Israel Policy Pod

As we mark the 30th anniversary of the Oslo Accords next week on September 13, Ambassador Martin S. Indyk (Israel Policy Forum board member and former U.S. ambassador to Israel) joins host Neri Zilber (journalist and Israel Policy Forum policy advisor) to reflect on the signing of that historic agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. They discuss the mood in Washington leading up to the White House ceremony, the birth of the Middle East peace process, where Oslo went wrong, subsequent peacemaking efforts, the current Israeli government's policy vis-à-vis a two-state outcome, and the prospects for an Israel-Saudi-U.S. deal that takes the Palestinians into account.

Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts journalist Adam Rasgon for a deep dive into Palestinian politics. They discuss the article he recently co-authored with Aaron Boxerman in Foreign Policy Magazine, titled "The Palestinian Leader Who Survived the Death of Palestine," the life and role of senior official Hussein al-Sheikh, the current state of the Palestinian Authority, and the looming battle to succeed President Mahmoud Abbas. 

Join us for The Oslo Legacy: Thirty Years On—A free, live event in D.C. marking 30 years since the signing of the first Oslo agreement and the start of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.  September 19, 2023 | 6:30-8:45pm ET. Register here.

Saudi foreign policy analyst Aziz Alghashian joins journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber to analyze the prospects for a U.S.-brokered normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. They discuss the complexities involved in the three-way agreement, the reported security demands of the United States by Saudi, the need for real tangible concessions by Israel towards the Palestinians, and the shadow cast by the Abraham Accords over any new normalization push. Finally, they conclude with a perspective from Riyadh regarding how the domestic unrest in Israel is viewed regionally and how life has changed dramatically in recent years inside the kingdom. 

For more on this subject, explore our recent policy report: Leveraging the Prospect of Israel-Saudi Normalization to Advance Israel-Palestinian Progress.

Israel Policy Forum has released its latest policy report, An Unsettled Question: Recalibrating U.S. Policy on Israeli Settlements, which outlines detailed policy prescriptions for how Washington can more effectively combat Israeli settlement construction. On this episode, co-authors Dan Rothem, Jess Manville, and Michael Koplow join Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber for a discussion on the new study. They provide an overview of the current state of play in the West Bank under Israel’s far-right government, explain why settlements and creeping annexation should be countered, and delve into the study’s policy recommendations, which include developing a differentiated approach to settlement construction that focuses on areas where construction would pose the most harm to a two-state outcome.

Read and download the report and one-pager here.

Haaretz Military Correspondent Amos Harel joins Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber to analyze how the passage of the Netanyahu government’s first judicial overhaul bill is impacting—and likely damaging—Israeli national security. They discuss the growing wave of Israeli military reservists threatening to stop reporting for duty, the scale of the unrest inside the Israel Defense Forces, the recent conduct of key security officials like Defense Minister Galant and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, and the prospects for a military escalation between Israel and Hezbollah amid the domestic political crisis.

• Register for our video briefing today (July 26) at 2pm ET with Neri Zilber and Masua Sagiv
• Listen to Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow speak about Israel’s political crisis on the War on the Rocks podcast
• Register for IPF Atid’s virtual community check-in for young professionals this Friday (July 28) at 2pm ET
• Watch this week’s Israel Policy Pause with Alex Lederman on the wider implications of ending the reasonableness standard
• Register for Central Synagogue’s video briefing with Michael Koplow at 8:30pm ET on Thursday, July 27
• Register for Park Avenue Synagogue’s video briefing with David Halperin at 12:30pm ET on Thursday, July 27
• Explore Israel Policy Forum’s Judicial Legislation Tracker
  
  

Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Prof. Suzie Navot, the vice president for research at the Israel Democracy Institute, to analyze the renewed push by the Netanyahu government to overhaul Israel's judicial system. They discuss how the reasonableness test is used and why it’s important, the impact on government decisions and appointments if it's eliminated, what the government's future plans likely are, and her experience participating in the judicial compromise talks at the President's Residence.

