For Heaven's Sake

How does a country engaged in war grapple with moral issues? On Thursday, November 30, Yuval Kestelman, an Israeli civilian and good Samaritan, was shot and killed by an IDF soldier after shooting a terrorist at a Jerusalem bus stop. Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi explore the ethical implications of labeling this incident either an accident or a crime, the influence of the government’s right-wing agenda and Hilltop Youth roots, and the parallels with the 2017 case of Elor Azaria, a soldier who killed a wounded Palestinian terrorist.    JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS  Major funding for For Heaven’s Sake is provided by the Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation of Los Angeles. This special episode of the War edition is sponsored by Nancy Cahners. 

We are six days into a ceasefire, and the first wave of hostages have returned home. The national unity that emerged from the attack on October 7 and subsequent war is beginning to fray. In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the unrelenting emotional toll of this crisis and the strains on Israel’s togetherness, including mounting international pressure, pre-existing political divides, and the leadership vacuum.    JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS 

By the third day of the ceasefire, Hamas had released 58 hostages, 40 of them Israeli, in exchange for 78 Palestinian prisoners. While Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi celebrate the captives’ return to their families, they take note of the ways that this hostage situation is different from any the nation has faced in its history. They also consider how this moment challenges the Zionist ethos and explore the dilemmas the country will face as this 4-day truce agreement reaches an end. Will Israel risk the chance to redeem the rest of its captives safely if it returns to fighting against Hamas? JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS

What does it mean to have resilience in the face of tremendous loss?  In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss how soldiers are processing their trauma from combat in Gaza and bear witness to Israel’s staggering civilian presence at the funerals of fallen soldiers. They explore the imminent ceasefire, hostage and prisoner exchange, and the ramifications of this deal on Israel’s security and the nation’s psyche.     JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR MORE HARTMAN IDEAS 

The podcast explores the Israeli sentiment towards Jewish settlements in Gaza after the war. It discusses the divisions within Israeli society, the desire for separation, and the challenges of peace with Palestinians. The speakers find hope in regional peace agreements and propose a joint Israeli Arab force for rebuilding Gaza.

The podcast explores the emotional connection within the Jewish community and the significance of Shifa Hospital. It delves into the determination of Israeli Jews to attack Hamas even if they are hiding in hospitals. The controversial role of Shifa Hospital in the ongoing war is discussed, as well as the moral responsibility and consequences of supporting the war.

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.