Haaretz Podcast

It was clear during U.S. President Donald Trump's tour of the Gulf states that his foreign policy is in a very "different place" than Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's, Washington-based veteran diplomatic journalist Laura Rozen said on the Haaretz Podcast, pointing to the growing divergence in interests between the White House and Israel's ruling coalition, both on Gaza and Iran. In his second term in office, Trump "wants to make peace deals and trade deals," Rozen said, as Netanyahu, "for his own political reasons, wants to continue the Gaza war indefinitely." From his behavior, it seems that Netanyahu "may be missing the signals that Trump is going in such a different direction," she said, pointing to Trump's agreement to cease U.S. attacks on the Houthis, his meeting with Syria's leader during his stay in Riyadh, his statements favoring a diplomatic nuclear deal with Iran over military confrontation, and his willingness to negotiate directly with Hamas for the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander. Netanyahu's decision to sit on the sidelines, she said, and failure to make a gesture that could have moved Trump to include a stop in Jerusalem on his Middle East visit, was something that not only the Trump administration but "a lot of pro-Israel Americans" found disappointing. Many of the changes in Trump's Middle East policies – particularly regarding Iran – since his first term, Rozen noted, can be attributed to a power shift in the Republican Party. The increasingly strong "America First, MAGA wing of the GOP is not interested in wars of choice in the Middle East," she said, and thus far, in the second Trump term "the neoconservative element, the hawkish element, is definitely getting battered." As a result, "strangely, you see MAGA people who are almost with the more traditional progressive Democrats when it comes to looking for a diplomatic solution on Iran, which is not something we saw in Trump's first term. It feels a little bit disorienting, even here in Washington."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Announcing the release of Edan Alexander – the last living Israeli hostage in Gaza with U.S. citizenship – U.S. President Donald Trump did something he never did before, Haaretz columnist Amir Tibon said on the Haaretz podcast.  “Trump has spoken before releasing hostages, but this is the first time that he explicitly called to end the 'brutal war' to bring back 'ALL of the hostages,'" Tibon said. It is a hopeful sign, he explained, because without new determination by the U.S. president to apply “massive pressure” on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “this nightmare will not end.” In Tibon’s view, “Netanyahu is determined to continue the war, and he's determined to abandon the remaining hostages who are not lucky enough to be American citizens like Edan Alexander.” The fact that only Alexander was freed, while the non-American hostages remain in captivity, is a difficult pill to swallow for both the hostage families and the wider Israeli public, he added. While Alexander’s rescue is being celebrated, at the same time “it’s shocking that he is being saved because of his American citizenship, while the other hostages – including soldiers, including civilians – are left behind by the Israeli government.”  Noting reports that Qatar would be gifting President Trump with a luxury airliner during the U.S. leader’s visit to the Gulf, Tibon made a tongue-in-cheek appeal to the Qataris. “Please give a second plane to Sara Netanyahu in return for ending the war and saving all the hostages. What is one airplane for the lives of so many people, after all. If you hear me, Qatari Government – Sara Netanyahu also needs a 747 – and we need the war to be over.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Benjamin Netanyahu's government may have announced plans to intensify its Gaza offensive and call up thousands of reservists – but "many Israelis, and especially the IDF top brass, are actually hoping that President [Donald] Trump will again intervene and reach some kind of deal," Haaretz senior security analyst Amos Harel said on the Haaretz Podcast. Pressure from the American president will be the only way Netanyahu can resist the "huge political pressure to proceed" with the escalation and a long-term military presence in Gaza placed on him by far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, Harel said. "Unless Trump decides to intervene, we might be facing a massive military operation, and in my view, that would be a disaster." Speaking with podcast host Allison Kaplan Sommer, Harel assessed the war's multiple fronts in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iran, emphasizing that in nearly every case, the will – and whims – of the U.S. president plays a decisive role. "It's quite clear that Trump is less interested than before and talks less about the Palestinian conflict and the Gaza Riviera idea – it may be because he fears failure there. He seems to prefer to invest his time and efforts in the Saudis, Emiratis, and Qataris who are offering him trillions of dollars in deals in weapons or technology. This is what Trump is focused on."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Orly Erez-Likhovski was worried when she heard about the threats against attendees of a screening of the annual alternative Israeli-Palestinian Joint Memorial Ceremony in the city of Ra'anana set to be held at a Reform synagogue on the eve of Israel's Memorial Day. Erez-Likhovski, Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), told Haaretz Podcast host Allison Kaplan Sommer how the "emotional and moving" ceremony was disrupted by hundreds of opponents chanting outside, throwing stones at the building, and intruders attempting to break in and disrupt it. At the end, when police escorted her to her car, a stone smashed her windshield and injured her. "It was very, very, very scary," she said. "I've been to many protests in the last 20 years because of my work at IRAC. But I've never seen such an amount of violence and hatred in my life. It was really a very, very frightening experience." Despite the violence, Erez-Likhovski said she was "proud" of the congregation for refusing to back down and cancel the event because of the hate and incitement. "Giving in to extremism is dangerous in itself, but also because it's a slippery slope. I think we have to stand up for our values." She said she was disappointed by the police's failure to handle the situation and the "insufficient" reaction of the country's leaders, who failed to condemn the violence. "I would expect everyone to condemn this, because it seems like a very basic thing to say you should not come and hit people and try to kill them because they think differently. Unfortunately, this is not obvious in the current state of affairs in Israel."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Noam Tirosh, head of Communication Studies at Ben-Gurion University, dives into the emotional landscape of Yom HaZikaron and a unique commemoration project. He discusses the grassroots movement of friends and families creating stickers to honor fallen soldiers, revealing their rich identities beyond military duty. Tirosh highlights the stickers' profound impact on public memory and mourning, showcasing how they transform personal stories into a collective narrative. The conversation beautifully captures the lived experiences of those who served, enriching the understanding of loss.

