Jonny Gould's Jewish State

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Amid the IDF's push into Lebanon to eliminate Hezbollah, the thwarting of terror attacks on Israel’s streets and the hail of rockets fired into them, we must always, always keep in our minds the plight of our hostages incarcerated by the savages of Hamas and their accomplices in Gaza. 

For it was on that fateful Shabbat and Simchat Torah morning of October 7th 2023, that the lives of Israeli and Jewish people around the world changed forever. 

Free the hostages. Bring them home now.

Let’s go back to where it all started. 

As chaos broke out all around her, our guest today relives the moments of sheer terror that morning, but her words are laced with a message of future hope and delivered with tremendous dignity.

This is Irit Lahav, survivor of the Kibbutz Nir Oz disaster as she revealed how she survived, while her dearest friends were murdered or taken hostage around her. Also, when and why she wants to go home and why it’s so important for the country as a whole that she does.

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Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet.

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Here’s a voice from the American right, steeped in generations of support for Israel and so recognisable through the decades.

But times, they are a changing, even for this staunch supporter of the Jewish State. 

Joe Walsh remains so, amid the swirling winds of university protests for Hamas and rallies in major cities right across America. 

But even as a former Congressman, a lifelong Republican, he strenuously opposes Donald Trump so much, he’d prefer Kamala Harris to win the White House - whatever their differences, and take it from there. 

Elected as part of the Tea Party wave in 2010, Joe freely admits he was a "divisive political asshole from the right!", Joe served Illinois's 8th district, for two years until 2013. 

His rhetoric and demeanour has cooled since those days.

Now he says he’s politically homeless and says America is ready for more than a two party system. 

Joe ran for the presidency in 2020 challenging President Trump for the Republican nomination, positioning himself as a critic of Trump’s leadership, focusing on what he saw as his undermining of American democracy.

In a two party system, Joe knew he was a long-shot, his aim was more to critique Trump than to win the nomination.

Listen to how Trump’s MAGA message differs so fundamentally from the Tea Party movement he was part of and what he’d do in the Oval Office if he was in charge of dealing with Israel.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet.

If you like Jonny's podcasts, support by buying him a drink or make a monthly donation with Gift Aid.

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Even as aerial assaults continued over Lebanon’s capital city Beirut, rumoured to be targeting Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave an impassioned speech to the UN General Assembly in New York.

Here’s the full speech on this bonus episode.

In his address to the 79th session of the General Assembly, Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized several critical issues:

Iran and Regional Security: Netanyahu positioned Israel's actions within a broader context of combating what he described as Iran's "axis of evil," highlighting ongoing conflicts and the threat this poses to Israel and regional stability.

Gaza Conflict: With the Gaza situation nearing its one-year mark, Netanyahu likely addressed the military operations, defending Israel's actions while possibly facing international scrutiny over civilian casualties and humanitarian concerns.

Lebanon and Hezbollah: Amidst concerns of escalating conflict, Netanyahu's comments on returning northern residents home suggest a focus on ensuring security while potentially signaling intentions for de-escalation or at least a strategic pause in hostilities.

Global Perspective: His speech might have touched on the broader implications of AI and technological advancements, reflecting on both opportunities and perils, though this would be more speculative based on past themes rather than confirmed content.

International Relations: Given the backdrop of his controversial visit to the US earlier in the year and international reactions, Netanyahu might have defended Israel's policies, while also navigating the complex web of international diplomacy amidst calls for peace and criticism over his handling of conflicts.

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How should Israel tackle Hezbollah and its estimated 150,000 rockets all pointed at them? 

Is pushing the Lebanon’s terror insurgency back behind the Litani River enough? 

In this era of long range technology, isn’t a river just an arbitrary line? The terrorists can still reach Israel from there. 

Hezbollah is a battalion of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Wouldn’t it be best if they were removed completely? 

Let’s talk about the sheer audaciousness of the pager and walkie talkie attack against them, the psychological effect of it and the downgrade in their military capabilities.

Then there’s Yemen, is America doing enough to quell their threat? 

And boots on the ground in Syria: Israel is showing it can defend itself - even thousands of miles into enemy territory.

And is Iran, the country hiding behind its deathly proxies only a "paper tiger" after all?

Benjamin Anthony served in the Israel Defense Forces in the second Lebanon War during the summer of 2006, 

Like now it was a war started by Hezbollah's attack on Israeli forces: they captured two soldiers and killed eight others. israel declared war.

Benjamin’s experiences and insights from then have influenced his later life.

He’s also a veteran of Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012 and Operation Protective Edge in 2014.

He’s now the CEO and cofounder with Rozita Pnini of the Miryam Institute, debating Israel’s future, engaging with international policy-makers. 

