Israel Update

Netanyahu gave a show at the UN, rebuking the weakness of Western leaders and defending Israel’s conduct of the war with facts. Gadi and Mike analyze the speech in detail. Meanwhile antisemitism is rearing its ugly head on the right, led by the ubiquitous Tucker Carlson. How widespread is it?

The debate about Charlie Kirk's legacy is actually a struggle over the future of the Republican Party - and not least over US-Israeli relations. Video:https://youtu.be/LZ8xduB0hPo

It is highly unlikely that the Israeli strike in Qatar was not coordinated with the White House. Are the Americans and Israelis employing a good cop / bad cop strategy? What does the Israeli operation mean for the balance of power in the region? Mike and Gadi discuss the implications of the strike. And they are by no means small.

Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara is the de facto domestic ruler in Israel’s crazy system of government. And she is undermining both democracy and the rule of law, as a case of arson outside the Prime Minister’s residence has shown. 

The Trump Administration has Israel's back. What is most notable about its day-after plan for Gaza is that the Palestinian Authority is not a part of it. Meanwhile, the administration also refuses to grant visas to the US to the PA leadership, so long as the PA maintains its pay-for-slay program, which grants financial aid to terrorists and their families. The message to leaders around the world who threaten to recognize a Palestinian state could not be clearer. Mike and Gadi discuss.

 Yes, we will update you on Gaza, but we too are getting tired of it. So we turn our attention to the distorted mirror that passes for news-media in Israel and outside it. Haaretz, the NYT, mainstream anti-Israeli propaganda, etc. Also: who gets Pulitzers and for what?   Link to the Haaretz podcast with Gen. Yaakov Amidror (interview begins 33:20):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6vBwE61dYQ&t=2012s https://youtu.be/GqV9Xamrisc

Delve into the complex narrative behind the media coverage of Gaza and its implications. Discover the challenges facing Israel's military and political strategies amid rising tensions and humanitarian concerns. Find out how upcoming elections impact the Israel-Hamas dynamic while the hosts balance serious discussion with humor. Learn about the intricacies of translation and its unexpected connections to intelligence activities in Iran. Finally, explore the chaos in Iran's financial system due to cyber warfare and the underground cryptocurrency economy.

The Israeli press is leading the “famine” campaign. Mike and Gadi discuss its reasons for lying. Also, on this episode – the crisis with the Druze population on both sides of the Israeli-Syrian border opens a window to the shifts in regional geopolitics. Mike reminds Israel not to act rashly, lest it ends up helping Iran return to Syria.

Mike and Gadi assess the strong message that the intimacy between Netanyahu and Trump sends to the world and to the region, as well as to domestic friends and rivals, in both Israel and the States. Then there's the deal, and the war that's dragging on in Gaza. Also in this episode: Gadi's essay on Tablet about the myth of "settler violence."

Political tensions in Israel take center stage, with Netanyahu's White House visit looming. The hosts dive into the emotional struggles of families with hostages and the impacts of recent political shifts. Geopolitical dynamics, including normalization talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia, are explored amid threats from Iran. Humorous anecdotes about media misinterpretations and personal mishaps sprinkle lightness into serious discussions. Join them for insightful commentary that blends personal stories with the complexities of Middle Eastern politics.