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Israel at War – Hostage Nation Nov 27, 2023

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By the third day of the ceasefire, Hamas had released 58 hostages, 40 of them Israeli, in exchange for 78 Palestinian prisoners. While Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi celebrate the captives’ return to their families, they take note of the ways that this hostage situation is different from any the nation has faced in its history. They also consider how this moment challenges the Zionist ethos and explore the dilemmas the country will face as this 4-day truce agreement reaches an end. Will Israel risk the chance to redeem the rest of its captives safely if it returns to fighting against Hamas?

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Israel at War – Burying Soldiers, Freeing Hostages Nov 23, 2023

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What does it mean to have resilience in the face of tremendous loss?

In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss how soldiers are processing their trauma from combat in Gaza and bear witness to Israel’s staggering civilian presence at the funerals of fallen soldiers. They explore the imminent ceasefire, hostage and prisoner exchange, and the ramifications of this deal on Israel’s security and the nation’s psyche.

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Israel at War – The Mood Nov 20, 2023

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What does Gaza look like after this war is over? A recent poll showed thirty percent of Israelis favoring a renewal of Jewish settlements in the Gaza strip. While considering the popularity of this sentiment surprising and troubling, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss why some Israelis have developed this view. They ask: what it will take for Israelis to feel safe living alongside a Palestinian state after the devastation and violation of October 7?

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Israel at War – Shifa Nov 16, 2023

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As the IDF takes control of Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital, the controversy around this hospital serves as a paradigm for the conflicting views about the broader war. For many Jews, Israelis, and allies of Israel, Shifa represents the evil nature of our enemy; for critics, the operation at Shifa reflects everything that is wrong with Israel. Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the struggles, risks, and consequences of adhering to moral principles while fighting against an immoral enemy.

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Israel at War – A State of All Its Citizens Nov 13, 2023

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As the Israel-Hamas war continues into its sixth week, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss how Israel’s Arab-Palestinian minority have become scrutinized and even punished for mourning their kin in Gaza and how Jewish Israelis might have sympathy for the complicated dual loyalty their fellow citizens need to hold.

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Israel at War – The Morning After Nov 09, 2023

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As the Israeli military response to Hamas continues to escalate, Israelis have struggled to envision how Israel will rebuild and heal once the war is over and consider what an end to Hamas would mean for Palestinians.Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi begin this important work by imagining what the dawning of a new day will look like for the future of Israel and Gaza.

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Israel at War – "From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free" Nov 06, 2023

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“From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free” can be heard at many Palestinian solidarity demonstrations today, and while it seems at face value to be a rallying cry for justice, its connotation is uncompromisingly hostile to the existence of Israel and to Jewish sovereignty in the region. Why, then, do activists abroad, including some Jews, chant it in protest of Israel’s current actions in Gaza?

In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi reflect on the meaning of this slogan and how the October 7 massacre sheds a sobering light on its implications. They ask if they, as Israelis, can listen to this hateful rhetoric from critics and consider an almost impossible question – what can we learn from it?

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Israel at War — The Sword of Damocles Nov 02, 2023

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As Israel’s war with Hamas rages on, and the anxiety in Israel continues to grow, the Sword of Damocles hangs over the head of every Israeli. Each day brings the threat of losing another friend, relative, or community member to the violence. Israelis are struggling to reconcile divergent goals: the desire to eliminate Hamas versus a need to safely return the hostages to their families and keep our soldiers safe. In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the impact of this ever-present dread and the ways we steel ourselves for, and deal with, the massive onslaught of grief we are experiencing, which will only continue to increase.

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Israel at War — Our Leadership Void Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

In the middle of the night on Saturday, Benjamin Netanyahu posted a tweet blaming the heads of Israel’s military intelligence and Shin Bet security service for failing to anticipate the October 7th attack by Hamas. Though he later apologized, the post reflected the Prime Minister’s continued avoidance of taking responsibility, prioritizing his own political advancement over the needs of the people.

In this episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss Prime Minister Netanyahu’s leadership failure, the role of criticizing one’s society and leadership even during a moment of crisis, why leaders must take responsibility for what they didn’t prevent, and the power of Israeli civil society taking up the slack in this leadership vacuum.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Eglah Arufah (ritual for an unsolved murder): Deuteronomy 21:1-4.
Reference to this ritual in the Kahan Report, 1985.

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Israel at War — There is No Justification. But..? Oct 26, 2023

Show notes

On October 24th, United Nations Secretary-General Guterres delivered remarks on the war between Israel and Hamas. While he condemned the terror attacks, demanded immediate release of all hostages, and called for a ceasefire, he also contextualized the war within the broader history of the occupation and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This prompted Israel’s ambassador to call on Guterres to resign and signaled to many the all-too-familiar waning embrace of global support for Israel. Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss the nuances of context and justification, morality and war, and how language can engage or isolate allies.

Why Is Israel Being Blamed for the Hamas Massacre? By Yossi Klein Halevi

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