🇮🇱 Israel Episodes

Greenland is indeed the largest island in the world, but only about 57,000 people live there, and life there is quite quiet. But in recent weeks, it has become a focal point around which there is fear of a world war, the dissolution of NATO, and an economic collapse of Europe - all because President Donald Trump really wants it to belong to the United States. So this time, we are in conversation with foreign news editor Arad Nir, who will tell us about the battle for Greenland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brigadier General Gil Pinchas, the Financial Advisor to the Chief of Staff, is the man who translates tanks, reserve duty days, and interceptors into money. About two weeks ago he finished his role, and in a special interview he tells how the defense budget is managed during two years of war, whether money is even a factor for decision-makers, why he doesn't think there will be a lost economic decade here — and also: how much it really costs to recruit Haredim. Presenters: Tzali Avraham and Liel Keizer; Editor: Lihy Tzadok; Producer: Adi Efrat; Sound Editor: Tal Vanig; Photo: Elad Malka, Ministry of Defense See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The complex operation to retrieve the body of the last hostage, Ran Gvili z"l, concluded this week with the singing of Hatikvah. His family received the opportunity to say goodbye, and in Hostages Square, the clock that counted the days, hours, and seconds since October 7th, since Rani and the others were abducted, was disconnected. This is the first time since 2014 that there is no Israeli hostage in Gaza, marking the end of a painful and sad chapter. But this is also the beginning of a new phase - Phase B. The beginning of a Gaza that is supposed to be different, of a different Hamas, and naturally, also of a different Israel. This time we are with Major 'Ayin', who participated in the operation to retrieve Ran Gvili z"l, and with our correspondent Ohad Hemo - discussing the long and complex operation, and what is expected to happen now with the entry into Phase B. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In recent days, the Kurds in Syria have suffered a terrible, barbaric, cruel attack. This is an attack led by Syria's new ruler Al-Julani, but if you ask the Kurds - he is not alone. And currently at least, it seems that the biggest victim of this attack is the dream of the Kurds in Syria for a state of their own, the dream of Kurdistan. This time we are with Itai Anghel, and with the impossible choice facing the Kurds in Syria today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of federal ICE agents in the US raided Minneapolis in a widespread operation against undocumented immigrants. During which, hundreds of people were arrested in the streets and two were shot dead. This time, with the help of Prof. Yael Sternhell, Head of the American Studies Program at Tel Aviv University, we will talk about what is happening in Minnesota, but mainly - about how the immigration policy of the United States has changed and how it hasn't really changed: the country built by immigrants. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, two infants died in an unsupervised daycare in Jerusalem – a terrible tragedy that points to a much wider phenomenon: over 100,000 toddlers are daily in frameworks with almost no supervision, with standards that vary from place to place and sometimes in dangerous conditions. So this time we will try to understand why there are so many unsupervised daycares in Israel, who is supposed to take responsibility for it, and what needs to change so that the next disaster is not just a matter of time. Guests: Avia Prince Dinovitch, a mother of three from Jerusalem, and Tali Nir, CEO of Association 121 and leader of the "In Good Hands: Headquarters for Early Childhood Investment" partnership. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, a bill aimed at banning conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ minors failed in the Knesset - a practice that seeks to "correct" sexual orientations and turn LGBTQ+ individuals straight. Orthodox Rabbi Rafael Yehonatan Polisook knows the practice well. Even in his youth, he was aware of his sexual orientation, but above all, he wanted to study Torah, become a community rabbi, and make an impact. As the years passed, he learned that he could not live both worlds together, and sought therapy hoping it would help him change his orientation. This began a painful journey for him that led him to the depths of self-hatred and depression - and ultimately, to acceptance. This time, Rabbi Rafael tells his story not only as a former patient, but also as someone who now advises and accompanies others who have undergone conversion therapy themselves.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An entire building for rent, with a superintendent who handles every malfunction and a shared laundry room - this is a common rental model in the USA, but almost non-existent in Israel. How did it happen that only one project in Haifa operates this way, why the state failed to develop an institutional rental market, and what is the chance that one building will change the entire Israeli rental market? Presenters: Shaul Amsterdamski and Tzlil Avraham; Editor: Lihie Zadok; Producer: Adi Efrat; Sound Editor: Tal Wanig; Photo: Golden Art See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, Prime Minister Netanyahu was interviewed by the British magazine "The Economist." The conversation touched on many topics: Gaza, Iran, and Israel's standing in the world. But the main headline was actually related to the relationship between Israel and the United States. Because during the conversation, Netanyahu said that he intends to completely end Israel's dependence on American security aid within a decade – a statement that constitutes a very dramatic change in Israeli policy. But this story, it turns out, is not really about what Netanyahu wants to say and about Israel's intentions, but rather about what the United States wants to hear. So this time, with the help of Prof. Eitan Gilboa, an expert on US-Israel relations at Bar-Ilan and Reichman Universities, we will talk about the past and future of security aid from the United States to Israel.

