Ari Shavit, a prominent Israeli writer known for exploring Israel's identity and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, shares his insights on the aftermath of the October 7 attacks. He discusses the shift in national identity and the urgent need for a coherent strategy regarding Gaza. Shavit navigates the limitations of one-state and two-state solutions, advocating for mutual recognition to revive peace efforts. He also highlights the regional dynamics and security threats, particularly from Iran, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation for stability.
38:15
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Return to Basics
October 7th ended a 50-year golden era of Israeli relative security, bringing back a sense of existential threat.
The attacks evoked a feeling of returning to a more vulnerable past, similar to the period after Israel's founding.
insights INSIGHT
Blindness All Around
The Palestinian issue was largely absent from Israeli political discourse before the attacks.
Both conservative and liberal Israelis held differing forms of blindness regarding the conflict's nature.
insights INSIGHT
Three Phases
The year following the attacks saw three distinct phases: initial unity and resilience, followed by political dysfunction, and a recent resurgence of strength.
The Israeli government's continued power despite the war's events is a surprising outcome.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In 'Existential War: From Disaster to Victory to Resurrection', Ari Shavit argues that Israel faces an existential threat and must quickly rebuild its military and adopt a new national strategy. Drawing on conversations with top military experts, Shavit emphasizes the need for Israel to become both militarily strong and morally resilient, akin to the 'Iron Wall' concept. He critiques Israel's past defensive strategies and advocates for a more offensive approach to counter threats from Iran and its proxies.
My promised land
The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel
Ari Shavit
My Promised Land is a comprehensive and personal narrative history of Israel, written by Ari Shavit. The book combines family history, memoir, archival research, and interviews to provide a rich and nuanced account of Israel’s history from the late 19th century to the present. Shavit examines the complexities and contradictions of the Israeli condition, asking crucial questions about the origins, survival, and future of Israel. The book is praised for its balanced and empathetic portrayal of both Jewish and Palestinian experiences, although some critics have noted its controversial handling of certain historical events. It is a landmark work that brings to life epic history without being a conventional history book, deepening contemporary political understanding without being a one-sided polemic[2][4][5].
Hezbollah
Matthew Levitt
Matthew Levitt's "Hezbollah" offers a comprehensive analysis of the Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and militant group. The book delves into Hezbollah's origins, evolution, and global operations, exploring its complex relationship with Iran. Levitt examines Hezbollah's involvement in terrorism, criminal activities, and political maneuvering, providing insights into its strategies and capabilities. The book also sheds light on Hezbollah's regional influence and its impact on the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. It's a crucial resource for understanding the group's multifaceted nature and its enduring significance in the region.
A year has passed since Hamas’s October 7 assault on Israel sparked a brutal war in Gaza—one that is now spreading north into Lebanon and threatening to reel in bigger powers, including the United States.
But the war has always been bigger than Israel and Hamas, writes Ari Shavit in a new essay for Foreign Affairs. In his view, and the view of many Israelis, the main threat—not only to Israel but also to the free world—is Iran, backed by Russia and China.
Shavit, a leading Israeli writer, has spent decades trying to make sense of Israel's identity, democracy, and role in the Middle East. He is the author of My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel and Existential War: From Disaster to Victory to Resurrection. Foreign Affairs Editor Daniel Kurtz-Phelan spoke with him on October 4 about how Israelis are thinking about the conflict as it enters its second year—and what it will take to bring about peace.
The Foreign Affairs Interview 
