The Commentary Magazine Podcast Rocketless
20 snips
Oct 2, 2026 
Abe Greenwald, Commentary’s executive editor and a commentator on politics and Israel, joins Seth Mandel, a senior editor focused on politics, foreign policy, and antisemitism. They examine Israel’s year without Gaza rockets, Netanyahu’s tangled political record, and why Israeli voters reject liberal Zionist expectations. They also discuss Hamas’s European terror strategy, Israel’s role in thwarting a UK airbase attack, and Britain’s increasingly hostile posture toward Israel.
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A Rocketless Year Shapes Israel’s Election
- Israel’s year without Gaza rockets strengthens Netanyahu’s argument that prioritizing Hamas’s defeat over hostage pressure prevented a Hamas victory.
- Opponents must explain why their proposed alternatives would have protected Israel better.
Israel Faces Condemnation Either Way
- Western critics would likely attack Israel regardless of its choice, accusing it either of destroying too much or intentionally preserving Hamas.
- Abe Greenwald connects this alternate narrative to existing conspiracy theories about Qatar and Israeli policy.
Replacing Netanyahu Will Not End Anti-Israelism
- Removing Netanyahu would not necessarily rehabilitate Israel’s image among its harshest critics.
- Once Netanyahu leaves, critics may shift from blaming one government to declaring Israel itself fundamentally illegitimate.