Inside Israel with Joel Chasnoff

This past week, the New York Times columnist Tom Friedman implored Israel to swallow its pride and agree to an all-out withdrawl of IDF troops from Gaza in exchange for the release of all hostages being held by Hamas.

In today’s episode, we’ll dissect Friedman’s proposal, including those elements which would help Israel and those that would hurt it.

In the end, whether or not Israel can and should accept such a comprehensive deal depends on how we define “victory” – and how we react when the enemy claims victory as theirs.

I’ll also answer your questions.

To send a question for future episodes, or to receive the links to live recordings of Inside Israel, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast.

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Ten days ago, Israel's elite Yamam counterterrorism unit executed one of the most daring and spectacular rescue operations in the country's history.

While you've likely read about the challenges and complexities of the mission, and perhaps even seen helmet-cam footage of the exact moment hostages Noa, Almog, Andrey, and Shlomi were found, this episode of Inside Israel goes deeper.

We'll examine what this rescue means for the psyche of the Israeli people and why Jews in other countries may perceive the operation differently than Israelis do.

Additionally, we'll discuss the IDF's mistaravim unit, in which men and women disguise themselves as Arabs and live among locals to gather intelligence crucial for such missions.

Access the video version of this episode at www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast. There, you'll also find links to Inside Israel on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, as well as sign up for Joel's newsletter, Hebrew Is Magic.

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Today’s episode of Inside Israel finds Prime Minister Netanyahu backed into corner.

The Biden administration has touted the most potential hostage deal as one that “Israel has proposed” – which means Netanyahu himself sure as hell better agree to it, lest he look like schmuck.

Meanwhile, in the north, Hezbollah continues to pound Israel, killing civilians and soldiers and setting thousands of acres of forest on fire. Israelis are angrily asking, “Eifo hatzava shelanu?” (“Where is our army?”)

And then there are the ultra-Orthodox Haredim, who don’t serve in the IDF but need to. This week, Israel’s High Court ruled that the Netanyahu government’s excuses for not drafting the Haredim don’t hold water; yet, they continue to avoid the draft.

In this episode, I’ll explore these three scenarios in which PM Netanyahu’s back is to the wall, and what happens if he doesn’t act.

I’ll also take your questions.

As always, you can watch video of the latest Inside Israel broadcast at www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast. And email your questions, comments and feedback to [email protected].

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Ten days ago, my neighbor's son, Eliyahu Haim Bensallem z'l, was killed in Gaza at just 21 years old. 

In today's Inside Israel episode, I share the story of paying a shiva call to his family. I was not alone - over 600 people attended the final shiva night in Ra'anana, in an outpouring of cohesiveness and support for the Bensallems.

I also provide context on the larger narrative of why so many French Jews have come to reside in Ra'anana. Eliyahu was the third French-born soldier from Ra’anana to lose his life in Gaza. These deaths have undoubtedly changed the experience and attitudes of French immigrants in Israel, and how other Israelis think of the French. 

Finally, I explain the heroic circumstances of Eli's death. You'll likely agree his actions were epically courageous. I then contrast Eli's sacrifice with college protesters in the US and thought leaders like The New York Times' Ezra Klein, who claim to be heroic but would never actually risk their lives for a cause like Eli did.

Visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast to see a video recording of this broadcast and get links for the live session.

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On today’s episode of Inside Israel, we delve into the narratives surrounding Israel's Prime Minister, Bibi Netanyahu. From separating fact from fiction to exploring the complexities of leadership in the face of security challenges, we'll navigate through the layers of discussion surrounding Bibi's tenure.

In addition to examining Bibi's political strategies and personal motivations, we'll tackle pressing questions about accountability for past events and speculate on alternate scenarios.

I’ll also provide an overview of the latest news stories out of Israel, with an emphasis on what we Israelis are actually talking about.

Finally, I’ll answer your questions about the IDF’s discovery of fifty tunnels connecting Egypt to Gaza, and the process for foreigners interested in joining the Israeli army.

Inside Israel is recorded live each week. Sign up for Joel’s newsletter at www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast to receive the link for live broadcasts.

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One of the fundamental principles of science is "horror vacui" – nature abhors a vacuum. Essentially, this idea states that if there is an empty space, nature will fill it; no void remains unfilled.

