What is “strategic drift” and why does it threaten Israel’s military progress in Gaza? 

How dismantled is Hamas? How can Israel’s borders be secured so that the people of Sderot, Ofakim and the kibbutzim return home? 

Is Israel going to have to build a wall?  

In the north, the IDF is capitalising on some remarkable early breakthroughs in the battle to break Hezbollah. What now? 

As Yoav Gallant is sacked by Benjamin Netanyahu - again, is that a signal of military progress?

And the return of President Trump to the Oval Office: what that will mean to Israel’s fight against Iran and its proxies. 

These are all questions for my friend, Andrew Fox.

Research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, Andrew served in the British Army for sixteen years, retiring as a Major in 2021 

As a senior lecturer in War Studies and Behavioural Science at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, He holds degrees in Law & Politics, Modern War Studies, and Psychology. 

It’s always good to speak to Andrew Fox.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State couldn't do it without the support of Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy.

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"An urgent ceasefire, get humanitarian aid in without further delay, release the hostages. Oh, and let's move towards a Two-State Solution". 

When we switch on the news, that's the agenda-setting drumbeat from politicians, aided and abetted by international institutions and their media lackies.

The unrepentant, unaccountable BBC and others don't care about the mess they leave.

Welcome back for the third time to Jonny Gould's Jewish State, Imshin, Jacqui Peleg.

Her sources are impeccable, transparent and open source and they tell the REAL story in Gaza.

Because they come from videos uploaded to social media by Gazans themselves. This is how they want us to see and hear them.

They’re all available now on her X account, Imshin.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is supported by Dangoor Education.

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Israel is fighting an existential war on seven fronts but an eighth one always seems to be discounted from the reckoning. 

It’s the battle of narratives, played through media, both legacy and social.

Somewhere since October 7th 2023, the truth has been trampled down a long deep rabbit hole. 

What you’re about to listen to is totally irreconcilable with the shorthand, throwaway phrases you get from mainstream bulletins. 

Mosab Hassan Yousef, born in 1978 is a child of the Israel Gaza conflict. 

He’s "The Green Prince," son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, co-founder of Hamas. 

Raised in a family deeply entangled with Hamas, Mosab seemed destined for a life of terrorism.

But he defected to Israel in 1997 and worked as a spy for Shin Bet, Israel's internal security service for a decade until he moved to the United States. 

He helped them prevent numerous suicide bombings and other terror attacks leading to the capture of several Hamas operatives. 

His autobiography, "Son of Hamas," details his life, his disillusionment with Hamas and his espionage. He converted to Christianity too, distancing himself from his roots still further - adding a layer to his own transformation.

Not enough delegates turned up to the European Parliament in Brussels to listen to him and he declares his disappointment at the start of this speech - so let's gets his stark message out still further.

Share this episode to your friends.

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This is a rather different and special episode of Jonny Gould’s Jewish State. It's year 2 of our “Schools Podcaster of the Year” award, presented this year by Dangoor Education. 

It stars our winner, 11-year-old David Green from Year 6 at North West London Jewish Day School, who won the chance to make this episode with me. 

David has the open mind of a young man blessed with great intelligence and the capacity for profound uncluttered insights. 

And he secured time for us with Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum, a man of great learning. His latest book is "Questioning Belief: Torah and Tradition in an Age of Doubt”, reconciling Judaism with modernity, addressing profound questions that intersect faith, science, and contemporary life.

He’s Dean of the London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS) and holds the Rabbi Sacks Chair of Modern Jewish Thought, named in honour of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks of blessed memory, our late Chief Rabbi’s' legacy in contemporary Jewish philosophy and education.

With the Dangoor Education “Schools Podcaster of the Year”, I'm encouraging the next generation to think seriously about journalism and storytelling - not just to take in the TikTokers and YouTubers.

And the word is spreading, a second school is joining the title chase.

So if you’d like yours to have a separate competition, have a word with your head and put them in touch with me.

Here is Rabbi Zarum with competition winner, David Green.

The podcast series is supported by UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy

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“After The Pogrom” - what now for Israel and the Jewish diaspora? And for western civilisation for that matter? 

