

Israel Policy Pod
Israel Policy Forum
A weekly podcast that goes beyond the headlines to bring you analysis from Israel Policy Forum experts and distinguished guests.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 4, 2024 • 1h
New Year, New Phase
With the war in Gaza apparently entering its third phase, IPF Atid Director Shanie Reichman hosts Tel Aviv-based journalist and Policy Advisor Neri Zilber to discuss the current state of play in the Israel-Hamas war, Israeli politics, and the region. They discuss the reported assassination of senior Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut, the social implications of Israel’s military reservists beginning to return home, the latest on the Israeli hostages who remain in captivity, the High Court’s decision to strike down the reasonableness law, and more. —As Israel pushes forward with its war in Gaza and grapples with political turmoil at home, Israel Policy Forum experts have been providing timely, clear-headed, and sober analysis on the ongoing conflict. In TIME Magazine, Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow and Israel Policy Forum CEO David A. Halperin explain why the U.S. must push for a proactive Israeli vision on the day after in Gaza that is compatible with its regional allies’ priorities. Read here.In a CNN interview with Christiane Amanpour, Israel Fellow Nimrod Novik, a former advisor to Shimon Peres, discusses Israel’s reported killing of senior Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri. Watch here.In this week’s Koplow Column, Michael Koplow unpacks the High Court’s decision to strike down the reasonableness law and why Netanyahu and the opposition should leverage this moment to resolve a question at the core of the debate over the judiciary. Read here.In the Liberal Patriot, Michael Koplow writes on how the U.S. can bridge the gap with Israel over the question of the PA returning to Gaza. Read here.If you rely on Israel Policy Forum for credible and thoughtful analysis, please make a gift today so our work can continue to have an impact.Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Bluesky, and subscribe to our email list here.

Dec 20, 2023 • 55min
The Gaza War, Personally and Professionally
Haaretz Military Correspondent Amos Harel joins Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber to share his experience since October 7 in balancing his role as an Israeli citizen and professional journalist. They assess the state of Israel's military operation against Hamas in Gaza and analyze the larger regional threats and dynamics at play.—Nearly two months since the horrific Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7, the immense challenges ahead are still coming into focus. Our policy, community, and next-generation leaders are on the front lines in an increasingly hostile, complex, and polarized moment. They need our support—and we need yours.Please consider making a gift today to ensure that we can continue to be a source of credible analysis and constructive ideas. Donate now here.Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Bluesky, and subscribe to our email list here.

Dec 13, 2023 • 52min
The War Continues, Politics Comes Back
In this episode of Israel Policy Pod, IPF Atid Director Shanie Reichman hosts Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber for their last wartime update of 2023. They discuss the recent stories from Israel's military operation in southern Gaza, Netanyahu's latest political moves amidst rising domestic friction, the challenges facing the U.S.-Israel relationship, the mounting international pressure on Israel, and more.Read our new policy report, Starting From the Ground Up:U.S. Policy Options for Post-Hamas Gaza, here.—Nearly two months since the horrific Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7, the immense challenges ahead are still coming into focus. Our policy, community, and next-generation leaders are on the front lines in an increasingly hostile, complex, and polarized moment. They need our support—and we need yours.Please consider making a gift today to ensure that we can continue to be a source of credible analysis and constructive ideas. Donate now here.Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Bluesky, and subscribe to our email list here.

Dec 7, 2023 • 1h 5min
Today and the Day After in Gaza
In this episode of Israel Policy Pod, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow and Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Senior Director of Policy Research Shira Efron to discuss the state of affairs in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and their forthcoming policy report, Starting From the Ground Up: U.S. Policy Options for Post-Hamas Gaza, releasing early next week.—Nearly two months since the horrific Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7, the immense challenges ahead are still coming into focus. Our policy, community, and next-generation leaders are on the front lines in an increasingly hostile, complex, and polarized moment. They need our support—and we need yours. Please consider making a gift today to ensure that we can continue to be a source of credible analysis and constructive ideas. Donate now here. Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Bluesky, and subscribe to our email list here.

Nov 30, 2023 • 53min
A Temporary Ceasefire
On this week’s episode, IPF Atid Director Shanie Reichman hosts Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber for another update amid a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas that has allowed for the release of over 90 hostages. They discuss the details of the deal that has enabled the release of hostages, what a resumption of the ground invasion of Gaza may look like, how the situation is viewed by the U.S., the PA, and other key players, the mood of the Israeli public, and more.For all of our resources on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, including a timeline of events from 1949 until now, explore our new Israel at War resource hub.Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Bluesky, and subscribe to our email list here.

Nov 14, 2023 • 1h 7min
The Complex Challenges of the Israel-Hamas War
On this week’s episode, IPF Atid Director Shanie Reichman hosts Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber for another wartime update as the IDF progresses in its ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. They discuss the unfolding situation at Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital and other key locations to watch in the Strip, the status of efforts to secure the release of the hostages, the backstory of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, scenarios for the day after in Gaza, the state of play in the West Bank, and more. For all of our resources on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, including a timeline of events from 1949 until now, explore our new Israel at War resource hub.Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Bluesky, and subscribe to our email list here.

