Meditate on some serene silence

Join Avi as he interviews Ilan Goldenberg, J Street's Chief Policy Officer. They discuss the current state of the ceasefire in Gaza, the rising prominence of the anti-Zionist left, and J Street's tagline.

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to follow Ilan's Substack: https://ilangoldenberg.substack.com

Join Avi as he discusses the ceasefire in Gaza, and the potential for a future in which Israel retains control over the "yellow-zone," which would create a 2 state solution in Gaza resembling the West Bank. He also discusses Zohran Mamdani's mayoral victory, the leaked video from Sde Teiman Prison, and the state of Israeli free speech.

Sources:

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-11-10/ty-article/.premium/court-blocks-police-from-hacking-phone-of-anti-government-protester-who-filmed-arrests/0000019a-6cd5-d66b-adba-fed775180000

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-11-10/ty-article/.premium/israel-is-no-longer-a-free-society-according-to-netanyahu-confidante-ron-dermer/0000019a-6ef1-dece-a1fe-7ff5e0d20000

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2024-08-22/ty-article/.premium/idf-prosecutor-sde-teiman-soldiers-beat-electrified-sodomized-gaza-detainee/00000191-796d-de08-a3f9-796f17e00000

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-07-07/ty-article/.premium/judge-proposes-5-soldiers-accused-of-abusing-gazan-detainee-at-sde-teiman-enter-mediation/00000197-e49f-d615-ab9f-ed9f44680000

• https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy0kpd97qqko

• https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/israel-arrests-military-lawyer-accused-of-leaking-video-showing-alleged-abuse-of-detainee

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-10-23/ty-article/.premium/why-jared-kushners-vision-for-post-war-gaza-is-so-dangerous/0000019a-1169-dfc6-a3bf-f16d85d20000

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-10-23/ty-article/.premium/why-jared-kushners-vision-for-post-war-gaza-is-so-dangerous/0000019a-1169-dfc6-a3bf-f16d85d20000

• https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/10/israeli-drone-strike-kills-two-in-gaza-as-ceasefire-violations-mount

• https://jewishcurrents.org/mamdani-created-a-left-liberal-coalition-on-israel-palestine

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-11-11/ty-article-live/syrian-president-wont-rule-out-joining-abraham-accords/0000019a-70c6-dece-a1fe-75e728ea0000?liveBlogItemId=1062162706#1062162706

Join Avi as he discusses what's been a chaotic last couple of weeks regarding the ceasefire in Gaza. He discusses the numerous violations to the ceasefire, and what has yet to be negotiated for Phase 2 of the deal to finally be implemented. Finally, he discusses the worsening situation in the West Bank, including pogroms orchestrated by settlers, and two pieces of legislation entrenching Israeli control.

Sources:

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/west-bank/2025-10-26/ty-article/.premium/trumps-administration-opposes-west-bank-annexation-in-name-yet-enables-it-in-practice/0000019a-1ff3-d2fc-a79a-9ff7dceb0000

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-10-24/ty-article/report-white-house-frustrated-with-israel-over-gaza-strikes-west-bank-annexation-vote/0000019a-14a6-d2fc-a79a-9ef62b950000

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-10-22/ty-article/.premium/knesset-advances-far-right-west-bank-annexation-bill-as-jd-vance-visits-israel/0000019a-0be4-d2fc-a79a-9ff68c200000

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2024-03-01/ty-article/.premium/bedouin-families-face-uncertain-future-after-israel-expropriates-land-near-maaleh-adumim/0000018d-f6a1-d1c2-af9f-ffa57dcf0000

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/west-bank/2025-10-27/ty-article/.premium/as-jewish-nationalist-crime-rates-surge-in-the-west-bank-police-investigations-drop/0000019a-250e-dac3-adbb-ff0fc9980000

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/middle-east-news/2025-10-27/ty-article/report-jordans-king-warns-gazas-intl-forces-must-peacekeep-not-enforce-peace/0000019a-24b4-dd96-af9b-3cbd0dd10000

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-10-19/ty-article/.premium/idf-strikes-in-gazas-rafah-after-armed-militants-attack-israeli-forces/00000199-fbab-dfc6-a3bf-fbaf60b30000