The swirling dust of conflict has brought with it significant changes to our world and yet amid Israel’s fight on seven fronts, Brendan O’Neill’s coherent methodic analysis explains what we’re witness to. 

Brendan’s not on X, you’ll only find “burntoakboy” as he’s known on Instagram “because the rest of social media is far too rough and ugly” for him.

And it’s where since October 7th 2023, he’s been ever present with stout, sometimes uncensored defences of the State of Israel.

You’ve seen him writing for Spiked Online and on TV and radio. 

But he’s no Johnny Come Lately: he’s not jumped on the Israel bandwagon.

In our first interview here on Jonny Gould’s Jewish state in 2020, Brendan compared the Jewish and non-Jewish people’s takeaways from the Second World War. 

While Europeans declared that to end all wars, we needed “happy clappy borders”, Jews on the other hand recognised that secure borders were absolutely essential to our survival. 

How right he’s proved to be. Scroll back to episode 51 for a gripping interview during the Brexit and Covid years.

But right now, recorded on this most poignant date in our recent history, it’s always a pleasure to spend time with Brendan O’Neill. Buy “After The Pogrom” here.

And you can help support Jonny's efforts by following this link.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy.

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Amid the IDF's push into Lebanon to eliminate Hezbollah, the thwarting of terror attacks on Israel’s streets and the hail of rockets fired into them, we must always, always keep in our minds the plight of our hostages incarcerated by the savages of Hamas and their accomplices in Gaza. 

For it was on that fateful Shabbat and Simchat Torah morning of October 7th 2023, that the lives of Israeli and Jewish people around the world changed forever. 

Free the hostages. Bring them home now.

Let’s go back to where it all started. 

As chaos broke out all around her, our guest today relives the moments of sheer terror that morning, but her words are laced with a message of future hope and delivered with tremendous dignity.

This is Irit Lahav, survivor of the Kibbutz Nir Oz disaster as she revealed how she survived, while her dearest friends were murdered or taken hostage around her. Also, when and why she wants to go home and why it’s so important for the country as a whole that she does.

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Here’s a voice from the American right, steeped in generations of support for Israel and so recognisable through the decades.

But times, they are a changing, even for this staunch supporter of the Jewish State. 

Joe Walsh remains so, amid the swirling winds of university protests for Hamas and rallies in major cities right across America. 

But even as a former Congressman, a lifelong Republican, he strenuously opposes Donald Trump so much, he’d prefer Kamala Harris to win the White House - whatever their differences, and take it from there. 

Elected as part of the Tea Party wave in 2010, Joe freely admits he was a "divisive political asshole from the right!", Joe served Illinois's 8th district, for two years until 2013. 

His rhetoric and demeanour has cooled since those days.

Now he says he’s politically homeless and says America is ready for more than a two party system. 

Joe ran for the presidency in 2020 challenging President Trump for the Republican nomination, positioning himself as a critic of Trump’s leadership, focusing on what he saw as his undermining of American democracy.

In a two party system, Joe knew he was a long-shot, his aim was more to critique Trump than to win the nomination.

Listen to how Trump’s MAGA message differs so fundamentally from the Tea Party movement he was part of and what he’d do in the Oval Office if he was in charge of dealing with Israel.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy.

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Even as aerial assaults continued over Lebanon’s capital city Beirut, rumoured to be targeting Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave an impassioned speech to the UN General Assembly in New York.

Here’s the full speech on this bonus episode.

In his address to the 79th session of the General Assembly, Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized several critical issues:

Iran and Regional Security: Netanyahu positioned Israel's actions within a broader context of combating what he described as Iran's "axis of evil," highlighting ongoing conflicts and the threat this poses to Israel and regional stability.

Gaza Conflict: With the Gaza situation nearing its one-year mark, Netanyahu likely addressed the military operations, defending Israel's actions while possibly facing international scrutiny over civilian casualties and humanitarian concerns.

