Haaretz Podcast

In this week's episode, we discuss intriguing findings from the Pandora Papers leak regarding Israel – from offshore companies in tax havens that finance settlement purchases, to the business empire of Israel's richest politician. Uri Blau, a member of the investigative journalistic consortium that uncovered the documents, joins host Amir Tibon for a fascinating conversation (starting at time code 11:30).

Also on the show, Allison Kaplan Sommer takes us inside last week's Trump administration reunion in Jerusalem, which featured everything from an evangelical-funded documentary series to the potential launching of a 2024 presidential campaign. Hear the full story and the evening's highlights. 

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Host Simon Spungin is joined by Anshel Pfeffer and Uzi Dann to discuss the Saudi Arabian takeover of a English Premier League football team, whether or not to attend the World Cup in Qatar next year and why Israeli soccer stadia are still bastions of racism and xenophobia.

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Former Mossad chief Efraim Halevy discusses Israel's strategy toward Iran and warns that Jerusalem's relationship with China could come at a heavy price. Halevy, who was appointed to lead the Mossad during Benjamin Netanyahu's first term as prime minister, accuses his ex-boss of pushing Tehran closer to obtaining a nuclear bomb. Listen to his full conversation with host Amir Tibon. 

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Host Simon Spungin is joined by Haaretz correspondent Ofer Aderet and Gideon Taylor, the head of the World Jewish Restitution Organization, to discuss the crisis between Israel and Poland over a new law that prevents Holocaust survivors from regaining property seized after World War II. PLUS: Adrian Hennigan discusses “Jewface” in Hollywood and on television.

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On this week's episode, we dive into the fascinating phenomenon of Afrikaners who were born and raised as Christians in South Africa, yet decided to become Jews and make aliyah to Israel. Judy Maltz and host Amir Tibon present their voices and stories. In addition, former lawmaker Stav Shaffir, the chairwoman of Israel's Green Party, talks about her attempts to reach out to like-minded progressives in the U.S., and offers new ways for Israel's post-Netanyahu government to rebuild ties with the Democratic Party.

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Host Simon Spungin talks about grassroots activism with Dina Kraft and Sally Abed – the hosts of Groundwork, a new podcast about Jews and Palestinians working in Israel’s mixed cities for a better future. How the escape and recapture of six Palestinians from an Israeli prison could shake up the discourse within Israel – if the Palestinian narrative is given space alongside the Zionist one. PLUS: Jotam Confino on Angela Merkel’s legacy in terms of German-Israeli relations and the fight against antisemitism.

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One year exactly after Israel signed historic normalization deals with two Gulf countries, and on the day Prime Minister Naftali Bennett visited Egypt, we try to find out what's next for Israel's ties with the Arab world. Gili Cohen, diplomatic correspondent for Israel's Kan Broadcasting, talks about the secrets behind the Abraham Accords with hosts Amir Tibon and Allison Kaplan Sommer. In addition, Member of Knesset Gilad Kariv, the first Reform Rabbi to get elected in Israel, joins the podcast to discuss the new government's religious reforms, and his own personal battle with COVID-19. 

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Host Simon Spungin is joined by Haaretz’s Anshel Pfeffer and Amir Tibon to discuss the first meeting between Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and U.S. President Joe Biden. We ask: Was the meeting a success? Who were the winners and losers? Is this a fresh start for bilateral relations between Jerusalem and Washington? And, now that he’s safely back in Israel, what challenges await the prime minister and his cobbled-together coalition - and why did Defense Minister Benny Gantz meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah?

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Host Simon Spungin is joined by senior U.S. analyst Alon Pinkas and senior military commentator Amos Harel to look ahead to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s upcoming visit to the White House – the first meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and the new Israeli leader. We discuss what issues will be on the agenda (Iran and China), and which ones the sides have already agreed not to mention (Palestine). We also look at the significance of an invitation from Cairo for Bennett to meet with Egypt’s President Al-Sissi.

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Host Simon Spungin is joined by photographer and artist Spencer Tunick, who is best known for organizing large-scale naked photoshoots – including a 2011 project at the Dead Sea, where he photographed 1,200 naked Israelis. Ten years on, Tunick is set to return to the Dead Sea for another art installation – in conjunction with the Dead Sea Revival Project and the Dead Sea Museum – to emphasize the importance of and the need to restore and preserve the Dead Sea. To volunteer and donate, click here.

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