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 Times of Israel founding editor David Horovitz and senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.

With Horovitz and Rettig Gur having both recently written about would-be-kingmaker Naftali Bennett, we open today's show with a look at the Yamina party chair who wants to replace Netanyahu -- but won't commit to not backing him. What's his play at this stage? Has he limited his (and the center's) options by giving into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "left-shaming"?

Following a Channel 12 report claiming that the vast majority of Israelis being approved to enter the country during a general border closure are ultra-Orthodox, several parties accuse the prime minister of allowing entry "only for his voters" during the airport’s general closure. What's the policy and why is Israel the only democracy in the world to keep out its own citizens?

The Knesset gave final approval last week to controversial legislation allowing the Health Ministry to give local authorities and the Education Ministry personal details of residents who have not been vaccinated against the coronavirus. Is this a step too far in the battle between fighting COVID-19 and maintaining personal liberties?

And finally, with Sacha Baron Cohen once again in the Golden Globe spotlight, we look at his recent roles and the impact they have had.

Discussed articles include:

Bennett: I’m more right-wing than Bibi, but I don’t use the tools of hate

Derided by Netanyahu as Lapid ally, Bennett shifts course, moves closer to Sa’ar

Joining Bennett, Sa’ar says Lapid won’t be prime minister

Gantz, opposition scrutinize claim Haredim let into Israel while secular denied

Israel’s entry ban on citizens ‘unparalleled in democratic world,’ watchdog says

Knesset passes law to give cities info on unvaccinated residents

Sacha Baron Cohen: An outrageous comic with a serious point, and 2 Globes nods 

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on iTunes, Spotify, PlayerFM, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

PHOTO: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waiting for government ministers to join him before a special cabinet meeting for Jerusalem Day in Jerusalem, June 2, 2016. (Marc Israel Sellem/Pool)

Welcome to The Times of Israel&rsquo;s Daily Briefing: Your 15-minute audio update on what&rsquo;s happening in Israel, the Middle East, and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.
Today&rsquo;s panel comprises Times of Israel founding editor David Horovitz and senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur, along with host Amanda Borschel-Dan.
With Horovitz and Rettig Gur having both recently written about would-be-kingmaker Naftali Bennett, we open today's show with a look at the Yamina party chair who wants to replace Netanyahu -- but won't commit to not backing him. What's his play at this stage? Has he limited his (and the center's) options by giving into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "left-shaming"?
Following a Channel 12 report claiming that the vast majority of Israelis being approved to enter the country during a general border closure are ultra-Orthodox, several parties accuse the prime minister of allowing entry "only for his voters" during the airport&rsquo;s general closure. What's the policy and why is Israel the only democracy in the world to keep out its own citizens?
The Knesset gave final approval last week to controversial legislation allowing the Health Ministry to give local authorities and the Education Ministry personal details of residents who have not been vaccinated against the coronavirus. Is this a step too far in the battle between fighting COVID-19 and maintaining personal liberties?
And finally, with Sacha Baron Cohen once again in the Golden Globe spotlight, we look at his recent roles and the impact they have had.
Discussed articles include:
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/bennett-im-more-right-wing-than-bibi-but-i-dont-use-the-tools-of-hate/" data-qa="message_attachment_title_link">Bennett: I&rsquo;m more right-wing than Bibi, but I don&rsquo;t use the tools of hate</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/targeted-by-netanyahu-as-lapid-ally-bennett-forced-to-hitch-wagon-elsewhere/" data-qa="message_attachment_title_link">Derided by&nbsp;Netanyahu&nbsp;as Lapid ally, Bennett shifts course, moves closer to Sa&rsquo;ar</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/joining-bennett-saar-says-lapid-wont-be-prime-minister/" data-qa="message_attachment_title_link">Joining Bennett, Sa&rsquo;ar says Lapid won&rsquo;t be prime minister</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/lapid-liberman-accuse-netanyahu-of-allowing-air-travel-only-for-his-voters/" data-qa="message_attachment_title_link">Gantz, opposition scrutinize claim Haredim let into Israel while secular denied</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-entry-ban-on-citizens-unparalleled-in-democratic-world-watchdog-says/" data-qa="message_attachment_title_link">Israel&rsquo;s entry ban on citizens &lsquo;unparalleled in democratic world,&rsquo; watchdog says</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-passes-law-to-give-cities-info-on-unvaccinated-residents/" data-qa="message_attachment_title_link">Knesset&nbsp;passes law to give cities info on unvaccinated residents</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/sacha-baron-cohen-an-outrageous-comic-with-a-serious-point-and-2-globes-nods/" data-qa="message_attachment_title_link">Sacha Baron Cohen: An outrageous comic with a serious point, and 2 Globes nods</a>&nbsp;
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PHOTO: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waiting for government ministers to join him before a special cabinet meeting for Jerusalem Day in Jerusalem, June 2, 2016. (Marc Israel Sellem/Pool)

Welcome to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing: Your update on what’s important in Israel, the Middle East and The Jewish World.

Welcome to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing: Your update on what&rsquo;s important in Israel, the Middle East and The Jewish World.