Call Me Back - with Dan Senor Did Israel Win? - with Micah Goodman
28 snips
Nov 17, 2025 Micah Goodman, an Israeli public intellectual and bestselling author, joins the conversation to explore Israel's current geopolitical state following two years of conflict. He examines the failed multi-front assault by Hamas and how October 7th marked a pivotal moment in anti-Israel strategy. Micah highlights the surprising national unity among Israelis during the war, contrasting it with ongoing internal divisions. He discusses the need for normalization with regional states, emphasizing how it could transform military gains into lasting legitimacy for Israel.
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Two Different Wars, Two Judgments
- Israelis assess victory differently depending on whether you're asking about Hamas specifically or the broader Iran-led axis.
- Micah Goodman says Israel looks more ambivalently victorious against Hamas but clearly successful against Iran's ecosystem.
The Three-Stage Enemy Strategy
- Iran's strategy evolved from armies to terrorism to a hybrid 'army of terrorists' that hides among civilians.
- Goodman argues this third-stage approach could have succeeded if the proxies had coordinated their attacks.
Failure Of The Coordinated Shock
- October 7th nearly achieved the intended multi-front collapse but failed because the axis lacked unified coordination.
- Goodman says their winning strategy was real, but insufficient unity prevented Israel's destruction.
