Israel Undiplomatic

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Israel Undiplomatic episodes

October 28 Arab Parties Just Won Big In Israel, Could They Determine The Next Government?
Arab parties have emerged as potential kingmakers in Israel's election and their unprecedented success could determine whether Benjamin Netanyahu remains prime minister.
In this post-election episode of "Israel Undiplomatic", Mark Regev and Ruthie Blum examine the unexpectedly strong performance of Islamist and Arab nationalist parties and the coalition arithmetic that could decide Israel's next government. With Prime Minister Netanyahu's Likud emerging as the largest party but neither political bloc securing a clear majority, the hosts explore whether Gadi Eisenkot and the opposition could turn to Arab parties to remove Netanyahu from power, and what such an alliance could mean for Israel's security, the war against Hamas and future military action against Iran.
The discussion also turns to President Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu and the possibility of renewed strikes against Iran after the American midterms. Meanwhile, Eisenkot's controversial election-night remarks about military obedience spark a fierce debate over civilian authority and the lessons of October 7. Could Israel's Arab parties hold the balance of power in the next government and would defeating Netanyahu come at a price the country cannot afford?
38 min
October 21 Israel's Election In Dead Heat, Is a Surprise Attack On The Horizon?
President Trump has thrown his support behind Prime Minister Netanyahu just days before Israel's election, but a surprising political twist could determine who wins, and whether Israel and America confront Iran together. Mark Regev and Ruthie Blum examine whether Trump's dramatic endorsement will give Netanyahu the advantage he needs in an election that could come down to just a handful of Knesset seats. With polls showing conflicting results, the hosts reveal how smaller right-wing parties could unintentionally cost Netanyahu his majority, while opposition leaders face difficult questions about forming a coalition with Arab parties. They also explore the possibility of renewed American-Israeli action against Iran and the growing controversy surrounding Netanyahu's legal proceedings. Meanwhile, widespread unrest in France raises troubling questions about Europe's future and the broader challenges facing Western democracies. Could Trump's endorsement be Netanyahu's winning card, or will a surprise election result change Israel's leadership just as a major confrontation with Iran approaches?
39 min
October 14 Why Tokyo Should Be Looking to Jerusalem, Not Away From It
Japan faces growing threats from China, Russia and North Korea yet it remains reluctant to embrace one of the world's most battle-tested security partners: Israel.
Ruthie Blum and Mark Regev explore the surprising history of Japan-Israel relations, from Tokyo’s rapid recognition of the Jewish state after World War II to decades of diplomatic distance driven by dependence on Arab oil. Broadcasting from Japan, Regev reveals how economic interests, Japanese pacifism and the legacy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki continue to shape Tokyo’s attitude toward Israel, even as Japan faces growing threats from China, Russia and nuclear-armed North Korea. The hosts also examine Japan’s criticism of Israel following October 7 and the possibility of a major diplomatic breakthrough under its new leadership. With Israel proving its military and technological capabilities against Iran and its proxies, could Japan finally recognize that a stronger alliance with the Jewish state is essential to its own security?
31 min
October 05 From Oct. 7 to Flydubai: Global Jihad’s Next Front?
A terrorist pilot nearly turned a passenger jet into a weapon, but the security failures that put him in the cockpit may be the most disturbing part of the story.
In this episode of "Israel Undiplomatic", Mark Regev and Ruthie Blum unpack the extraordinary FlyDubai attack and the growing questions over how an allegedly radicalized pilot who had previously faced problems elsewhere was allowed to fly a plane bound for Israel. Three years after October 7, they ask whether Israel has truly learned the lessons of that devastating security failure and examine how dramatically the battlefield has changed since then. From Hamas fighting for survival to Israelis returning in growing numbers to communities along the Gaza border, Regev and Blum argue that the story of the past three years is not only one of tragedy, but also of a country that has fundamentally changed the balance against its enemies.
40 min
September 30 Europe’s Anti-Israel Crusade Just Hit a Stunning New Level
Europe is turning up the pressure on Israel, but are Ireland and the Netherlands applying standards they wouldn’t use anywhere else? Mark Regev and Ruthie Blum expose the contradictions and growing tensions behind Europe’s increasingly hostile approach to the Jewish state.
From Ireland’s protests against Israel in international sports to Dutch restrictions on Israeli products, the two examine how relations have deteriorated, and why Israel may no longer be willing to simply absorb the criticism. They also dig into Europe’s complicated history with the Jewish people and ask what’s really driving this dramatic shift against Israel.
