This morning the sun rose. Birds were chirping and the middle east was still turbulent.

Yes, even when Israel is not making headlines on CNN, things still tend to get pretty messy down here. We may not always feel it in our rose-colored-bubble of TLV, but the wheels of evil forces keep spinning, enemies are conspiring against us and we’re always prepared for the next war, which might be the last.

It is in times like this that it’s good to have someone around who can actually understands the middle east, someone who’s devoted his life to explain Israel’s complexities. Someone who can provide us a little bit of context. Someone like Neil Lazarus.

Neil Lazarus is one of the most popular Israeli public speakers out there. He’s traveling the world, talking about Israel, BDS and middle eastern politics. His Youtube videos are all over the internet and his seminars are packed. We’re so glad to have him here on the show with us today, to talk about Israel’s current situation in the middle east.

(Photo by IDF)

Episode 118 - Middle East Break Down Vol. II

Looking for your weekly dose of captivating conversation about Israel? Look no further than the Two Nice Jewish Boys Podcast - the longest-running Israeli podcast in English since 2016. Hosts Naor Meningher and Eytan Weinstein deliver free-flowing discussions with fascinating voices from across the country, covering politics, history, entertainment, science, and more. Through free speech and open dialogue, gain a deeper understanding of Israel and its people, and be exposed to Israeli society like never before - tune in now!

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You know the drill. Eytan and Naor discuss everything that happened in Israel in the past month.

#350 - Monthly Recap: Iran Attacks Israel, the IDF Withdraws from Gaza and the Media's Still Dumb

About 2 months after October 7th and the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza War, a poll was conducted in the United States. Many of you may remember this because the results were pretty shocking. While most Americans support Israel and view Hamas and its actions as genocidal terrorists, young Americans 18-24 don’t quite agree. At least, they’re not so straight forward about it. 51% responded that Israel should be “ended and given to Hamas and the Palestinians”. 60% believed that Hamas’ massacre was justified due to Palestinian grievances. What’s more shocking is that 66% of American 18-24 year-olds thought Hamas’ actions on Oct 7th were genocidal. Which, if you think about it, means that a big chunk think genocide against the Jews is legitimate. I guess not surprising after we saw the questioning of Ivy league presidents by congress.

The reality of antisemitism goes beyond people’s hearts and minds, unfortunately. Over the course of the last 6 months since Oct 7, there has been a sharp rise in anti semitic incidents with the ADL reporting a 360% spike back in January. And 90% of US Jews feel this uptick, according to a study done by Pew Research Center. 

Now, American Jewish organizations are combating this phenomenon. And that’s to be expected. What’s less expected is an American Muslim organization fighting the rise in antisemitism.  

Joining us today is Dan Khan, a U.S. Army veteran and Deputy Director of the Muslim American Leadership Alliance (MALA). MALA is dedicated to empowering individual freedoms, fostering interfaith connections, and combating hate in all its forms. Today, Dan will shed light on MALA's support for the Jewish community, as well as his recent insights shared at the Combat Antisemitism Movement panel, where he outlined proactive steps the Muslim community can take to combat antisemitism.

We're honored to have Dan with us, as we explore the American Muslim community's role in building a future where understanding triumphs over division. Join us as we delve into the possibilities for hope and solidarity in these challenging times.

#349 - The Muslim US Army Vet Fighting Antisemitism (Dan Khan)

If Tel Aviv is the Silicon Valley of the Middle East, AKA Silicon Wadi, cybersecurity is its beating heart. From the towering successes of Palo Alto Networks and Checkpoint to the relatively recent rise of Wiz, Israel stands as the undisputed leader in the realm of digital defense.

At the core of this technological powerhouse lies Unit 8200, Israel's legendary intelligence unit, known for honing the skills of some of the world's sharpest cyber minds. Graduates of 8200 venture into the entrepreneurial landscape, seeding the growth of Israel's cybersecurity sector with their expertise and innovation.

One of the things that truly sets Israel apart is the tidal wave of investment flooding into its cybersecurity ecosystem, propelling the nation to the forefront of global innovation. If you think about it, it’s pretty crazy - Israel, or at least Israeli tech, is protecting a huge chunk of the world’s most lucrative digital assets. 
 
Today, we're honored to host Alon Arvatz, one of the young new minds in the cyber realm. As an IDF cyberwarfare veteran and tech product leader, Alon has authored the compelling book, "The Battle for Your Computer: Israel and the Growth of the Global Cyber-Security Industry," where he unravels the intricacies of Israel's pivotal role in the global cybersecurity landscape. Join us as we discuss with Alon Arvat all things cyber security, AI and even how it all connects to the current war in Gaza.

Alon's book: https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Your-Computer-Cyber-Security-Industry/dp/1394174152

#348 - Cracking the Code: Israel's Cyber Edge Explained (Alon Arvatz)

As the war in Gaza rages on, the influence of the Religious Zionist party, led by figures like Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, looms large over the direction of the Israeli government. With key ministerial positions in hand, they wield considerable power in shaping policies not only concerning the ongoing war but also regarding broader societal issues such as military service, national identity and economic affairs.

Today, we’re going to take a close look at this pivotal shift in Israeli society with our distinguished guest, Yair Ettinger, an Israeli journalist and the author of the illuminating new book, "Frayed: The Disputes Unraveling Religious Zionists", Ettinger's work provides invaluable insights into the challenges facing the Religious Zionist movement, which has become increasingly influential within Israeli politics and society. Amidst the turmoil of war and political maneuvering, many questions arise about the future direction of Religious Zionism and its impact on the broader Israeli landscape.  

Ettinger is an award-winning journalist, with decades of experience. Frayed has won the 2021 Hillel Kook Award and is a finalist of the Jewish Book Council. He was a journalist for Haaretz newspaper for 20 years and today, he’s one of Kan’s commentators on Religious affairs and writes for various outlets such as Ynet.  We are super thrilled to be joined by Yair Ettinger on this episode of the Two Nice Jewish Boys podcast.

#347 - Deciphering Ben Gvir and Smotrich: A Deep Dive into Religious Zionism (Yair Ettinger)

Naor and Eytan discuss everything that occurred in Israel over the past month!

Episode 118 - Middle East Break Down Vol. II

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