The IDF is ramping up its offensive inside the Gaza Strip against Hamas. Leaders of the terror organization are being steadily eliminated and the vaunted Golani Brigade is massing along Israel's border with the Strip. Gazans are fleeing southward as Israel's tanks maneuver along parts of the Netzarim corridor. 
 
Israel's Minister of Defense has called for the return of all our hostages and the expulsion of Hamas. Prime Minister Netanyahu has announced that all future negotiations will be carried out "under fire." 
 
In this episode of the show, together with my colleague Yaakov Lappin, I break down what you need to know about the current state of Israel's return to major combat operations inside the Gaza Strip. 

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In this episode of the podcast, I'm publishing my conversation with Bret Stephens, Opinion Columnist for The New York Times, which was recorded in front of a live NYC audience during The MirYam Institute's Annual Regional Benefit Briefing on December 10, 2024.

We explore critical topics including: Iran & The Trump Administration, Jew-Hatred in the United States, and American campus upheaval, as well as Israel's war against Hamas.

Enjoy!

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In this episode, we discuss the appointment of the IDF's new Chief of Staff, Lt. General Eyal Zamir. 

We look back on the legacy of the departing Chief of Staff, Lt. General Hertzi Halevi, and outline what some of Zamir's challenges and opportunities may be. 

We then turn to the Oval Office debacle that took place between Ukraine's President Zelensky and President Donald Trump and compare and contrast it with some of Israel's own diplomatic challenges with its American allies. 

To purchase your tickets to the upcoming 5 ROUNDS live event in New York City featuring me in conversation with Alan Dershowitz, please visit the link here. 

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In this episode, we discuss the tragic funerals of Shiri Bibas and her two young children, Ariel and Kfir and of Oded Lifshitz and the national and international outpouring that their return has generated. 

We then delve into the IDF's investigation of what transpired on October 7th in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, before assessing the "Day After" proposal Yair Lapid presented to a Washington D.C. audience. 

Finally, you can watch the referenced episode of "Israel Outside In" featuring a beach workout for budding IDF special forces soldiers here.

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In this episode of the podcast, we discuss the anticipated, tragic return of the bodies of Shiri Bibas, Ariel Bibas and Kfir Bibas to Israel, along with the body of Oded Lifshitz. 

All four of these hostages were kidnapped alive by Hamas on October 7th, 2023.

The Bibas family, whose two young children became symbols of Hamas's depravity and of Israel's suffering due to their red hair and young age, is the only family that was kidnapped in its entirety on October 7th. 

The MirYam Institute hosted Izhar Lifshitz, Oded Lifshitz's son, in Poland during our annual I-SAP tour for cadets of the U.S. military academies, during which he spoke to them about his family's suffering since that day. 

This episode of the show is not one that I was comfortable recording, as a part of me continues to hope against hope, for the return of our hostages alive. 

Listen to my conversation with Izhar Lifshitz. A link to that episode can be found here:

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In a change to our regular format, and in advance of the expected release of a further three hostages, today's show features a conversation between me and Almog Meir-Jan. 

Almog was seized by Hamas on October 7th, 2023 and held hostage inside the Gaza Strip until he was rescued by Israel's security forces at the age of 21 in one of the most daring rescue operations ever undertaken by Israel. 

That operation, which took place on June 8th, 2024, was renamed Operation ARNON, after Y.A.M.A.M. operator, Chief Inspector Arnon Zmora, who was wounded by Hamas terrorists and later died of his wounds. 

Along with Almog,  Noa Argamani, 26, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41, were also rescued.

On December 10th, 2024, I interviewed Almog in front of a live Manhattan Audience, to gauge his reflections on his time in captivity, his perspective on the rescue operation, his outlook on life now that he's freed, and his view on the need to redeem all of the remaining hostages. 

I also praised his mother, Orit, whom our organization escorted throughout her fight to ensure that Almog's plight remained at the forefront of public consciousness, and who we brought to address members of the U.S. House of Representatives, members of the Senate, and legislators in the British parliament and government.

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In this episode, Yaakov Lappin and I analyze the press briefings of Presidenrt Donald Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu during Bibi’s trip to D.C

Doubling down on the idea of relocating Gazans to areas out of Gaza, Donald Trump expressed his desire to see America take ownership of the Strip and to rebuild it together with international partners.