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-10-27/ty-article/.premium/hamas-tells-mediators-it-is-working-to-recover-seven-to-nine-hostage-bodies/0000019a-2630-d4d3-a3fa-6f75e9f50000

• https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hamas-search-israel-hostages-bodies-egypt/

• https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/28/israel-says-return-of-misidentified-body-breaches-gaza-deal-mulls-response

• https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-said-to-know-location-of-9-out-of-13-deceased-hostages-still-held-in-gaza/

Join Avi as he discusses the ceasefire in Gaza, the release of the Israeli hostages as well as the Palestinian prisoners being held without trial. He breaks down the state of ceasefire negotiations, whether or not the ceasefire is likely to break down, and how much credit to give Trump for achieving it.

Sources:

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-10-15/ty-article-live/health-ministry-four-hostages-bodies-arrive-at-forensic-institute-for-identification/00000199-e5dc-da09-a1bb-f7fe7a8d0005?liveBlogItemId=441964257#441964257

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-10-15/ty-article/.premium/while-trump-shapes-the-mideast-future-israel-stays-on-the-sidelines-avoiding-hard-truths/00000199-e713-d54a-abfb-f7d3df1b0000

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-10-15/ty-article/.premium/talks-over-the-gaza-trump-plans-second-stage-have-begun/00000199-e4cc-d7e9-adfd-ffef08f60000

• https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2025/10/13/explainer-who-are-the-palestinian-captives-israel-released

• https://www.npr.org/2025/10/13/nx-s1-5573139/palestinians-prisoners-released

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/middle-east-news/2025-09-29/ty-article/eu-confirms-it-has-reinstated-iran-sanctions-e3-urge-tehran-against-escalatory-action/00000199-95e1-d4f2-a3b9-d7e5f7cb0000

• https://open.spotify.com/episode/7o85D6R7hudat1ifuPDtas?si=4d20f5ffc5a94e68

Join Avi as he discusses Donald Trump's new ceasefire proposal for Gaza, which Netanyahu has announced his support for. He also discusses the wave of Western states that have recognized the state of Palestine, and what the implications of this are.

Sources:

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-09-30/ty-article/.premium/through-the-fog-of-the-trump-netanyahu-summit-qatar-emerges-as-the-only-clear-winner/00000199-9a48-d0f3-a599-deebd6b60000

• https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/21/canada-australia-join-uk-in-recognising-palestinian-statehood

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-09-25/ty-article/.premium/palestinians-say-israel-shut-west-banks-main-crossing-to-jordan-over-state-recognition/00000199-7d7f-daea-adff-7fffbc4a0000

• https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-october-1-2025/

• https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/oct/01/israel-gaza-offensive-benjamin-netanyahu-hamas-donald-trump-middle-east-crisis-live-news

• https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/world/middleeast/gaza-flotilla-aid-global-sumud-israel.html

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/world-news/2025-10-02/ty-article/.premium/report-four-wounded-in-car-ramming-stabbing-in-manchester-synagogue/00000199-a461-dde8-a9f9-bdf9fa210000

Join Avi as he discusses Israel's strike on Doha, in which they attempted to kill the Hamas negotiating team discussing the US proposed ceasefire. He also discusses Israel's ongoing assault on Gaza City, which has recently expanded into a ground invasion.

Sources:

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-09-16/ty-article/.premium/netanyahu-made-a-mockery-of-trump-in-qatar-and-paid-no-price-for-it/00000199-52b1-d907-a5db-77f7c2180000

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-09-16/ty-article/.premium/tens-of-thousands-of-palestinians-flee-their-gaza-city-homes-amid-idf-ground-offensive/00000199-527d-d3d1-a19d-fbfd79a60000

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-09-15/ty-article/.premium/idf-considers-ground-push-into-gaza-city-even-as-most-residents-remain/00000199-4a0c-d6e0-a7fb-cf4cdea40000

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-09-08/ty-article/.premium/five-killed-seven-in-serious-condition-after-terrorists-open-fire-near-jerusalem-bus-stop/00000199-285f-d336-addd-6f7f2e9f0000

