On this week’s episode, Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber hosts Assaf Orion, international fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy and senior researcher at INSS. They assess the Israel-Hezbollah war over the past 14 months, and discuss the reasons why the ceasefire was concluded last week, what the agreement entails, how it differs from the one that ended the last Lebanon war, the prospects that it is successfully implemented, and more.

View our latest explainers on critical issues facing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict here.

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On this week’s episode, Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber hosts Tal Schneider, political correspondent at The Times of Israel. They discuss the return of Israeli politics during wartime, the defection of Gideon Sa’ar, the firing of Yoav Gallant and the rumors regarding who may be next, the resumption of the judicial overhaul, the impact Donald Trump may already be having on internal Israeli affairs, and more.

View our latest explainers on critical issues facing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict here.

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On this week’s episode, Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber hosts Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow and Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Senior Director of Policy Research Shira Efron. The trio discussed the attempted attack by Hezbollah earlier this week that was thwarted by the IDF, the implications of this event on the northern front, the state of the Gaza ceasefire/hostage talks after Secretary of State Blinken's visit last week, what the Biden administration should do to advance this important foreign policy objective, and more. 

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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. 

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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 selection
The Looming Threat of a Nuclear Crisis with Iran by Robin Wright in The New Yorker

Tal's selection
Trump’s Peace: The Abraham Accords and the Reshaping of the Middle East by Barak Ravid in Axios (excerpts in English) 

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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 Magazine

Doing it his way: How Naftali Bennett could beat the odds and wind up transforming Israel by Shalom Lipner for Atlantic Council

A Day in the Life of Abed Salama by Nathan Thrall

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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.

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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 selection
An Archaeological Dig Reignites the Debate Over the Old Testament’s Historical Accuracy by Matti Friedman in Smithsonian Magazine

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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.

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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 

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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On this week's episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts two families of Israeli hostages seized on October 7 who are still being held captive by Hamas in Gaza. First, Maya and Gili Roman describe their family's harrowing experience in Kibbutz Beeri on Black Saturday, and how their relatives Yarden Roman-Gat and Carmel Gat were taken hostage. Carmel remains a hostage in Gaza. Next, Jonathan Dekel-Chen discusses the fate of his family in Kibbutz Nir Oz during and after October 7, and talks about his son Sagui, who remains a hostage in Gaza. 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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? 

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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)

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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.

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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 Summit

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With the Palestinian Authority in crisis and Hamas's popularity on the rise, is it too late to improve Israel-PA relations? Ksenia Svetlova (IDC Herzliya, Mitvim) joins host Evan Gottesman to break down the relationship and steps the new Israeli government is taking to change the state of affairs across the Green Line.

Read Ksenia in The Jerusalem Post/The Media Line: "Israeli reconsideration of PA ties may be too little, too late."

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Host Evan Gottesman checks in with Israel Policy Forum Fellow Nimrod Novik for an evaluation of the new Israeli government's performance since its inauguration in June.

Read Nimrod Novik in Just Security: "As Israeli Leader Bennett Prepares to Visit the White House, Biden’s Message Might Prove Formative"

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On this week’s episode, Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber and Israel Policy Forum Director of Strategic Initiatives and IPF Atid Shanie Reichman discuss the waiting game for an Iranian and Hezbollah retaliation, what the threatened attack may look like, the recent controversial strike in Gaza City, the prospects for a ceasefire-and-hostage deal to materialize in the upcoming Doha summit, the Netanyahu government bringing back the judicial overhaul, and more. 

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The new Israeli government seems intent on turning the page in its relations with the country with which it shares its longest border: Jordan. Will the effort be successful? How will Israel-Jordan ties affect (and be affected by) developments in Jerusalem and with the Palestinians? Haaretz journalist Noa Landau and Middle East analyst Aaron Magid discuss.

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Host Evan Gottesman joins Terrestrial Jerusalem's Danny Seidemann to discuss issues that could impact Jerusalem in the coming weeks and months, from potential court decisions on  evictions in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan to a public hearing on settlement building in the contentious E1 area east of the city.

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Palestinians are protesting across the West Bank. In major cities like Ramallah and Hebron, people have been turning out to demonstrate against the Palestinian Authority after anti-corruption activist Nizar Banat died in PA custody; Banat was reportedly brutally beaten by security forces during his arrest last week. Host Evan Gottesman speaks with Ibrahim Eid Dalalsha, director of the Horizon Center, a Ramallah-based think tank, about the situation.

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Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Correspondent Lahav Harkov joins Israel Policy Forum's latest briefing from the UAE to provide a breakdown on Yair Lapid's inaugural overseas trip as foreign minister and how the new Bennett-Lapid government's foreign policy compares with the approach taken by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Shira Efron and Alon Pinkas, a senior writer for Haaretz and former consul general of Israel in New York, discuss the implications of the new Bennett-Lapid government in Israel, U.S.-Israel relations, events in Jerusalem, and how Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu figures into things.