Last October, after two years of fighting in Gaza, US President Donald Trump announced the signing of a ceasefire agreement. The 20-point plan that Israel signed then was in fact just the beginning. And after two years during which Israel refrained from deciding for itself what would happen in the Gaza Strip, this plan is beginning to take shape - without us. This time we are with our envoy to Washington, Barak Ravid, discussing who will govern Gaza the day after. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are approaching the elections, and in the opposition, there is one thing almost everyone agrees on: they do not want to see Netanyahu return to the Prime Minister's Office. But is that enough to win the elections? This time, with the help of our Knesset reporter, Dafna Liel, we will delve into the challenges and dilemmas of the opposition leaders, what party mergers are on the table, who is the candidate everyone wants to unite with, and have they learned anything from the failure of the last elections?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Less than three weeks into the new year and there are already eighteen murder victims in the Arab community. When reviewing the lists, when speaking with the police, it's understood that many of the victims are what are called people who "were not the target." They weren't sought, but they were there: in the wrong place at the wrong time. Like Khaled, Duaa Gadir's uncle, and Nabil, Dr. Ashraf Safia's son. This time we are with them, and with the loss behind the numbers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, insists on accusing and claiming that the popular Iranian protest is actually an initiative - a campaign by the US to overthrow the regime. And Trump, for his part, has been spreading threats and hints of action for days. This time, we will speak with Professor Danny Orbach, a military historian from the Departments of History and Asian Studies at the Hebrew University. We will talk about what happened, in the days when the US truly initiated and engineered a popular revolution in Iran, and truly acted to overthrow the regime there, and also succeeded - but only partially. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You might have missed it, but just recently the Afropim doctrine was narrowed. It's a doctrine that, when taught in a contract law class during a law degree, suddenly brings the classroom to life. This time, we're joined by Law Professor Yuval Procaccia, an expert in contract law and the economic analysis of law from Bar-Ilan University, to understand how and why a doctrine concerning how the court can interpret a contract has sparked controversy from the 90s until today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2018, we aired an episode about Iran – the country where they hate the U.S. but pay for everything in dollars. We tried to understand if the economy would be what would lead the citizens to the streets. Since then, much water has flowed under the bridge, and the streets of Iran are burning again. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Conscription Exemption Law or the Conscription Law (depending on who you ask), is a law that both those who serve oppose and the Haredim protest against. It's a law that one side says is a bluff and biased in favor of the Haredim, while at the same time, the Haredim who take to the streets say it is much more extreme than what they are willing to accept. But to truly understand where this law stands right now, to understand the Haredi complexity surrounding it, one should not look at the demonstrations and the tens of thousands in the streets, specifically, but in one room, with a very small group of people in whose hands lies the fate of the conscription exemption outline. So this time, Yair Sharki will tell us about the summit of Agudat Yisrael's Rebbes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Which episode won the title of most popular episode of the year, will Doron be replaced by AI, and how does that Slavic proverb goWe hope you enjoyed it, and if so, don't forget to rate and follow the podcast.Don't forget to join our valuable newsletter by clicking here.  💌And to watch episodes, subscribe to our YouTube channel by clicking here.   🤩For the Instagram page click hereFor the Facebook page click hereFor the Twitter page click hereFor the TikTok page click here

While tens of thousands in Iran risk their lives and for two weeks have been taking to the streets to protest against the regime, Iranian exiles all over the world join them and demonstrate for them. They want peace, they want a new future in Iran and international support. But more than anything - some of them very much want to return home. Dr. Arash Azizi is a historian, lecturer at Yale, writer for The Atlantic, and an Iranian exile, who left his homeland in 2008. Like many Iranians in the diaspora, he maintains continuous contact with family and friends in Iran - and lives it even from afar. This time, Dr. Azizi tells about the frightening and exciting period, full of fears and hope. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In recent weeks, a protest by residents in Shoham has been escalating over something a bit unusual - a stench. But this is not about an ordinary stench, but a stench accompanied by severe air pollution. This pollution comes from fires at illegal waste dumping sites beyond the Green Line, a problem that has been occurring for years and which the state has failed to address. So this time we are speaking with our reporter Gilad Shalmor and with Yaniv Bleicher, CEO of "Citizens for Clean Air," who will tell us about the stench that is choking Shoham.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, dairy farmers protested against the milk reform that the Ministry of Finance has been pushing for years, and which Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich decided to adopt and implement. This is a reform aimed at changing Israel's dairy market, opening it up to competition, and lowering prices - but along the way, it could also lead to the closure of hundreds of dairy farms. So this time, our reporter Yuval Sadeh and Prof. Eyal Kimhi, an expert in agricultural economics from the Hebrew University and president of the Shoresh Institution for Socioeconomic Research - will tell us what's behind the controversial reform shaking up the Israeli dairy industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.