His comments have received the protestations of the UN, much of the EU, Heads of Middle Eastern states and more.

What does all of that mean? Yaakov and I discuss it all here. 

RSVP for the live NYC briefing with John Spencer and join us for a deep dive into the IDF’s ethical actions inside Gaza with the foremost global expert on the subject.

 Tickets can be purchased via this link.

"ISRAEL IN URBAN WARFARE: A JUST CAMPAIGN HELD TO AN UNJUST GLOBAL STANDARD." WITH JOHN SPENCER AND BENJAMIN ANTHONY Tickets | The MirYam Institute simpletix.com

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In this episode, Yaakov Lappin and I discuss President Trump’s suggestion that the Gazans should be relocated to Egypt and Jordan, before talking about the mass movement of Gazans back to the north of the Strip and the flawed security and inspection mechanism in place as they do so.
We then discuss the nominees for the next IDF Chief and finally close on Iran’s threat of a ‘massive cost’ to the region if it’s nuclear weapons program is attacked.
ALSO!! RSVP Today for An Evening With John Spencer, live in NYC, where he will speak on the topic of “Israel’s War Against Hamas - A Just War Held To An Unjust Global Standard”
Sign up here:
 "ISRAEL IN URBAN WARFARE: A JUST CAMPAIGN HELD TO AN UNJUST GLOBAL STANDARD." WITH JOHN SPENCER AND BENJAMIN ANTHONY Tickets | The MirYam Institute simpletix.com

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This episode features a read-out of my most recent op-ed, published by JNS.ORG on Thursday, January 23rd. A link to the oped is included in the show notes, as is an RSVP link to register for our exclusive, live conversation with John Spencer, Chair Of Urban Warfare Studies at West Point.
In my column, entitled "The Unspoken Perils Of The Hostage Release Deal," I outline the extreme danger into which the three hostages released last week were placed, while being transferred by the Red Cross en-route to being freed.
Surrounded by hundreds, even thousands of Gazans as they were, their lives were placed in unfathomable danger - irresponsibly so.
Here, I argue that their survival was nothing short of miraculous, and that nobody in Israel's policy making circles should make the mistake of assuming that such a miracle will be repeated in the context of further hostage releases.
We must do more to secure our people during their final moments in captivity.
Link To Written Op-Ed:
https://www.miryaminstitute.org/commentary-blog/jewish-news-syndicate-op-ed-the-unspoken-perils-of-the-hostage-release-deal
Link To Register For Live NYC Event With John Spencer, Chair Of Urban Warfare Studies At West Point:
https://www.simpletix.com/e/israel-in-urban-warfare-a-just-campaign-h-tickets-189290#smtx-click

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We are celebrating the safe return of three female hostages held in captivity by Hamas. They are Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31.
In this episode, I've dug into The MirYam Institute archives to bring you two unique briefings we facilitated, both made by the family members of hostages whose loved ones are yet to return home. I've done so in order to share the ongoing anguish of too many hostage family members, who despite the scenes of happiness we all saw on this day, still do not know the fate of their loved ones. 
The first features Galia David, mother of Evyatar David. Evyatar was 23 years of age when he was abducted into Gaza. Because of his age and gender, he is cynically deemed to be a "man of age" by Hamas, a category of hostage that will only be released during the very final stages of this deal. In this episode of the show, his mother Galia is recorded addressing herself to the congregation of Park Avenue Synagogue in Manhattan, New York, on January 7th, 2024, flanked by her son Ilay David. 
The second features Itzhar Lifshitz. Both of Itzhars' aged parents, Oded and Yocheved, were kidnapped by Hamas. Yocheved was released by Hamas during the previous hostage release deal. His father, Oded, remains in Hamas captivity and is expected to be released during the first, 42 day long phase, of the hostage release deal due to his age, having been kidnaped at the age of 83. Izhar joined the MirYam Institute's Israel Strategy and Policy tour, 2024 - a tour of The Nazi Death camps that we facilitate for cadets and future officers of the United States Armed Forces. In this conversation, recorded in May, 2024, in Warsaw, Poland, Itzhar shares his thoughts on the fate of his father, before taking questions from the cadets.

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