Explore every episode of the podcast Defending Israel with David Harris

David Harris is joined by Meng Yang, a professor who teaches China’s first university-level Yiddish course and lectures widely on Jewish civilization, the Holocaust, and contemporary antisemitism.

David Harris is joined by Georg Georgiev, the former Foreign Minister of Bulgaria, to discuss the heroic 1943 rescue of 48,000 Bulgarian Jews from a train bound for Nazi death camps, as well as the current state of Bulgarian Jewry, and contemporary Bulgaria's relationship with the state of Israel.

David Harris is joined by Rawan Osman, a Syrian-born German political activist, influencer, and self-described Arab Zionist advocating for normalization between Arab states and Israel.

David Harris interviews Gilad Cohen, Israel’s Ambassador to Japan since 2021, for a wide-ranging discussion on the history and current status of Japanese-Israeli relations, as well as the state of the small Jewish community in Japan itself.

David Harris sits with Michael Brodsky, Israel’s Ambassador to Ukraine since 2020, for a wide-ranging discussion on the war in Ukraine and its impact on Israel and the Jewish community.

David Harris is joined by Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva Daniel Meron to discuss the rampant anti-Israel bias running amok in the 40 UN organizations headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and what Meron is personally and professionally doing to combat this "baked-in" prejudice.

David Harris sits with his wife, Giulietta Boukhobza, a Jewish survivor and refugee from Libya, as she recounts her family’s story and reflects on its urgent lessons for today.

David Harris is joined by French journalist Nora Bussigny, author of a high-profile book ("Les Nouveax Antisémites") based on a year infiltrating the anti-Israel community, alongside Paris-based writer and strategist Simone Rodan-Benzaquen, two voices confronting antisemitism in France and across Europe.

David Harris speaks with Avi Jorisch, author of "Thou Shalt Innovate: How Israeli Ingenuity Repairs the World," and CEO and co-founder of the Israel Economic Forum, whose work advances Israel’s global economic standing and connectivity.

David Harris is joined by international human rights lawyer, social media influencer, and Bondi Beach survivor Arsen Ostrovsky. Arsen recounts his harrowing ordeal at Bondi, as he was shot in the head, millimeters from death, not knowing if his family nearby was safe from the shooters' rampage.

David Harris is joined by Saba Farzan, a German-Iranian journalist and Executive Director of Foreign Policy Circle, a strategy think tank in Berlin, to discuss the recent protests in Iran, and what they could portend for the future of Iran's theocratic regime.

David Harris dissects the concept of Israel's "right to exist" by recounting its ancient and contemporary history, as well as comparing its legitimacy to that of other nations around the world, including advanced Western nations.

David Harris reacts to the horrifying mass shooting on Bondi Beach in Australia on the first night of Hanukkah. He highlights the fact that frequent Defending Israel guest Arsen Ostrovsky was wounded in the attack.

David Harris is joined by Col. Richard Kemp, distinguished military veteran and commander of British forces in Afghanistan to discuss Israel's military aims and doctrines, British reaction, and the surge in antisemitism in the UK.

David Harris is joined by Izabella Taborovsky, a writer, scholar of Soviet anti-zionism and contemporary antisemitism, and author of the forthcoming book "Be a Refusenik: A Jewish Student’s Survival Guide."

David Harris welcomes back ISGAP Fellow and Egyptian Author/Activist Dalia Ziada to discuss the recent decision by the American government to designate certain chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations, a long-awaited move.

Olga Deutsch of NGO Monitor speaks with David Harris about how some prominent human rights groups, often using governmental funds, have become key actors in the global war to defame and delegitimize Israel - and what's being done to expose and derail their campaigns.

David Harris welcomes Jonah Platt, host of the hit podcast "Being Jewish with Jonah Platt," for a conversation about Jewish identity in America today and the insights he’s gained from his acclaimed series.

David Harris is joined by Ambassador Ofir Akunis, the Consul General of Israel in New York, for his insights and perspectives.

Acclaimed Egyptian author and liberal activist Dalia Ziada joins David Harris to reflect on the second anniversary of October 7th, the outlines of a U.S. - led ceasefire deal, the Muslim Brotherhood’s reach in the West and more.

Einat Wilf, Former MK and author of "The War of Return," offers her perspective on the proposed Gaza peace plan and more with David Harris.

David opines about the current state of affairs in the American and world Jewish communities, and what can be done to help them avoid "structural collapse."

David speaks with British journalist, author, broadcaster and Times of London columnist Melanie Phillips.

JBS Strategic Analyst David Harris shares his thoughts on creating a "Post-October 7th playbook," as well as other recent developments pertaining to the state of Israel.

