Host Simon Spungin is joined by Haaretz military analyst Amos Harel to discuss the latest developments in the Iranian nuclear crisis: What is the Islamic Republic hoping to achieve, will U.S. President Donald Trump be maneuvered by his hawkish advisors into war with Tehran and what does all this mean for Israel?

Also: Why is the United States getting increasingly and publically vexed by Israel's close ties with China?

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Host Simon Spungin is joined by Haaretz's Judy Maltz and writer Roy Isacowitz to discuss Jewish life in South Africa, where – according to a new seven-part series by Judy – Zionism is a dirty word, Israel is the new apartheid and BDS is on the rise.

We cover the rapid and dramatic decline in the number of Jews calling the Rainbow Nation home, the impact of the BDS movement on their lives and the historical impact of Israel's support for the Apartheid regime.

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As Haaretz celebrates the 100th anniversary of its first edition, which was published on June 18, 1919, publisher Amos Schocken joins host Simon Spungin to discuss the newspaper's successes and failures, the state of Israel today and what he considers the main threats to the future of the Jewish state.

We also discuss the place of media outlets in modern democracies, the key role that Israel's Arab citizens must play in running and defining the country, and the positive message that can be taken from racist attitudes.

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Host Simon Spungin talks to Ravit Hecht, Avshalom Halutz and Larry Derfner about Pride Week in Israel – just days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed a gay Likudnik as his justice minister.

We also discuss allegations of 'pinkwashing' against Israel, government foot-dragging on legislation to grant LGBT parents equal rights and the undercurrent of anti-gay sentiment among a small but powerful ultra-Orthodox minority.

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Host Simon Spungin talks to Haaretz's Anshel Pfeffer about the fallout from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu'sfailure to form a new coalition and a second Knesset election in the space of five months.

What will happen to the Israeli political map in the 100 or so days before Israelis vote on September 17? Will Ayelet Shaked and Naftali Bennett make a comeback? Will left-wing parties merge to form a viable alternative? And will the Blue and White party break the mold and become a long-term centrist player in Israeli politics?

Plus: What is happening in Israel's north, where there have been cross-border exchanges of rocket fire between the IDF and unknown forces inside Syria in recent days?

Host's note: An hour after the recording of this episode, PM Netanyahu fired Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and Education Minister Naftali Bennett.

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Six weeks after Benjamin Netanyahu was tasked with forming the next Israeli government, the prime minister is being led a merry dance by Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman, who is refusing to join the coalition unless Netanyahu agrees to pass a law ending the draft exemption for yeshiva students.

Joining host Simon Spungin the studio this week is senior Haaretz columnist Chemi Shalev, who says that it would be deliciously ironic if Lieberman, whose acrimonious relationship with Netanyahu is the stuff of Israeli political legend, was responsible for bringing down his former boss.

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As Israel welcomes the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest, host Simon Spungin and Haaretz culture correspondent Avi Pitchon meet with ambassadors from two of the 41 countries taking part in the competition: Ambassador Thessalia Salina Shambos of Cyprus and Ambassador Magnus Hellgren of Sweden.

We discuss the unifying character of Eurovision, the unique challenges of hosting the event in Tel Aviv, whether protests during the competition are legitimate – and much more.

 

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Host Simon Spungin and Haaretz columnist Allison Kaplan Sommer discuss the latest escalation between Israel and the Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip, which comes on the eve of Ramadan and just days before Israel celebrates Independence Day.

And, with guests arriving in Tel Aviv for the Eurovision Song Contest, we ask: Is Hamas merely blackmailing Israel? Will Netanyahu allow Israel's south to be bombarded with rockets while Tel Aviv parties? And why has no one on the Israeli side got a coherent plan for Gaza?

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Host Simon Spungin is joined by recently retired Haaretz columnist Bradley Burston to discuss the shooting attack at a synagogue in San Diego, an anti-Semitic cartoon in the New York Times International Edition and hopes for a better future in Israel.

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As Jews in Israel and across the world celebrate the Passover holiday – also known in Hebrew as the festival of freedom – we discuss the controversial ban on bringing food into public hospitals during the eight-day holiday. Is the government merely protecting the sensibilities of religious Jews or is this a as clear a case of religious coercion as it seems?

We'll also talk about the start of negotiations between Prime Minister Netanyahu and his likely coalition partners – one of whom is demanding an end to the military service exemption granted 70 years to yeshiva students.

Host Simon Spungin is joined by Haaretz's "wise son," Anshel Pfeffer.

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