Israel Policy Pod

Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber hosts Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow and Diane and Guilford Glazer Family Foundation Director of Policy Research Shira Efron to discuss the past week's biggest stories in Israel, including settler violence, a potential solution for Gaza’s energy crisis, Lapid's meetings with Palestinian officials, Gadi Eisenkot's first post-IDF interview, and of course Netanyahu’s plea deal.Support the show

Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu has entered talks with the attorney general over a plea deal to end his ongoing corruption trial, a move that could have major legal and political ramifications. Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Haaretz and Economist correspondent Anshel Pfeffer, author of Bibi: The Turbulent Life and Times of Benjamin Netanyahu, to unpack the possible terms of the deal, explain why it's on the table now, and assess what it all could mean for not just Bibi's future, but the stability of the Bennett-Lapid coalition. Support the show

In the third episode of IPF Atid’s mini-series on climate security, IPF Atid National Director Shanie Reichman hosts David Harary, a member of the IPF Atid DC Steering Committee and the Executive Director of the Center for Development and Strategy, a DC-based think tank exploring the nexus of global development, sustainability, and security in an era of unprecedented change. They discuss the impacts of climate change on violent conflicts across the Middle East and the role of emerging technologies in mitigating the risks. Support the show

With a new year upon us, it's time to catch up on the latest developments in Israel and look ahead at what 2022 may bring to the Israeli political arena. Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Walla News Chief Political Correspondent Tal Shalev to discuss the state of the Bennett-Lapid coalition, the recent meeting between Benny Gantz and Mahmoud Abbas, the government's handling of the Omicron wave, Bibi Netanyahu's future, and more.Curation Corner Recommendations:Neri's selectionThe Looming Threat of a Nuclear Crisis with Iran by Robin Wright in The New YorkerTal's selectionTrump’s Peace: The Abraham Accords and the Reshaping of the Middle East by Barak Ravid in Axios (excerpts in English) Support the show

2021 was indeed a historic year in Israel. It included yet another election, this time ending the Netanyahu-era and bringing to power a diverse coalition that replaced him, a war in Gaza, inter-communal riots, a reset in U.S.-Palestinian relations, and much more. To recap this eventful year and present the first-ever Israel Policy Pod End-of-Year Awards, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow and Diane and Guilford Glazer Family Foundation Director of Policy Research Shira Efron to make their selections for the biggest winner, biggest loser, and everything in between in Israeli politics over the past twelve months. Curation Corner Recommendations:A Malign Embrace: Ebrahim Raisi and Iran by David Patrikarakos for New Lines MagazineDoing it his way: How Naftali Bennett could beat the odds and wind up transforming Israel by Shalom Lipner for Atlantic CouncilA Day in the Life of Abed Salama by Nathan ThrallSupport the show

In the second installment of IPF Atid’s mini-series on climate security, Shanie Reichman and Max Webb of IPF Atid host MK Alon Tal, a member of Knesset in the Blue and White party and a leading Israeli environmental activist and academic. They discuss the role of Israel’s new government in promoting pro-climate policy, the impact of the Abraham Accords on climate cooperation, and the problems and prospects climate change poses on a potential two-state solution.Support the show

After a deadly terror attack in Jerusalem’s Old City, a looming Palestinian security operation in Jenin, and a financial crisis in the Palestinian Authority, where are things headed in the Palestinian arena? In this episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts reporter Adam Rasgon, formerly of The New York Times, for a deep dive into the current state of Palestinian society, from Jerusalem and the Jenin refugee camp to the corridors of power in Ramallah and Gaza City.Curation Corner recommendations: Neri's selectionAn Archaeological Dig Reignites the Debate Over the Old Testament’s Historical Accuracy by Matti Friedman in Smithsonian MagazineSupport the show

With the Bennett-Lapid government nearly half a year old, it is time to assess how, if at all, Israel’s security policies have changed since the departure of Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister. In this episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Haaretz Military Correspondent and Defense Analyst Amos Harel for a wide-ranging conversation on how Israeli decision-makers view the Iranian threat, U.S. efforts to restore the nuclear agreement, advanced weapons entering Lebanon, and the state of affairs in both Gaza and the West Bank.Support the show

Shalom, I’m Neri Zilber, a Tel-Aviv-based journalist and the host of Israel Policy Pod, Israel Policy Forum’s ongoing podcast that goes beyond the headlines to bring you analysis from our experts and distinguished guests, including policymakers, journalists, activists, and academics.Israel Policy Forum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the goal of a two-state solution in order to preserve Israel’s future as Jewish, democratic, and secure. Find Israel Policy Pod wherever you get your podcasts and support our work at israelpolicyforum.org/support Support the show

