On this week's episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israeli Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow and Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Director of Policy Research Shira Efron for a wide-ranging conversation about this week's tragic earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, the recent escalation in Jerusalem and the West Bank, the Netanyahu government’s security policy thus far, U.S. efforts to de-escalate tensions, and of course the ongoing efforts by the...
Feb 08, 2023•54 min
**Note: This episode was recorded before the events of January 26 in the Jenin refugee camp. Haaretz Military Correspondent Amos Harel joins Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber for a wide-ranging conversation on Israeli security policy under the new Netanyahu government. They assess the blurred lines of control between several ministers in the West Bank, the IDF under new Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, prospects for escalation in the Palestinian arena, U.S....
Jan 26, 2023•52 min
With the new Israeli government barely two weeks old, a major crisis is looming over its intention to completely overhaul the country's judicial and legal system. Dan Meridor, a former Likud justice minister and deputy prime minister, joins Neri Zilber (Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum policy advisor) to discuss the fateful consequences of these plans for Israeli democracy, what happened to the old Likud party, recollections of his time working closely with Benjamin Netanyahu, a...
Jan 11, 2023•54 min
Most years in Israel are described as "historic," but for 2022 it happens to be very true. The year began with Benjamin Netanyahu in the opposition and considering a plea deal in his corruption trial, and is now ending with Netanyahu marking a dramatic return to power at the head of a far-right government. Between these two events, we witnessed the demise of the Bennett-Lapid government, renewed violence and instability in (and from) the West Bank, a U.S. presidential visit, yet another election...
Dec 20, 2022•1 hr 10 min
It’s a challenging moment for the Palestinian Authority. INSS researcher and Israeli-Palestinian Research Program Coordinator Noa Shusterman joins IPF Atid Director Shanie Reichman to assess several worrying trends in the West Bank that have weakened the PA, including the rise of new Palestinian militant groups and IDF incursions into Area A. Looking forward, they also discuss the Israeli security establishment’s assessment of these trends and consider scenarios for the day after Abu Mazen. Plea...
Dec 12, 2022•1 hr 10 min
Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Prof. Suzie Navot, the vice president for research at the Israel Democracy Institute, for a deep dive into the incoming Israeli government's intentions to "reform" the country's judicial and legal system. They discuss the plan to pass an override clause for Supreme Court decisions, the role of the attorney general, efforts to stop Netanyahu's corruption trial, and what it all could mean for the future of Israeli d...
Dec 01, 2022•57 min
In the wake of the recent Israeli election, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Amir Tibon, a senior editor and writer at Haaretz, to assess the fallout and analyze the implications of Benjamin Netanyahu's dramatic comeback, likely at the head of a far-right governing coalition. They discuss the future of the Israeli left, the reasons for the far-right's ascendance, the ongoing coalition talks between Netanyahu and his right-wing allies, and what su...
Nov 16, 2022•58 min
As Israelis go to the polls once again on November 1, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Tal Schneider, chief political correspondent for The Times of Israel, to preview what might happen. They discuss the campaign run by Prime Minister Yair Lapid, the difficulties for the rest of the anti-Netanyahu camp, the prospects for Benjamin Netanyahu to get out the Likud vote, and the rise of Itamar Ben Gvir and the far right—and what it could mean for Isra...
Oct 26, 2022•59 min
Mohammad Darawshe, an expert on Arab-Jewish relations in Israel, joins host Neri Zilber for a deep dive into the current state of Arab-Israeli politics ahead of the November 1 Israeli election. They discuss reasons behind the expected low turnout in Arab society, the divisions amongst Arab political parties, how Mansour Abbas is viewed after his historic move to join a governing coalition, and why Arab-Israelis likely hold the key to whether Benjamin Netanyahu returns to power or Yair Lapid cont...
Oct 19, 2022•1 hr 2 min
The West Bank is facing an uptick in violence, with clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants becoming increasingly commonplace in major Palestinian cities. To assess this period of unrest, Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber hosts Shira Efron (Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Director of Policy Research, Israel Policy Forum) and Dan Rothem (Senior Policy Advisor, Herbert Kelman Institute for Conflict Transformation) for a discussion on Israel’s current policy toward the Pal...