Sadly, we’ve witnessed this principle in action in Gaza over recent days, as IDF troops have been forced to return to areas like Zeitoun and Jabaliya that they had previously cleared out. This is because in the vacuum left behind after the fighting, Hamas has moved back in.

This week, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant appeared on national television, urging Prime Minister Netanyahu to implement a post-operation plan for governing the Gazan neighborhoods the IDF had cleared. Gallant made it clear that by not doing so, Israel inadvertently leaves a vacuum that Hamas could exploit, jeopardizing Israel's national security.

Netanyahu was angered by being publicly called out, especially by someone within his own party. However, after the accidental death of five soldiers in Gaza, the Israeli public realizes the lack of a post-operation plan to fill the vacuum has real consequences, not only for Gazans but for Israelis themselves.

On today's episode of Inside Israel, we'll discuss the vacuum in Gaza, including the reasons why it has not been addressed yet, and potential options for filling it moving forward. I'll also provide updates on the latest news coming out of Israel and answer any questions you may have.

You can watch a video recording of this podcast at www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast. This is also where you can sign up to receive links for the live weekly Inside Israel webinar.

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Yom Hazikaron, Israel's Day of Remembrance, is entirely different from Memorial Day in America. To be frank, I'm disheartened by what American Memorial Day has become – a day of sales, barbecues, and trips to the beach or pool. 

In Israel, Yom Hazikaron is the saddest day of the year, and this year, in the aftermath of October 7th, it will be even more somber.

In this special episode, I'll explain how Israelis commemorate our Memorial Day and why it differs so greatly from America's. I'll also present arguments for why this year's Yom Hazikaron may or may not be the most difficult one yet.

Finally, I'll share how every single Israeli knows at least one soldier who has been killed in battle or training. For me, that soldier was Gil Sharabi, of blessed memory, the younger brother of a former staff member at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin.

You can watch the video recording of this episode at www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast.

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In our recent book, "Israel 201," Benji Lovitt and I explore the unique bond that exists among Israelis. Living in Israel, it often feels like you're part of one big family – where everyone knows each other and has no problem getting involved in one another's affairs. While this level of social intimacy has its downsides, there are also benefits, and this past week I experienced one of them firsthand: the incredible ability Israelis have to connect with each other, even total strangers, through intimate and authentic conversation.

On this week's episode of Inside Israel, I describe a conversation I had a few nights ago with my new friend Yehudah. He's a 45-year-old pediatric orthopedist with 8 kids of his own and a native of Jerusalem, where he currently lives. As fate would have it, we each found ourselves trapped overnight at Paris' Charles De Gaulle Airport during our respective journeys from Tel Aviv to New York. We ended up discussing politics, our families, and most importantly, our visions for the future of Israel in a way you might not expect strangers to, yet in a manner that's uniquely Israeli.

I'll also analyze the latest news out of Israel and how Israelis are reacting, plus, as always, answer your questions.

To watch video of this episode, get links to future broadcasts, or listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast.

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One of my favorite Hebrew expressions is eifo hadag mashtin – “where the fish pisses.” Israelis use it to describe a situation in which a particular action or behavior comes back to harm you. This expression mirrors how Israelis perceive the current anti-Israel protests unfolding on college campuses in North America. Many believe that these universities, communities, and even the US Democratic party may eventually regret their support of radical Islamic fundamentalists, particularly Hamas.

Today, we’ll explore three narratives that illustrate the concept of well-meaning actions leading to unintended consequences. Additionally, I'll delve into the significant news stories from Israel and how these events impact the lives of ordinary Israelis. Plus, I'll be addressing your questions.

For more information about Inside Israel or to listen to past episodes, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast. You can also find podcast clips on Instagram at www.instagram.com/joelchasnoff (or handle @joelchasnoff).

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As a child, I attended Camp Ramah in Wisconsin with Jon Polin. Today, Jon’s son, Hersh Polin Goldberg, has become the face of over 100 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. When Hamas released a video featuring Hersh earlier this week, it resonated deeply within Israeli society. 

Today on Inside Israel, we’ll delve into why Hamas chose to release this video, focusing on Hersh, and why they did so at this particular moment. We'll also discuss how Israelis are observing this Passover, which is markedly different from previous years. Additionally, we'll explore the prospects for an Israeli incursion into Rafah and the potential for an upcoming conflict with Hezbollah. 

As always, you can listen to the Inside Israel podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. To receive links to live broadcasts of Inside Israel, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcasts.

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