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 for today's podcast.

Schneider offers overview of bills being discussed in preliminary voting in Knesset on Wednesday, including the much-discussed Override Clause that would enable the parliament to re-legislate laws struck down by the Supreme Court, as well as granting more authority for local rabbinical courts to be able to rule using Jewish law, and the Aryeh Deri bill, to reinstate the Shas politician.

Schneider also discusses comments made by former US ambassador to Israel David Friedman regarding the proposed judicial overhaul, and specifically the Override Clause.

Rettig Gur discusses who are the coalition forces radicalizing this judicial reform and preventing compromise, and how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is calling for negotiation, adopting President Isaac Herzog's suggestions, but his own coalition won't let him compromise.

Discussed articles include:

In highly unusual move, major US Jewish group decries proposed judicial overhaul

Netanyahu urges talks on overhaul; Lapid fires back that legislation must stop first

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IMAGE: Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a discussion and a vote in the Knesset on February 20, 2023 (Photo by Yonatan Sindel/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.

Knesset correspondent Carrie Keller Lynn and legal affairs reporter Jeremy Sharon join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast.

Keller Lynn talks about the scenes outside and inside the Knesset on Monday, as tens of thousands rallied against the judicial reform, while the first, key piece of legislation was voted on by the coalition committee.

Sharon discusses some of the comments made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the faction meeting and his clear message that there would be no slowing down of the reform process.

He also explains a new part of the bill introduced by MK Simkha Rothman, in which the right to freedom of expression and other basic civil rights would all become unprotected if the government’s proposed legislation passes into law and the reactions to that new information.

Keller-Lynn closes the podcast, reviewing the passage of the first bill in the first of three readings, 63 votes in favor and 47 against, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Discussed articles include:

Tens of thousands rally near Knesset ahead of 1st plenum vote on judicial overhaul

Knesset legal adviser: Overhaul leaves equality, freedom of expression unprotected

Knesset passes first reading of bill to give coalition control over choosing judges

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IMAGE: Opposition MKs holding Israeli flags during the discussion and vote on the government's judicial overhaul plans in the Knesset, February 20, 2023 (Photo by Yonatan Sindel/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.

Editor David Horovitz and environment reporter Sue Surkes join host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's episode.

Potentially tens of thousands of Israelis are converging on Jerusalem for another mass demonstration outside the Knesset today. Some protestors have taken the step of blocking main roads and select MKs' homes to prevent them from voting on the pivotal legislation. We hear whether Horovitz thinks this a legit form of protest.

Yesterday, President Isaac Herzog said he believed a compromise agreement for judicial reform based on the five-step proposals he made last Sunday could be achieved in a matter of days. Realistic?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly asked Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to narrow her interpretation of his conflict of interest clause -- which lets him be prime minister during his active trials -- and allowed to directly deal with the judicial overhaul. Horovitz explains why this would be a severe conflict of interest.

Surkes explains how the Knesset chaos has led to a power struggle over who gets to control Israel’s garbage between the Interior and Environment Ministries.

Also in the halls of the parliament, a new infrastructure bill has activists stating it is “a declaration of war on environmental and climate governance in Israel.” What is so objectionable?

Finally, Surkes tells us about Grace Breeding’s NFT Bio-Fertilizer that seeks to boost crop yields sustainably and strengthen the resilience of plants to climate change.

Discussed articles include:

Protesters block homes of MKs as mass protests set to descend on Jerusalem

Herzog says compromise over judicial overhaul program achievable ‘within days’

Netanyahu said to ask AG to narrow conflict of interest deal on judicial legislation

Environment group: Bill to limit objections to public works a ‘war declaration’

Israeli company touts nature-based alternative to toxic fertilizers for crops

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IMAGE: Women protest against the government's planned judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv on February 20, 2023. (Tomer Neuberg/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 military correspondent Emanuel Fabian join host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Berman reports on Foreign Minister Eli Cohen's one-day trip to Kyiv last week. While Israel is still not offering Ukraine its anti-missile air defense systems, the country has stepped up with hefty loan guarantees. Berman explains how much, and how the Jewish community is faring.