Explore more of our work: 

• How the Judicial Overhaul Threatens Israel’s Status as a Secure, Jewish, and Democratic State (Video Series)
• West Bank Settlements Explained
• Understanding Critical Issues (short explainers)
• More Resources on the Israeli Government's Judicial Reform
• 50 Steps Before the Deal
  
  

In the wake of this week's Israeli military operation in the Jenin refugee camp, Nimrod Novik (Israel Fellow, Israel Policy Forum) and Ibrahim Dalalsha (Director, Horizon Center for Political Studies and Media Outreach) join host Neri Zilber (Policy Advisor, Israel Policy Forum and Tel Aviv-based journalist) to analyze what just happened and why it happened. They spoke about the objectives of the Israeli government and military, the history and politics of the Jenin refugee camp, the current state of the Palestinian Authority, what the operation achieved (and what it didn't achieve), the performance of the local militant groups, and the growing prospects for further violence and instability. 

Explore more of our work: 

• How the Judicial Overhaul Threatens Israel’s Status as a Secure, Jewish, and Democratic State (Video Series)
• West Bank Settlements Explained
• Understanding Critical Issues (short explainers)
• More Resources on the Israeli Government's Judicial Reform
• 50 Steps Before the Deal
  
  

Kicking off our summer book club series, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts journalist and analyst Oren Kessler to discuss his new book, "Palestine 1936: The Great Revolt and the Roots of the Middle East Conflict." They discuss the reasons why this historical period is so critical to understanding our current moment, the similarities of the Great Arab Revolt to later mass popular uprisings, British attempts to launch the first Middle East peace process, and the legacies and lessons for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Explore more of our work: 

• How the Judicial Overhaul Threatens Israel’s Status as a Secure, Jewish, and Democratic State (Video Series)
• West Bank Settlements Explained
• Understanding Critical Issues (short explainers)
• More Resources on the Israeli Government's Judicial Reform
• 50 Steps Before the Deal
  
  

Mohammad Darawshe, an expert on Arab-Jewish relations in Israel, joins host Neri Zilber for a deep dive into the escalating violent crime and murder wave in Arab Israeli communities. They discuss the root causes of what is already a tragically record-breaking year, the absence of the Israeli state in Arab towns and villages, the proliferation of organized crime families, the impact of the violence on regular Arab citizens, the complete failure of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and the Netanyahu government to address the issue, and the current state of play in Arab-Israeli politics.

Register for our video briefing tomorrow (6/15): Leveraging the Prospect of Israel-Saudi Normalization to Advance Israeli-Palestinian Progress

On this week's episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow and Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Director of Policy Research Shira Efron to analyze recent events across the Middle East. They discuss this past weekend's terror attack on the Israel-Egypt border, the Israeli government's intentions for the West Bank, the chances of a peace agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel, the U.S. role in any such deal, and the re-election of President Erdoğan in Turkey.

Explore more of our work: 

• How the Judicial Overhaul Threatens Israel’s Status as a Secure, Jewish, and Democratic State (Video Series)
• West Bank Settlements Explained
• Understanding Critical Issues (short explainers)
• More Resources on the Israeli Government's Judicial Reform
• 50 Steps Before the Deal
  
  

Walla News Chief Political Correspondent Tal Shalev joins Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber to assess the current state of play in Israeli politics after the passage of the state budget last week. They discuss what upcoming pitfalls await the Netanyahu government this summer, the fate of the judicial overhaul, the pressures on Bibi from both the protest movement in the streets and the hardliners in his own coalition, and the political fortunes of opposition leaders Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid.

Explore more of our work: 

• Judicial Legislation Tracker 
• West Bank Settlements Explained
• Understanding Critical Issues (short explainers)
• More Resources on the Israeli Government's Judicial Reform
• 50 Steps Before the Deal
  
  

Col. (res.) Dr. Michael Milshtein, the former head of the Palestinian arena in Israeli Military Intelligence, joins Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber for an in-depth conversation on the recent Israel-Palestinian Islamic Jihad conflict, Operation Shield and Arrow. They assess what this latest round of fighting means for Israel's overall Gaza strategy, the relationship between PIJ and Hamas, and Iran's role, and if (but most likely when) violence will erupt again.

Watch our educational series on why the judicial overhaul threatens Israel's security here.

