

Haaretz Podcast
Haaretz
From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – a weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.
Episodes
Mentioned books

20 snips
Oct 16, 2025 • 35min
'Hamas isn’t going anywhere': Amos Harel on the hard realities facing Trump and Netanyahu in postwar Gaza
Amos Harel, a senior security analyst at Haaretz, dives into the complexities of post-war Gaza and Hamas's unyielding presence. He highlights the significance of the recent hostage returns while expressing concerns about Hamas's determination to retain power and weapons. The discussion also explores the potential for international forces in Gaza, the ongoing humanitarian crisis, and Trump's provocative call for Netanyahu's pardon. Harel critiques political dynamics and reflects on the implications for regional diplomacy in the wake of the conflict.

8 snips
Oct 13, 2025 • 30min
How the Gaza war changed a generation of young Jews around the world, in their own words
Judy Maltz, the Jewish World Editor at Haaretz, explores how the Gaza war reshaped the perspectives of Jewish students worldwide. She reveals that while many initially supported Israel’s actions, none maintained that stance after two years of conflict. The podcast dives into students' contrasting campus experiences and their evolving identities—some stepping up to confront antisemitism, while others became disillusioned with Israeli policies. It’s a revealing look at the generational shifts within the Jewish diaspora sparked by a tumultuous period.

20 snips
Oct 9, 2025 • 29min
How Trump forced the Gaza deal through: Behind the scenes with Anshel Pfeffer
Anshel Pfeffer, The Economist's Israel correspondent and Netanyahu biographer, shares his insights on the recent Gaza cease-fire deal. He emphasizes that while political willpower was essential, the deal was a complex process influenced by various factors, including Trump's pressure. Pfeffer anticipates mixed feelings among Israelis and discusses how Netanyahu will likely reshape the narrative to benefit his political ambitions ahead of elections. He also reflects on the long-term implications of the war for Israeli-Palestinian relations.

10 snips
Oct 6, 2025 • 39min
'I see you a Nakba, and raise you a Holocaust': Mo Husseini and Julie Cohen on their 'optimistic' Gaza war documentary
In this engaging discussion, Mo Husseini, a Palestinian-American filmmaker and activist, teams up with Julie Cohen, a Jewish-American documentary filmmaker known for her work on Ruth Bader Ginsburg. They dive into their documentary, 'The Path Forward,' which showcases Israeli and Palestinian activists collaborating post-October 7. Husseini emphasizes the need to see humanity on both sides, while Cohen critiques the media's focus on violence. Both believe in maintaining hope, even amidst the ongoing conflict, as they explore the transformative potential of dialogue.

4 snips
Oct 4, 2025 • 26min
'Israelis have acclimated to a reality that should be unbearable': Joshua Leifer on two years of war
Historian and journalist Joshua Leifer explores the profound shifts in Israeli society two years post-October 7, 2023. He highlights the dissonance between right-wing denial and the mainstream's complex grappling with the ongoing conflict. Leifer addresses the impact of protests on democracy and critiques Netanyahu's military rhetoric, discussing its implications for Israel's global standing. He also reflects on his decision to move to Israel, believing that true change requires direct engagement in the realities he's critiquing, amidst a culture wrestling with its identity.

16 snips
Sep 30, 2025 • 13min
Special episode: What you need to know about Trump's new Israel-Gaza peace plan | with Amir Tibon
Amir Tibon, a Haaretz columnist and expert on Israeli politics and security, provides a deep dive into Trump's new 20-point peace plan for Israel and Gaza. He highlights the plan’s lofty goals but criticizes its lack of detail and realistic implementation prospects. Tibon discusses the challenges Netanyahu faces from the hard-right coalition, Hamas's potential rejection, and the complicated role of the Palestinian Authority. He expresses skepticism about the feasibility of Trump’s strategy for quick peace, suggesting more pressure is needed for meaningful change.

12 snips
Sep 25, 2025 • 32min
Have American Jews pushed Israel toward extremism or moderation?
Rabbi Adam Ferziger, a professor at Bar-Ilan University and author of 'Agents of Change,' explores the tensions and transformations within Israeli Judaism. He discusses the importance of humility during the High Holidays, especially amid current conflicts. Ferziger highlights the emergence of moderate Orthodox Judaism influenced by American Jews, stressing that religious belief should promote understanding rather than division. He also addresses the complex dynamics of political identities among observant Jews in Israel, emphasizing dialogue as a path forward.

Sep 22, 2025 • 44min
German ambassador: 'It's not a coincidence that so many Israelis are considering moving abroad'
Steffen Seibert, the German ambassador to Israel and former government spokesperson, shares insights on the evolving dynamics between Germany and Israel, particularly post-Gaza war. He expresses concerns over rising antisemitism across Europe and the mounting exhaustion in Israel's society. Seibert emphasizes Germany’s critical stance on war escalation while reiterating unwavering friendship towards Israel. He also discusses democratic principles, drawing contrasts between German and American approaches to free speech and the importance of democratic guardrails in turbulent times.

Sep 18, 2025 • 33min
'Deeply harmful and dangerous': Trump undermines Jewish Studies at U.S. colleges
Lila Corwin-Berman, Paul and Sylvia Steinberg Professor of American Jewish History at NYU, warns about Trump's administration's influence on Jewish Studies. She argues that funding agreements are turning scholars into 'court Jews', compromising academic freedom. Corwin-Berman also addresses the heightened tensions and anti-Semitism on campuses following the Gaza conflict. Plus, insights on how recent cultural moments, like remarks from Hannah Einbinder, reflect shifting identities among young American Jews.

Sep 16, 2025 • 39min
'Enough war, bloodshed, and destruction': Israel, Gaza and what comes next
This special episode of the Haaretz Podcast features voices from the September 14 conference held in Toronto jointly sponsored by the New Israel Fund of Canada and JSpace Canada. The event brought together current and former Israeli and Canadian politicians, journalists, academics with Israeli and Palestinian peace advocates to assess the current troubling conflict in Gaza. Speakers also explore a roadmap for peace, Palestinian sovereignty, the crisis of democracy and growing authoritarianism in Israel and around the world. Among those included in the podcast: MKs Ayman Odeh and Naama Lazimi; former Justice Minister Dan Meridor; and Julie Dabrusin, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change. In her remarks, Democrats MK Lazimi said the “profound humanitarian disaster” playing out in Gaza is “not only a Palestinian tragedy; it is also a moral stain and a security risk for Israel.” Calling for an end to the bloodshed in Gaza, Lazimi said that the only "alternative to terror and war are secure peace agreements.” Meridor paired his harsh critique of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s autocratic direction with a call to fight the government’s assault on the Supreme Court and other gatekeepers of democracy. All Israelis and those who care about the Jewish state, he said, “should ask himself, as I try to do every day, not only what's going to be the future, but what do I do today to stop it.” Read more: Watch the full conference from Toronto on YouTube Haaretz conference in New York explores Israel's fractured democracy during Gaza war IDF says ground incursion into Gaza City has begun; Defense Chief: Gaza is burningSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.