State of Tel Aviv, Israel Podcast

Ziv Koren Is a peerless photojournalist in Israel and a global brand and name. Over the past 30-plus years he has cultivated unparalleled access into the private lives of prime ministers and been allowed to photograph some of Israel’s most highly trained and secretive counter-terrorism units in training. He covers global events – most recently the early Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians in that brutal and ongoing war. Koren has a brilliant eye as well as a detective’s instinct – sensing where that special angle may be – metaphorically and literally. In this episode we discuss some of his more memorable photos and moments in the field: with Bibi and Benzion Netanyahu at home playing chess, at an art gallery with Ariel Sharon, and an early and particularly brutal suicide bombing of a civilian bus in 1994 in central Tel Aviv, which shook him to his core and still does today. His photos from the scene also catapulted him from a talented young photojournalist to a global star, overnight. Koren is a master storyteller in words and images and we are fortunate to have a two-part podcast series exploring his oeuvre and the thoughts and stories behind the work. Each podcast will be followed by a photo essay of the images discussed in the episode. In Part I we focus on how he fell into his career by chance, covering terrorism, the West Bank and Gaza, Israeli leaders – up close and personal – and key world events. And then there are just the beautiful snaps. Cuz. Enjoy the audio and visual…..coming soon.Ziv Koren has been a professional photojournalist for over 30 years.His photojournalism and documentary projects focus mainly on humanitarian issues in Israel and around the world. Koren has covered some of the most dramatic events in the world and is considered to be one of the leading documentary photographers in our time. His award-winning photographs have been included in many solo and group exhibitions worldwide and have been featured in Time Magazine, Newsweek, the New York Times Magazine, The Sunday Times Magazine, Stern, Der Spiegel, Paris Match, Le Figaro, Corriere Della Sera Magazine and others. In 1995, Koren’s 1994 photograph of an exploded Israeli bus was selected as one of 200 most important images in the last 45 years by World Press Photo. He is also the frequent recipient of prestigious prizes such as the "Photo District News Award" (4 times), "Yann Geffroy Award", "International Colour Award" (twice) and "Picture of the Year" – POYi (twice). Koren was the subject of the documentary film "More Than 1000 Words" which was widely screened at film festivals around the world, garnering a dozen awards. He regularly lectures at workshops and universi- ties worldwide. He has published 22 photography books to date. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

In the summer of 1978, Bracha Goetz – a Harvard graduate who had just completed her first year of medical school – flew to Israel for a six week working stint at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. After two weeks, she had left medicine and was studying orthodox Judaism full-time in a women’s seminary. I met Bracha in the summer of ’85,  living in a trailer in a West Bank settlement, managing four young children and already a prolific author of children’s books. Having had no contact for close to 40 years, we spoke recently; about her views on spirituality, Judaism, the ethics of West Bank settlements and the particularly challenging period in Israel today. And no, she did not return to Medical School. One of the most moving – and entertaining – parts of our conversation is when she relives that phone call; when she told her mother and father that she was changing her life course. Very dramatically. And not returning to America. Bracha’s wild ride in life – especially with spirituality and Judaism – is particularly interesting to hear and contemplate in these days between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.Bracha Goetz is the Harvard-educated author of 41 Jewish children's books and a candid memoir for adults, Nourish the Soul, about her journey to becoming Torah observant.  You can meet her books at www.goetzbookshop.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

Tomorrow morning, the Israeli Supreme Court will convene to hear what may be its most important case ever. The coalition government led by PM Benjamin Netanyahu passed a law on July 24 that eviscerates the power of the Court to review a broad class of government decisions. Many Israelis believe that this unprecedented government action will erode democracy, as there are no other checks or balances on the actions of the Knesset. The government takes the position that it can act as it sees appropriate in light of the fact that it controls a majority of the Knesset. This constitutional crisis – in a country with no formal constitution, paradoxically – has wreaked havoc in Israel since January and is likely to escalate following this momentous hearing. Speaking with State of Tel Aviv to explain the layers of complexity – and why the coalition government is so determined to prevail – is Professor Yaniv Roznai, a constitutional law expert at Reichman University who has been deeply involved in these issues throughout. This podcast gets into the guts of the legal issues and what may lie ahead. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

Jason Greenblatt is one of those people who found himself in the right place at the right time and seized the moment. Having worked closely with Donald Trump as his in-house commercial real estate lawyer, he jumped at the opportunity to serve President Trump in the White House as a special adviser. Along with Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner and long-time lawyer, David Friedman, Greenblatt was engaged intensively in negotiating the breakthrough Abraham Accords; the Agreements that demonstrated that middle east peace was multi-faceted and did not require a final resolution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. With a front row seat in the capitals of the region for close to three years, Greenblatt – with his colleagues – achieved an agreement which changed the geopolitical reality of the middle east. Additional countries have since joined the original group and there will surely be more to follow. The benefit to the region – which has an enormous market bloc and diversified economy – positions the middle east to emerge in ways similar to the EU. Greenblatt talks about the “real” Donald Trump, who he admires as a leader and boss, the good days, the bad days and conjectures as to what may come. A brilliant speaker and deep thinker, time listening to Jason Greenblatt just flies by. Enjoy. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

Father of three daughters, husband, former elite combat reservist and top tier employment law lawyer, Yaron Kramer has also taken on the role of near full-time activist since January, 2023. He was among the founders of the grassroots protest organization – Brothers and Sisters in Arms – who recognized early on that the judicial reform agenda of the coalition government in Israel was an assault on liberal democracy.I have been meeting and speaking with Kramer – as everyone calls him – since the early days. In fact, he was among the organizers of the very controversial and attention-grabbing barricade of the Jerusalem offices of Kohelet Policy Forum. We covered that event in depth in podcast episode 5.Since those early days – when Kramer spoke of the urgency of the moment and the need to be “creative” and push the envelope – things have only gained momentum. Kramer reflects on the past 8 months and is girded for even more intense domestic conflict in the near future. But he – like so many Israelis – will not be discouraged. These are some of the bravest, fiercest and most resourceful warriors, anywhere. And they are turning their talents to saving liberal democracy in Israel.“Let’s say the truth,” says Kramer. “Netanyahu is weak. Netanyahu is not healthy. Everybody can see it.”I spoke with Kramer just before he left for a long August vacation with his family. He was in a reflective mood, but fiery. This conversation is a fascinating peek inside the mindset of a top leader of the civilian protest movement opposing judicial reform in Israel. His depth, passion and determination will impress, even if you do not agree.And me? I’m hiding out here, somewhere north of Toronto. Most beautiful place in the world in August. Enjoy the last of summer!State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

Among the many consequences being discussed relating to the coalition government’s judicial reform initiative is the fact that this significant policy shift exposes many senior Israeli defense, security and political leaders to criminal prosecution at the International Criminal Court. Expert Israeli international lawyer, Daniel Reisner, explains why the concern is real and even gets into one case where such an arrest was imminent but thwarted at the last minute. “The intention is out there and the potential for catastrophe is there…But anyone saying that there is no legal risk is just plainly wrong.” To date, the robustness of the Israeli judicial system – in terms of independence and sophistication – has served as a degree of “defense” for those who may be vulnerable. Supporters of judicial reform – including the Kohelet Policy Forum – seem intent on discrediting this assertion as being baseless. If the world spun on an axis of true openness and equality, that might be so, because on a purely legal academic basis, the ICC has no jurisdiction with respect to such matters. But everything is political and imperfect, including the ICC. Tune in for this lively and informative discussion. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

Today we get into the the coming showdown between the IDF and the extremist coalition government led by PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Last Friday, 169 senior, former defense and security professionals, placed a full page ad in a major Israeli newspaper, calling on the government to halt the judicial reform in order to further damage Israel’s preparedness for war or any form of regional conflict. They are not blowing smoke. Repeated assessments indicate that Israel’s security situation is dire. The instability caused by the judicial reform initiative is exacerbating matters to the point that the country’s security may be in serious danger. (Ret.) Lt. Col. Peter Lerner chats with State of Tel Aviv to unpack how unprecedented such a public statement is and what it all means. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

In this second part of our discussion with Professor Karnit Flug, former Governor of the Bank of Israel (2013-18) and currently Vice President of Research at Israel Democracy Institute and a professor at Hebrew University, we discuss the reaction of Wall Street and others to the passage in the Knesset of the Reasonableness Law on July 24. I spoke with Professor Flug on August 6, after she had an opportunity to assess the initial reactions and speculate as to what may follow. She is hoping that the coalition government not only pauses this very damaging judicial reform but that it totally changes its approach, before it’s too late. Not only is there a serious and negative economic impact but many people are pulling up stakes and leaving Israel or not returning from academic and other positions abroad. Listen up, PM Netanyahu! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

In this first part of a series, Professor Karnit Flug, Governor of the Bank of Israel from 2013-18, takes us on a tour de force, analyzing the impact of the judicial reform overhaul program on the economy in Israel. She is currently VP Research at Israel Democracy Institute and Professor at Hebrew University. Flug has a unique perspective, having worked at the Bank of Israel for close to 30 years. Throughout her career she worked closely with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and shares her candid insights as to how the man has changed over the decades. She no longer recognizes the once thoughtful, rational Bibi who always made decisions – even if one disagreed – in the best interest of the state and on a rational basis. We touch briefly on her career arc at the outset – which is extraordinary for a woman in the male-dominated field of economics, and go on to cover so much, including the very sensitive topic of ultra-orthodox demands for increased economic entitlements. Professor Flug is extremely worried about what the future will bring. This first discussion was on July 20, just days before the Reasonableness Law was passed in the Knesset, setting off more fierce and widespread protests throughout Israel. Everything in Israel is uncertain now and markets do not respond well to uncertainty. It shows – in a weakened shekel and so much more. We get into US-Israel relations, the whole nine yards.I suggest you take the time to read an article published on our website, stateoftelaviv.com, on November 15, 2022, entitled: “Fat Man, Thin Man. Will Netanyahu Upend his Economic Legacy?” The piece provides important background and is a really fascinating read. We’ve removed the paywall for a limited time for our listeners.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

Wednesday evening marked the onset of one of the most solemn days in the Jewish calendar;  the destruction of the First and Second Temples, which ended two brief periods of Jewish sovereignty in the land of Israel millenia ago. Many Israelis fear that we are on the verge of witnessing the fall of what we call the Third Temple Era, the 75 years since the state of Israel came to exist. The timing of this national crisis is mind-blowing.Professor Gideon Rahat explains the present chaos in Israel as a conflict between Israelis and Jews. Israel was created on May 14, 1948, when David Ben Gurion read the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming the establishment of a Jewish state that would uphold values of equality, freedom and justice, regardless of faith or ethnicity. In the decades since, the ultra-orthodox and other extremist constituencies have grown and they all mistrust the state and its institutions, deeply. The coalition government is held together by a deep hatred of various aspects of Israel – like an independent judiciary. Many would prefer a state in which Jewish religious law prevails over secular state law and authority. It’s as foundational a clash of values as is possible. We explore this unceasing quake that is roiling Israeli society, the economy and the security apparatus, and taking the country to the brink.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe