This past December, I sat down with Benjamin Rogers, Deputy Director of the AJC Center for a New Middle East. Benjy and I spoke about the future of Israel’s relationships with its Arab neighbors in the wake of October 7, and how he hoped the Abraham Accords will continue to evolve. Benjy discussed Israel’s potential as a strategic partner to countries across the region confronting shared challenges such as economic instability, water insecurity, and climate change. Despite ongoing tensions, Benjy remains hopeful that necessity will continue to drive progress toward normalization and regional collaboration.

He also reflected on the personal impact of tragedy—the May 2025 murders of Israeli Embassy staffers Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky; Benjy felt particularly close with Yaron. Benjy speaks about the evening of the murder, how he and others are processing the senselessness of the tragedy, and how he continues to navigate what it means to live, work, and identify as a Jew in this complex moment in history.

Credits:

Host and Creator: Manya Marcus

Managing Producer: Eli Akselrod

Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick

Editor 2: Eli Akselrod

Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar

Outro Music: Olam Chesed Yibaneh · Rabbi Menachem Creditor · David Paskin

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