A NEW MIDDLE EAST - with Tal Becker and Nadav Eyal

99 snips

Oct 13, 2025

Guest

Tal Becker

Guest

Nadav Eyal

Nadav Eyal, a journalist focused on Israeli politics and regional affairs, and Tal Becker, a former Israeli diplomat and legal advisor, dive into the emotional aftermath of hostages being returned after two years. They discuss the deep connections between the hostage saga and Israeli identity, the pivotal role of Trump's diplomatic approach, and the ongoing complexities in Gaza. The conversation highlights the delicate balance between military success and political progress, stressing the importance of transforming momentary victories into lasting peace.

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INSIGHT

Hostage Returns As National Catharsis

The hostage returns marked a cathartic national turning point and signaled a potential end to Israel's longest war.
Simultaneous jubilation and grief will shape Israeli society and politics for years to come.

INSIGHT

Joy And Grief Intertwined

Nadav Eyal and Tal Becker described mixed emotions: ecstatic relief for returned hostages and deep sorrow for those lost.
That emotional blend will influence Israel's national narrative and future choices.

INSIGHT

Hostages As Symbol Of Agency

Tal Becker framed the moment as an act of reclaiming agency central to Zionism: 'bring them home' meant restoring control.
That symbolic victory reshapes how Israelis view state purpose and resilience.

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Today’s Episode:

On Monday, October 13th, all 20 live hostages were returned to Israel and reunited with their families after two years in Hamas captivity. Israelis all over the country erupted in cheer, with tens of thousands of people in Tel Aviv’s hostage square celebrating as news of returns trickled in. Hamas has also handed over just 4 of the 28 bodies of deceased hostages, in what Israel is calling a “blatant breach” of the ceasefire agreement.

While all of this unfolded, President Trump landed in Israel, where he met with former hostages and hostage families and gave an hour-long speech at the Knesset in which he lauded his administration’s support for Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s leadership throughout this war. President Trump then traveled to Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt, where European, Arab, and Muslim leaders are meeting to discuss Trump’s plan for the future of Gaza.

To discuss all the many dramatic events that took place on this historic day, in which President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that the war is over, Dan was joined by Ark Media Contributor Nadav Eyal and International Law Expert Tal Becker.

CREDITS:

ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor

ADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY - Executive Producer

MARTIN HUERGO - Sound Editor

MARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional Editing

MAYA RACKOFF - Operations Director

GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research

YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer