We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to [email protected] or message Aviva on X at @AvivaKlompas.

Phase Two of President Trump’s Gaza plan envisions a demilitarized, “terror-free zone.” The Strip would be cleared of weapons and tunnels, militants who renounce violence could receive amnesty or exile, and an international stabilization force — composed of U.S., Arab, and European personnel — would oversee security and help train a new Palestinian police force.

But how realistic is demilitarization? And can Gaza truly be de-radicalized? Jonathan Conricus joins host Aviva Klompas to unpack the security, regional, and political implications of Phase Two — and to ask whether this moment marks the start of peace or simply the next chapter in a long war.

Guest Bio

Jonathan Conricus is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on the Middle East. He served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for 24 years as a combat commander in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. He also served as a military diplomat, foreign relations expert, and international spokesperson. He recently retired as lieutenant colonel. Jonathan was the first Israeli officer to be seconded to the United Nations (UN), during which he provided military and strategic analysis for UN peacekeeping forces. He has directed social media and public diplomacy efforts and has extensive on- and off-camera experience from his years as a spokesperson. 

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After 738 days of war, Israel’s hostages are home and the country is beginning to exhale. But relief comes with hard questions about what happens next.

In this episode, Aviva speaks with Dr. Einat Wilf about what the end of the war reveals about Israel’s strength, its divisions, and the road ahead. They explore what it will take to keep Hamas disarmed, rebuild Gaza without empowering extremists, and whether peace and normalization with the Arab world are truly within reach.

Guest Bio         

Dr. Einat Wilf is a leading thinker on Israel, Zionism, foreign policy and education. She was a member of the Israeli Parliament from 2010 to 2013, where she served as Chair of the Education Committee and Member of the influential Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

Born and raised in Israel, Dr. Wilf served as an Intelligence Officer in the Israel Defense Forces, Foreign Policy Advisor to Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres and a strategic consultant with McKinsey & Company.

Dr. Wilf has a BA from Harvard, an MBA from INSEAD in France, and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Cambridge. She was the Goldman Visiting Professor at Georgetown University.

Dr. Wilf is the author of seven books that explore key issues in Israeli society. “We Should All Be Zionists“, published in 2022, brings together her essays from the past four years on Israel, Zionism and the path to peace; the co-authored “The War of Return: How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace”, was published in 2020

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After two years, the last hostages are finally returning home. This moment — long prayed for and nearly impossible to imagine — is one of relief, heartbreak, and reckoning.

Dr. Michael Oren joins host Aviva Klompas to reflect on what this moment means for Israel, the Jewish people, and the wider Middle East. Together they explore how a conflict that began in terror has brought about profound military, political, and moral challenges.

Mentioned in this episode:

Win-Win? By Dr. Michael Oren

After two years of war, Israel stands at the threshold of peace. The ceasefire agreement marks the end of a long and painful chapter — bringing relief, uncertainty, and deep emotion across the country.

In this episode, Avi Mayer joins from Jerusalem to reflect on what this moment feels like inside Israel. We discuss the mood on the streets, the cautious hope surrounding the hostages’ return, and the immense grief that still lingers beneath the relief.

Avi Mayer, founder of Jerusalem Journal and former Editor-in-Chief of The Jerusalem Post, shares his perspective on a historic and deeply human moment for Israel and the Jewish world.

Guest Bio:

Avi Mayer is the founder of Jerusalem Journal and is the immediate past Editor-in-Chief of The Jerusalem Post. He previously served in senior roles at the American Jewish Committee and The Jewish Agency for Israel, including as an aide to the Agency’s then-Chairman, Natan Sharansky. He lives in Jerusalem.

More from Avi:

A Nation Holds Its Breath by Avi Mayer

After two years of war, a breakthrough is within reach. Negotiators in Egypt have been working through President Trump’s 20-point plan — a framework that could end the fighting, free the remaining 48 Israeli hostages, and set the stage for rebuilding Gaza.

To break down the key points and what it would take for any agreement to lead to real and lasting peace, retired Lt. Colonel Jonathan Conricus shares his insight on Israel’s red lines, Hamas’s calculus, and the challenges that could determine whether this moment ends in peace or another cycle of conflict.

 Guest Bio:

Jonathan Conricus is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on the Middle East. He served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for 24 years as a combat commander in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. He also served as a military diplomat, foreign relations expert, and international spokesperson. He recently retired as lieutenant colonel. Jonathan was the first Israeli officer to be seconded to the United Nations (UN), during which he provided military and strategic analysis for UN peacekeeping forces. He has directed social media and public diplomacy efforts and has extensive on- and off-camera experience from his years as a spokesperson. 

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to [email protected] or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

For nearly a year and a half, Keith Siegel lived through the unimaginable. An Israeli American originally from North Carolina, Keith and his wife, Aviva, were taken hostage from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7. Aviva was released during a ceasefire in November 2023, but Keith remained in Gaza for 484 days. He was shuttled between more than 30 hiding places — sometimes held with fellow captives, other times left for months entirely alone. In this episode, Keith opens up about what it was like to endure those 484 days. 

