FIDF Chief Executive Officer Steve Weil welcomes Ruby Chen, the father of Itay Chen, a 20-year-old IDF soldier and U.S. citizen, who likely fell while defending his military base on October 7th, and who is still being held by Hamas in Gaza. Ruby describes Itay's life, personality, hobbies, and values. He relates what the family now knows about Itay's experiences and actions on October 7th, and the family's journey in learning about what happened to him following that fateful day. Ruby also tells Steve about his political advocacy in trying to get the hostages, both alive and deceased, back to Israel from Gaza. Steve and Ruby discuss the emotional impact of this ordeal on the Chen family, and their relationship with other hostage families. Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by Dr. Jonathan Schanzer, Senior Vice President of Research for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) to discuss the current ceasefire and hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas. Dr. Schanzer provides exclusive insight into the intents and aims of Israeli officials who helped formulate the deal. He elaborates on the broader regional geopolitical ramifications of continuing the deal or resuming the war with Hamas and the impact of the new American administration on the situation. Steve and Dr. Schanzer also talk about the war between Israel and Hezbollah, and what the future may hold with the current ceasefire ending. Finally, the two discuss Israel's potential future military engagements with Iran and the Houthis in Yemen.Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by Lt. Col. (Res.) Dr. Mordechai Kedar, Israeli Scholar of Arab Culture, Lecturer at Bar-Ilan University, and Vice President of NEWSRAEL. Dr. Kedar elucidates the level of impact Trump’s recent press conference regarding his plans to relocate Gazan residents of Gaza in order to revitalize the infrastructure in Gaza had on the world, particularly the discourse in the Middle East around the State of Israel and the two state solution. In the wake of this landmark announcement by President Trump, Dr. Kedar explains how difficult it is to fathom that Zionism has come out as the victor after the tumultuous year and a half following October 7th. However, Dr. Kedar explains, Arab countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia have no choice but to accept this new reality as it is rolled out, because they need the support of the U.S. Dr. Kedar suggests that Qatar should be the lead candidate to weather the impending onslaught of over 2 million Gazan refugees, as they have the planes, the space and the infrastructure in place to accept these refugees. Dr. Kedar goes on to explain the threat of the Muslim Brotherhood, whose hateful and murderous ideology has spread throughout the Middle East and the western world. Looking into the future, Dr. Kedar believes that the fate of the future lay in the hands of the western world, and how they respond to the increase in radicalized Muslims residing in western countries. 

Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by Daniel Flesch, Senior Policy Analyst for Middle East and North Africa at the Allison Center for National Security, which is a subsidiary of the Heritage Foundation, the largest conservative think tank in the country. Daniel offers his perspective on the recent ceasefire deal with Hamas. Flesch explains that while the ratio of terrorists being released by Israel to hostages being released by Hamas is a lopsided 50-to-1, Gilad Shalit was released in exchange for 1,027 terrorists, one of whom being Yahya Sinwar. So, with that in mind, the deal isn’t as bad as many of its detractors have made it out to be. It was an opportune time for Israel to make a wing at a deal, due to both the change in administration in the US, and with the threats in Syria, Lebanon and Iran all being significantly diminished. Flesch clarifies that we are currently in phase one of a three phase deal with Hamas, and he is pessimistic that we will make it to phase two and three, most notably due to Hamas’ recent breach of the deal when they released soldiers instead of hostages. However, Flesch is very optimistic about Israel’s future, due to the economic growth, the global display of its might during the multi-front war, and a new generation of young leaders in Israel who proved that they can set aside ideological differences to defend the nation of Israel in remarkable dramatic fashion. 

Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

On this pre-recorded broadcast, FIDF CEO Steven Weil discusses with freed hostage Aviva Siegel about her experience as both a hostage and the wife of a current hostage, Keith Seigel. Aviva and Keith have been married for 44 years and have 4 children and 5 grandchildren. They lived on Kibbutz Kfar Aza for 14 years. Aviva recounts wanting to move on account of the constant threat of rocket fire. But Keith responded to Aviva by asking, “who’s going to look after the border?” Aviva then recounts October 7th, 2023, hearing the gunfire, taking shelter, and ultimately being violently taken along with her husband. Aviva describes being taken into the tunnels and the brutal treatment she and the other hostages received from the terrorists in Gaza. The hostages only received a half a piece of pita to eat. Keith was rapidly losing weight, so Aviva apportioned half of her ration to Keith. She witnessed one of the younger female hostages being beaten with sticks by the terrorists, and recounts wanting to comfort the girl but was barred from doing so. Aviva explains that she takes every opportunity available to her to speak and make media appearances in order to tell the world how brutally Hamas is treating the hostages.

Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by Brig. Gen. (Res.) Nitzan Nuriel, to discuss the current state of Israel’s multi-front war. By Gen. Nuriel’s count, Israel is fighting a 9-front war. In Lebanon, the new president appears to be delivering positive messages, but it’s too soon to make a definitive judgement on him. And, with the pending ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, Gen. Nuriel believes that Syria will become the new hub of Hamas, which will create new problems for Israel. With that said, there is good news coming from Iraq, as they no longer want any part of the conflict, and have cut ties with Iran. The Houthis have continued launching rockets and drones. Iran now needs to regroup and find new sources of funding, and needs to replace Lebanon as a hub for Hezbollah. Gen. Nuriel believes that Jordan will become the replacement, and the IDF is already taking steps to prevent this. Gen. Nuriel is confident that the first stage the Hamas Ceasefire deal will come to fruition, but has drawbacks about stage two, due to the many obstacles and many things that can transpire between now and when stage two is set to commence. The fighting in Gaza has grown incredibly challenging due to the heavy implementation of booby-traps and the constant flow of Hamas recruitment that allows Hamas to replenish their forces on a rolling basis. However, if the ceasefire deal holds, the terrorists will not be released to Gaza, but in a different country, and we will see the return of a large number of hostages. 

Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF CEO Steven Weil invites FIDF Casualties Officer Maj. (Res.) M. to discuss the effect of Israel’s multi-front war on the families of soldiers who have either been injured or have fallen in combat. Officer Maj. (Res.) M. explains that families of soldiers currently serving experience high levels of anxiety and fear that they may get a difficult call in regards to their loved one, which itself is very difficult for families to cope with. However,  Officer Maj. (Res.) M. has been involved with support groups and retreats for families of fallen soldiers, which the FIDF supports and funds. She explains how cathartic and therapeutic these retreats are for the families, who can share experiences of losing someone so instrumental to their lives. The programs provide participants with tools to cope without medical supplementation. With that said, coping is a lifelong endeavor, and requires ongoing care and support from organizations like the FIDF, as well as those who share similar grief and experiences. 

Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF CEO Steven Weil walks us through the year 2024, a rollercoaster year for Israel and the IDF. Steven walks us through the progress Israel has made in its mission to eliminate her surrounding threats. However, Steven reminds us that while progress has been made, Hamas is still operative, and still using its civilian population as its first line of defense, and civilization homes and institutions as headquarters and weapons storehouses. With that being said, the FIDF has been integral to supporting IDF soldiers in a variety of ways, such as equipping medical trucks with the tech and gear it needs, supplying state of the art tourniquets, providing PTSD support and injured soldier rehabilitation. It has been the sacrifice and bravery of the IDF soldiers on the ground, the cunning of Israel’s intelligence forces, and the integral support from IDF supporters and organizations like the FIDF that is accountable for why Israel is still stable and thriving amidst turmoil and daily threats to her safety. In the waning months of 2024 we saw the IDF nearly completely eliminate Hezbollah and the downfall of Assad. While there is much uncertainty and instability in the Middle East as we head into 2025, there is much to be encouraged by. 

Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by Ruthie and Andy Weiser, Grandparents of sergeant First Class Roey Weiser, Z”L, a combat solider in Battalion 13 of the Golani Brigade, who was killed on October 7th, 2023, to talk about loss and the mixed emotions they and their family have experienced over the last 15 or so months. Andy explains the heroics of Roey, who defended his base, Erez, from Hamas terrorists for hours. He was ultimately overrun by Hamas after having run out of bullets. Roey and his comrades saved 12 soldiers. Roey was 21 years old. The loss beared a heavy burden upon Ruthie and Andy, who participate in a grandparents support group, where they share each other’s thoughts and experiences about loss, and explore the uniquely challenging role of being the parent of a parent of a fallen soldier. However, Ruthie explains, this isn’t a tragedy. Roey was doing his job, and Ruthie takes great pride in her grandson and what he did on that tragic day. 

Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF CEO Steven Weil discusses the story of Chanukah, contextualizing it within the current multi-front war, the power struggle in Syria, and the rapidly evolving Middle East. Steven gives a sweeping Jewish historical overview of the First and Second Temple eras and the region that is now Syria, all the way to modern history, elucidating the evolution of the Israeli Jewish population from its humble beginnings as an economically meager, to growing into a one of the most dynamic economies in the world, at the cutting edge of a wide array of disciplines. Steven explains that the seemingly miraculous events that have occurred over the last several months, with Lebanon, Syria and Iran, are analogous to the miracle of Chanukah, when the Maccabees defeated the mighty Syrian Greeks. Steven likens the young Jewish men and women in the IDF to the modern day Maccabees, who have sacrificed everything to destroy those threatening the lives of their fellow countrymen, and whose actions have liberated Syrians from Al Assad’s tyrannical murderous regime. 

Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.