As the war in Ukraine rages on, Vladimir Putin's army is being exposed as less effective than previously thought, argues Haaretz senior correspondent Anshel Pfeffer on this week's episode. Joining from Kyiv, where he has been covering the war with photographer Ohad Zwigenberg, he shares what "normal life" currently looks like in the bombarded Ukrainian capital, explains what it takes for a journalist to enter Ukraine these days, and offers a grim assessment about the possibility of the war ending via diplomatic negotiations. 

Later on this episode, senior Haaretz analyst Alon Pinkas joins host Amir Tibon to discuss China's role in the war, and why Beijing's position is of such great interest to U.S. President Joe Biden. Can China stop Putin from further escalating the situation? Does it even want to? Listen to the full conversation starting at time code 18:24.

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Read more of our Ukraine coverage:

* With Machine Guns From a Museum, Kyiv Takes the Fight to Russia 

* Zelensky Tells Israeli Lawmakers: Russsia Is Plotting 'Final Solution' Like the Nazis 

* Why Jewish Refugees from Ukraine Are Choosing Germany Over Israel 

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Israel's attempts to mediate between Russia and Ukraine represent an important shift in the country's foreign policy, says Eran Etzion, a former senior Israeli diplomat and previously the deputy head of Israel's national security council. A country that for decades was clearly aligned with the U.S. and the West, says Etzion, has been drifting toward a more neutral position in the global arena, but now it must choose between the democratic world and an authoritarian axis trying to destroy it. Listen to his full interview with host Amir Tibon.

Later on the show, we hear from Anat Peled, co-author of a recent Haaretz article on Israelis who have gone to Ukraine to fight with the Ukrainian military against Putin's invasion. What brings young Israelis to leave everything behind for this war, and how does the government view the phenomenon? The conversation with her starts at time code 28:20. 

This week, because of the Purim holiday, there will not be a new episode of Haaretz Weekend. See you next week. 

Read more of our Ukraine coverage:

* Anshel Pfeffer reports from Odessa, the city that believes it is Putin's next target.

* Putin wanted another Crimea. He may get another Chechnya instead.

* Israel plans to airlift tens of thousands of Ukrainian Jews.

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Journalist Julia Ioffe was born in the former Soviet Union, immigrated to the U.S. as a child, and returned many times since to Russia as a reporter covering the country's politics, wars and relations with the world. On this episode of Haaretz Weekend, she explains why Vladimir Putin was surprised by U.S. President Joe Biden's tough sanctions, but why the economic damage caused to Russia won't deter him from continuing his cruel war in Ukraine. Putin, she warns, is cornered, and is far from the strategic genius some analysts make of him. But that doesn't make him any less dangerous.

Also on this episode, host Allison Kaplan Sommer talks to immigration attorney Yadim Elam about Israel's policy toward Ukarinian refugees, which is casuing tensions within the government. His phone hasn't stopped ringing since the start of the war, with people telling desperate stories about trying to enter the country and facing endless beuarucratic hardships. He explains who are the Ukrainian refugees arriving to Israel, and voices his disappointment and frustration with the welcome they're receiving. 

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What is it like to cover the Ukraine war from inside the beleaguered country? Who are the people escaping the Russian onslaught? And is Israel doing enough to help the refugees arriving at its gates?

Haaretz correspondents Yarden Michaeli and Judy Maltz, who recently returned from Ukraine and Moldova, respectively, share their experiences on the ground, offer a dark assessment of the war's next steps and end with some optimistic stories of resilience and generosity despite the enormous crisis. Listen to their full conversation with host Amir Tibon, starting at time code 10:30.

But first up, our national security analyst, Amos Harel, delivers an update on Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's attempts to broker a cease-fire in Eastern Europe and tries to answer the most frightening question of all: What will it take for a cornered Vladimir Putin to turn this conflict into a nuclear one?

Read more of our Ukraine coverage:

* 'I Fled the Nazis, Now I'm Fleeing the Russians': Jewish Refugees From Ukraine Find Shelter in Moldova

* This Ukrainian Synagogue Survived World War II. Now It’s Trying to Stop the Russians

* Time Is No Longer on Putin's Side  

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Dani Dayan, chairman of Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Center, joins host Allison Kaplan Sommer to discuss the war in Ukraine and how it affects his organization's main mission, preserving the memory of the Holocaust. He finds reason for concern in some recent developments: “Both sides are trivializing and distorting the Holocaust. I regret that both sides are using their propagandistic comparisons to the Holocaust that are completely inaccurate and completely improper.” 

