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 environmental reporter Sue Surkes join host Jessica Steinberg for today's podcast.

Horovitz discusses Benjamin Netanyahu's quizzical decision to appoint extremist MK Avi Maoz as a deputy minister at the helm of a new “national Jewish identity” government agency, an appointment that will give him control over external subjects taught at schools.

He also looks at the newly released details of the coalition agreement that will give Bezalel Smotrich's far-right Religious Zionism party extensive influence over the Israeli government’s civilian activities in the West Bank.

Surkes discusses the most recent findings regarding Israeli pension funds that hold some $17 billion in companies that profit from oil, gas, coal and other polluting energy sources.

Horovitz talks about Iran and the increase in press information being disseminated lately regarding the disbanding of its morality police and hijab laws.

Surkes looks at the recent sharp increase in bird flu in Europe and whether it's spreading in Israel, given Israel's location as an avian highway and the predominance of cranes and other birds stopping in the country during the winter months.

Discussed articles include:

Likud on back foot as dozens of towns say won’t let anti-LGBT MK dictate education

Deal will reportedly give Smotrich say in filling sensitive West Bank defense posts

Smotrich primed for authority over key West Bank appointments in deal with Likud

At least NIS 57.6 billion of Israelis’ pensions invested in fossil fuels — watchdog

Bird flu detected in Israel in 2nd case within days

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IMAGE: Noam head Avi Maoz speaks during a function meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on November 28, 2022. Photo by Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90

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