According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, the Israeli Air Force carried out a strike late last night targeting a residential neighborhood in Damascus. Fabian gives insight as to why now.

Yesterday, an Israeli observer delegation at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa was kicked out of the opening ceremony on Saturday. Berman puts this puzzling event into context.

There is a very public, ongoing power struggle between police commissioner Kobi Shabtai and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Fabian shares some recent events that have exacerbated the friction.

Discussed articles include:

What Matters Now to… Prof. Suzie Navot: Guarding against a ‘Frankenstate’

With first Knesset readings due Monday, tens of thousands protest judicial overhaul

FM Cohen in Kyiv pledges Ukraine loan guarantees, help with airstrike warning system

Back on track: FM Cohen overcomes diplomatic hurdles en route to thaw with Ukraine

Likening Russia to Goliath, Zelensky says Ukraine needs David’s Sling from Israel

Syria says 5 killed, 15 wounded in Israeli strike on Damascus residential area

Israeli observer delegation kicked out of African Union summit in Addis Ababa

Police chief warns of potential for political assassination: ‘Lower the flames’

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IMAGE: Women walk by a building damaged by Russian shelling in the Saltivka district of Kharkiv, Ukraine, February 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

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Welcome to What Matters Now, a new weekly podcast exploration into one key issue shaping Israel and the Jewish World — right now.

On Monday, tens of thousands of Israelis took a day off work to protest outside the Knesset against the proposed judicial overhaul that was -- at the very same time -- being discussed at a stormy session of the Constitutional Committee inside.

The crowd was a sea of blue and white Israeli flags. Mostly secular, they sang, shouted, laughed and cried together against the bills that were, despite all their raucous energy, indeed passed for preliminary readings.

Many in Israel who support the judicial overhaul say that by adopting practices from other countries’ judicial systems, they are bringing the country in line with the standards of the international community. Many who oppose the legislation do agree to a need for reform, but say they are frightened that in cherry-picking from around the globe -- an override clause from Canada, a law from Norway and elements from the United States -- we will be headed toward a “Frankenstate.”

In 2013, Princeton University Prof. Kim Lane Scheppele coined the visceral term in her article, "Not Your Father’s Authoritarianism: The Creation of the "Frankenstate.'" In that essay, she writes, “A Frankenstate is an abusive form of rule, created by combining the bits and pieces of perfectly reasonable democratic institutions in monstrous ways, much as Frankenstein’s monster was created from bits and pieces of other living things. No one part is objectionable; the horror emerges from the combinations.”

This week, I made my way to the heart of old Jerusalem to the Israel Democracy Institute where I asked IDI vice president Suzie Navot, professor of Constitutional Law, what could happen if other legal systems are grafted on Israel’s judiciary.

Born in Uruguay, Navot made aliya to Israel at age 14. A polyglot, she has taught at the Sorbonne as a visiting professor as well as on the faculties of the Striks Faculty of Law at the College of Management and the National Security College in Israel.

Navot specializes in constitutional law, law of institutions, parliamentary law and comparative constitutional law, which gives her unique insight into what could happen if indeed this global mosaic of legislation does pass.

After this tempestuous week, we hear What Matters Now to leading Israeli legal expert, Prof. Suzie Navot.

What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on iTunes, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, PlayerFM or wherever you get your podcasts.

IMAGE: Vice president of the Israel Democracy Institute Prof. Suzie Navot at the IDI, December 2022. (Michal Fattal/IDI)

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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 correspondent Jacob Magid and real estate writer Danielle Nagler join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast, with a brief update from political correspondent Tal Schneider currently in Kyiv with Foreign Minister Eli Cohen.

Magid discusses how the right-wing nature of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition partners has perhaps scuttled the chance of any invites for the prime minister to the US and UAE, while the second Negev Forum for ministers, initially planned for Morocco in March, is on the back burner.

Magid also looks at the Palestinian Authority is pushing forward a vote in the United Nations Security Council to support a resolution to halt settlement activity, following the recent approval in the Knesset of several new outposts.

Nagler explains the Tama 38 building development plan in Israel, created to upgrade existing housing and make buildings earthquake-safe, but so far only carried out in larger cities, and not yet in the areas that are more vulnerable, but less attractive from a real estate perspective.

Magid talks about the emotional statement made by Channel 12 journalist Yair Cherki on Tuesday, when the Orthodox 30-year-old came out of the closet publicly and was greeted with widespread support from a range of followers and politicians.

Nagler speaks about the new, dramatic Bezalel School of Art and Design building in downtown Jerusalem, designed to join the avant garde art created by the students and the mixed population of the city.

Discussed articles include:

Palestinians readying Security Council resolution slamming Israeli settlement plans

Prominent Orthodox Israeli journalist Yair Cherki comes out as gay

Knesset committee fails to update earthquake construction framework

Israeli buildings face major earthquake risk, despite efforts to upgrade them

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IMAGE: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives to a vote in the Knesset on February 15, 2023 (Courtesy Yonatan Sindel/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.

Senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur and health and science writer Nathan Jeffay join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast.

Rettig Gur discusses why the architects of the judicial reform, head of the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, MK Simcha Rothman Simcha Rothman and Justice Minister Yariv Levin are in such a rush to push through their proposed legislation, and what role President Isaac Herzog can play during the tense discussions taking place and whether he can succeed.

Jeffay looks at scientific research carried out in three very different areas; he explains the work done by a startup lab that has taught rats to detect lung cancer by sniffing urine, and how that process could allay the first stages of cancer detection.

He also talks about certain hair straightening chemicals found to cause kidney failure, now banned in Israel.

Finally, Jeffay looks at high number of nearsightedness cases in Haredi men, presumably due to Talmud study, as those who learn full time pour over columns of small text for hours each day.

Discussed articles include:

The judiciary fight is fueled by deep distrust; that makes compromise elusive

Lab claims it teaches rats to detect lung cancer with 93% accuracy by sniffing urine

Some hair-straightening products can cause kidney failure – pioneering Israeli study

Haredi men three times as likely to be nearsighted, probably due to Talmud study

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IMAGE: From L-R President Isaac Herzog, MK Simcha Rothman, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, National Unity leader Benny Gantz (Flash 90)

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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.

Knesset correspondent Carrie Keller-Lynn and legal reporter Jeremy Sharon join host Amanda Borschel-Dan to report on what happened yesterday at the Knesset -- inside and out.

We begin with a sense of the magnitude of Monday's protest as Keller Lynn describes her commute by train from Tel Aviv and the scene that awaited her in Jerusalem.

At the same time, Sharon was inside the Knesset stormy Constitutional Committee meeting, which is headed by MK Simcha Rothman, who was the subject of this weekend's What Matters Now podcast. Sharon sets the scene inside the Knesset.

Police sources estimated that about 90,000 people attended the protest, while organizers put the number at some 130,000, and a high-tech group affiliated with the demonstrators even went as high as 300,000. Keller-Lynn compares Monday's protest with those she's covered for The Times of Israel on Saturday nights in Tel Aviv and discusses just who is organizing them.

We hear where we now stand on the legislation that was heard yesterday and that will be presented in the Knesset this week.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog took to prime-time television on Sunday night and proposed five steps toward compromise. Last night, the architects of the judicial overhaul, including Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Rothman, appeared to agree to compromise talks at the president’s residence. Are these statements sincere?

