Episodes
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Over the past week, we have seen headline after headline, indicating that Israel and Hamas appear to be closer than ever to a ceasefire and hostage deal.
According to reports, the agreement would take place in phases, and would include a halt in fighting, an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, and a surge in aid to Gaza. The final phase would include the release of any remaining hostages, an end to the war and talks on reconstruction.
How legitimate are these reports - is this for real? What political conditions, both in Israel and among key players in these negotiations, could allow for such a deal to be finalized?
To help us understand, and to briefly discuss the recent Houthi attacks, Nadav Eyal returns to the podcast.
Nadav Eyal is a columnist for Yediiot. He is one of Israelâs leading journalists. Eyal has been covering Middle-Eastern and international politics for the last two decades for Israeli radio, print and television news.
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Was 1929 a harbinger of October 7th, 2023?
August 23rd, 1929, nearly 100 years ago, marks the day of what is referred to in history as the 1929 Arab Riots: a wave of pogroms waged against the Jews living in British Mandatory Palestine. These pogroms began in Jerusalem and quickly spread to other cities and towns, including Hebron, Safed, Jaffa, and Haifa. The riots had largely subsided by August 29th, after 113 Jews were murdered.
Just a few months ago, we at Call me Back released a special series of episodes wherein we spoke with thought leaders about the lasting impact of October 7th on Israelis, on Jews, and on the geopolitics of the Middle East and beyond. (Watch the special series here on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiYCxMRIBxFoxg8e8Efe0Rz5DZv7VXQeQ)
Today, we examine the 1929 Arab Riots taking a broad view at how they shaped the following 100 years.
Our guest is Yardena Schwartz, author of the recently published book: âGhosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflictâ - a meticulously researched work that examines the 1929 Hebron massacre, where nearly 70 Jewish residents were killed by their Arab neighbors and friends, and that explores its impact on the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Yardena Schwartz is an award-winning journalist, an Emmy-nominated producer, and author of âGhosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict.â Her reporting from four continents has been published in dozens of publications, including the New York Times, New York Review of Books, Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Time, National Geographic, Rolling Stone, and Foreign Policy. She has also worked at NBC News, and she reported from Israel for 10 years.
Yardenaâs newly released book, âGhosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli conflictâ: https://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Holy-War-Palestine-Arab-Israeli/dp/145494921X
Pre-order the audiobook here: https://tinyurl.com/hwphyrp4
Video on the seven American hostages held in Gaza: http://pic.x.com/pkUKmtYrQW
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Episodes manquant?
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Many would consider the term âdeath factoryâ to be associated with another era, one that is long in the past.
But reports have emerged from inside Sednaya prison, bringing to light the horrific death camp and torture complex that was operated by the Assad regime until the regimeâs collapse, just one week ago. It has been reported that 96,000 people have disappeared into Syriaâs vast network of secret prisons, including thousands of women and children. The overwhelming majority were tortured to death.
The Center for Peace Communications (CPC), an NGO that works through media, schools and spiritual centers to resolve identity-based conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, gained unprecedented access to Sednaya. They have captured exclusive footage from inside its underground dungeons, and recorded testimonies of those lucky enough to survive what many have called a human slaughterhouse. This footage was released by and in partnership with The Free Press.
To discuss what we know about Sednaya prison and Syriaâs path moving forward, our guests are Joseph Braude and Ahed Al Hendi.
Joseph Braude is the founder and president of the Center for Peace Communications. He is the author of four books on North Africa and the Middle East, and is a frequent contributor to English and Arabic newspapers and magazines. He has served as a consulting advisor to non-profit organizations, the U.S. government, and the private sector in the realms of Arab civil society engagement, strategic communications, and counterterrorism.
Ahed Al Hendi is a Syrian affairs analyst. He is a former political prisoner in Syria, and was arrested for establishing a secular anti-regime student organization.
Exclusive footage and survivor testimony from inside the Sednaya prison, courtesy of the CPC and The Free Press:
https://www.thefp.com/p/watch-assads-human-slaughterhouse-sednaya-prison
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Over the past few months, and especially in recent days, we have seen Iranâs decades-old proxy system and strategy collapsing.