He also hosts a weekly podcast, the Benjamin Anthony Show, where alongside Miryam Institute’s in-house analyst Yaakov Lappin they consider in detail the very latest military and diplomatic issues facing Israel. It’s available on this very platform where you're listening to my show now.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy.

Find out more about the MirYam Institute at https://www.linkedin.com/company/miryam-institute/

Follow Benjamin at http://x.com/benanthony1948

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I’ve known Israel’s Trade and Innovation Special Envoy, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum for so long. which is why it was a pleasure that she had time to stop by and join me for a chat and a phone-in on my early breakfast show on Talk. 

Having moved on from being Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, Fleur now beats the drum for Israel’s famed enterprise as the Startup Nation, but how has the economy adjusted to wartime? Can growth and inward investment be restored?

And as Israel faces new military challenges, necessity is proved again to be the mother of invention. There are always secondary uses for technology in civilian life. Are new patents and processes in the offing? 

We discuss UK Labour's Foreign Secretary David Lammy and his restoration of funding for UNRWA - then following it up with an arms embargo. My viewers didn’t like it.

Also: the threat from the north: Hezbollah - and Israel's displaced population and when they can go home.

The war is far from over. 

And the hostages: Bring them home now!

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is brought you with the support of Dangoor Education and UK Toremet.

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They told Tuvia Tenenbom, don’t go to Mea Shearim, Jerusalem’s ultra orthodox enclave, it’ll be dangerous, they’ll throw stones at you. 

But after living among Israel’s Charedi communities in Jerusalem and Beer Sheva, Tuvia found the community to be quite the contrary. 

And, he believes they’re more liberal and progressive than the world beyond. 

This is the story behind Careful, Beauties Ahead! Tuvia’s follow up book to the Taming of the Jew, eyeopening revelations on antisemitism is in Great Britain.

Now Tuvia, son and grandson of ultraorthdox rabbis returns to the communities of his upbringing and childhood in Israel. Have attitudes and practices changed in the years since he left? 

We talk about new pressures on the ultrareligious to join the IDF for the first time - and we unpack what Zionism means to them. 

And did the disaster of October 7th prove a truly unifying experience? Was it the realisation that finally, finally we are all the same? 

Using his fluent Yiddish, Tuvia gained trust to produce this one-off guide to a world he calls “of wisdom, humour and contradictions”. 

So poised with a packet of slims, Tuvia lights up ready for our interview. Enjoy this unique selection of stories from Israel.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is supported by Dangoor Education.

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Jonny needs your help to battle the wave of anti-Israel media coverage. Do you want to help his podcast counter this? Donate here or buy him a coffee here

Find all of Jonny's previous episodes here.

Who was Ismail Haniyeh, Leader of Hamas? 

He was assassinated in Tehran on the last day of July 2024 and buried in Doha two days later. 

He's been branded a "moderate”, but was in charge of Hamas’ so-called political wing, who’s murderers, rapists and kidnappers pillaged - and filmed - their way through southern Israel on the Shabbat morning of Simchat Torah on October 7th.

It was the biggest mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust. 

Slain on Iranian soil in their capital city, Haniyeh’s financiers were deservedly humiliated.

A resident of billionaire's playground Doha, the capital of terror-supporting state Qatar - he was in Tehran for the inauguration of their new president. 

The last one, of course, was killed in a helicopter crash.

Haniyeh met the Ayatollah, they tweeted a resistance photo, he then went back to his guest house and was taken out in his bedroom with his security guard. 

So what was Ismail Haniyeh like? 

Well, he loved sport for kickoff, fitting that he should be eliminated before end of the Paris Olympics. 

Here’s someone who knew him. I’m delighted our latest guest joins a list of distinguished guests to have graced Jonny Gould’s Jewish State.

Paul Martin is an exceptional international journalist and correspondent, making it his business to report from the most hostile territories - in the name of journalistic freedom.

He spent 26 days in Hamas jail in Gaza and Haniyeh knew he was there. Did it help Paul that he knew he was in his prison? Who helped him get released? Even arch anti-Zionist Archbiship Desmond Tutu called for his release! 

Paul was subjected to mental torture and tried the “Hamas diet”, where he lost two stone in weight during his incarceration.

Yet he also experienced exceptional levels of human kindness from a fellow inmate. 

You'll hear how he thought quickly on his feet to avoid deathly danger. 

And even when the British consulate promised freedom, he wasn’t sure whether it was a Hamas trap leading to his execution. 

I interviewed Paul on the day Evan Gershkovich was freed in a Russian prisoner swap. Listen out for his statement to the waiting media as he walked to freedom into Israel.

But would he ever return? Would his wife let him? 

This is Paul Martin's 26-day story as a Hamas prisoner in Gaza

Intrepid doesn’t cover it!

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education.

