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 political correspondent Tal Schneider and Palestinian affairs reporter Aaron Boxerman, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

The new United Arab Emirates embassy opened this morning in Tel Aviv. Schneider was there -- and will explain who was not and why.

In 2015, new national security advisor Eyal Hulata -- a career analyst at the Mossad -- declared that the Iran nuclear deal, the JCPOA, is actually the "lesser evil" for Israel. Why is this significant?

This week, much media attention was paid to the denial of jailed PFLP member Khalida Jarrar from attending her daughter's funeral. Boxerman brings the nuance behind the story.

This week, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas phoned up new Israeli President Isaac Herzog. After a striking low under former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, could this be a warming of ties between the two peoples?

And finally, Schneider recently spoke with top United States political advisor Mark Mellman, who has accompanied Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on his rise to the top over the past decade. Mellman explains how now may be the time for a renewal of bi-partisan relations with the US -- but it comes with a big price tag.

Discussed articles include:

‘Just the beginning’: UAE opens Tel Aviv embassy as sides hail ties

In 2015, new national security adviser saw Iran nuclear deal as ‘lesser evil’

Israel bars jailed senior PFLP member from attending her daughter’s funeral

PA’s Abbas calls to congratulate Israel’s new president

Lapid’s US pollster sees 10 years of work come to ‘dramatic, emotional’ fruition

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IMAGE: UAE Ambassador to Israel Mohamed Al Khaja and Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the opening ceremony of the UAE embassy in Tel Aviv, July 14, 2021. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

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