Haaretz Podcast

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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Haaretz television critic Adrian Hennigan reviews the two latest Israeli hit shows to receive English-language reboots: “Suspicion” on Apple TV+ and “As We See It” on Amazon Prime, and takes a deep dive into the global phenomenon the Israeli television industry has become. Hear the full conversation with him, starting at time code 21:00.

Also on this episode, feminist activist Samah Salaime – a leading voice on violence against women in the Arab community – talks with host Allison Kaplan Sommer on the struggle for equality in a conservative and discriminated society.  

“We can’t, as Palestinians, say that we want freedom of speech and movement, we want to be equal in a democratic state, but we don’t want this voice to be heard,” she said, pointing to recent troubling examples of limiting women’s freedom in Israel’s Arab community. “The conservative fundamental agenda of religious people is taking over and this is a dangerous thing for us,” she added.

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From Iran and Ukraine to China and India, on this week's episode we have a wide-ranging discussion of Israel's foreign policy with Yossi Shain – one of the country's top political science experts and a recently elected member of the Knesset. Shain explains how former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a bet on Donald Trump winning reelection, and how that bet put Israel in a terrible situation regarding Iran. 

He also discusses Israel's alliance with India, and tells host Amir Tibon that Jerusalem will do everything it can to avoid being dragged into the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 

Also on this episode, an interview with Union for Reform Judaism President Rabbi Rick Jacobs, who has a warning for Prime Minister Naftali Bennett: Liberal American Jews are losing patience with the new Israeli government, and "not being Bibi" is not enough to win their support.  Listen to his full conversation with Allison Kaplan Sommer, starting at time code 31:00.

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As Russian troops mass on the Ukrainian border and fears of an invasion grow, Haaretz’s Alon Pinkas talks to Allison Kaplan Sommer about Vladimir Putin’s motivations and the reaction of President Joe Biden to the crisis. “Anything having to do with America’s image, with America’s power and ability to project power has a direct impact on Israel’s national security,” Pinkas says. 

Also, Haaretz correspondent Liza Rozovsky joins the podcast from the ground in Ukraine. While Ukrainians in the border regions are not visibly panicking, she reports, “in order to really feel the anxiety, you need to meet the people and sit and talk to them in their homes.” 

Rozovsky discusses why even Russian-speaking Ukrainians want nothing to do with Putin, her visits with volunteers who spend their days supporting the Ukrainian military effort against Russian separatists, and whether or not Ukrainian Jews in the border region are considering a move to Israel if war breaks out.  

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Anshel Pfeffer and Dahlia Scheindlin dissect Bibi's latest legal drama, and listen in as Omer Benjakob discusses the latest NSO scandal with host Allison Kaplan Sommer 

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When news broke that four middle-aged women in Israel had been recruited by an Iranian intelligence agent on social media and dispatched on a series of bizarre missions, many Israeli commentators found the story amusing. 

Haaretz intelligence and security analyst Yossi Melman tells podcast host Allison Kaplan Sommer why he believes the episode is no joking matter.

Additionally, he delves into the ongoing controversy over why Princeton University continues to employ Seyed Mousavian, a propagandist for the Iranian regime who gleefully smirked when discussing death threats against a U.S. State Department official. He also asks why top Israeli intelligence officials haven’t been able to keep their mouths shut lately, being so eager to brag about their exploits.  

Also in this episode: Palestinian-Israeli activist Sally Abed explains how tree planting by the Jewish National Fund ignited Bedouin protests in the Negev and why Bedouin youth are so angry. The incident nearly brought down the Israeli government after United Arab List leader Mahmoud Abbas, a key member of the Bennett-Lapid coalition, refused to vote the party line until the forestation stopped. 

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