Keith’s Pancake Recipe

Ingredients:
2 cups (450 ml) buttermilk
½ cup (90 ml) oil
2 cups (80 g) flour
2 eggs
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp baking soda


Preparation:

Mix the wet ingredients - buttermilk, oil, and eggs.
In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients - flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.
Gently fold the wet and dry mixtures together until just combined, then let the batter rest for at least 30 minutes.
Lightly grease a hot pan with oil and pour in a full ladle of batter for thick pancakes. Cook for about 2 minutes or until bubbles form on the surface. Flip and cook for a short time on the other side.
Serve with real maple syrup on top.

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Two years after the October 7 massacre - the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust -Israel is still at war and Jewish communities worldwide are still grappling with its aftershocks. In this episode, Aviva sits down with historian, diplomat, and former Israeli Ambassador to Washington Dr. Michael Oren to reflect on how that day changed Israel, the Middle East, and the Jewish people.

As the second anniversary of October 7 arrives - and as we wait to see if the Trump peace plan takes hold - this episode offers a sober look at the past two years.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Holiest Hatred by Adam Louis-Klein

Are Politicians Who Talk About God Crazy? By Michael Oren

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to [email protected] or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

President Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza has stirred international attention — not only for its sweeping scope, but also for the unusual support it has drawn from key Arab states. The proposal promises an immediate ceasefire, the return of hostages, and the removal of Hamas from power, with Trump himself at the helm of a transitional authority overseeing Gaza’s reconstruction.

But the plan hinges on Hamas, the one actor yet to agree. Can the leverage of the U.S., Israel, and regional partners bring them to the table — or is this destined to join the long list of failed peace initiatives?

In this episode, Aviva sits down with Dr. Jonathan Schanzer to examine what’s realistic, what isn’t, and whether this could finally mark a turning point in nearly two years of war.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Jonathan Schanzer is Executive Director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where he oversees the organization’s research and policy work. A former terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Treasury, Jonathan has tracked and disrupted funding networks for groups like Hamas and al-Qaeda. He’s authored several books on the Middle East, including Gaza Conflict 2021, State of Failure, and Hamas vs. Fatah. A frequent congressional witness and media commentator, his analysis appears regularly in major outlets including CNN, Fox News, and the BBC.

We want to hear from you. Send questions and comments to [email protected] or message Aviva on X at @avivaklompas.

At this year’s UN General Assembly, a fresh wave of governments — including several G7 members and two permanent Security Council members — moved to recognize a Palestinian state. Supporters call it a step toward peace; critics say it rewards Hamas, undermines hostage diplomacy, and does nothing to change facts on the ground.

In this episode, host Aviva Klompas speaks with historian, diplomat, and former Israeli Ambassador to Washington Dr. Michael Oren about “recognition fever.” They trace how the history of recognitions stretches back decades and what international law requires for statehood. The conversation looks at what recognition does and does not confer and why many see this push as punishment of Israel rather than evidence the Palestinians are ready for a state.

Mentioned in this episode:

What the World Gets Wrong About Israel by Benny Gantz 

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Former presidential speechwriter and author Sarah Hurwitz joins Dr. Rachel Fish for an honest conversation about Jewish identity, Israel, and how to navigate a post–October 7 world without giving in to simplicity. 

Drawing on her new book, As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us, Sarah explains why she avoided Israel in her first book, and why she brought it to the center this time. Together they explore how anti-Judaism’s ancient tropes seep into modern debates, why “contentless” Jewishness can’t withstand today’s anti-Jewish pressure, what real Israel education (not indoctrination) looks like, and how to hold fierce criticism of an Israeli government alongside rock-solid Zionism.

Guest Bio

Sarah Hurwitz served as a White House speechwriter from 2009 to 2017, first as a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama and then as head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama. She was also the chief speechwriter for Hillary Clinton on her 2008 presidential campaign. Hurwitz is the author of Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life—in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look  There), which was a finalist for two National Jewish Book Awards and the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature. She has been featured throughout the media, from profiles in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, and The Guardian to appearances on the Today show, Morning Joe, and NPR. The Forward twice named her one of 50 Jews  who has impacted American life. AS A JEW: Reclaiming Our Story From Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us (HarperOne) was named the “Natan Notable Book” for Summer 2025 by Natan and the Jewish Book Council. Hurwitz is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School and was a 2017 Fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard.

Mentioned in This Episode

Sarah Hurtwitz, As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us

Shai Feldman, Abdel Monem Said Aly, and Khalil Shikaki, Arabs and Israelis: Conflict and Peacemaking in the Middle East

Keren E. Fraiman, Barriers to Entry: Why Teachers are Wary to Address the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Ilana Redstone, The Certainty Trap: Why We Need to Question Ourselves More― and How We Can Judge Others Less