Normally, foreign policy doesn't play a major role in presidential politics, but the 2024 race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump has been an exception. Israel's wars in Gaza and Lebanon have become hotly debated issues. Susan Glasser, a staff writer at The New Yorker and co-author of “The Divider,” which chronicled the first Trump term, spoke to Haaretz Podcast host Allison Kaplan Sommer on the eve of one of the closest elections is U.S. history. Glasser discussed the potential impact of the election on the Middle East and global politics, how a second Trump term would differ radically from a Harris presidency as far as U.S.-Israel relations are concerned, the influence of big Trump donors like Miriam Adelson and Elon Musk on the race, and her experience covering Trump's massive Madison Square Garden rally, the climactic pre-election event for Trump and the MAGA movement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council, and Peter Deutsch, former Florida congressman, engage in a fiery debate over the 2024 election's implications for Israel and the Jewish community. Soifer champions Kamala Harris, praising her unprecedented military assistance to Israel. In contrast, Deutsch defends Donald Trump, arguing he prioritized Jewish safety during his presidency. The conversation dives into contrasting foreign policy approaches, rising anti-Semitism, and the complexities of Jewish voter sentiment. It's a riveting clash of ideologies!

Bar Peleg, a brave journalist who reported from southern Israel during the October 7 attack, shares his harrowing experiences under fire. Sheren Falah Saab brings attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, emphasizing the shared suffering of families on both sides of the conflict. Linda Dayan discusses the plight of hostages and their families, revealing the emotional toll on journalists grappling with grief and duty. Together, they reflect on the vital role of journalism in humanizing stories and fostering empathy amid chaos.

Orna Mizrahi, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies and a veteran of Israel's security establishment, shares her insights on the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah. She discusses the strategic decision-making post-Hamas attacks and argues that delayed military action against Hezbollah was a calculated risk. Mizrahi also highlights the challenges Israel faces managing conflicts on multiple fronts and the enduring resilience of Hezbollah, exacerbated by Iranian support, ultimately raising questions about regional stability.

Yossi Melman, a Haaretz columnist and expert in strategy and intelligence, shares vital insights on the Israel-Iran conflict. He cautions against targeting Iran's nuclear sites, emphasizing the dangerous implications for global oil markets. Melman critiques the performance of Israeli intelligence before and after October 7, pointing out a significant gap in effectiveness. He underscores the need for a calculated military response while advocating for a strategic approach to diplomacy amidst rising regional tensions.

Hannah Wacholder-Katzman, mother of peace activist Chaim Katzman who was killed by Hamas, shares her poignant journey of grief and advocacy. She recounts the challenges of mourning amid national trauma and reflects on how hostility from some segments complicates her advocacy for hostage families. Despite feeling more supported by the U.S. government than Israel's, she emphasizes the need for unity and understanding, while highlighting the politicization of grief in her son's memory and the frustrations of activists during such dark times.

Amir Tibon, a journalist and author, shares his harrowing experience during the Hamas attacks on October 7, sheltering in his safe room with his family. He recounts the dramatic rescue by his father, a retired IDF general, and reflects on the psychological toll of that day. Tibon's new book intertwines personal narratives with the complex history of Kibbutz Nahal Oz and Gaza, examining Israel's political landscape, security issues, and the hope of rebuilding communities in the aftermath of tragedy.

In this discussion, Aluf Benn, editor-in-chief of Haaretz and seasoned military commentator, delves into the surprising assassination of Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah. He explores the military victory this represents for Israel, contrasting it with prior failures in Gaza. Benn reveals how 18 years of preparation led to this operation and reflects on Nasrallah's mythological status as a symbol of resistance. Additionally, he discusses potential political ramifications, suggesting that Netanyahu might call early elections capitalizing on this moment.

Despite the recent dramatic escalation in its conflict with Israel, Hezbollah appears to be - for now - refraining from launching a large-scale missile attack into the Tel Aviv area, says Amos Harel, Haaretz senior military and defense analyst on the Haaretz Podcast. Harel outlined the dramatic week-long chain of events that began with the stunning detonation of pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to Hezbollah members, followed by a targeted attack in Beirut Friday killing top commanders in the organization, and assault on its missile infrastructure triggering a fast-moving escalation of hostilities, including daily rocket attacks on large parts of Israel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The presidential campaigns of both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are focusing substantial energy on Jewish voters who are closely watching Israel and Gaza, as well as rising antisemitism in the United States. Haaretz Washington correspondent Ben Samuels joined Haaretz Podcast for a special episode devoted to answering questions from Haaretz subscribers. Samuels describes how campaigns have been targeting the American Jewish community – both because they reflect an outsized proportion of significant donations to campaigns on both sides, but also because they can tip the balance in key states. In the third installment of this series, in which Haaretz journalists address the issues on the minds of their readers, Samuels said that "In swing states, Jewish voters really turn out in a way that isn't necessarily consistent with the size of the population, So you've seen both Jewish political organizations on both sides of the aisle and the Harris and Trump campaigns really try to focus on the Jewish vote as the election comes closer." What happens in the war between now and November 5th could be a game-changer "if it has an effect on the U.S. economy, or if U.S. troops get embroiled in the fighting," he said. While the polls so far have demonstrated that Jewish voters are consistently committed to voting Democrat in their traditional overwhelming majority, Jewish Republican leaders reject these findings and are promoting a different narrative. "They're saying that Jewish Americans have really been alienated and disillusioned by the Democratic Party, both in terms of the White House's approach to the aftermath of October 7, the failure to combat rising antisemitism and supposed enablement of antisemitic protests on college campuses," said Samuels. "Jewish Republicans are really trying to set the tone" and prepare the ground for an unprecedented shift away from Democrats. But despite this wishful thinking, Samuels said, it remains true that more than 70 percent of Jewish Americans "not only do not like Donald Trump, but" also find that "everything he says traffics in dual loyalty tropes and either flirts with antisemitism or is allegedly openly antisemitic."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.