Sep 21, 2022•1 hr 6 min
Dr. Gilad Malach of the Israel Democracy Institute joins Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber to analyze the important but poorly understood world of Israel's ultra-Orthodox ("Haredi") community. They discuss the rapidly growing ultra-Orthodox population, their complex relationship with education, employment, and military service, the reasons behind their long-standing political covenant with Bibi Netanyahu, and the chances of this alliance enduring past t...
Sep 08, 2022•53 min
Dr. Naysan Rafati, Iran analyst at the International Crisis Group, joins Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Pod host Neri Zilber for a deep dive into the negotiations over a renewed Iran nuclear agreement. They discuss the history of the original deal signed under President Barack Obama, the U.S. withdrawal under President Donald Trump, and the prospects and challenges of President Joe Biden's efforts to negotiate a new deal given the sharp criticism from the Israeli government and Tehr...
Aug 31, 2022•1 hr 2 min
Walla News Chief Political Correspondent Tal Shalev joins Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber to assess the state of play of the upcoming Israeli election, the polarizing issues determining voting patterns, and the political performances of Israel’s most recent prime ministers: Yair Lapid, Naftali Bennett, Benjamin Netanyahu, and one almost (and possibly future) prime minister, Benny Gantz. Support the show Follow us on Instagram , Twitter/X , and Bluesky...
Aug 18, 2022•1 hr 1 min
Haaretz Military Correspondent Amos Harel joins Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber for an in-depth conversation on the recent Israel-Palestinian Islamic Jihad conflict, Operation Breaking Dawn. They assess the impact of the operation on Israel’s relations with Gaza and Hamas, PIJ’s military capabilities compared to other terrorist organizations, PM Lapid’s handling of the escalation, and more. Read our overview of Operation Breaking Dawn here. Support th...
Aug 10, 2022•56 min
In this episode, Ksenia Svetlova, Director of the Israel-Middle East Program at Mitvim and an expert on Russia and Ukraine, joins Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber for a deep dive into the current state of the Ukraine conflict, growing tensions between Moscow and Jerusalem, what Russia and Iran may want from each other, how the war looks from Israel, and more. Support the show Follow us on Instagram , Twitter/X , and Bluesky , and subscribe to our email...
Jul 28, 2022•56 min
In this episode, Ehud Yaari, longtime Middle East commentator for Israel’s Channel 12 and international fellow of The Washington Institute, joins Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber for a wide-ranging conversation assessing President Biden's visit to the Middle East: the prospects for Saudi normalization with Israel, the budding regional defense architecture, growing Iran-Russia military ties, the Palestinians’ diplomatic standing, West Bank stability aft...
Jul 19, 2022•57 min
With President Biden set to travel to Israel, the West Bank, and Saudi Arabia next week, Ambassador Martin Indyk (Israel Policy Forum Board Member and former U.S. Ambassador to Israel) joins Neri Zilber on Israel Policy Pod. Recalling previous presidential visits to Israel, they discuss Biden’s upcoming trip and its implications for U.S.-Israel relations, the two-state solution, and regional developments. They also discuss Amb. Indyk’s recent book, Master of the Game: Henry Kissinger and the Art...
Jul 05, 2022•52 min
Note: This episode is the audio recording from a special Israel Policy Forum video briefing held on Wednesday, June 22. With the passage of a preliminary vote in the Knesset today, the Bennett-Lapid coalition has begun the process of dissolving the Knesset and sending Israel back to elections. This marks the end of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid's yearlong historic political experiment that united eight parties from across the political spectrum. As soon as next w...
Jun 23, 2022•1 hr 1 min
Amid strained U.S.-Palestinian relations and political uncertainty in Israel, President Biden is set to visit Israel and the West Bank next month. Nimrod Novik (Israel Fellow, Israel Policy Forum and former Israeli diplomat) and Ibrahim Eid Dalalsha (Director, Horizon Center for Political Studies and Media Outreach) join host Neri Zilber (Policy Advisor, Israel Policy Forum and Tel Aviv-based journalist) for a discussion on expectations for Biden’s visit, why the PA’s relations with the U.S. and...
