Ola Najami is the Director for the Jewish-Arab Center for Peace, which operates under the guise of Givat Haviva, the Center for a Shared Society, founded by the Havatzelet Group, a civic organization for social change working to promote a model society in Israel, with an emphasis on creating a shared society for Jews and Arabs. 

Ola was previously a Co-Deputy Executive Director for Abraham Initiatives and worked for the Women Against Violence Association for eight years. She is keen to boost the representation of women in decision-making roles in society.

[Full interview[

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Just over a month ago senior fellow of Strategic Analysis Australia Anthony Bergin had returned from a trip to Israel when he together wth his director Peter Jennings penned an article for The Australian titled ‘In Israel, Australia’s betrayal is evident everywhere you go’. Both had travelled to Israel to participate in the Australia-Israel Strategic Dialogue with the support of the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council.

I spoke with Anthony about impressions he gleaned from his recent trip to Israel, the deterioration of the relationship between Israel and Australia, the Liberal Party's tepid response to 'Jewish' issues at the moment and how Israel can best manage its strategic interests going forward.

Anthony has just today had another article 'We should work with the US to make the Gaza plan work' published in The Australian newspaper.

[Full interview]

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Israel's Arameans are a small, indigenous Christian minority reclaiming their ancient Semitic heritage, preserving Aramaic in their liturgy and culture.

As founder and chairman of the Israeli Christian Aramean Association, Shadi Khalloul's life’s work has focused on empowering Israel’s Christian Aramean minority and reviving traditions lost to history. His experience as an IDF paratrooper, combined with deep cultural roots, gives him a unique perspective on coexistence and democracy in Israel. His mission is to build bridges between Christians and Jews and to promote military integration for young Aramean Christians.

Shadi’s leadership in achieving official Aramean Christian recognition, his ongoing language revival efforts, and his commitment to interfaith dialogue made for a thoughtful conversation.
[Full interview]

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Israel's Arameans are a small, indigenous Christian minority reclaiming their ancient Semitic heritage, preserving Aramaic in their liturgy and culture.

As founder and chairman of the Israeli Christian Aramean Association, Shadi Khalloul's life’s work has focused on empowering Israel’s Christian Aramean minority and reviving traditions lost to history. His experience as an IDF paratrooper, combined with deep cultural roots, gives him a unique perspective on coexistence and democracy in Israel. His mission is to build bridges between Christians and Jews and to promote military integration for young Aramean Christians.

Shadi’s leadership in achieving official Aramean Christian recognition, his ongoing language revival efforts, and his commitment to interfaith dialogue made for a thoughtful conversation. (0:27-29:06)

Just over a month ago senior fellow of Strategic Analysis Australia Anthony Bergin had returned from a trip to Israel when he together wth his director Peter Jennings penned an article for The Australian titled ‘In Israel, Australia’s betrayal is evident everywhere you go’. Both had travelled to Israel to participate in the Australia-Israel Strategic Dialogue with the support of the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council.

I spoke with Anthony about impressions he gleaned from his recent trip to Israel, the deterioration of the relationship between Israel and Australia, the Liberal Party's tepid response to 'Jewish' issues at the moment and how Israel can best manage its strategic interests going forward.

Anthony has just today had another article 'We should work with the US to make the Gaza plan work' published in The Australian newspaper. (29:12-57:36)

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In The Australian Senator Sarah Henderson is "demanding an urgent Senate inquiry into the ABC, claiming the public broadcaster’s editorial division has been allowed to run wild and is no longer “fit for purpose” as a taxpayer-funded source of trusted news and current affairs".

In last week's Australian Jewish News the first three pages were devoted to the community's concerns over what is perceived as the "ABC's Israel Problem".

Today there was a session at Senate Estimates where the ABC  fronted with their news and current affairs editor expected to be in the firing line. However disappointingly Senator Henderson did not raise a solitary 'Jewish' issue.

To put all of this into perspective I will have ILTV editor-in-chief Maayan Hoffman joining me in the studio and participating in the conversation will be Adam Lippman, who has been involved in compiling a 142 page submission (shared with Senator Henderson) together with a group of like-minded people, which has been active in exposing the malfeasances of the ABC.(0:27-27:01)

Other israel-related issues (27:08-52:41)

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[Full interview]

Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer is the head of the Iyun Institute, focused on promoting Haredi integration and responsibility. He is a community rabbi in Ramot, Jerusalem, and the founding editor of Tzarich Iyun, a journal of Haredi thought and ideas.