Jonny needs your help to battle the wave of anti-Israel media coverage. Do you want to help his podcast counter this? Donate here or buy him a coffee here

Statement from the interviewee:

Paul Martin is an independent and unbiased international journalist. He has no connections whatever with the people who interview him or with the platforms on which those interviews are transmitted. He stresses that on Mideast affairs he talks to and presents reportage to outlets of a very wide variety and by speaking he is not endorsing any of the views or biases of any of these platforms.

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The October 7th War in Gaza is the longest war in Israel’s history.

Retired Major Andrew Fox is a Research Fellow at The Henry Jackson Society. He served in the Army for sixteen years, with three tours to Afghanistan, one of them with US Army Special Forces. 

He was in the Parachute Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group. 

There were also tours in Bosnia, the Middle East, and Northern Ireland. He retired in 2021.

Andrew then leveraged his huge experience into academia, as a senior lecturer in the War Studies and Behavioural Science at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.

He holds degrees in Law & Politics, Modern War Studies, and Psychology. 

Let’s have a word on David Lammy, British Foreign Secretary who once dubbed President Trump, "a neo-Nazi-sympathizing sociopath, a profound threat to the international order that’s been the foundation of Western progress for so long!”.

He marched with Sadiq Khan in protest at his UK visit.

Is that the same President Trump who dodged death by millimetres, where aggressive opposition rhetoric is seen as the trigger to political violence? 

Is it the same President Trump, who produced the biggest diplomatic breakthrough in the Middle East? 

Striking a decisive blow IN FAVOUR of western progress in a troubled region? 

This is Major (Ret.) Andrew Fox.

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This is Ivor Perl, survivor of Auschwitz and Dachau.

Born Yitzchak Perlmutter, in a family of 11 in Mako, Hungary in 1932, Ivor’s youth and education was stolen from him in 1944. 

His orthodox Jewish childhood was stable enough, but there were always antisemites who slapped and pushed him about on the way to school - but it got far worse during World War II, because the Nazis began targeting Jews in Hungary. In 1944, when he was just 12, Ivor, along with his whole family, were abducted and put on a train to Auschwitz. 

Out of his family, only he and his brother Alec survived the mass murder, a fact that Ivor attributes to his brother's quick thinking and the binary luck of being placed in a line that spared him from immediate death.

After surviving Auschwitz, Ivor and his brother were taken to Dachau, where they were liberated by American soldiers in 1945. Ivor, who turned 13 during his time at Dachau, recalls marking his bar mitzvah day all alone behind barbed wire, a poignant moment in his life because as you’ll hear a religious child would have prepared what he would say on his barmitzvah day for years.

But he never got the chance.

He came to England at 13 in 1945, lucky to be alive - but as an orphan, alongside his brother Alec.

He lives in North London, but with a visceral mourning for the parents, sisters and brothers that never made it here with him.

Ivor spent many years quietly building a life for himself and his family, working in the textile industry. He didn't openly share his experiences of the Holocaust for nearly 50 years, only beginning to speak about it to help others understand the horrors of the past.

Even his transfer to England was cloak and dagger after the Nazis had been vanquished, as you’ll hear how the early Zionist pioneers wanted to take him and other children to Mandate Palestine instead. 

Forgive me if some of my questions are a little direct about his most haunted and delicate of memories - but this like other Holocaust interviews on Jonny Gould’s Jewish State is a testimony for the ages. 

It’s a privilege to have known people like Ivor, even in my own family. 

To meet and speak one-to-one with Ivor Perl has been humbling to say the least. 

Chicken Soup Under The Tree, his life memoir is available via the Lemon Soul website

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Our guest today is France’s former prime minister, Manuel Valls. 

We met at the European Jewish Association delegation to Auschwitz.

France has the biggest Jewish community in Europe and it's the only country outside the Middle East where Sephardim outnumber Ashkenazim. Undoubtedly, this is a legacy of the Holocaust and the subsequent migration of French-speaking Jews from North Africa after World War II.

Notre invité aujourd’hui est l’ancien Premier ministre Français, Manuel Valls, rencontré à la « European Jewish Association delegation to Auschwitz ». 

Manuel Valls est un fervent défenseur de la communauté juive de France et décrit les problèmes de la société française dans cet entretien informel, enregistré lors d’une pause-café entre les séances où il intervenait.

M. Valls a souhaité mener l'entretien en français afin de respecter la nature précise de ses convictions. 

J’ai bien entendu accepté, conscient de l’auditoire nombreux francophone ici à Londres, en Europe et au Canada.

Nous avons parlé du Premier ministre français, Gabriel Attal, évoqué par certains comme l'héritier d'Emmanuel Macron - ce qui a fait sourire Manuel Valls puisqu’il a lui même été considéré comme tel par le passé !

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