Ittay Flescher is an educator and peace builder who moved from Australia to Israel in 2018. In this conversation, he confronts the backlash he faces for advocating Israeli-Palestinian dialogue, especially in light of the October 7 events. He shares insights from his work with Kids4Peace, emphasizing the need for understanding and connections among young people. Flescher discusses the challenges of maintaining hope in peace amidst violence and highlights inspiring stories of solidarity that persist despite the conflict.

Bronagh Hinds, a women's rights and civil rights activist instrumental in the Good Friday Agreement, shares insights from Northern Ireland’s peace process. She draws parallels between Ireland's conflict and the Israeli-Palestinian struggle, emphasizing the importance of equality and human rights. Hinds discusses the need for grassroots movements, particularly those led by women, in fostering dialogue and reconciliation. Amid diplomatic tensions, she encourages bold, collaborative steps towards peace, reflecting on the universal desire for change in conflicted societies.

Jon Polin, father of slain hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, shares his heart-wrenching story and the family's tireless advocacy for hostages in Gaza. He discusses the challenges of honoring Passover while grappling with grief, suggesting meaningful gestures like placing a lemon on the table to symbolize the bitterness of the hostage struggle. Polin emphasizes the importance of leaning into pain instead of sugarcoating it, and the urgent need for political accountability and action in the ongoing crisis.

Nir Hasson, a Haaretz journalist, sheds light on the uninvestigated killings of innocents in Gaza and the shocking deaths of aid workers. He expresses his concerns over the lack of accountability for the IDF soldiers involved in civilian casualties, stating there have been no trials to date. Hasson also discusses the dire humanitarian crisis brewing in Gaza and the disconnect between media reporting and public understanding. He highlights the serious implications of military actions on the families living through this nightmare.

Amir Tibon, a Haaretz columnist known for his keen insights into Israeli politics, discusses the alarming intersection of Prime Minister Netanyahu's legal troubles and the ongoing conflict with Hamas. He describes the situation as a 'nightmare scenario' with 59 hostages still held captive. Tibon also reveals how political maneuvering, particularly regarding the Shin Bet chief appointment, reflects internal party pressures. His analysis sheds light on the precarious balance between national security and political scandal amidst escalating violence.