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 Palestinian and Arab Affairs reporter Aaron Boxerman and Health reporter Nathan Jeffay, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

To begin with, we find out just who is Mansour Abbas, the head of the Arab-Israeli party Ra'am, who with four seats in the Knesset arguably holds the key to forming the next government. What does Ra'am stand for, and how is its approach similar to ultra-Orthodox parties that have traditionally joined coalitions?

Next, we hear about the devastating second wave of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in the Palestinian Authority and Gaza, and which vaccinations are currently being administered.

Health reporter Jeffay then takes up the gauntlet with a speed round of COVID studies and innovations, including a nasal spray which its inventor Dr. Gilly Regev calls, "a hand sanitizer for the nose."

Discussed articles include:

How Islamist Ra’am broke Arab politics and may win the keys to the government

Palestinian Authority receives 100,000 doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccine

Report: Thousands of Gazans to be vaccinated, so they can pass through Israel

Pfizer and Moderna vaccines 90% effective in preventing COVID, US finds

Cops said instructed not to enforce mask-wearing outdoors

Israeli-made oral COVID vaccine found to generate antibodies in pigs

‘Life-saving’ nose spray that kills 99.9% of viruses begins production in Israel

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IMAGE: Ra'am party leader Mansour Abbas casts his vote at a voting station in Maghar, during the Knesset Elections, on March 23, 2021. (Flash90)

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