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 Daily Briefing.

With Israel’s negotiating team remaining in the Qatari capital Doha overnight, Horovitz reviews the latest on the Gaza ceasefire and says US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff appears to be the only person who can push Israel toward finalizing a deal. Horovitz reminds us that it was Witkoff who prodded Israel toward the first stage of the deal, which brought 33 hostages home, eight of them dead.

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Horovitz also notes that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition are on a tight deadline to pass the budget by March 31, and if they fail, the government will fall. Horovitz notes that Netanyahu has to mollify far-right coalition partner Bezalel Smotrich, who has threatened to bolt if Israel doesn’t return to war in Gaza, as well as the ultra-Orthodox, who want a permanent IDF exemption for Haredi yeshiva students.

At the same time, also on the docket for the coalition is legislation that seeks to neuter the Supreme Court and give the political echelon control over how Israel’s judges are selected.

Horovitz also talks about US President Donald Trump’s softening of some of his previous comments regarding the relocation of Gazans, underlining how complicated the entire topic is for all those involved.

Please see today’s ongoing liveblog for more updates.

Steve Witkoff, Israel looks to you

Meet Adam Boehler, Trump’s complacent, confused and dangerously naive hostage envoy

Coalition to drive forward budget, judicial appointments bills in intense Knesset push

Trump says ‘nobody’s expelling any Palestinians,’ in apparent softening of Gaza plan

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