Jun 16, 2022•1 hr 11 min
Diane and Guilford Glazer Family Foundation Director of Policy Research Shira Efron and Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow join host Tel Aviv-based journalist and Policy Advisor Neri Zilber for a conversation on the state of U.S.-Israel relations amid the reported downgrading of the U.S. Security Coordinator in Jerusalem and the death of Shireen Abu Akleh. They also unpack the significant challenges facing the Bennett-Lapid coalition after it failed to pass the law extending Israeli civil and c...
Jun 08, 2022•58 min
This week's episode takes a deep dive into the last two tumultuous months in Israel and Palestine, which included a deadly wave of terror attacks, a major Israeli military operation in the West Bank, the tragic death of Shireen Abu Akleh, and tensions and violence in Jerusalem. Are we now past the worst of it? Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts journalist Adam Rasgon, most recently of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, to get an on-the-gro...
Jun 03, 2022•56 min
What happens in the Holy Land doesn’t just impact Israelis and Palestinians; it reverberates across the Middle East. Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Hesham Youssef, a retired Egyptian diplomat and U.S. Institute of Peace senior fellow, and Farah Bdour, the programs director at the Amman Center for Peace and Development in Jordan, for a wide-ranging conversation about the key roles Egypt and Jordan play in the Israeli-Palestinian arena. Both Hesh...
May 10, 2022•55 min
After the shock of losing its parliamentary majority, and with the Knesset coming back from a holiday break next week, what does the future hold for the Bennett-Lapid government? Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Walla News Chief Political Correspondent Tal Shalev for a deep dive into the chances of the government surviving, the prospects of yet another election, Bibi Netanyahu eyeing a comeback, and who really is the most powerful person in Israeli poli...
May 05, 2022•56 min
In this episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber, Diane and Guilford Glazer Family Foundation Director of Policy Research Shira Efron, and Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow catch up on the major events of the past month, including clashes at Jerusalem's holiest site, the surprising diplomatic response, renewed rocket fire from Gaza, and the staying power (or lack thereof) of the Bennett-Lapid government. Support the show Follow us on Instagram , Twi...
Apr 27, 2022•57 min
Violence continues to plague Israel, with another terror attack in Tel Aviv last week killing three Israelis. In this episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber is joined again by Amos Harel, Haaretz's military analyst, to assess the ongoing escalation and how the Israeli security forces and public have responded. They also discuss how Israel views both the looming Iran nuclear deal and the Russian army’s military failures in Ukraine. Support the show F...
Apr 13, 2022•52 min
Violence has escalated in Israel, with three terror attacks in the span of a week leaving 11 Israelis dead. In this episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber speaks with Col. (res.) Dr. Michael Milshtein, the former head of the Palestinian arena at Israeli Military Intelligence, to analyze why such attacks are occurring now, what the Israeli government is doing to prevent them while heading into a highly sensitive holiday period, and why the future of ...
Mar 31, 2022•52 min
In this week's episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber speaks with Knesset Member Prof. Yossi Shain of the Yisrael Beitenu party about many of today’s pressing issues, including Israel's Ukraine policy, refugees and the Law of Return, and Israel-Diaspora relations, as well as his new book, The Israeli Century: How the Zionist Revolution Changed History and Reinvented Judaism , and what it was like leaving academia for the bruising world of Israeli po...
Mar 22, 2022•57 min
In this episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber, Research Director Shira Efron, and Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow discuss Israel's delicate balancing act in the Ukraine war, as well as Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's surprise mediation efforts. They also delve into the state of Israel-Turkey ties in the wake of President Isaac Herzog's state visit and provide a status update on Israeli-Palestinian relations. Support the show Follow us on Insta...
Mar 10, 2022•59 min
The Israeli intelligence services like to operate in secret, but one journalist has made a career by bringing them out of the shadows: Ronen Bergman of The New York Times and Yediot Ahronot. In this week's episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber talks with Ronen about why he chose to focus on this specific beat, how he goes about his work, the stories behind his bestselling book, Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinat...
Feb 23, 2022•1 hr 11 min
The crisis in Ukraine is drawing the entire world's attention, and Israel is no exception. In this week's episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Washington Institute Senior Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya, author of Putin's War in Syria: Russian Foreign Policy and the Price of America's Absence. Anna and Neri contextualize the escalating standoff between Russia and the West and assess how it impacts Israel, which must walk a tightrope in order to m...
Feb 16, 2022•34 min
