In today's episode, we're diving into the troubling rise of "Jew on Jew" violence in Israel, looking at three main angles: citizens attacking institutions, institutions attacking citizens, and subtle civilian conflicts. We'll start with the most obvious cases, like the Hilltop Youth and settlers clashing with the IDF and police in the West Bank, similar to the Branch Davidians in the US. There’s also tension among the Haredim. On the flip side, we see police using heavy-handed tactics at protests, following orders from powerful figures like Ben Gvir. Plus, we'll talk about more subtle conflicts in daily life, like a soldier’s wedding and a story about my gardener, Amit.

Experts, including myself, see this internal strife as Israel's biggest threat, even more so than Hamas or a nuclear Iran. The government, led by extremists, only makes things worse, stirring fears similar to political nightmares in the US. We urgently need leaders who recognize and tackle these problems. While I believe some conflict might be unavoidable, there’s a bit of hope from David Passig's long-term positive outlook for Israel.

In the news, we’ll discuss a big hostage deal that 67% of Israelis support, seeing it as crucial for bringing hostages home. We’ll also look at the situation in the North, where it seems Hezbollah wants out and Israel’s military pressure is working. Recent polls show a potential shift towards a center-right coalition led by Naftali Bennett. Finally, we’ll answer listener questions about travel concerns amid potential conflicts and the impact of anti-Semitic incidents in the US, offering some context and insights. Plus, we have a special guest, Brian Jaffee, CEO of the Cincinnati Jewish Foundation, joining us to talk about the recent desecration of Jewish headstones at cemeteries in Ohio.

You can get links to live broadcasts of Inside Israel at www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast). Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you're enjoying the pod, please give it a rating!

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