Israel Policy Pod

In this episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber, Research Director Shira Efron, and Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow discuss Israel's delicate balancing act in the Ukraine war, as well as Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's surprise mediation efforts. They also delve into the state of Israel-Turkey ties in the wake of President Isaac Herzog's state visit and provide a status update on Israeli-Palestinian relations.

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The Israeli intelligence services like to operate in secret, but one journalist has made a career by bringing them out of the shadows: Ronen Bergman of The New York Times and Yediot Ahronot. In this week's episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber talks with Ronen about why he chose to focus on this specific beat, how he goes about his work, the stories behind his bestselling book, Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations, and his recent reporting on the Israeli cyberweapon firm NSO Group.

Ronen Bergman's recent New York Times article on NSO Group: The Battle for the World's Most Powerful Cyberweapon

Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations by Ronen Bergman
 

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The crisis in Ukraine is drawing the entire world's attention, and Israel is no exception. In this week's episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Washington Institute Senior Fellow Anna Borshchevskaya, author of Putin's War in Syria: Russian Foreign Policy and the Price of America's Absence. Anna and Neri contextualize the escalating standoff between Russia and the West and assess how it impacts Israel, which must walk a tightrope in order to maintain good relations with both its U.S. ally and an increasingly Middle East-focused Russia—all while hoping that world attention remains on the Iranian threat.

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Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum policy advisor Neri Zilber hosts Jerusalem Post military correspondent Anna Ahronheim and Times of Israel military correspondent Judah Ari Gross to discuss their recent trip to Bahrain with Defense Minister Benny Gantz, the historic defense agreement signed, Israel-Gulf security ties more generally, lasers (yes, lasers), and the fallout from the death of 78-year-old Palestinian-American Omar Assad in the West Bank. Anna and Judah also describe what it's like to cover the unforgiving military beat in Israel. 

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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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