What are Iranâs options?
To help us understand how Iran is dealing with this crisis, our guest is Raz Zimmt, one of Israelâs top experts on Iran.
Raz Zimmt is a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and a research fellow at the Center for Iranian Studies at Tel Aviv University. He is the author of the book "Iran From Within: State and Society in the Islamic Republic" published (in Hebrew) in 2022.
Recent published pieces by Raz Zimmt discussed in this episode:
https://www.inss.org.il/publication/syria-rebels/
https://www.inss.org.il/publication/iran-changes/
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HOUSEKEEPING NOTE:
Please note that as of our Thursday episode this week, we will be updating Call Me Backâs cover art. This will not be a dramatic change, but as to not miss out on any new episodes due to this change, please keep an eye out.
TODAYâS EPISODE:
As we witness Iranâs proxy system unravelling, there may be an opportunity for a new hostage deal and temporary ceasefire in Gaza.
Over the past few months, Israel has seen a number of successes, from the deaths of key Hamas and Hezbollah figures, to the destruction of Iranâs air defenses, a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, and finally the fall of the Assad regime, which has collapsed Iranâs proxy strategy.
With Hamas in its weakest position yet, will they try to negotiate a hostage deal?
Are there common threads between this new development, the fall of Assad, the ceasefire in Lebanon, and the incoming US administration? To discuss, Nadav Eyal returns to the podcast.
Nadav Eyal is a columnist for Yediiot. He is one of Israelâs leading journalists. Eyal has been covering Middle-Eastern and international politics for the last two decades for Israeli radio, print and television news.
To visit our website where you can access transcripts for each episode, sign up for updates, and get in touch with us: https://arkmedia.org/
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HOUSEKEEPING NOTE:
Please note that as of our Thursday episode this week, we will be updating Call Me Backâs cover art. This will not be a dramatic change, but as to not miss out on any new episodes due to this change, please keep an eye out.
TODAYâS EPISODE:
A lot has unfolded in the Middle East over the past 48 hours, with the fall of the Assad regime. Nadav Eyal returns to the podcast today for an emergency episode to discuss the end of Assadâs rule in Syria, and the implications for Israel.
Nadav Eyal is a columnist for Yediiot. He is one of Israelâs leading journalists. Eyal has been covering Middle-Eastern and international politics for the last two decades for Israeli radio, print and television news.
To visit our website where you can access transcripts for each episode, sign up for updates, and get in touch with us: https://arkmedia.org/
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HOUSEKEEPING NOTE:
The Jewish Food Society is a nonprofit whose mission is to preserve and celebrate Jewish culinary heritage in order to deepen connections to Jewish life. As part of their annual fundraising drive, the Jewish Food Society is holding an auction to support their work. To place a bid on any of the items up for auction (including a lunch with Dan Senor), visit: https://givebutter.com/c/JFSFallAuction/auction
To learn more about the work of the Jewish Food Society, visit: https://www.jewishfoodsociety.org
TODAYâS EPISODE:
Over the past week, we have been monitoring developments in Syria, where there has been a significant escalation in its on-again, off-again, and now on-again civil war. Rebel forces, led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, launched a surprise offensive, swiftly capturing key areas in northwestern Syria, including 13 villages and the strategic towns of Urm Al-Sughra and Anjara. Two days later, the rebels had breached Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, marking their most substantial advance in years.
In response, Syrian government forces, supported by Russian airstrikes and Iran-backed militias, initiated counterattacks to halt the insurgents' progress. The intensified conflict has resulted in significant casualties and displacement.
What does this tell us about major power shifts taking place in the region? Is it part of larger tectonic shifts taking place globally? And what does this mean for Israel?
To help us understand, our guest is Yonatan Adiri.
Yonatan Adiri is a leading Israeli digital healthcare entrepreneur, and was formerly the Chief Technology Advisor and a senior diplomatic advisor to the late Israeli president, Shimon Peres. He is the founder of Healthy.io, a digital healthcare startup, which he has been building for the last decade, and is now returning to public service.