On this week's episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Israeli journalist and Fauda co-creator Avi Issacharoff to discuss his new upcoming show, "Ghosts of Beirut," about Hezbollah arch-terrorist Imad Mugniyeh and the decades-long hunt by the CIA and Mossad to kill him. They also discuss current events, including this week's one-day escalation between Israel and Gaza and the ongoing protest movement in Israel against the Netanyahu government. 

Learn about our Charles Bronfman IPF Atid Conveners Program and apply here. 

On this week's episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow and Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Director of Policy Research Shira Efron to reflect on Israel's 75th Independence Day. They discuss the recent anti-government protests at Diaspora Jewish conferences being held in Israel, the possible fate of the judicial overhaul, and recent changes in Middle East geopolitics, and take stock as the Jewish state celebrates its diamond jubilee.

Watch and share: Secure, Jewish, and Democratic. Today and tomorrow. (VIDEO)

Haaretz Military Correspondent Amos Harel joins Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber to break down all the major security events of this tumultuous holiday period, including the recent multi-front escalation in Jerusalem, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank; the chances for a real war breaking out soon; the IDF's relationship to the ongoing protest movement; the un-firing of Defense Minister Yoav Galant; and a looming crisis over the conscription of the ultra-Orthodox into the army.

Explore more of our work: 

• Judicial Legislation Tracker 
• West Bank Settlements Explained
• Understanding Critical Issues (short explainers)
• 50 Steps Before the Deal
  
  

After three months of mass demonstrations against his plan to undermine Israel's judicial system—and after an outpouring of anger in the wake of the firing of Defense Minister Yoav Galant—Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finally relented and said he was suspending the legislative blitz until after Passover. To discuss the significance of this dramatic development, IPF Atid Director Shanie Reichman turns the tables on regular host Neri Zilber (Israel Policy Forum policy advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist) to glean insight into the success of the protest movement, what really changed Netanyahu's calculus, and what may come next. 

Explore more of our work: 

• Video Briefing: No Security Without Democracy
• Judicial Legislation Tracker 
• West Bank Settlements Explained
• Understanding Critical Issues (short explainers)
• 50 Steps Before the Deal

On this week's episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow and Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Director of Policy Research Shira Efron for a wide-ranging conversation about the escalating crisis in Israel over the government's judicial overhaul plans, growing concerns in Washington and the American Jewish community, Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy (and violence) on the eve of the sensitive holiday period, and Middle East security affairs including a surprise deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Explore more of our work: 

• Judicial Legislation Tracker 
• West Bank Settlements Explained
• Video Briefing: No Security Without Democracy
• Understanding Critical Issues (short explainers)
• More Resources on the Israeli Government's Judicial Reform
• 50 Steps Before the Deal
  
  

Amir Mizroch, tech journalist and consultant, joins Neri Zilber, policy advisor at Israel Policy Forum and Tel Aviv-based journalist, to discuss the Israeli tech sector's role in the protest movement against the Netanyahu government's judicial overhaul. Amir also provides an overview of the origins of Israel as the "start-up nation," the tech sector’s concerns if the judicial plans go through, and the impact on the industry so far after two months of upheaval. 

Amid escalating violence in the West Bank between Israelis and Palestinians, Nimrod Novik (Israel Fellow, Israel Policy Forum) and Ibrahim Eid Dalalsha (Director, Horizon Center for Political Studies and Media Outreach) join host Neri Zilber (Policy Advisor, Israel Policy Forum and Tel Aviv-based journalist) to assess the deadly events of the past week and the chances for de-escalation on both sides. They spoke about the recent violence in the town of Huwara, the security policies of the Israeli government and Palestinian Authority, the Aqaba diplomatic summit, and how we'll know if a new intifada is upon us.

Explore more of our work: 

• Judicial Legislation Tracker 
• More Resources on the Israeli Government's Judicial Reform
• 50 Steps Before the Deal
• Understanding Critical Issues (short explainers)
• Israel Policy Video Briefings
  
  

As the judicial and constitutional crisis in Israel deepens, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Tal Schneider, chief political correspondent for the Times of Israel, to analyze the politics of the current moment. They discuss the first judicial overhaul bills passed in preliminary and first readings in the Knesset this week, the prospects for a negotiated compromise, what Benjamin Netanyahu ultimately wants, whether he even still has control over his coalition, and the current state of both the opposition and the widespread anti-government protest movement.

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