East to West | Voices of the Middle East

In this powerful episode of East to West, host Sarah Martinez Amir sits down with Mohsen Sazegara — Iranian dissident, journalist, and one of the original founders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Sazegara offers a rare, insider’s perspective on the origins of the IRGC, sharing his early hopes for an institution meant to defend the ideals of the Iranian Revolution.Now living in exile, he reflects on how the IRGC has since morphed into a tool of authoritarian control and a key sponsor of terrorism across the Middle East. The conversation also turns to the upcoming nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran, with Sazegara offering deep insight into the regime’s strategy, internal fractures, and what’s at stake for the region and the world. He also addresses one of the most pressing questions for Western policymakers: can Iran be a genuine negotiator at the table — or is a military strike becoming an unavoidable solution?

In this powerful episode of East to West, host Sarah Martinez Amir speaks with Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, President of the Conference of European Rabbis, about the alarming surge in antisemitism following the October 7th Hamas attacks on Israel. Representing over 800 Jewish communities across Europe, Rabbi Goldschmidt reveals how antisemitism has become "politically correct again" and a tool of mainstream politics.

He shares disturbing insights about Jews removing religious symbols in public out of fear, the creation of "no-go zones" in European cities, and how Jewish voting patterns have dramatically shifted toward far-right parties due to security concerns.

Rabbi Goldschmidt discusses the challenges of interfaith dialogue, noting how moderate Muslim leaders face threats from their own communities when condemning violence against Jews. He also addresses the unique nature of antisemitism as a "mutating virus" that adapts through history—from religious persecution to racial theories to anti-Zionism.

In this powerful episode of East to West, host Sarah Martinez Amir speaks with historian Lord Andrew Roberts about The Roberts Report—the most comprehensive investigation to date into Hamas’ October 7 terror attack on Israel. Commissioned by the UK-Israel All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), the 318-page report meticulously documents the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, exposing the premeditated and systematic nature of the assault.Lord Roberts discusses the unprecedented brutality—families executed, burned alive, or slaughtered in safe rooms; sexual violence and mutilation on a horrific scale; and Hamas’ use of social media to spread terror, live-streaming atrocities and sending footage to victims’ families. He also addresses the disturbing wave of denial and misinformation that followed, drawing parallels to Holocaust denial and warning of the dangers of historical revisionism.

In this gripping episode of East to West, host Sarah Martinez Amir is joined by Oded Ailam, former head of the Counterterrorism Division in the Mossad and current researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs. Together, they dive into Israel's decision to resume military operations in Gaza despite the ongoing ceasefire with Hamas.

The conversation explores the complex dynamics behind this decision, the stalled hostage negotiations, and the difficult question of whether military pressure will compel Hamas to release the hostages. Tune in for an in-depth analysis of the shifting geopolitical landscape and the high stakes of the conflict.

In this fascinating episode of East to West, hosted by Sarah Martinez Amir, we’re joined by Moroccan artist, activist, and policy advisor Chama Mechtaly, who brings a powerful and deeply personal perspective on Middle Eastern identity, peace-building, and Muslim-Jewish reconciliation.Chama, who is half Muslim and half Jewish, grew up in Casablanca but now advocates for Jewish visibility, regional integration, and Zionism—a stance that has made her both a bridge-builder and a target for criticism. She discusses the erasure of Jewish history in the Arab world, the impact of the Abraham Accords, and how radical ideologies threaten coexistence in the Middle East.

In this fascinating episode of East to West, hosted by Sarah Martinez Amir, we’re joined by Mansur Ashkar, a native Israeli Druze.

The Druze, an Arabic-speaking minority, are spread throughout the Levant across the borders of Israel, Lebanon and Syria. As an ethno-religion that split from Islam, their identity is often misunderstood.

Mansur breaks down who the Druze are, their historical relationship with Israel, and how they’ve become an essential part of the country’s cultural mosaic. As an influencer and advocate for Israel, Mansur believes that Jews and Druze exemplify Israel’s potential for peace and unity - proving that coexistence isn’t just a hopeful ideal but a living reality.

In this powerful and emotional episode of East to West, host Sarah Martinez Amir speaks with Moshe Lavi, the brother-in-law of Israeli hostage Omri Miran. Omri was taken captive by Hamas on October 7 from his home in Southern Israel, leaving behind his wife and two young daughters, who are struggling with the heartbreaking reality of his absence.

Moshe shares the family's relentless fight to bring Omri home, their fears as negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire unfold, and how his loved ones are holding onto hope despite the uncertainty. With gripping firsthand testimony, this conversation sheds light on the human toll of the hostage crisis and the desperate plea of families left waiting.

Tune in for a deeply personal perspective on the ongoing struggle for Omri’s release and the countless others still held hostage in Gaza.

In this episode of East to West, Dalia Ziada, award-winning Egyptian writer and Senior Fellow for Research and Diplomacy at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, offers her sharp insights into Donald Trump's fiery statements on Gaza and their role in shaping international negotiations.

Ziada explains how Trump's rhetoric is pushing Arab states to finally take action toward drafting a plan for Gaza’s post-war reconstruction. She critiques Egypt and Jordan for their hypocrisy in not offering refuge to Gazans during the conflict and stresses that the true challenge lies not just in rebuilding Gaza but in removing Hamas from power. According to Ziada, Gaza's future depends on this critical change. Tune in for an eye-opening discussion on the Middle East's geopolitics and the path forward for Gaza.

In this emotional episode of East to West, we sit down with Daniel Lifshitz, the grandson of Oded Lifshitz, who is currently being held hostage in Gaza.

Daniel opens up about the heart-wrenching ordeal his family is facing as they fight to bring Oded, an elderly man, back home. Oded was a well-known peace activist who encouraged education for Gazans and warned against the influence of Hamas.

He was also involved in significant humanitarian work, including driving sick Gazans to receive medical treatment in Israeli hospitals. In this deeply personal conversation, Daniel shares his experiences, the challenges of navigating this crisis, and the toll it has taken on his family.

He discusses the importance of international awareness, the ongoing efforts to secure his grandfather’s release, and what the world needs to understand about the plight of hostages. Tune in to hear Daniel’s powerful story of resilience, hope, and love in the face of an unimaginable situation.

In this episode of East to West, host Sarah Martinez Amir is joined in the studio in Jerusalem by Hazem Alghabra, a Syrian-born former senior advisor to the US State Department, on his first visit to Israel.

Hazem opens up about his impressions of the country and how they challenge the misinformation he was exposed to during his time in Washington.

Together, they discuss the transformative changes unfolding in the Middle East, Israel's rise as a regional power, and the evolving opportunities for peace, particularly with Syria.