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-09-16/ty-article-magazine/.premium/from-doha-to-gaza-city-netanyahu-keeps-moving-the-wars-goalposts/00000199-4dea-d65c-a9f9-cdfeee020000

• https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/9/israel-attacks-hamas-leadership-in-qatar-all-to-know

• https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/10/analysis-will-attack-in-qatar-lead-to-international-isolation-of-israel

• https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8641wv0n4go

• https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-09-16/ty-article/human-rights-experts-join-rising-chorus-that-accuses-israel-of-genocide-in-gaza/00000199-515c-d8a5-a7bd-f35f6c2b0000

• https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/16/middleeast/analysis-summit-israel-strike-hamas-qatar-intl

• https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/16/qatar-hosts-arab-islamic-emergency-summit-who-said-what

• https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-city-incursion-09-16-25-intl-hnk

• https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/16/gaza-city-under-relentless-bombardment-as-israel-launches-ground-invasion

Join Avi as he interviews Omer Bartov, the Dean's Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University. Bartov is both an Israeli and a Zionist, and one of the leading academic voices arguing that Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza. They discuss whether Israel's conduct in Gaza is genocidal, strategies to prevent genocide, and what it means to be Zionist at a time when Israel is committing such unspeakable acts.

Some of Omer Bartov's Work:

Infamous NYT article making the case that Israel is committing genocide: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/15/opinion/israel-gaza-holocaust-genocide-palestinians.html

Pre-Order his new book on where Zionism went wrong: https://www.amazon.com/Israel-What-Wrong-Omer-Bartov/dp/0374618186/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=5hlOk&content-id=amzn1.sym.0fb2cce1-1ca4-439a-844b-8ad0b1fb77f7&pf_rd_p=0fb2cce1-1ca4-439a-844b-8ad0b1fb77f7&pf_rd_r=132-9869202-7528336&pd_rd_wg=CLJn0&pd_rd_r=bfbfd8ad-96ca-42e1-905b-56d50979acd6&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk

Join Avi and guest Andrew Rovinsky as they discuss why there are no political alternatives to Hamas, the ideological and political origins of Likud, and the importance of maintaining hope.

Join Avi as he discusses what the Israeli government strategy is in Gaza. He discusses their intention to occupy all of Gaza, their turn away from real consideration of a ceasefire, and their manufactured starvation crisis. Taken together, these all imply Israel's motivations and strategy, which Avi uncovers.

Sources:

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-08-19/ty-article/.premium/hostage-families-warn-netanyahu-not-to-reject-limited-hostage-deal-accepted-by-hamas/00000198-c2cf-dc9d-abd9-dbdfe8da0000

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-08-07/ty-article/.premium/israels-cabinet-meets-to-weigh-gaza-takeover-as-thousands-protest-for-hostage-deal/00000198-85a0-d9db-a9be-87ab6b680000

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-08-10/ty-article/.premium/netanyahu-hoped-the-decision-to-occupy-gaza-would-buy-him-time-but-the-pressure-is-on/00000198-903f-d316-a5d8-b17fa10a0000

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/israel-news/2025-08-11/ty-article/.premium/al-jazeera-reporter-in-gaza-anas-al-sharif-killed-by-israeli-strike-idf-says/00000198-95e1-df6c-abbd-f5f52c0e0000

• https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/10/al-jazeera-journalist-anas-al-sharif-killed-in-israeli-attack-in-gaza-city

• https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/world/middleeast/hamas-israel-gaza-ceasefire.html

• https://www.dw.com/en/israels-smotrich-says-victory-means-gaza-fully-destroyed/live-72452267

• https://www-haaretz-com.revproxy.brown.edu/opinion/editorial/2025-08-15/ty-article-opinion/smotrich-is-right-israels-new-settlement-plan-will-bury-a-palestinian-state/00000198-aa42-d825-a39a-fbca83e80000

• https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/18/israel-starving-gaza-hundreds-of-deaths-including-many-children

• https://www.aljazeera.com/video/fact-check/2025/8/20/israel-denies-gaza-famine-whats-the-evidence#flips-6377139427112:0

• https://www.un.org/en/genocide-prevention/definition

• https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/24/us-israel-gaza-ceasefire

• https://www.rescue.org/country/south-sudan