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In the latest installment of the Israel Policy Pod-Terrestrial Jerusalem partnership series, host Evan Gottesman and TJ's Daniel Seidemann look at the major developments shaping events in Jerusalem over the past month, including pending eviction cases against Palestinian residents of Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan, a visit from U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken, plus, how Israel's prospective new government could affect the all-important city.

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Tal Schneider (Times of Israel) and Barak Ravid (Axios/Walla! News) discuss the latest political developments in Israel, including what's next for Benjamin Netanyahu and a prospective coalition poised to unseat him.

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Hosts Evan Gottesman and Eli Kowaz discuss Benjamin Netanyahu's impending exit after twelve consecutive years as Israel's prime minister, a potential new unity government helmed by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, how Israel got here, and what it all means.

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Israel Policy Forum Executive Director David A. Halperin speaks with Haaretz's Amir Tibon about emerging prospects for the "change coalition" in Israel.

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Hosts Shanie Reichman and Alex Lederman delve into the details of Israel's upcoming presidential elections and what they mean for the current moment in Israeli politics on Alex's podcast debut! 

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On this week’s episode, Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber hosts Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow and Diane and Guilford Glazer Senior Director of Policy Research Shira Efron. The trio discussed the targeted assassinations of Hamas political head Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and of top Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Lebanon, possible Iranian and Hezbollah retaliations, the wider impact it could have on hostage talks, what role the Biden administration can play in avoiding a regional war, and more.

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Ilan Goldenberg (CNAS, Israel Policy Forum) joins the latest Israel Policy Briefing to examine policy options for the United States in the wake of the May 2021 Gaza conflict.

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Amidst violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories, host Shanie Reichman is joined by Ilan Goldenberg to discuss a U.S. approach to the conflict and how it can prevent future escalations.

Read the report here: A New U.S Strategy for the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

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A special briefing featuring Israel Policy Forum Policy Director Michael Koplow, Policy Advisor Shira Efron, and Israel Fellow Nimrod Novik addressing the ongoing Israel-Gaza crisis.

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Neri Zilber and Michael Koplow discuss the crises surrounding Jerusalem and Gaza and the ongoing political deadlock in Israel.

Click here for more resources on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian crisis.

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In the latest installment of the Israel Policy Pod-Terrestrial Jerusalem partnership series, Evan Gottesman and Daniel Seidemann discuss the origins of the dispute in Sheikh Jarrah and how the pending evictions of Palestinian residents of the East Jerusalem neighborhood brought Israel, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad into a military conflict over Gaza.

Click here for more resources on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian crisis.

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Hussein Ibish (Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington) and Shira Efron (Israel Policy Forum) discuss Israel's deepening integration with the wider Middle East region, one of the pillars of Israel Policy Forum's Realistic Reset policy framework.

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Israel Policy Pod host Evan Gottesman is joined by Daniel Seidemann for the first in a monthly joint Israel Policy Forum-Terrestrial Jerusalem podcast series focusing on all-things Jerusalem. In this installment, we examine the core issues shaping the conflict over Jerusalem and how some of these problems came to the fore last week in riots there last week.

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Lior Schillat, Director General of the Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research, joins Israel Policy Forum' latest briefing to discuss the far-right riot in Jerusalem and the events preceding it.

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After losing a key Knesset Arrangement Committee vote on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is looking for a way to salvage his premiership and put together a coalition. This time, he is advocating for yet another election, but in a different format: a direct vote for prime minister. All this while his on-again-off-again partner, Naftali Bennett of Yamina, has opened the door of the possibility of forming a “unity government” with the Israeli center-left. Evan Gottesman and Eli Kowaz break down these issues and more in the latest episode of Israeli Policy Pod.

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Wilson Center Scholar Dalia Dassa Kaye discusses the current status of the Israel-Iran conflict and how that dynamic is impacting the policies of the Biden administration and the Gulf Arab states.

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On this week’s episode, Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber and Director of Strategic Initiatives and Director of IPF Atid Shanie Reichman discuss the likely assassination of Mohammed Deif, the state of play in the renewed hostage negotiations, Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming trip to Washington, Israeli politics ahead of summer break, checking-in on the northern front with Lebanon, and more.

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Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Shira Efron speaks with hosts Evan Gottesman and Eli Kowaz about the aftermath of a recent Israeli attack on the Natanz nuclear site in Iran and what it says about Israel's posture vis-a-vis Tehran.

Click here to register for Israel Policy Forum's upcoming video briefing on the Israel-Iran conflict (Tuesday, April 20).

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Washington Institute Adjunct Fellow Neri Zilber provides an overview of the state of affairs with the Palestinians, including the resumption of U.S. aid to the West Bank and Gaza, as well as the question of elections.

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Some of the biggest stories out of the March 2021 Knesset election have included the breakup of the Joint List, low voter turnout among Arab citizens of Israel, and the emergence of the United Arab List as a potential kingmaker in Israeli politics.  In this program, activist Maisam Jaljuli, co-chair of the board of directors of Sikkuy and a member of the secretariat of Standing Together,  examines the future of Arab participation in Israeli politics.

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