Israel Policy Pod

On this week's episode, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israeli 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 this week's tragic earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, the recent escalation in Jerusalem and the West Bank, the Netanyahu government’s security policy thus far, U.S. efforts to de-escalate tensions, and of course the ongoing efforts by the Israeli government to reform/overhaul/destroy the country's judicial system.

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**Note: This episode was recorded before the events of January 26 in the Jenin refugee camp.

Haaretz Military Correspondent Amos Harel joins Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber for a wide-ranging conversation on Israeli security policy under the new Netanyahu government. They assess the blurred lines of control between several ministers in the West Bank, the IDF under new Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, prospects for escalation in the Palestinian arena, U.S.-Israel defense ties, Israel's Ukraine policy, and more.

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With the new Israeli government barely two weeks old, a major crisis is looming over its intention to completely overhaul the country's judicial and legal system. Dan Meridor, a former Likud justice minister and deputy prime minister, joins Neri Zilber (Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum policy advisor) to discuss the fateful consequences of these plans for Israeli democracy, what happened to the old Likud party, recollections of his time working closely with Benjamin Netanyahu, and the evolution of his thinking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and two-state outcome. 

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Most years in Israel are described as "historic," but for 2022 it happens to be very true. The year began with Benjamin Netanyahu in the opposition and considering a plea deal in his corruption trial, and is now ending with Netanyahu marking a dramatic return to power at the head of a far-right government. Between these two events, we witnessed the demise of the Bennett-Lapid government, renewed violence and instability in (and from) the West Bank, a U.S. presidential visit, yet another election, and much more. To recap this eventful year and present the second annual Israel Policy Pod End-of-Year Awards, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow and Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Director of Policy Research Shira Efron to make their prestigious selections and offer predictions for the year ahead.

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It’s a challenging moment for the Palestinian Authority. INSS researcher and Israeli-Palestinian Research Program Coordinator Noa Shusterman joins IPF Atid Director Shanie Reichman to assess several worrying trends in the West Bank that have weakened the PA, including the rise of new Palestinian militant groups and IDF incursions into Area A. Looking forward, they also discuss the Israeli security establishment’s assessment of these trends and consider scenarios for the day after Abu Mazen.

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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, for a deep dive into the incoming Israeli government's intentions to "reform" the country's judicial and legal system. They discuss the plan to pass an override clause for Supreme Court decisions, the role of the attorney general, efforts to stop Netanyahu's corruption trial, and what it all could mean for the future of Israeli democracy itself. 

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In the wake of the recent Israeli election, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Amir Tibon, a senior editor and writer at Haaretz, to assess the fallout and analyze the implications of Benjamin Netanyahu's dramatic comeback, likely at the head of a far-right governing coalition. They discuss the future of the Israeli left, the reasons for the far-right's ascendance, the ongoing coalition talks between Netanyahu and his right-wing allies, and what such a government would mean for U.S.-Israel relations.

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As Israelis go to the polls once again on November 1, Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber hosts Tal Schneider, chief political correspondent for The Times of Israel, to preview what might happen. They discuss the campaign run by Prime Minister Yair Lapid, the difficulties for the rest of the anti-Netanyahu camp, the prospects for Benjamin Netanyahu to get out the Likud vote, and the rise of Itamar Ben Gvir and the far right—and what it could mean for Israeli democracy.

Register to attend our post-Israeli election day video briefing with Michael Koplow, Shira Efron, and Neri Zilber on November 7 via Zoom here: ipf.li/electionbriefing

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Mohammad Darawshe, an expert on Arab-Jewish relations in Israel, joins host Neri Zilber for a deep dive into the current state of Arab-Israeli politics ahead of the November 1 Israeli election. They discuss reasons behind the expected low turnout in Arab society, the divisions amongst Arab political parties, how Mansour Abbas is viewed after his historic move to join a governing coalition, and why Arab-Israelis likely hold the key to whether Benjamin Netanyahu returns to power or Yair Lapid continues as prime minister. 

Register to attend our post-Israeli election day video briefing with Michael Koplow, Shira Efron, and Neri Zilber on November 7 via Zoom here: ipf.li/electionbriefing

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The West Bank is facing an uptick in violence, with clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants becoming increasingly commonplace in major Palestinian cities. To assess this period of unrest, Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber hosts Shira Efron (Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Director of Policy Research, Israel Policy Forum) and Dan Rothem (Senior Policy Advisor, Herbert Kelman Institute for Conflict Transformation) for a discussion on Israel’s current policy toward the Palestinian Authority, the potential for further instability during the upcoming Jewish holidays, and what the U.S. and the international community can do to prevent the situation from further deteriorating.

Note: This episode was recorded on Monday, September 19, before the suspected terror attack on Tuesday in Holon that claimed the life of an elderly Israeli woman.