35 min
September 27 Netanyahu Launches Civilizational Battle In Fiery UN Speech
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s UN speech wasn’t just aimed at the diplomats sitting in the room...Mark Regev and Ruthie Blum argue some of its most important messages were meant for President Trump, Iran and Israelis watching back home.
In this special episode of "Israel Undiplomatic", the hosts break down Netanyahu’s arguments about Judea and Samaria, Gaza and the history behind Israel’s territorial disputes, before examining what those arguments could mean for Israeli policy going forward. They also unpack Netanyahu’s praise for Trump over the war with Iran and the theatrical Starlink stunt aimed directly at the Iranian delegation, before tackling his response to accusations of genocide in Gaza. Finally, they explain why Netanyahu’s call for Jews around the world to “raise your head high” may have been one of the most consequential messages of the entire speech.
34 min
September 24 The Chutzpah! Macron and King Abdullah Launch Vicious Attacks on Israel
World leaders took aim at Israel from the UN stage, but Mark Regev and Ruthie Bloom say their arguments ignore the security reality Israel faces on the ground.
In this episode of "Israel Undiplomatic", the hosts take on Emmanuel Macron’s claims about Judea and Samaria, including his assertion that Hamas was not operating there and examine what they see as a growing disconnect between European rhetoric and Israel’s experience with terrorism. They also dissect King Abdullah’s fresh accusations against Israel, while debating a complicated question: Why should Israel tolerate harsh public criticism from Jordan when the two countries maintain vital security cooperation behind the scenes? From France’s deteriorating relationship with Israel to the widening gap between what Arab governments say publicly and privately, this episode exposes the diplomatic battle unfolding around Israel at the UN.
38 min
September 16 Two Israelis Turn on the IDF, And Europe Gives Them a Standing Ovation
An Israeli-made film accusing the IDF of war crimes just received a staggering 25-minute standing ovation in Europe, and the reaction inside Israel couldn’t be more different.
Former Israeli ambassador to the UK Mark Regev and senior contributing editor at JNS Ruthie Blum take apart the controversy surrounding Naza, a film alleging that Israeli forces used AI to target Palestinians in Gaza while disregarding civilian casualties. They challenge the film’s anonymous military sources and ask why some of Israel’s harshest domestic critics receive such enthusiastic receptions overseas. The bigger question: does the applause in Venice reveal something far more troubling about how attitudes toward Israel have changed across the West?
34 min
September 09 Israel Shows the UK the Door After London Crosses the Line
Britain and Israel are suddenly facing what may be their worst diplomatic crisis yet, and Jerusalem has decided it’s done playing nice. After Britain accused Israel of unlawful occupation, announced an import ban and new sanctions, Israel fired back by closing the British Consulate in Jerusalem, restricting British involvement in Palestinian affairs and barring British figures from entering the country. Former Israeli ambassador to the UK Mark Regev and senior contributing editor at JNS Ruthie Blum unpack what’s really driving Britain’s dramatic shift and why London’s actions could destroy its ability to ever play peacemaker again. You’ll learn why this clash goes far beyond settlements and what it reveals about a much bigger transformation underway in Britain’s relationship with Israel.
32 min
September 02 Is Trump dealing a death blow to the Iranian regime?
Is President Trump tightening the noose around Iran, or could the latest escalation ignite another major round of war? Ruthie Blum and Mark Regev unpack Trump’s renewed pressure on Tehran, from economic and military measures to his provocative call for the Iranian people to “rise up and fight.” They examine whether mounting economic distress could finally weaken the regime’s security forces, why Iran has so far avoided directly attacking Israel and whether the coming Jewish holidays could bring renewed escalation.
Then they turn to the bigger strategic picture: Iran’s battered nuclear program, its weakened network of proxies and its continued use of terrorism and assassination plots abroad. Finally, with Israel heading toward elections, Regev and Blum debate claims that replacing Benjamin Netanyahu would transform Israel’s standing in the world and whether Netanyahu’s experience dealing with Trump could become a decisive issue for Israeli voters. Viewers will learn why Iran may be closer to a breaking point than it appears, what could trigger another major Israeli-American offensive and how elections in both Israel and the United States could shape what happens next.
39 min

About Israel Undiplomatic

From the publisher's feed

Join JNS senior contributing editor Ruthie Blum and Ambassador Mark Regev, former advisers at the Prime Minister’s Office, as they dissect—and duke out—the issues that Israel grapples with internally and faces internationally. Blum and Regev illustrate that even a shared worldview can produce very different perspectives. As the proverb goes, “The devil is in the details.”