Earlier in his career, Yonatan worked as an officer in the IDF Strategic Command - including when President Obama issued his âred lineâ in the summer of 2012 against the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
To learn more about Yonatanâs startup, Healthy.io: https://healthy.io/
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HOUSEKEEPING NOTE:
The Jewish Food Society is a nonprofit whose mission is to preserve and celebrate Jewish culinary heritage in order to deepen connections to Jewish life. As part of their annual fundraising drive, the Jewish Food Society is holding an auction to support their work. To place a bid on any of the items up for auction (including a lunch with Dan Senor), visit: https://givebutter.com/c/JFSFallAuction/auction
To learn more about the work of the Jewish Food Society, visit: https://www.jewishfoodsociety.org
TODAYâS EPISODE:
Is Israel winning? This is a question we kept running into in our conversations in Israel with Israelis last week, especially as Israel reached a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.
To help us assess, Haviv Rettig Gur returns to the podcast.
Haviv Rettig Gur is the political analyst at The Times of Israel. He was a long time reporter for the Times of Israel. Haviv was also a combat medic in the IDF where he served in the reserves.
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On October 8th, 2023, Hezbollah joined the war against Israel. Now, nearly fifteen months later, a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon may be imminent.
As of this evening in Israel, the Israeli security cabinet has officially approved a ceasefire deal with Lebanon. Under the proposal, Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon within 60 days, while Hezbollah forces would relocate farther north, effectively establishing a buffer zone. The Lebanese Army would be stationed in southern Lebanon, to ensure that Hezbollah remains north of the Litani River.
To analyze the key terms of the agreement, and help us unpack its military, political, and social implications, our guest is David Horovitz.
David Horovitz is the founding editor of The Times of Israel. He was previously the editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post, and editor and publisher of The Jerusalem Report.
David on X: https://x.com/davidhorovitz
The Times of Israel: https://www.timesofisrael.com/
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This past Thursday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israelâs prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israelâs former defense minister, Yoav Gallant. The warrants were issued on charges of attempting to orchestrate starvation as a method of warfare, and crimes against humanity, of âmurder and persecutionâ, in the ICC's terms. A warrant was also issued for Hamas leader Mohammed Deif, who was killed in an airstrike in Gaza in July.
To help us understand the ICC; its role, jurisdiction and credibility; and the wide range of implications of these arrest warrants, our guest is Natasha Hausdorff.
Natasha is a British barrister and expert on international law, foreign affairs, and national security policy. She is the Charitable Trust Legal Director of UK Lawyers For Israel (UKLFI). Natasha regularly briefs government leaders and international organizations, and has spoken at parliaments across Europe and at the United Nations. She is a regular commentator on issues of international law, both generally and specifically as they apply to Israel.
UK Lawyers For Israel on X: https://x.com/uklfi
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On an almost daily basis, Hezbollah fires hundreds of missiles and rockets into Israelâs North. And yet there seems to be progress being made in negotiations towards a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
If we are approaching a deal, what does it look like? How will it be enforced? What are the political forces shaping the deal - in Jerusalem, in Tehran, and in Washington D.C., as the U.S. transitions to a new administration?
And, crucially, how many of the some 60,000 Israelis who were evacuated from the north over a year ago will be able to return to their homes?
To help us understand whatâs going on here, we are once again joined by Call Me Back regular Nadav Eyal.
Nadav Eyal is a columnist for Yediiot. He is one of Israelâs leading journalists. Eyal has been covering Middle-Eastern and international politics for the last two decades for Israeli radio, print and television news.
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Well before October 7th 2023, we were already witnessing too many examples of the worst in higher education with a lack of diversity of ideas and debate. Numerous U.S. college campuses had become intellectual and ideological monocultures. Then, immediately following October 7th, we saw something much darker, but perhaps we shouldnât have been surprised.
Many of us lament what is happening in higher education. But at CallMeBack, we have also observed some bright spots â universities with inspiring leaders and healthy intellectual climates â and we want to try to understand what is happening at these universities that have bucked the trend.