The new Israeli government passed a state budget last week for the first time in over three years—a crucial milestone for the Bennett-Lapid coalition. In this episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Israeli political reporter Tal Schneider (Times of Israel) to discuss the significance of the budget approval, the coalition’s challenges ahead, post-budget U.S.-Israel relations, and what to expect from Benjamin Netanyahu. Support the show

In a region already marred by conflict, the threats posed by climate change are particularly immense. In this episode, Shanie Reichman and Max Webb of IPF Atid host EcoPeace Founder and Israel Director Gidon Bromberg, who recently attended the COP26 U.N. Climate Change Conference in Glasgow as part of Israel’s delegation. They discuss the roles that climate security and environmental concerns, from water insecurity to wildfires, play in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how they will shape prospects for a future two-state solution.Support the show

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has recently returned to the headlines, but it has been prominently on-screen for several years thanks to the hit Israeli television show, Fauda. In this episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Israeli journalist and Fauda co-creator Avi Issacharoff for a wide-ranging conversation on the show's origins, his career path, what he thinks about the new Israeli government's strategy of "shrinking the conflict," Palestinian politics after Mahmoud Abbas, and the state of play in Gaza.Support the show

Negotiations over the Iran nuclear deal are sputtering, and Israel is pushing the Biden administration for a credible plan B. What are the prospects for a diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear crisis? And can renewed economic pressure bring Iran back to the negotiating table? Finally, what is China's role in all of this? In this episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Iran and China expert Kevjn Lim to discuss the state of play for this significant geopolitical challenge.Support the show

With the release of Israel Policy Forum's report on Arab-Israeli Normalization and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict earlier this week, The New Normal co-authors Michael Koplow, Shira Efron, and Evan Gottesman examine six recommendations to leverage the Abraham Accords to advance a future two-state outcome, as well as the obstacles those proposals face.Support the show

The Bennett-Lapid government is just over 100 days old. How have things gone so far? Where are things headed? What could unravel a governing coalition that even Prime Minister Bennett called a "political accident"? In today's episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Walla News Political Correspondent Tal Shalev to discuss the state of play in Israeli politics after the long holiday break. Support the show

Rounding out the Israel Policy Forum-Terrestrial Jerusalem partnership series, Evan Gottesman and Danny Seidemann discuss the status quo governing access to the holy sites on Jerusalem's Temple Mount.Support the show

What happened in the U.S. Congress this week? In today’s episode, Israel Policy Forum’s Policy Director Michael Koplow gets the inside scoop from Government Relations Director Aaron Weinberg. This Thursday, the House overwhelmingly passed a standalone bill to provide $1 billion in new funding to replenish Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. The final vote was 420-9-2, showing that support for Israel's security is still a firmly bipartisan position in Congress. This came after several progressive Democrats refused to vote in favor of the continuing resolution (emergency spending) bill on Tuesday if it included Iron Dome funding. Party leadership yielded to this demand, as there was no Republican support for the CR and the progressives’ votes were necessary for it to pass. Now that the additional Iron Dome funding has been approved, what does this story say about how fault lines within the Democratic party around Israel are shaping politics in Washington and public discourse? Support the show

As the United States completes its withdrawal from Afghanistan, some Israelis hear echoes of their own experiences in Southern Lebanon and Gaza. What lessons can be learned from these parallels? And does the collapse of the Afghan government and military portend a similar fate for the Palestinian Authority and its security forces, as politicians and pundits on the Israeli right have suggested? Israel Policy Forum's Evan Gottesman and Neri Zilber discuss.Israelis Watch Afghanistan and Remember Lebanon - Neri Zilber (Newlines Magazine)State with No Army, Army with No State - Neri Zilber and Ghaith al-Omari (The Washington Institute)Support the show

In the latest installment of the Israel Policy Forum-Terrestrial Jerusalem podcast series, Evan Gottesman and Danny Seidemann discuss this month's court proceedings over Sheikh Jarrah evictions, the compromise put forth by the Israeli justices, and why neither the Palestinian residents nor the settler-linked company Nahalat Shimon are rushing to accept the proposed arrangement.Support the show

Israel Policy Forum Executive Director David A. Halperin joins hosts Evan Gottesman and Shanie Reichman to reflect on the past five years of the organization's work and exciting changes and growth coming down the pipeline.We're hiring for Deputy Policy Director, Director of Public Engagement, Development Manager, IPF Atid Leadership Engagement Associate, and Staff Associate. Come join our growing team!Apply for the IPF Atid Charles Bronfman Conveners SummitSupport the show