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.

Political reporters Ariela Karmel and Sam Sokol join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

After lawmakers on Wednesday voted in favor of a preliminary reading of a highly controversial bill to establish a politically appointed probe into the October 7, 2023, failures, rather than a state commission of inquiry, Sokol discusses the bill, created by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political allies to satisfy critics demanding an investigative commission but with membership that the governing coalition can control.

Another one of Netanyahu's allies, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, infuriated the ultra-Orthodox parties in the coalition, reports Karmel, when he voted in favor of a civil marriage bill, further destabilizing the already shaky coalition.

Karmel also discusses statements made by Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli, one of the first members of the prime minister's coalition to comment on the explosive allegations against Netanyahu in the Qatargate affair, in a major departure from the usual rhetoric of the Netanyahu government.

Sokol wraps up the podcast with a report about a gathering of the English-speaking Haredi community in Ramat Beit Shemesh, as they attended an event run by leading rabbis about dodging the IDF draft.

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

Contentious law for politically appointed Oct. 7 probe passes preliminary Knesset reading

Knesset Speaker Ohana votes for civil marriage bill, enraging ultra-Orthodox parties

Chikli backs probe of Qatargate allegations, in first such comment from a minister

Haredi rabbis push English-speakers to dodge IDF draft, worried they might join up

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

IMAGE: Bereaved October 7, 2023 families during a plenum session at the Knesset on December 24, 2025 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash 90)

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