Lebanon and Hezbollah: Amidst concerns of escalating conflict, Netanyahu's comments on returning northern residents home suggest a focus on ensuring security while potentially signaling intentions for de-escalation or at least a strategic pause in hostilities.

Global Perspective: His speech might have touched on the broader implications of AI and technological advancements, reflecting on both opportunities and perils, though this would be more speculative based on past themes rather than confirmed content.

International Relations: Given the backdrop of his controversial visit to the US earlier in the year and international reactions, Netanyahu might have defended Israel's policies, while also navigating the complex web of international diplomacy amidst calls for peace and criticism over his handling of conflicts.

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How should Israel tackle Hezbollah and its estimated 150,000 rockets all pointed at them? 

Is pushing the Lebanon’s terror insurgency back behind the Litani River enough? 

In this era of long range technology, isn’t a river just an arbitrary line? The terrorists can still reach Israel from there. 

Hezbollah is a battalion of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Wouldn’t it be best if they were removed completely? 

Let’s talk about the sheer audaciousness of the pager and walkie talkie attack against them, the psychological effect of it and the downgrade in their military capabilities.

Then there’s Yemen, is America doing enough to quell their threat? 

And boots on the ground in Syria: Israel is showing it can defend itself - even thousands of miles into enemy territory.

And is Iran, the country hiding behind its deathly proxies only a "paper tiger" after all?

Benjamin Anthony served in the Israel Defense Forces in the second Lebanon War during the summer of 2006, 

Like now it was a war started by Hezbollah's attack on Israeli forces: they captured two soldiers and killed eight others. israel declared war.

Benjamin’s experiences and insights from then have influenced his later life.

He’s also a veteran of Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012 and Operation Protective Edge in 2014.

He’s now the CEO and cofounder with Rozita Pnini of the Miryam Institute, debating Israel’s future, engaging with international policy-makers. 

He also hosts a weekly podcast, the Benjamin Anthony Show, where alongside Miryam Institute’s in-house analyst Yaakov Lappin they consider in detail the very latest military and diplomatic issues facing Israel. It’s available on this very platform where you're listening to my show now.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is proudly supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy.

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I’ve known Israel’s Trade and Innovation Special Envoy, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum for so long. which is why it was a pleasure that she had time to stop by and join me for a chat and a phone-in on my early breakfast show on Talk. 

Having moved on from being Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, Fleur now beats the drum for Israel’s famed enterprise as the Startup Nation, but how has the economy adjusted to wartime? Can growth and inward investment be restored?

And as Israel faces new military challenges, necessity is proved again to be the mother of invention. There are always secondary uses for technology in civilian life. Are new patents and processes in the offing? 

We discuss UK Labour's Foreign Secretary David Lammy and his restoration of funding for UNRWA - then following it up with an arms embargo. My viewers didn’t like it.

Also: the threat from the north: Hezbollah - and Israel's displaced population and when they can go home.

The war is far from over. 

And the hostages: Bring them home now!

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They told Tuvia Tenenbom, don’t go to Mea Shearim, Jerusalem’s ultra orthodox enclave, it’ll be dangerous, they’ll throw stones at you. 

But after living among Israel’s Charedi communities in Jerusalem and Beer Sheva, Tuvia found the community to be quite the contrary. 

And, he believes they’re more liberal and progressive than the world beyond. 

This is the story behind Careful, Beauties Ahead! Tuvia’s follow up book to the Taming of the Jew, eyeopening revelations on antisemitism is in Great Britain.

Now Tuvia, son and grandson of ultraorthdox rabbis returns to the communities of his upbringing and childhood in Israel. Have attitudes and practices changed in the years since he left? 

We talk about new pressures on the ultrareligious to join the IDF for the first time - and we unpack what Zionism means to them. 

And did the disaster of October 7th prove a truly unifying experience? Was it the realisation that finally, finally we are all the same? 

Using his fluent Yiddish, Tuvia gained trust to produce this one-off guide to a world he calls “of wisdom, humour and contradictions”. 

So poised with a packet of slims, Tuvia lights up ready for our interview. Enjoy this unique selection of stories from Israel.

Jonny Gould's Jewish State is supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy.

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