Turkey was the first Muslim-majority country to recognize Israel in 1949, shortly following Israel’s independence, and the countries shared close ties for decades. Yet recent years have seen a deterioration in the Israel-Turkey relationship, and President Isaac Herzog is set to visit Turkey soon in a bid to repair it. Tel Aviv-based journalist and Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Policy Director Michael Koplow and INSS Senior Research Fellow Gallia Lindenstrauss to explain how the friendship between Jerusalem and Ankara soured, the prospects for real reconciliation, and the role of the Palestinian issue in both strengthening and straining this important relationship.

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Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber hosts Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow and Diane and Guilford Glazer Family Foundation Director of Policy Research Shira Efron to discuss the past week's biggest stories in Israel, including settler violence, a potential solution for Gaza’s energy crisis, Lapid's meetings with Palestinian officials, Gadi Eisenkot's first post-IDF interview, and of course Netanyahu’s plea deal.

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Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu has entered talks with the attorney general over a plea deal to end his ongoing corruption trial, a move that could have major legal and political ramifications. Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Haaretz and Economist correspondent Anshel Pfeffer, author of Bibi: The Turbulent Life and Times of Benjamin Netanyahu, to unpack the possible terms of the deal, explain why it's on the table now, and assess what it all could mean for not just Bibi's future, but the stability of the Bennett-Lapid coalition. 

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In the third episode of IPF Atid’s mini-series on climate security, IPF Atid National Director Shanie Reichman hosts David Harary, a member of the IPF Atid DC Steering Committee and the Executive Director of the Center for Development and Strategy, a DC-based think tank exploring the nexus of global development, sustainability, and security in an era of unprecedented change. They discuss the impacts of climate change on violent conflicts across the Middle East and the role of emerging technologies in mitigating the risks. 

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With a new year upon us, it's time to catch up on the latest developments in Israel and look ahead at what 2022 may bring to the Israeli political arena. Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Walla News Chief Political Correspondent Tal Shalev to discuss the state of the Bennett-Lapid coalition, the recent meeting between Benny Gantz and Mahmoud Abbas, the government's handling of the Omicron wave, Bibi Netanyahu's future, and more.

Curation Corner Recommendations:

Neri's selection
The Looming Threat of a Nuclear Crisis with Iran by Robin Wright in The New Yorker

Tal's selection
Trump’s Peace: The Abraham Accords and the Reshaping of the Middle East by Barak Ravid in Axios (excerpts in English) 

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2021 was indeed a historic year in Israel. It included yet another election, this time ending the Netanyahu-era and bringing to power a diverse coalition that replaced him, a war in Gaza, inter-communal riots, a reset in U.S.-Palestinian relations, and much more. To recap this eventful year and present the first-ever Israel Policy Pod End-of-Year Awards, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow and Diane and Guilford Glazer Family Foundation Director of Policy Research Shira Efron to make their selections for the biggest winner, biggest loser, and everything in between in Israeli politics over the past twelve months.

Curation Corner Recommendations:

A Malign Embrace: Ebrahim Raisi and Iran by David Patrikarakos for New Lines Magazine

Doing it his way: How Naftali Bennett could beat the odds and wind up transforming Israel by Shalom Lipner for Atlantic Council

A Day in the Life of Abed Salama by Nathan Thrall

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In the second installment of IPF Atid’s mini-series on climate security, Shanie Reichman and Max Webb of IPF Atid host MK Alon Tal, a member of Knesset in the Blue and White party and a leading Israeli environmental activist and academic. They discuss the role of Israel’s new government in promoting pro-climate policy, the impact of the Abraham Accords on climate cooperation, and the problems and prospects climate change poses on a potential two-state solution.

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After a deadly terror attack in Jerusalem’s Old City, a looming Palestinian security operation in Jenin, and a financial crisis in the Palestinian Authority, where are things headed in the Palestinian arena? In this episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts reporter Adam Rasgon, formerly of The New York Times, for a deep dive into the current state of Palestinian society, from Jerusalem and the Jenin refugee camp to the corridors of power in Ramallah and Gaza City.

Curation Corner recommendations:

Neri's selection
An Archaeological Dig Reignites the Debate Over the Old Testament’s Historical Accuracy by Matti Friedman in Smithsonian Magazine

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With the Bennett-Lapid government nearly half a year old, it is time to assess how, if at all, Israel’s security policies have changed since the departure of Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister. In this episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Haaretz Military Correspondent and Defense Analyst Amos Harel for a wide-ranging conversation on how Israeli decision-makers view the Iranian threat, U.S. efforts to restore the nuclear agreement, advanced weapons entering Lebanon, and the state of affairs in both Gaza and the West Bank.

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Shalom, I’m Neri Zilber, a Tel-Aviv-based journalist and the host of Israel Policy Pod, Israel Policy Forum’s ongoing podcast that goes beyond the headlines to bring you analysis from our experts and distinguished guests, including policymakers, journalists, activists, and academics.

Israel Policy Forum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the goal of a two-state solution in order to preserve Israel’s future as Jewish, democratic, and secure. Find Israel Policy Pod wherever you get your podcasts and support our work at israelpolicyforum.org/support 

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