Our conversation will cover issues around the drafting of Haredi men into the IDF, which has been brewing for decades. The current situation where Israel has found itself fighting a prolonged war has put additional pressure on the state to find more conscripts to relieve the undue stress on those who have been serving very long stints as reservists.

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Israel Innovation Fund

Adam Scott Bellos is a revolutionary voice in Jewish innovation, identity, and culture. As Founder and CEO of The Israel Innovation Fund (TIIF), Adam is reshaping how the world connects to Israel—through wine, language, self-defense, and a cultural revival rooted in Hebraization.

A media-savvy strategist and visionary builder, Adam has created bold platforms like Wine on the Vine and Shomrei Ha’Am that bridge Jewish heritage and modern activism. 

With a background in politics, diplomacy, media, and business, Adam fuses storytelling with nation-building. He has advised Israeli leaders, appeared on international news networks, and led campaigns that blend Zionist philosophy with grassroots action.

We will dive into an article he wrote  You can’t influence your way out of antisemitism: The coming Jewish collapse which explains how the Jewish world hides behind influencers, institutions, and illusions.  (0:27-28:58)

The Haredi Draft Controversy

Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer is the head of the Iyun Institute, focused on promoting Haredi integration and responsibility. He is a community rabbi in Ramot, Jerusalem, and the founding editor of Tzarich Iyun, a journal of Haredi thought and ideas.

Our conversation will cover issues around the drafting of Haredi men into the IDF, which has been brewing for decades. The current situation where Israel has found itself fighting a prolonged war has put additional pressure on the state to find more conscripts to relieve the undue stress on those who have been serving very long stints as reservists. (29:04-57:33)

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The Jewish Independent is hosting Sir Mick Davis and Mike Prashker of The London Initiative (TLI) in collaboration with The Melbourne Hebrew Congregation and the Great Synagogue in Sydney. This community-wide conversation purports to be one that will explore the future of Israel’s democracy and the role of the Jewish Diaspora in shaping it. 

However as the noted pro-Israel advocate Melanie Phillips has pointed out in an article titled 'Netanyahu Derangement Syndrome', the founders of the TLI are waging what amounts to a bitter campaign to attack Netanyahu, who Davis and Prashker claim has done nothing less than betray Zionism itself.

The big problem though is that the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) has bought into this charade and are endorsing it, while orthodox synagogues are hosting it.

I spoke with former ZFA president Danny Lamm about the political wrangling at the World Zionist Congress and how that links into this issue with the TLI. (0:27-21:48)

Furthermore I discussed the concerns over the TLI's visit to Australia with Tamir Aloni, who represents the Australian Jewish Association and with pro-Israel blogger Shane Shmuel, a guest on my show a couple of times recently. (21:54-43:53)

Also on the show I played an excerpt from a media briefing sponsored by Media Central in Israel that took place just prior to the UN Security Council resolution sponsored by the United States, which explicitly includes the term “Palestinian state,” sparking controversy and concern in Israel. (43:53-56:46)

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Ariella Noveck is a broadcast journalist and the co-founder of BottomLine Media and the nonprofit ShieldGiving. She brings over a decade of experience in news, public affairs, and nonprofit communications, contributing to CNN, Bloomberg, CNBC, ABC, FOX, MSNBC, and CBS News.

Ariella specializes in political and strategic communications and is deeply committed to combating antisemitism, supporting humanitarian efforts, and addressing bias across media and politics. 

Joining me is Eva Migdal, an educator, writer and community radio producer with a long history in media and social innovation.

[Full interview]

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Ariella Noveck is a broadcast journalist and the co-founder of BottomLine Media and the nonprofit ShieldGiving. She brings over a decade of experience in news, public affairs, and nonprofit communications, contributing to CNN, Bloomberg, CNBC, ABC, FOX, MSNBC, and CBS News.

Ariella specializes in political and strategic communications and is deeply committed to combating antisemitism, supporting humanitarian efforts, and addressing bias across media and politics. 

Joining me is Eva Migdal, an educator, writer and community radio producer with a long history in media and social innovation. (0:27-30:09)

Deborah Conway and her husband Willy Zygier had their concert last Friday at the Brunswick Ballroom cancelled because of serious threats of harassment and intimidation led by a group calling itself Merri-bek & Northern Suburbs for Palestine.

This pair of musicians, not shy to show their support for Israel and the Jewish community, have just completed a tour around the country and have had to face menacing actions by anti-Israel protesters at most venues where they have performed.

Their latest album is called Right Wing Propaganda (subtitled Songs You Can Trust) and is available on vinyl, CD or via streaming platforms.(30:15-57:37)

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