For Heaven's Sake

Israeli experts Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the challenges faced by Israel's Arab-Palestinian minority and the lack of empathy towards them. They explore the emotional divide and the concept of dual loyalty in Israeli society. The podcast also explores the shift away from human rights and democracy in recent times.

Israeli military response to Hamas escalates, Israeli and Palestinian perspectives on the future, challenges of rebuilding Gaza, frustration with lack of formal Palestinian leadership, shift toward participatory democracy in Israel.

“From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free” can be heard at many Palestinian solidarity demonstrations today, and while it seems at face value to be a rallying cry for justice, its connotation is uncompromisingly hostile to the existence of Israel and to Jewish sovereignty in the region. Why, then, do activists abroad, including some Jews, chant it in protest of Israel’s current actions in Gaza? In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi reflect on the meaning of this slogan and how the October 7 massacre sheds a sobering light on its implications. They ask if they, as Israelis, can listen to this hateful rhetoric from critics and consider an almost impossible question – what can we learn from it? JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS

This podcast discusses the ongoing war in Israel, the impact of tragedy on Israeli consciousness, resilience and positivity in the face of adversity, challenges in a hard war, and the tension over hostages and conflicting goals.

This podcast discusses the leadership void in Israel during a difficult war, criticizing Prime Minister Netanyahu for his failures. They explore the importance of leaders taking responsibility, the power of Israeli civil society, and the desired qualities of leaders. They also mention the ritual of Eglah Arufah and offer blessings for soldiers and prayers for peace.

In this episode, Donniel Ha, an Israeli perspective on the war between Israel and Hamas, discusses the nuances of context and justification, morality and war, and how language can engage or isolate allies. They discuss the impact of the ongoing war in Israel, responses to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, analyzing the justification of events, and contextualizing October 7th and Israel's moral responsibilities.

On day 16 of the war with Hamas, the IDF is poised for a ground invasion into Gaza, marching into the unknown. What awaits the troops when they enter? Will this embroil Hezbollah, Iran, and perhaps the US, into a broader regional clash? Most importantly: what price are Israelis willing to pay to win this war?Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss their anxieties about this moment and consider the unspoken and unprecedented willingness of the Israeli public to do whatever it takes in order to defeat the existential threat of Hamas to the State of Israel.JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS

On October 17, a blast at Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza killed many Palestinians. Israelis and Palestinians were quick to blame each other for the blast, which has now been confirmed as a misfired rocket from the Islamic Jihad.Recorded on October 18, as conflicting reports continue to spread across both social media and international media outlets, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi explore the ramifications and ethics of warfare, consider how this incident brought the tragedy in Gaza into our consciousness, and grapple with the role of journalists in a time when reporting happens too quickly before facts are confirmed.JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS

Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss moral red lines in response to absolute evil during the Israel war. They explore the impact of recent events on society, the ethical dilemma of granting Hamas immunity, managing emotional responses, and the complexity of producing evil while maintaining moral boundaries.

The podcast discusses the emotional and intellectual depth of Israeli society during the ongoing war, exploring the concept of evil and the impact of President Biden's speech. It explores the complexities of evil, distinguishing evil acts from absolute evil, and the challenges in determining when an evil act becomes the embodiment of evil.