Episode description

Last November Israel elected its most far right government in its 75 year history. Months of protests followed over its plans for reform of the judicial system.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s new coalition government is proposing an agenda that goes beyond domestic reforms – and not everyone is happy.

As well as domestic protests, some of Israel’s allies are nervous as, with the government’s attention taken up by internal challenges, new alliances are forming in the middle east.

This episode of The Inquiry explores the reasons behind the tension and protests in the country and asks, why is Israel in turmoil?

Guests: Tamar Hermann, senior researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute and Professor of Political Science at the Open University

Anshel Pfeffer, journalist and biographer of Benjamin Netanyahu

Professor Yossi Mekelberg, associate fellow at Chatham House

Hugh Lovatt, Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations

Presented by Gary O’Donoghue. Producer: Louise Clarke Researcher: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Editor: Tara McDermott. The programme was mixed by Richard Hannaford

(Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 20 Apr 2023. Credit: Menahem Kahana/ Shutterstock)