To further unpack the state of the security situation in the West Bank, join us on Thursday, September 22 at 1pm ET for a video briefing with Ibrahim Eid Dalalsha (Director, Horizon Center for Political Studies and Media Outreach) and Amos Harel (Military Correspondent, Haaretz), moderated by Shira Efron (Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Director of Policy Research, Israel Policy Forum). Register here.

If you rely on Israel Policy Forum for credible, information and thoughtful analysis, please make a gift today to ensure that Israel Policy Forum’s work continues to have an impact. Donate now at israelpolicyforum.org/support. 

Dr. Gilad Malach of the Israel Democracy Institute joins Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber to analyze the important but poorly understood world of Israel's ultra-Orthodox ("Haredi") community. They discuss the rapidly growing ultra-Orthodox population, their complex relationship with education, employment, and military service, the reasons behind their long-standing political covenant with Bibi Netanyahu, and the chances of this alliance enduring past the upcoming election. 

Dr. Naysan Rafati, Iran analyst at the International Crisis Group, joins Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Pod host Neri Zilber for a deep dive into the negotiations over a renewed Iran nuclear agreement. They discuss the history of the original deal signed under President Barack Obama, the U.S. withdrawal under President Donald Trump, and the prospects and challenges of President Joe Biden's efforts to negotiate a new deal given the sharp criticism from the Israeli government and Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program.

Walla News Chief Political Correspondent Tal Shalev joins Tel Aviv-based journalist and Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor Neri Zilber to assess the state of play of the upcoming Israeli election, the polarizing issues determining voting patterns, and the political performances of Israel’s most recent prime ministers: Yair Lapid, Naftali Bennett, Benjamin Netanyahu, and one almost (and possibly future) prime minister, Benny Gantz.

Haaretz Military Correspondent Amos Harel 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 Breaking Dawn. They assess the impact of the operation on Israel’s relations with Gaza and Hamas, PIJ’s military capabilities compared to other terrorist organizations, PM Lapid’s handling of the escalation, and more.

Read our overview of Operation Breaking Dawn here.

In this episode, Ksenia Svetlova, Director of the Israel-Middle East Program at Mitvim and an expert on Russia and Ukraine, joins Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber for a deep dive into the current state of the Ukraine conflict, growing tensions between Moscow and Jerusalem, what Russia and Iran may want from each other, how the war looks from Israel, and more.

In this episode, Ehud Yaari, longtime Middle East commentator for Israel’s Channel 12 and international fellow of The Washington Institute, joins Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber for a wide-ranging conversation assessing President Biden's visit to the Middle East: the prospects for Saudi normalization with Israel, the budding regional defense architecture, growing Iran-Russia military ties, the Palestinians’ diplomatic standing, West Bank stability after Mahmoud Abbas, and more.

Click here to receive updates featuring our content and analysis on the Israel-Palestinian conflict, U.S.-Israel relations, Israeli politics, Israeli-Arab regional integration, and the future of the two-state solution. 

With President Biden set to travel to Israel, the West Bank, and Saudi Arabia next week, Ambassador Martin Indyk (Israel Policy Forum Board Member and former U.S. Ambassador to Israel) joins Neri Zilber on Israel Policy Pod. Recalling previous presidential visits to Israel, they discuss Biden’s upcoming trip and its implications for U.S.-Israel relations, the two-state solution, and regional developments. They also discuss Amb. Indyk’s recent book, Master of the Game: Henry Kissinger and the Art of Middle East Diplomacy. 

Note: This episode is the audio recording from a special Israel Policy Forum video briefing held on Wednesday, June 22. 

With the passage of a preliminary vote in the Knesset today, the Bennett-Lapid coalition has begun the process of dissolving the Knesset and sending Israel back to elections. This marks the end of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid's yearlong historic political experiment that united eight parties from across the political spectrum. As soon as next week, Lapid will rotate in as acting prime minister, a position he will hold until a new government is formed.

In this Israel Policy Briefing, Amir Tibon (Journalist, Haaretz) and Michael Koplow (Chief Policy Officer, Israel Policy Forum) discuss the impending end of the Bennett-Lapid government and what to expect in the coming months as Israel prepares for its fifth elections in four years.

Amid strained U.S.-Palestinian relations and political uncertainty in Israel, President Biden is set to visit Israel and the West Bank next month. Nimrod Novik (Israel Fellow, Israel Policy Forum and former Israeli diplomat) 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) for a discussion on expectations for Biden’s visit, why the PA’s relations with the U.S. and Israel have reached a low point, what happened to Prime Minister Bennett’s mantra of “shrinking the conflict,” and what is in store for the PA after Mahmoud Abbas exits the stage.

Diane and Guilford Glazer Family Foundation Director of Policy Research Shira Efron and Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow join host Tel Aviv-based journalist and Policy Advisor Neri Zilber for a conversation on the state of U.S.-Israel relations amid the reported downgrading of the U.S. Security Coordinator in Jerusalem and the death of Shireen Abu Akleh. They also unpack the significant challenges facing the Bennett-Lapid coalition after it failed to pass the law extending Israeli civil and criminal law to West Bank settlers.