In this episode, we have a discussion about Vanderbilt University. Our guest is Daniel Diermeier, Vanderbilt Universityâs ninth chancellor. He previously served in leadership roles at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and at the University of Chicago, where he served as dean of the Harris School of Public Policy.
In addition to his role as chancellor, Diermeier is University Distinguished Professor in the Owen Graduate School of Management and Distinguished University Professor of Political Science in the College of Arts & Science. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Guggenheim Foundation. He has published five books and more than 100 research articles in academic journals.
In our conversation, which was recorded on campus, Chancellor Diermeier discusses how the university has developed its policies around free speech, institutional neutrality, and campus order. In the face of staggering levels of intolerance -- not to mention pro-Hamas protests effectively taking over some campuses -- has Vanderbilt become a model for how to get it right?
The article referenced in this episode - Chancellor Diermeierâs piece in the Wall Street Journal, âFree speech Is Alive and Well at Vanderbilt Universityâ https://www.wsj.com/articles/free-speech-is-alive-and-well-at-vanderbilt-university-023884d1
Additional piece recommended, Chancellor Diermeier in the Wall Street Journal: âScholarly Associations Arenât Entitled to Their Opinionsâ https://www.wsj.com/opinion/scholarly-associations-arent-entitled-to-their-opinions-it-chills-debate-harms-young-faculty-2584c09c?st=LK2G22&reflink=article_imessage_share
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In recent weeks, with the IDF focusing most of its attention on the Northern front, the media has been paying less attention to whatâs actually happening in Gaza. What would constitute the Gaza War being over? Is there any progress on a Day After Plan for Gaza? What is the status of hostage negotiations and other efforts to free the hostages? What would the future (medium-term/long-term) Israeli presence in Gaza look like?
To help us connect these dots, Haviv Rettig Gur returns to the podcast.
Haviv Rettig Gur is the political analyst at The Times of Israel. He was a long time reporter for the Times of Israel. Haviv was also a combat medic in the IDF where he served in the reserves.
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Watch the full conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZTiuntsCs8
Regardless of who you voted for in the U.S. presidential election, many of us are continuing to attempt to unpack what happened in this extraordinary election. There has been a lot of analysis of the various demographic shifts.
But less attention has been paid to Jewish voters and the role they played - as well as the issues of the Israel-Hamas war and rising antisemitism in the U.S. How did these issues impact how Americans - both Jewish and non-Jewish - chose to vote?
To discuss, our guest today is Congressman Ritchie Torres. Rep. Torres lives in the Bronx and represents New Yorkâs 15th congressional district. He is a member of the House Committee on Financial Services and the Houseâs Elect Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. He has been on the front lines of electoral politics this year, both in his congressional district in the Bronx, and nationally, as a champion on the issue of Israel and antisemitism.
Item discussed in this episode: Michael Powellâs interview with Ritchie Torres in the Atlantic - https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/11/democrats-lost-voters-ritchie-torres/680599/
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Last night in Amsterdam, dozens of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans suffered a pogrom in the streets of Amsterdam, following the soccer teamâs match against Ajax. According to most accounts, this ambush was planned and coordinated in advance.
And according to Israeli authorities, 10 Israelis were injured throughout the night, as mobs of antisemitic rioters ambushed, chased, and attacked the Israeli soccer fans. Dozens have been arrested, and the Israeli government dispatched planes to Amsterdam to return the Israeli fans safely to Israel. The Amsterdam police was observed to be largely ineffective in attempting to protect the Israeli fans from the assailants.
To unpack these disturbing events, and discuss the climate of antisemitism that has erupted in the Netherlands and across Europe, we are joined by Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Omer Bigger.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a Somali-born Dutch-American activist, author, and a former Dutch member of Parliament. She is known for her outspoken criticism of Islam.
Ayaan has just launched a media platform called Courage.Media, which aims to amplify the voices of those who are showing great courage by standing up to the anti-western, anti-liberal, anti-democratic movements that are taking root in our media, our politics, our schools, and our communities.
Omer Bigger is an Israeli tech worker living in Amsterdam.
