COP26 radiates energy. But will it bring real change?

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IMAGE: Former President Donald Trump appears on screen during the Republican Jewish Coalition's annual leadership meeting at The Venetian hotel-casino on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

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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.

Military correspondent Judah Ari Gross and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman join host Jessica Steinberg on today's podcast.

On today's show, we open with a look at the intensifying war in Ethiopia and its impact on Israel.

After reports that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed angrily complained in a phone call with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett that some of those airlifted to Israel were officers involved in war crimes, Israel promised to send back those found to have committed such crimes.

We look at how Israel got into the mess, and how it hopes to get out of it.

We assess the impact of claims that cellphones belonging to at least six Palestinian rights activists were hacked using the contentious Israeli cyber-surveillance firm NSO Group’s Pegasus software, and the international criticism of Israel after the government outlawed six Palestinian rights groups, accusing them of acting as fronts for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terror group.

We analyze the alleged Iranian-linked drone attack on the Iraqi prime minister and ask how destabilization in the country is seen by Israel.

And finally, we hear an update on the recent strikes in Syria attributed to Israel.

Discussed articles include:

Israel said to promise to return Ethiopian immigrants who committed war crimes

Ethiopian PM said to complain 4 war criminals among those airlifted to Israel

Report: Palestinian activists’ phones hacked with controversial NSO Group tech

Europeans on Security Council criticize Israeli blacklisting of Palestinian NGOs

Iran-backed militia launched drone attack targeting Iraq's PM

Drone strikes Iran-backed militias in eastern Syria – report

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PHOTO: Tigrayan forces ride in a truck after taking control of Mekele, in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia on Tuesday, June 29, 2021. (AP Photo)

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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 correspondent Tal Schneider and senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur join host Jessica Steinberg on today's podcast.

Schneider interviewed Religious Affairs minister Matan Kahana with founding ToI editor David Horovitz last week, just as the minister's legislation for major reforms in the kosher certification industry passed through a Knesset committee.

Schneider and Rettig Gur discuss Kahana, a modern Orthodox politician with a significant army career as an air force colonel, who is close friends with prime minister Naftali Bennett.

Rettig Gur looks at the historical ramifications of Israel's church-and-state government, while Schneider highlights aspects of Kahana's religious leanings and his avowed statements to her about the place of religion in Israel.

Discussed articles include:

Plan for major kashrut reform advances through Knesset committee

Religious affairs minister said planning shakeup of religious councils

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IMAGE: sraeli prime minister Naftali Bennett (C), Intelligence Minister Elazar Stern and Minister of Religious Affairs Matan Kahana (left) seen during a plenum session at the Knesset on November 8, 2021 (Courtesy Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

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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.

Health and science correspondent Nathan Jeffay and Arab Affairs reporter Aaron Boxerman join host Jessica Steinberg today.

Jeffay offers some COVID updates, including the $4.3 million awarded by the Gates Foundation for the development of an Israeli variant-proof vaccine in tablet form, which would conceivably change the way people receive vaccines going forward.

Jeffay also discusses the work of a Tel Aviv University scientist who has identified the virus proteins that are triggering strokes and heart attacks in COVID-19 patients.

Boxerman looks at the pros and cons of a recently approved pilot project that would issue 500 work permits to West Bank Palestinian tech employees over three years, a shift that is less than seismic, he pointed out.

He also updates listeners about the recent movement in the ongoing legal battle over Jewish-owned homes in the Arab neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah in Jerusalem.

Discussed articles include:

Israeli plan for COVID vaccine tablet gets $4.3m from Bill Gates-backed fund

COVID proteins that trigger strokes and heart attacks identified by Israeli team

In first, government approves small quota of tech work permits for Palestinians

Sheikh Jarrah Palestinians reject Supreme Court deal to stave off evictions

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IMAGE: Palestinian medical workers work on samples test, at the coronavirus lab of the Al-Ahli hospital, in the West Bank city of Hebron, March 16, 2021v(Photo by Wisam Hashlamoun/Flash90)

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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.

ToI founding editor David Horovitz and Startup Israel editor Ricky Ben David join today's podcast, hosted by Jessica Steinberg.

Horovitz looks at the political ramifications of the budget passed more than a week prior to the November 14 deadline, what that means for the Bennett-Lapid coalition and for former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his plans for the opposition.

Ben-David discusses the different aspects of the budget, the reforms included and what it will take to actually enact the ambitious plans being called for in health, housing, education, finance, agriculture, kosher supervision and other areas.

Horovitz takes a look at the Friday scuffles at the Western Wall and the changes that could take place in the ongoing battles over religion in Israel, with Reform rabbi Gilad Kariv in the Knesset and the presence of the modern Orthodox, not ultra-Orthodox Minister of Religious Affairs Matan Kahane as well as the ultra-Orthodox parties currently in the opposition in the Knesset.

