Welcome to the Times of Israel's daily briefing.

Today's Tuesday, February 3rd.

I'm your host, Amanda Borchelle Dan, here in our Jerusalem office with diplomatic correspondent, Laser Baraman.

Laser, thank you so much for joining me today.

Happy to be here, as always.

And it's our first time actually here, Laser.

And, you know, on the way into the office, I saw the most beautiful rainbow, and I couldn't

help but thinking, how great is Judaism that we have blessings for all sorts of different things,

such as rainbows, or the first time doing something in a very special way?

So, Laser, I wonder if you could help me out here and put on your chaplain's hat again and do the blessing that we recite in Judaism for something new. Sure. So that would be the She Hechiyanu, and we are here in our new studio. Looks beautiful. I hope we look beautiful as well. Baruchat Heunay, Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah, Shachianu, and came

and we're gaiihanu, and hegianu,

lazman hamean. Amen. So today we're going to talk about the reopening

of the Rafakh crossing four pedestrians into Egypt yesterday.

We will also discuss the talks, the upcoming talks in Istanbul

for Iran nuclear negotiations. We'll also hear

about Lazer's interview last week with Gal Hirsch, who is the PMO, the Prime Minister's

office point person for the hostages. All of this and more when we're back.

This is Israel's story.

He could feel the ticking of the clock.

On their nightly debrief calls, General Sege of the military at Chay, was sounding increasingly anxious.

Both men knew that with each passing day, the window of opportunity was closing.

The Shah's regime was crumbling, and El-Al flights were having ever more trouble landing.

...