In the first episode of the Foundation for Middle East Peace’s new podcast, “Occupied Thoughts: Israel, Palestine & Peace,” Peter Beinart and Danny Seidemann discuss the current on-the-ground realities of Jerusalem – the epicenter of a religious, regional, and domestic conflict. Jerusalem is the most volatile “final status” issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but the stark reality of Jerusalem’s divisions and the status of its Palestinian residents has huge implications for what is possible (and not) for a future agreement. Listen to Beinart & Seidemann discuss and debate the temperature on the streets, the peace initiative of President Trump, the meaning of “Zionism,” the one-state versus two-state debate, and BDS.

Peter Beinart is a Non-Resident Fellow at the Foundation for Middle East Peace. He is also Associate Professor of Journalism and Political Science at the City University of New York, a Contributor to The Atlantic and National Journal, a Senior Columnist at The Forward, and a CNN Political Commentator. You can follow Peter on Twitter @PeterBeinart.

Danny Seidemann is the diplomatic world’s go-to expert on all things Jerusalem. He is an lawyer who has argued before the Israeli Supreme Court, a legendary tour guide of Jerusalem’s geopolitical terrain, and has briefed all the foreign diplomats you could possibly name. Danny is the founder and director of Terrestrial Jerusalem which tracks developments in Jerusalem that could impact either the political process or permanent status options, destabilize the city or spark violence, or create a humanitarian crisis. You can follow Danny on Twitter @DanielSeidemann.

Music: Rythme Gitan by Latché Swing. Used with permission. http://www.latcheswing.fr/