Haaretz Podcast

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.

Amos Harel, a senior security analyst at Haaretz specializing in Israeli military affairs, discusses the recent Israeli attack on Hamas leaders in Doha. He questions the logic behind this decision, suggesting it may stem from political survival rather than concern for hostages. Harel highlights the strained U.S.-Israel relationship, particularly noting Trump's irritation without direct confrontation. He warns of potential retaliation and the fragile position of hostages, emphasizing the intricate dynamics at play amid the ongoing conflict.

Ben Samuels, a Haaretz Washington correspondent, shares insights on U.S. foreign policy and the Gaza conflict under Trump. He discusses how the White House has issued a 'blank check' to Israel, allowing aggressive actions against Gaza with little oversight. The shifting political landscape, particularly among Republicans questioning aid to foreign wars, shapes the conversation. He also highlights increasing skepticism within the Democratic Party and addresses the complexities American Jews face amid ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises.

Shlomo Ben-Ami, former Israeli Foreign Minister and a professor dedicated to the two-state solution, offers his candid views on the ongoing Gaza conflict and international responses. He critiques the push for Palestinian state recognition, calling it a sign of despair rather than a viable solution. Ben-Ami reflects on how the conflict has morphed from a 'legitimate war of self-defense' into 'merciless, cruel vengeance,' and explains why 'total victory' over Hamas is, in his eyes, unattainable.

Rabbi Yosef Blau, an 86-year-old Orthodox educator and former leader of Religious Zionists of America, finds himself at the center of controversy after authoring an open letter signed by 80 rabbis calling for action on Gaza's humanitarian crisis. He passionately discusses the shift in religious Zionism towards the extreme right and the moral imperative for compassion. Judy Maltz, a Haaretz correspondent, sheds light on the backlash faced by Blau and others who advocate for progressive stances, emphasizing the tension between traditional beliefs and social responsibility.

While the world has been focused on the devastation in Gaza, "the annexation of the West Bank has become reality," Hagar Shezaf, Haaretz's West Bank correspondent, said on the Haaretz Podcast. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Shezaf explained, has created a system "that is accelerating" the process of integrating the West Bank into state institutions "while keeping the empty shell of the Civil Administration that represents military rule." Shezaf is stepping down from her beat for a year of studies after six years of covering what she describes as a "deteriorating" situation in the territories, that is generally neglected by the Israeli media. Despite settlement expansion continuing apace, violent extremist settlers becoming increasingly bold, and the direct and indirect displacement of Palestinian civilians from their homes by the Israeli military, "the West Bank is totally uncovered by Israeli news journalists," Shezaf said. Most recently, her reporting called attention to the uprooting of 3,100 trees by the IDF alongside a village after an attempted terror attack by one of its residents. Shezaf described it as an "outrageous" act, and the army's attempts to justify it, she said, "cannot convince me that this is not collective punishment."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yarden Michaeli, a dedicated journalist at Haaretz, dives deep into the harrowing situation in Gaza’s hospitals, particularly the alarming rates of malnutrition among children. He shares shocking accounts from pediatric wards, where youngsters exhibit signs of severe starvation. Michaeli discusses the challenges of reporting under duress and the disconnect between official narratives and harsh realities. His emotional virtual tours reveal the dire humanitarian crisis, emphasizing the urgent need for awareness and action amidst ongoing suffering.

Israel is approaching the “horrifying” position of becoming a pariah state due to the Gaza war, former MK and Middle East expert Ksenia Svetlova said on the Haaretz Podcast, expressing deep worry that it was dangerously close to following in the footsteps of her native Russia.  Western nations' refusal to cooperate with Russia due to its aggression in Ukraine, she noted, means Moscow is now lagging behind in the fields of technology, science and beyond “by decades” –  and Israel could easily share that status soon. “A crackdown on civil society in a way that it happened in Russia will indeed deem Israel to the same level, and will impose on it the very unwanted and frankly horrifying status of a pariah," she said. Svetlova believes that without any “real pressure” from U.S. President Donald Trump’s White House, she is doubtful Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will reject any agreement that would end the conflict and halt the current Gaza City offensive.  Ongoing war, she noted, “is in the classic authoritarian playbook.”  Before that conversation, Haaretz’s Linda Dayan reports on last Sunday’s massive anti-war strike and demonstrations in support of a hostage deal/cease-fire.  Although the protest had no apparent effect on the Netanyahu government’s policies, she said, organizers “felt it was successful in that it showed that no matter what the country’s leadership says, the people are behind them, the people are united in what they want. To see a literal big percentage of the national population come out to make sure that people here and abroad know that this is what they believe – that really bolstered people.” Read more: Analysis by Ksenia Svetlova | Beyond Trump-Putin Optics, Zelenskyy Finds Ukraine's Opportunity in What Went Awry in Alaska Hundreds of Thousands of Israelis Flood Tel Aviv Demanding a Hostage Deal to End Gaza War Marching on the Gaza Border, Hostage Families Say: Gaza Takeover Plan Is a Death SentenceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shay Ringel, a culture reporter for Haaretz, dives into the challenges Israeli musicians face as they navigate artistic expression in a politically charged atmosphere. The podcast discusses a bold petition signed by 1,200 artists, urging soldiers to resist unlawful orders amid the Gaza conflict. Ringel highlights the generational divide, noting that younger artists largely abstain from the petition while older musicians confront severe backlash. He recounts a notable case of an artist retracting his signature to save a concert, illustrating the difficult balance between activism and career.

In this discussion, Amos Harel, a senior security analyst at Haaretz, delves into the mounting tensions between Israeli leadership and military officials regarding the invasion of Gaza City. He describes Netanyahu’s determination to expand military operations despite overwhelming fatigue among the Israeli public. Harel emphasizes the precarious balance of power, the potential consequences for hostages, and international pressures, particularly from the U.S., as pivotal factors affecting Israel’s strategy in the ongoing conflict.