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 panel comprises United States correspondent Jacob Magid (who is in Israel to cover the elections) and environmental correspondent Sue Surkes, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

Two days after the election, we open today's show with a look at Magid's election day "hang" with incoming Kahanist MK Itamar Ben Gvir, the head of the Otzma Yehudit party, and how his Religious Zionism faction is positioning itself as the new powerbrokers in the Knesset. Magid explains the main platform points in this constellation of extremist parties, plus we look at the US reaction to the entry of the avowed racist faction into the Knesset.

Surkes then gives us the lowdown on her recent visit to Kibbutz Ketura where they have successfully grown 2000-year-old dates using ancient seeds that had been found in the Judean desert.

And finally, before Passover, the festival of spring, we hear about the cornucopia of royal, or Oncocyclus, irises, that are currently flowering in a rainbow of colors from northern to southern Israel, one of the few places in the world they can be found.

Discussed articles include:

Entering Knesset, far-rightists want to legalize outposts, fight ‘LGBT agenda’

‘Not on my watch’: Smotrich rules out cooperation with Islamist Ra’am party

The new ‘normal’? Far-right, anti-LGBT candidate set to enter Knesset

Ra’am officials, far-right Ben Gvir rule out joining forces in a coalition

US Democratic pro-Israel group ‘appalled’ by Kahanist faction’s entry to Knesset

As irises bloom, the king of Israel’s wildflowers is in the field

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PHOTO: Head of the Religious Zionism party Bezalel Smotrich (L) and incoming MK Itamar Ben Gvir at the party headquarters in Modi'in, on election night, March 23, 2021. (Sraya Diamant/Flash90)

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