Discussed articles include:

Tens of thousands rally at Knesset against overhaul: ‘Worried for Israel’s future’

90,000 or 300,000? Why estimates of crowd size at Jerusalem protest vary so widely

Lapid: Justice overhaul ‘tearing Israel apart’; PM: Opposition leading us to anarchy

Israeli flags as far as the eye can see, as protesters plead for an overhaul rethink

First judicial overhaul legislation approved in committee amid ferocious opposition

Judicial overhaul bill likely to come up for first plenum vote next Monday

Justice minister offers talks on overhaul; Opposition: Legislation must stop first

What Matters Now… to MK Simcha Rothman? ‘The people should appoint the judges’

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IMAGE: Protest against the judicial overhaul, outside the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, February 13, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/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.

Times of Israel founding editor David Horovitz and religion and diaspora affairs reporter Judah Ari Gross join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast.

Horovitz discusses the scenes taking place Monday afternoon in Jerusalem, as thousands gather outside the Knesset to protest the judicial reform while inside, the Knesset committee moves forward with the tremendously contentious bill amid a stormy session.

Horovitz explains the judicial compromise laid out by President Isaac Herzog in a televised speech Sunday night, and wonders whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is ready to listen.

Gross talks about the scenes in Marash, Turkey, where he spent much of last week reporting on Israeli and local rescue teams working to retrieve survivors from Monday's earthquake, and the impossible decisions rescuers had to make in the midst of herculean efforts.

He also speaks about the female protester at the Western Wall on Sunday who stripped down to a bathing suit in protest of the contentious bill that would criminalize immodest dress at the holy site.

Discussed articles include:

Opposition MKs ejected from stormy Knesset panel session on judicial overhaul bills

Worried Herzog sets out sensible ideas for reform, but is Netanyahu ready to listen?

In devastated Turkey, rescuers battle cold, concrete to save those trapped by quake

‘She helped us, told us when to do what’: Israeli doc describes rescuing Turkish girl

Israeli rescuer who helped in ’99 earthquakes returns to Turkey to save lives

Woman strips down to swimsuit at Western Wall in apparent protest of modesty bill

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IMAGE: Thousands protest against the judicial overhaul outside the Knesset in Jerusalem on February 12, 2023 (Courtesy Arie Leib Abrams/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 military correspondent Emanuel Fabian join host Amanda Borschel-Dan in today's episode.

We begin with an update from last night’s protests against the proposed judicial overhaul. For those who are interested in hearing from the architect of the proposed bills that are getting a first reading on Monday, please check out our most recent episode of What Matters Now with MK Simcha Rothman. What Matters Now is our new weekly podcast focusing on one issue that is shaping Israel and the Jewish World, right now.

Fabian updates on a car-ramming that occurred just before Shabbat on Friday, in which a terrorist plowed his car into a group of people in Jerusalem’s Ramot neighborhood, killing three. We hear about the victims and what sanctions are being placed on the family of the perpetrator.

The death toll from a massive earthquake in Turkey and Syria will “double or more” from its current level of around 28,000, according to UN relief chief Martin Griffiths. An Israeli military field hospital established near the Turkish quake epicenter has so far treated around 200 people, including Syrian refugees living in the country. We hear some anecdotes.

Berman weighs in on President Recep Erdogan’s performance so far in dealing with the disaster and how it may affect his political future.

A Palestinian man was shot dead by Israeli settlers in the West Bank on Saturday. The Israeli army said it was aware of the case and said soldiers were not involved in the fatal shooting. Fabian explains what we know so far -- and what we don't.

And finally, it’s Super Bowl Sunday. Berman gives us a rundown of every potential Jangle (Jewish angle).

Discussed articles include:

Tens of thousands rally against judicial overhaul; organizers claim over 200,000

What Matters Now… to MK Simcha Rothman? ‘The people should appoint the judges’

Police seal family home of terrorist who rammed Ramot bus stop

IDF field hospital in Turkey treats 180 wounded in quake, including Syrian refugees

Palestinian man said shot dead by settlers in West Bank

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IMAGE: Medics and police officers at the scene of a deadly car-ramming terror attack near Ramot Junction in Jerusalem on February 10, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

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