JBS Strategic Analyst David Harris meets Simon Deng, a South Sudanese freedom fighter, humanitarian activist, Christian, former slave and vocal advocate for Israel and the release of Hamas hostages.

JBS Strategic Analyst David Harris shares his thoughts on current French efforts to secure recognition of a Palestinian state, as well as other recent developments pertaining to the state of Israel.

JBS Strategic Analyst David Harris shares his perspective that in a post-October 7 world, the American Jewish community urgently needs a new playbook, but change is happening far too slowly.

Egyptian writer and human rights advocate Dalia Ziada returns for a timely conversation with David Harris on current events and Middle East affairs. For this visit, she and David focus exclusively on the Muslim Brotherhood.

David is joined by Simone Rodan-Benzaquen, a leading Paris-based European Strategic Analyst and author of The Free Press essay on the Muslim Brotherhood, who has long urged the American Jewish community to heed the warning signs from across the Atlantic. 

Former MK and author of "The War of Return" Einat Wilf returns for a close look at regional developments - from the aftermath of the 12-day war with Iran and the future of Gaza to prospects for expanding the Abraham Accords and the current state of U.S.- Israel ties.

Rabbi Shlomo Goldfarb, an IDF Chaplain who has served in that capacity for the past two years, joins David Harris for a conversation.

David Kaufman, editor and columnist for the New York Post and a strong voice for Israel, joins David Harris for a conversation.

David offers his thoughts on Israel's pre-emptive strike against Iran and Iran's response.

One of this year’s NCAA March Madness Final Four coaches and renowned Auburn University basketball coach, Bruce Pearl, joins David to discuss being a proud Jew, an outspoken defender of Israel, and his recent trip to the Jewish state.

JBS Strategic Analyst David Harris discusses the tragic killings of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, as well as how to proceed with an "October 8th Playbook" for how to tackle anti-Semitism and all of the issues plaguing world Jewry today.

JBS Strategic Analyst David Harris describes Nova massacre survivor Yuval Rafael's recent triumph on behalf of the State of Israel at the Eurovision song contest, as well as the newest betrayals of Israel by western European nations.

Back by popular demand, peace activist, human rights advocate, and Middle East scholar Dalia Ziada returns to discuss Egypt’s attempts to revoke her citizenship over her support for Israel since October 7 and her criticism of Egyptian policy.

David is joined by Soviet-born, Israel-based Izabella Tabarovsky, a top-notch researcher and analyst of the Soviet influence on contemporary antisemitism, as well as the nexus between antisemitism and anti-Zionism.

David Harris is joined by John Spencer, a former U.S. military officer, urban warfare specialist, and a keen observer of the Hamas-triggered war with Israel.

International human rights lawyer and social media influencer Arsen Ostrovsky joins David Harris in the studio to discuss defending Israel in the courts, on campuses, with governments, and in the media.

David Harris reflects on the modern-day exoduses of Soviet and Ethiopian Jewry—historic journeys he witnessed firsthand—and shares why these stories should be integral to our Passover narrative and ongoing Jewish identity.

David offers a tour de force monologue about the current situation in Israel and its place in the world and how he, and other American Jewish defenders of the State and of the Jewish people, fit into it.

David speaks with Andrew Fox, Research Fellow at the Henry Jackson Society and former British Army officer with 16 years of service, now a leading expert on defense and security and a keen observer of Israel and the existential threats it faces.

On this episode of Defending Israel with David Harris, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, senior rabbi of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, discusses the importance of Zionism, the role of Jewish literacy, and the growing disconnect between younger generations and their Jewish identity. How can we bridge the gap and strengthen the future of Jewish life? Tune in for this thought-provoking conversation.

David Harris speaks with Tal Becker, legal expert, peace negotiator, and newly appointed Vice President at the Kogod Research Center of the Shalom Hartman Institute, about his pivotal role in advancing educational initiatives on Israel and the Jewish world.

David Harris speaks with Alon Levin, a PhD engineering student at Columbia University, about the rise of antisemitism on campus, recent incidents, and how anti-Israel sentiment shapes the broader campus climate.

David reunites with former colleague Steve Bayme, who served as AJC’s Director of Contemporary Jewish Life during Harris's tenure as CEO, to discuss Harris's book "On the Front Lines: A Lifetime of Global Jewish Advocacy" and his impactful career.

David is once again joined in conversation by Arab peace activist and advocate for Arab-Israeli coexistence and partnership, Loay Alshareef, from the UAE.

David Harris sits down with activist, Hoover Institute Fellow and former Dutch MP, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, to discuss the rise in antisemitism in The Netherlands.

David Harris recaps the blunders of appeasement in the past and how these lessons can be applied to the New Year of 2025 and all of Israel's challenges moving forward.