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 health reporter Nathan Jeffay join host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's episode.

Jordan’s ambassador to Israel Ghassan Majali’s visit to the Temple Mount on Tuesday caused a mini-diplomatic incident. How does this relate to the idea of the status quo?

On Monday, Hamas released a video taken of, it claims, Israeli prisoner Avera Mengistu, whose identity was seemingly verified by his family and confirmed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In terms of Hamas’s geopolitical strategy, why would the terror group release the video now?

A Bar Ilan University-produced peptide just may eventually stop tumors causing secondary cancer. Jeffay breaks it down for us.

The New York Times has reported that the United States is moving stockpiles of some 300,000 artillery shells from Israel to Ukraine. Could this affect Israel’s relations with Russia?

And finally, we hear about the science of silliness. Israel is a leader in medical clowning and a new study documents the method behind the madness.

Discussed articles include:

Diplomatic flurry as Jordan envoy briefly delayed at Temple Mount entrance

Jordan unveils new 50-dinar banknote featuring Temple Mount in Jerusalem

Mom of Gaza captive Mengistu: ‘His voice is different, I want to look into his eyes’

Netanyahu says Gaza captive Mengistu ‘is alive,’ Hamas responsible for his fate

Israeli scientists say substance prevents cancer’s spread in mice with 90% success

US quietly shipping ammo to Ukraine from massive stockpile in Israel — report

Science of silliness: Israeli study deconstructs medical clowning so MDs use it more

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IMAGE: The Dome of the Rock Mosque is reflected in rainwater as worshippers gather for Friday prayers on a cold, rainy day at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem, January 6, 2023. (AP Photo/ Mahmoud Illean)

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