Nov 1, 2023 • 1h 3min
A New Phase and a Long War Ahead
On this week’s episode, IPF Atid Director Shanie Reichman hosts Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber for a wide-ranging conversation on the newly-entered phase in the Israel-Hamas war. They discuss Israel’s methodical launch of a ground offensive and surrounding storylines such as calls for a ceasefire, Netanyahu’s failed Gaza strategy leading up to October 7, civilian casualties in Gaza, escalating settler violence in the West Bank, and the ongoing hostage crisis.For all of our resources on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, including a timeline of events from 1949 until now, explore our new Israel at War resource hub.Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Bluesky, and subscribe to our email list here.

Oct 25, 2023 • 56min
On the Ground, Amid the Pending Ground Invasion
On this week’s episode, IPF Atid Director Shanie Reichman hosts Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber for a wide-ranging conversation on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. They discuss various issues impacting the multiple fronts of this conflict, including the Israeli hostages in Gaza, humanitarian aid for Gaza, Hamas’ history as a spoiler for efforts to promote Israeli-Palestinian peace, violence in the West Bank, and Israelis’ resilience as the country responds to its greatest tragedy since the Holocaust.For all of our resources on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, including a timeline of events from 1949 until now, explore our new Israel at War resource hub.Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Bluesky, and subscribe to our email list here.

Oct 19, 2023 • 55min
Seeing Through the Fog of War
On this week’s episode, IPF Atid Director Shanie Reichman returns to the podcast to discuss the ongoing Israel-Hamas war with Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber. They reflect on Israelis’ trauma almost two weeks after the devastating October 7 attacks, discuss the explosion at al-Ahli hospital in Gaza and the role of misinformation, unpack President Biden’s visit to Israel and the state of U.S.-Israel ties, and provide an overview of how the conflict has impacted other states in the region. In this week’s Koplow Column, Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow outlined three key issues that Israeli leaders should grapple with as they prepare to destroy Hamas in Gaza.Writing in The Messenger, Michael outlined the implications of self-identified progressives abandoning American Jews in the wake of October 7th. In The Christian Science Monitor, Israel Policy Pod host Neri Zilber unpacked the uncertainty surrounding how Israel plans on achieving its aims in Gaza.On this week’s Israel Policy Pause, Senior Policy and Communications Associate Alex Lederman recapped President Biden’s emergency visit to Israel this week.Watch this week’s Israel Policy Briefing with Haaretz Military Correspondent Amos Harel on the latest development on the ground and Israel’s strategic challenges.For all of our resources on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, including a timeline of events from 1949 until now, explore our new Israel at War webpage.Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Bluesky, and subscribe to our email list here.

Oct 12, 2023 • 59min
Unimaginable Tragedy and Unfolding War: Israel Mourns and Mobilizes
On October 7, 2023, Israelis faced the unthinkable when Hamas militants breached the Gaza border, carried out a violent rampage, took hundreds of Israelis hostage, and indiscriminately slaughtered at least 1,300 people—mostly civilians, many of them women, children, and elderly. These attacks resulted in the most Jews killed in a single day since the Holocaust. On this week’s episode, IPF Atid Director Shanie Reichman joins Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber to reflect on the darkest day in Israeli history. They reflect on the atrocities committed by Hamas, Israelis’ collective trauma and shattered sense of security, and how the country could have been so ill-prepared for Saturday’s onslaught. Shanie and Neri touch on the history of Hamas and its ideology, analyze how this moment has reshaped Israeli politics and social dynamics, discuss the ongoing military operation and mobilization, and strive to find hope for peace during these days of despair. In this week’s Koplow Column, Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow explained how this tragedy shattered Israelis’ sense of security, their leaders’ legacies, and American Jewish politics.In The Forward, Michael Koplow wrote on why Palestinian society and leadership must speak out to condemn the Hamas attack. In The Hill, Michael Koplow detailed how the U.S. should support Israel as the war unfolds. In The Christian Science Monitor, Israel Policy Pod host Neri Zilber unpacked how the shared trauma of this conflict is reshaping Israeli society and driving Israelis to put aside recent differences. In the Financial Times, Neri Zilber discussed the implications of Israel’s new wartime unity government.In Defense Opinion, IPF Atid Coordinator of Chapter Engagement and Strategy Rebecca Mandelbaum and Senior Policy and Communications Associate Alex Lederman co-authored an article on the strategic challenges Israel must consider as it prepares to invade Gaza.Our recent statements: October 7: Israel Policy Forum Outraged by Hamas Attacks, Stands in Support of Israel. Read here. October 10: Israel Policy Forum Commends President Biden for Support of Israel. Read here.October 11: Israel Policy Forum Welcomes Formation of Emergency War Government in Israel. Read here.October 12: In solidarity with Israel, CEO David Halperin offers words of strength, support, and hope for the future. Watch here.Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Bluesky, and subscribe to our email list here.