Welcome to The Times of Israel's Lazar Focus. Each Friday, catch diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe.

This week, while Berman was in Florida to cover the summit between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan invited senior analyst Haviv Rettig Gur to sit in the hot seat and prepare five scenarios for Israel for 2026.

Rettig Gur came prepared -- plus one -- and the two spend the first half discussing the three main fronts of the war, Lebanon, Gaza and Iran.

In the second half, we learn about more domestic/political issues, including Rettig Gur's projection that Israel will begin to wean itself from US aid as the political winds shift in the States.

Lazar Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.

IMAGE: A man walks down to the Western Wall as the Dome of the Rock at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound appears in the background in the Old City of Jerusalem on December 4, 2025. (JOHN WESSELS / AFP)

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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.

Following the High Court's Wednesday ruling temporarily halting a transfer of funds to ultra-Orthodox schools, Sokol and Karmel discuss the implications of the petition against the transfer, reactions from ultra-Orthodox leadership, and the broader context of judicial reform amid budget tensions and coalition politics.

After Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened High Court President Isaac Amit over a ruling regarding Army Radio, Karmel reports on the ostensible incitement and the willingness expressed by some members of the government to defy court rulings against the backdrop of the coalition's attempts to neuter the power of the courts.

As several Haredi parties battle over appointments to the Jerusalem rabbinate, the argument has spilled over into national politics, says Sokol, highlighting divisions in ultra-Orthodox politics.

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

For further reading:

High Court halts transfer of NIS 1 billion to Haredi schools as it reviews case

Lapid petitions High Court to halt billion-shekel transfer to ultra-Orthodox schools

Supreme Court chief says Smotrich crossed ‘red line’ by pledging to ‘trample’ him

Smotrich vows to ‘trample’ Supreme Court president in blistering attack

Shas, Degel HaTorah trade barbs in fight for control of Jerusalem religious council

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: Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich leads a faction meeting at the Knesset on December 29, 2025 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

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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.

NY correspondent Luke Tress joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is set to become the city's leader at midnight as the apple falls in Times Square. According to a report from the Anti-Defamation League, at least 20 percent of Mamdani’s 400 administrative appointees are connected to anti-Zionist US activist groups, such as Students for Justice in Palestine. Tress zooms into the case of Catherine Almonte Da Costa, who was initially named as his administration’s director of appointments.

Tress delves into which of Mamdani’s policies are particularly worrisome for NY Jews, including security, schools and the annual Israel parade.

In the second half, we focus on the new Movement Against Antizionism (MAAZ) and how it sees itself as a new way of framing hatred against Jews. Scholar Adam Louis-Klein and MAAZ are part of a network of academics and activists pushing the Jewish community to focus on anti-Zionism as a distinct hatred, with its own ideology and tactics, moving on from the antisemitism paradigm as a framework for understanding discrimination against Jews. We debate whether this is needed even as it grows in traction in the US.

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

For further reading:

What are Mamdani’s policy proposals that could directly impact Jewish New Yorkers?

At least 20% of Mamdani appointees have ties to anti-Zionist groups, ADL says

High-level Mamdani appointee resigns after old antisemitic comments surface

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 and Ari Schlacht.

IMAGE: New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on December 17, 2025 in New York. (ANGELA WEISS / AFP)

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