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How do you get people who don’t talk to talk? In this special live Unpacking Israeli History, Noam Weissman sits down with Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and Israeli intelligence expert Ronen Bergman (author of Rise and Kill First) for a smart, funny, and deeply human look at the Mossad, Shin Bet, and Israel’s security establishment. Recorded in front of a packed audience at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, Bergman explains how he persuaded hundreds of operatives to open up, why secrecy and ego can be dangerous, and why he believes Israel’s real “secret weapon” is democracy and accountability. Then, the discussion turns to the hardest question of all—how October 7 happened—through the lens of misread signals, misallocated attention, and hubris. It's a conversation that’s messy, meaningful, and genuinely accessible.
Ronen Bermgan writes for the New York Times and Yedioth Ahronoth.
He is the author of Rise and Kill First The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations
To sponsor an episode or to be in touch, please email noam@unpacked.media.
Check out this episode on Youtube. This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media brand.
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For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:
Jewish History Nerds
Soulful Jewish Living
Stars of David with Elon Gold
Wondering Jews