Finally, Ben-David updates us about the Herzliya company that won an Emmy for its television technology.

Discussed articles include:

Even with budget test passed, challenges threaten unity of diverse coalition

Feting new budget, PM says government will last out term, vows to honor rotation

Budget in hand, Bennett’s once-brittle coalition proves it can take on Netanyahu

How much of a revolution? 13 key reforms in Israel’s new state budget

Scuffles at Western Wall as hundreds of Haredim try to block progressive prayer

Labor MK sits out progressive prayer service at Western Wall to calm tensions

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IMAGE: Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid and Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman give a press conference in Jerusalem on November 6, 2021 (Photo by Ohad Zwigenberg/POOL)

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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 correspondent Tal Schneider and senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur join host Jessica Steinberg on today's podcast.

The Knesset on last night passed Israel’s first budget in over three years, averting the prospect of immediate early elections, as Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s coalition sought to overcome its differences and opposition objection to approve a series of bills meant to guide the country’s spending until the end of 2022.

Schneider and Retting Gur assess the momentous occasion in the life of the new government and ask what it means for the coalition, moving forward.

Discussed articles include:

Coalition passes 2021 budget, first in 3.5 years, averting early election threat

Coalition leaders cheer approval of state budget after ‘years of chaos’

In key test for government, Knesset votes on state budget, first since 2018

‘Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on iTunes, Spotify, PlayerFM, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

PHOTO: Knesset members attend a plenum session and a vote on the state budget in the Knesset in Jerusalem, November 3, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

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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.

Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman and environmental reporter Sue Surkes join host Jessica Steinberg during today's podcast.

Berman speaks about Bennett's meetings with world leaders that were above and beyond expectations, as he engaged in a "diplomatic tsunami," said Berman, quoting one of the attending diplomats.

Many spoke with Bennett about Israel's experiences with the coronavirus, given the country's high vaccination rate and success with lockdowns. Those conversations led into other conversations about Iran and the need to recalibrate talks to figure out what's next, said Berman.

Berman also pointed out Bennett's far more personal meeting last night with England's chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, back at his hotel.

Surkes discusses Israel's participation in a Middle East climate plan put forward by Cyprus, a competition set forward by Israel's Foreign Ministry for an innovative Green Standard that its Jerusalem headquarters and missions abroad will have to meet.

Surkes also offers a more closeup look to the conference, to conversations she's had with fellow reporters and attendees, as smaller and larger nations look for a way forward from the climate change crisis.

Discussed articles include:

In Glasgow, world leaders seek new way forward on Iran — Israeli official

Israel to establish climate change working group with Bill Gates foundation

Bennett closes Glasgow trip with emotional visit with British chief rabbi

Regional leaders set to ratify Middle East climate plan next year

Foreign Ministry to get embassies, consulates competing for Green Standard

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IMAGE: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, right, is introduced to Israel's Energy Minister Karine Elharrar, second left, during a meeting with Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, center, on the sidelines of the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. The U.N. climate summit in Glasgow gathers leaders from around the world, in Scotland's biggest city, to lay out their vision for addressing the common challenge of global warming. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool)

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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 US correspondent Jacob Magid and investigative reporter Simona Weinglass, hosted by Jessica Steinberg.

Magid discusses US officials' reactions to the latest settlement approvals deep in the West Bank, after defense minister Benny Gantz had claimed he could limit the scope of construction.

Weinglass unpacks two investigative pieces on the site, regarding raids carried out by the FBI and German police against Israeli investment scammers, and cracking down on the owners and operators of web platforms underpinning illegal websites and call centers.

Steinberg describes the scene at the press tour of the long awaited Yayoi Kusama retrospective at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, where fans wore polka-dotted outfits in honor of the 92-year-old Japanese artist and her  infinity rooms and large-scale installations at the exhibit.

Discussed articles include:

‘Playing with fire’: By building deep in the West Bank, Israel risks DC’s wrath

October surprise: Who’s who in the unprecedented wave of investment scam raids

In major shift, Germany begins targeting platforms driving Israel’s online fraud

Massive Yayoi Kusama exhibit at TLV Museum of Art offers thrills and wonder

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IMAGE: In this Monday, Oct. 25, 2021 file photo, Palestinian laborers work building new houses in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Bruchin near the Palestinian town of Nablus, Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. An Israeli settlement monitor said Wednesday that Israel has approved about 3,000 settler homes in the occupied West Bank. The decision by a government committee came a day after the Biden administration issued its strongest condemnation yet of the proposed construction. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit, File)

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