Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Times of Israel founding editor David Horovitz joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

Horovitz speaks about recent comments made by Defense Minister Israel Katz about the IDF remaining in Gaza, as a way of reiterating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's positioning in the current ceasefire negotiations.

He also looks at what's being said about a possible hostage deal and a sense of progress on some kind of three-phase deal, no longer conditioned by Hamas on Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, given a clear softening of Hamas' position.

Horovitz discusses the latest in Netanyahu's government coalition, which was able to pass budget legislation even when Otzma Yehudit's leader, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir voted against parts of the budget legislation as a show of defiance and disagreement over the judicial overhaul and his desire to fire Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.

He also reviews what's being said by Syrian rebel leader Abu Muhammad al-Julani, and the need to be wary about al-Julani's statements, as a known fighter with a US bounty on his head, even though he speaks about his desire to build a better country. Syria is an unknowable quantity at the moment, says Horovitz.

For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.

Discussed articles include:

Katz said to tell MKs hostage-truce deal ‘closer than ever,’ echoing Hamas optimism

Trump says he’s ‘trying to help very strongly’ to bring hostages home

Otzma Yehudit votes against state budget, as coalition splits over bid to fire AG

Syrian Islamist leader says rebel groups to be disbanded, minority rights protected

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.

IMAGE: Hostage family members and supporters protest outside the Likud headquarters in Tel Aviv, December 17, 2024. (Photo by Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)