On Friday, December 15 the IDF shot and killed three Israeli hostages in Gaza while they were raising their arms in surrender and waving white flags. The soldiers misidentified these Israelis as terrorists. Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi express their sadness and heartbreak as they consider how this grave incident underscores the internal debate about saving the hostages or winning the war. They also examine what this tragic error says about IDF tactics as well as the combat strategy and terror ploys the IDF are facing.  

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With missiles being fired at Israel daily from Lebanon, Israelis are grappling with how to respond to the threat of Hezbollah in the North. Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the threat of Hezbollah, the possibility and risks of fighting a war on a second front, and the extent and limits of Israeli power.  

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As we enter the ninth week and a new, post-ceasefire phase of the Israel-Hamas War, the gap between Israeli and North American Jewish perspectives continue to widen. While Israelis count and mourn each Israeli casualty, North American Jews are increasingly demanding greater consideration for civilian casualties in Gaza as well as the humanitarian crisis there. In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the experiences shaping these divergent perspectives and how Israelis might approach concern over civilian life and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as they fight for the existence of Israel. 

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Correction: When Donniel Hartman references the testimony of the three university presidents (min 2:38), he mistakenly lists Yale University instead of University of Pennsylvania.

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For Jews around the world, the nightmare of October 7th is compounded by the harsh and deafening condemnation of Israel’s military action. In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi explore the dynamics of Jewish power and vulnerability, the ramifications of labeling Israel’s actions as genocidal, and the question of whether antisemitism is at play.   

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How does a country engaged in war grapple with moral issues? On Thursday, November 30, Yuval Kestelman, an Israeli civilian and good Samaritan, was shot and killed by an IDF soldier after shooting a terrorist at a Jerusalem bus stop. Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi explore the ethical implications of labeling this incident either an accident or a crime, the influence of the government’s right-wing agenda and Hilltop Youth roots, and the parallels with the 2017 case of Elor Azaria, a soldier who killed a wounded Palestinian terrorist.  

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Major funding for For Heaven’s Sake is provided by the Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation of Los Angeles. This special episode of the War edition is sponsored by Nancy Cahners. 

We are six days into a ceasefire, and the first wave of hostages have returned home. The national unity that emerged from the attack on October 7 and subsequent war is beginning to fray. In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the unrelenting emotional toll of this crisis and the strains on Israel’s togetherness, including mounting international pressure, pre-existing political divides, and the leadership vacuum.  

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By the third day of the ceasefire, Hamas had released 58 hostages, 40 of them Israeli, in exchange for 78 Palestinian prisoners. While Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi celebrate the captives’ return to their families, they take note of the ways that this hostage situation is different from any the nation has faced in its history. They also consider how this moment challenges the Zionist ethos and explore the dilemmas the country will face as this 4-day truce agreement reaches an end. Will Israel risk the chance to redeem the rest of its captives safely if it returns to fighting against Hamas?

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What does it mean to have resilience in the face of tremendous loss?  

In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss how soldiers are processing their trauma from combat in Gaza and bear witness to Israel’s staggering civilian presence at the funerals of fallen soldiers. They explore the imminent ceasefire, hostage and prisoner exchange, and the ramifications of this deal on Israel’s security and the nation’s psyche. 

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What does Gaza look like after this war is over? A recent poll showed thirty percent of Israelis favoring a renewal of Jewish settlements in the Gaza strip. While considering the popularity of this sentiment surprising and troubling, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss why some Israelis have developed this view. They ask: what it will take for Israelis to feel safe living alongside a Palestinian state after the devastation and violation of October 7?

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As the IDF takes control of Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital, the controversy around this hospital serves as a paradigm for the conflicting views about the broader war. For many Jews, Israelis, and allies of Israel, Shifa represents the evil nature of our enemy; for critics, the operation at Shifa reflects everything that is wrong with Israel. Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the struggles, risks, and consequences of adhering to moral principles while fighting against an immoral enemy.

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