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 correspondent Sam Sokol and Arab affairs reporter Gianluca Pacchiani join host Jessica Steinberg for today’s episode.

Sokol discusses what led to a fierce debate in the Knesset Monday, after a commission that was looking into past defense purchases sent letters of inquiry to several officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid used the opportunity to attack the prime minister for his past actions and those of October 7 at a “Forty Votes Debate,” joined by New Hope party leader Gideon Sa’ar who said Netanyahu was acting like a “king” or an “emperor,” as the prime minister defended his decisions.

Sokol notes that the debate concluded with a first vote on legislation that raises the age at which reservists are no longer required to report for duty, while legislation is still pending regarding lowering the ages of exemption for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students.

Pacchiani talks about an interview with Palestinian laborers who have been out of work for the last eight months, part of a labor force of some 200,000 people who work mostly in construction and agriculture. He says there appears to be a political decision to push the Palestinian Authority toward bankruptcy.

He also mentions press reports about a dubious organized foreign press tour of the Beirut airport organized by the Lebanese government in an attempt to prove it was not hiding weapons imported from Iran.

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

‘Submarine affair’ inquiry finds Netanyahu’s decisions compromised national security

Knesset to vote this week on bill extending retirement age for IDF reservists

West Bank Palestinian laborers in despair after eight months without jobs in Israel

Reporters denied access to Beirut airport area where weapons suspected to be stored

THOSE WE HAVE LOST: Civilians and soldiers killed in Hamas’s onslaught on Israel

THOSE WE ARE MISSING: The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown

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