Dayan chose to speak out after Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed the invasion is aimed at “denazification,” and a Kremlin spokesman mocked Yad Vashem and promised to organize a visit to “mass graves” in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, accused Moscow of “killing the victims of the Holocaust for the second time." Dayan also addressed criticism directed at his organization for signing a letter asking the United States not to sanction Russian billionaire and major donor Roman Abramovich.

Later on the show, Haaretz deputy-editor-in-chief Noa Landau explains why multimillion-dollar gifts to Yad Vashem, like the recent controversial donation by Abramovich, must end. She advocates a law that would require Yad Vashem be fully funded by the Israeli government so it can refuse private donations that could affect its mission.

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Through the fog of war, details are beginning to emerge from the war in Ukraine – but the full picture is still unknown. Has Putin achieved any of his objectives so far? Why is the world surprised by Ukraine's defiance and resolve? And what does Israel stand to lose by refusing to take a stronger position against Russia? Israeli strategic planning expert and former army colonel Udi Evental joins the podcast to discuss the latest developments in the fighting, and how Syria was Putin's laboratory for the Ukraine war. Listen to his conversation with host Amir Tibon, starting at time code 07:15.

Earlier on this episode, Haaretz's Jewish World correspondent Judy Maltz brings an update on the expected wave of immigration from Ukraine to Israel, which could break all previous records in light of the war. Thousands of Ukrainian Jews have already asked for help to relocate to Israel, and many more could join them. She also discusses the disappointment among Israelis of Ukrainian origin who feel the government in Jerusalem has let them down.

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“We see a voice in Congress that is not talking about Palestinian human rights, that isn’t a progressive pro-Israel voice. It is a voice saying ‘Israel is completely illegitimate and you shouldn’t engage with it at all.’”

Americans for Peace Now CEO Hadar Susskind joins host Allison Kaplan Sommer this week to talk about the pressure being put on a group of left-wing Democratic lawmakers who have participated in delegations to Israel – even when those delegations meet with Palestinian leaders and representatives to hear and amplify their cause. 

He notes that activists are seeking out “progressive members of color because that’s who they think they can impact and influence,” calling the pressure to boycott Israel entirely a “terrible, terrible tactic.” 

Later on the podcast, former Israel Defense Forces international spokesman Peter Lerner discusses how Israel should confront the phenomenon of it being “canceled.”  

“Israel needs to be very cautious not to give the fringe elements a platform,” Lerner says. “We can’t get involved in internal U.S. politics, but we need to empower those who want to come and learn and listen and see – and criticize,” he adds.

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As war gets closer in Ukraine, signs of progress are being reported from Vienna, where Iran and world powers are discussing a new nuclear agreement. Is a new deal actually within reach, and will it be a weaker, more dangerous agreement as Israeli officials have been warning? Nuclear historian Avner Cohen joins the podcast to answer these questions, and also to explain how Putin is using the Iran card against America, and why China won't mind if Iran becomes a nuclear threshold state.

Later on this episode, host Amir Tibon hears from EcoPeace Israel director Gidon Bromberg about the unique threats of climate change in the Middle East, but also how it can be used to foster greater cooperation in the region. Ahead of this week's Haaretz climate conference, featuring Biden's special climate envoy John Kerry, hear what can be done to reverse the worrying rise of global temperatures, and how a crisis can be an opportunity for peace, starting at time code 25:30.

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Haaretz senior writer Judy Maltz joins the podcast to talk about the plight of Ukrainian Jews living in the shadow of a possible Russian invasion, and whether she believes a massive wave of aliyah is likely should a military conflict begin. 

She also talks about why the Israeli government may soon be taking steps that would actually make it harder, not easier, for many of those Ukrainian Jews to come to Israel if they want to do so, due to political horse-trading that would see a radical change in Israel’s Law of Return.

Earlier on the show, Israel’s top human rights attorney, Michael Sfard, discusses his  explosive article comparing Israeli settler violence in the West Bank to the activities of the Ku Klux Klan. In an interview with host Allison Kaplan Sommer, he calls the perpetrators “the new antisemites,” and talks about why denouncements from Israeli authorities and settler leaders ring hollow.

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The biggest story in Israel in recent weeks has been the alleged use of Pegasus spyware by the Israeli police against journalists, directors of government ministries, witnesses in the Netanyahu trial and other civilians. But did it really happen, or is the entire situation one big conspiracy theory? And what lessons can democratic governments learn from Israel's spyware scandal?

To answer these questions, our guests on this week's episode are Haaretz cybertech editor Omer Benjakob and Dr. Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler, a senior fellow at the Israeli Democracy Institute and an expert on law and technology. They also explain how Israel used Pegasus and similar cyberweaponry for foreign policy purposes, and what you, the listener, can do to find out if your phone has been hacked. Listen to their full conversation with host Amir Tibon.

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