Israel Policy Pod

With Neri on the ground this week covering the results of the Israeli election, we're offering a new episode of our other podcast, Disputed Territory, here on the Israel Policy Pod feed.  Israelis have gone to the polls after years of war, political upheaval, and growing divisions over the country's future. But beyond the election results, what does this moment reveal about Israeli society - and where the country is headed?

Disputed Territory host Shanie Reichman sits down with Israeli peace activist Eran Nissan, a member of the Israeli Democrats Party and former CEO of Mehazkim, to unpack the election and the forces shaping Israel's political future.

They discuss what drove Israeli voters, whether traditional left-right divisions still define Israeli politics, and where the Israeli-Palestinian conflict fits into the national conversation. They also explore the challenges facing Israel's next government, the limits of political change, and what's at stake for the country's future as a Jewish and democratic state.

How are Israeli election results calculated? IPF explains, in brief: https://israelpolicyforum.org/2026/10/26/how-are-israeli-election-results-calculated/

How is an Israeli government formed? IPF explains, in brief: https://israelpolicyforum.org/2026/10/26/how-is-an-israeli-government-formed/

Visit Israel Policy Forum's 120 Project for the latest updates and analysis on Israeli elections: https://israelpolicyforum.org/onetwenty


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Support for Disputed Territory is provided by the Bronfman Hauptman Foundation.

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On this week’s episode, Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber hosts RAND’s Distinguished Chair for Israel Policy Shira Efron and Israel Policy Forum Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow to preview next Tuesday’s high-stakes Israeli election. They examine Benjamin Netanyahu’s reelection chances and enduring appeal among his right-wing base, the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition campaign led by Gadi Eisenkot, the fate of smaller parties hovering around the electoral threshold, and how Arab-Israeli voters could swing the race. They also offer predictions for election day and the weeks ahead, including whether either side will be able to form a new government.

Finally, they reflect on the tragic death of our dear friend and past podcast guest Aziz Alghashian, a leading researcher of Saudi-Israel relations whose work helped advance dialogue and understanding across the region. They remember his contributions as a scholar and bridge-builder, as well as the warmth, respect, and good humor he brought to difficult conversations.

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In this episode, Neri Zilber, Israel Policy Forum policy advisor and host of Israel Policy Pod, is joined by Tal Schneider, political and diplomatic correspondent for The Times of Israel, to discuss her recent book on women in combat during the October 7 war and the latest developments in Israel's election campaign.

They examine Gadi Eisenkot's prospects of becoming Israel's next prime minister, his personal and political background, and his potential policy priorities, including on the West Bank. They also explore whether Eisenkot could successfully lead a new government, possible post-election scenarios, and what the election could mean for Benjamin Netanyahu's political future.

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In this episode, Neri Zilber, Israel Policy Forum policy advisor and host of Israel Policy Pod, is joined by Amir Tibon, Haaretz journalist and author of The Gates of Gaza, to discuss his family’s survival of the October 7 attack and their difficult decision to return home to Kibbutz Nahal Oz. They discuss what life is like in Israel’s Gaza border communities three years after October 7, the lasting impact of the attack on Israeli society and politics, and how these dynamics are shaping the upcoming Knesset election.

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In this episode, Neri Zilber is joined by Amos Harel, Haaretz military correspondent and author of the recent Hebrew-language book 06:29: Anatomy of a Failure, to examine what we know about the October 7 attack nearly three years later. They discuss reports that Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received warnings from Arab officials before the attack, the conspiracy theories that have emerged in Israel and abroad, and how Israel’s military and intelligence failures can be explained. They also assess the state of Israel’s multi-front conflicts, how October 7 has reshaped Israel’s security doctrine, and what could change under a new Israeli government following the upcoming Knesset election.

Listen to our new podcast Disputed Territory with Shanie Reichman here.

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In this episode, Amb. Michael Ratney, Distinguished Policy Fellow at Israel Policy Forum, joins host Neri Zilber, Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist, to discuss the escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen, the prospects for U.S. military involvement under President Donald Trump, and the implications for Saudi Arabia and regional stability. They also break down the history of Saudi-Israel normalization, how close the sides came to a U.S.-brokered deal before October 7, the prospects for a future agreement, and what Saudi Arabia would demand in return.

Listen to our new podcast Disputed Territory with Shanie Reichman here.

Read Amb. Ratney's recent op-ed on Lindsey Graham and Israel-Saudi normalization in The Times of Israel here.

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In this episode, Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Israel Policy Pod Host Neri Zilber, RAND’s Distinguished Chair for Israel Policy Shira Efron, and Israel Policy Forum Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow discuss the latest developments in the Israeli election, now less than 50 days away, including the party registration deadline, the emerging electoral map, the consolidated opposition, and what the polls are telling us. They also unpack the crisis in UK-Israel relations over British sanctions targeting West Bank settlements and the Israeli government’s response, before closing with a listener question ahead of the Jewish New Year.

Send questions and feedback to [email protected].

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On this week’s episode, Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber hosts Israeli political analyst and pollster Dahlia Scheindlin. They discuss the current state of play in Israel’s election campaign, the main takeaways from recent polling, Yoav Segalovich’s alliance with the Islamist Ra’am party and the broader role of Arab parties in the election, Gadi Eisenkot’s bid for prime minister, Netanyahu’s efforts to manage multiple far-right parties threatening separate campaign runs, and more.

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On this week’s episode, Israel Policy Forum Director of Strategic Initiatives and IPF Atid Director Shanie Reichman hosts Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow for a wide-ranging conversation on upcoming Israeli elections, the status of Hamas disarmament in Gaza, Israel's role in U.S. domestic politics, challenges facing the American Jewish community, and more.

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On this week’s episode, Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber speaks with Col. (ret.) Dr. Michael Milshtein, former head of the Department for Palestinian Affairs in Israel’s Military Intelligence Directorate, about the deadly incident in the West Bank village of Tell and the broader escalation of violence in the territory. They examine the Israeli government's role in shaping current dynamics, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's grand vision for the West Bank and the Palestinians, the realities of the settlement movement that many Israelis have yet to confront, the prospects for a future Israeli government to change course, and more.

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