Ayaanâs piece on the pogrom in Amsterdam: https://courage.media/2024/11/08/the-pogrom-in-amsterdam/
To buy Ayaanâs books: https://tinyurl.com/pd34a9s8
Also discussed in this episode: âPogrom 2024â John Podhoretz: https://www.commentary.org/john-podhoretz/pogrom-2024/
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Last night in Israel, in what came as a shock to many Israelis, Prime Minister Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
At the same time, there was a Red Wave that swept through U.S. politics.
As Israelis and Americans simultaneously process these two 180 degree pivots in their respective political systems, we are joined by two CallMeBack regulars to discuss both stories:
Nadav Eyal is a columnist for Yediiot. He is one of Israelâs leading journalists. Eyal has been covering Middle-Eastern and international politics for the last two decades for Israeli radio, print and television news.
Amit Segal is the chief political correspondent and analyst for Channel 12 News, and for Yediot Ahronot, the countryâs largest circulation newspaper.
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With two days before the US presidential election, there is increasing (and surprising) speculation from within the Israeli security establishment about whether Iran will attack Israel in the days ahead. In todayâs episode, we try to unpack whatâs going on with Iran-Israel and also a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah. We also discuss our recent visit to an Ivy League university and what we learned from Jewish students there.
NADAV EYAL is a columnist for Yediiot. He is one of Israelâs leading journalists. Eyal has been covering Middle-Eastern and international politics for the last two decades for Israeli radio, print and television news.
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WATCH THE CONVERSATION ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/-MGg6Oe5_7A
Micah Goodman is on the speed-dial of a number of Israeli political leaders â from Right to Left, but especially on the Center-Left and the Center-Right. And Micah has been synthesizing how Israelis view the war with Iran and the U.S.-Israel relationship.
Micah is a polymath, a podcaster and one of Israelâs most influential public intellectuals, having written books ranging from biblical lessons for the modern age to Israelâs geopolitics. Micah has a new book (in Hebrew), called âThe Eighth Dayâ, in which Micah tries to understand the implications of the nationâs trauma and what it means for the other âday afterâ (not the âday afterâ in Gaza, but the âday afterâ inside Israel).
Micah Goodmanâs books in English: Catch-67 â https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/catch-67-micah-goodman/1128089735?ean=9780300248418
The Wondering Jew â https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wondering-jew-micah-goodman/1136574622?ean=9780300252248
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WATCH THE CONVERSATION ON YOUTUBE HERE: https://youtu.be/U0MWxuQG4fs
As we continue to assess the threat FROM Iran and the threat TO Iran, we sat down today with two analysts and former national security officials with different perspectives on what weâve learned so far and next steps.
Richard Fontaine is CEO of the Center for American Security. He was formerly the top foreign policy advisor to Senator John McCain, deputy staff director on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and an official of the U.S. State Department and National Security Council. He currently serves as a member of the Pentagonâs Defense Policy Board.
Rich Goldberg is a senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. From 2019-2020, he served as a Director for Countering Iranian Weapons of Mass Destruction for the White House National Security Council. He previously served as a national security staffer in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House. Rich is an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve with military experience on the Joint Staff and in Afghanistan.
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WATCH THE CONVERSATION ON YOUTUBE: youtu.be/ERj4GQ82wcw
LIVE EVENT ALERT â PITTSBURGH: On Monday October 28th at 6:00 PM, Dan will be speaking at a live event in conversation with Dave McCormick, combat veteran, former CEO of Bridgewater Associates, and candidate for U.S. Senate. A West Point graduate, Dave was deployed to the Middle East during the first Gulf War with the 82nd Airborne Division. He later served as the Under Secretary of Treasury and Deputy National Security Advisor. Dave has distinguished himself as an outspoken ally of the Jewish community and of the U.S.-Israel relationship. In Pittsburg, Dan and Dave will have a conversation before a live audience and take questions. To register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dan-senor-and-dave-mccormick-live-in-pittsburgh-tickets-1042361389977?aff=oddtdtcreator
TODAYâS EPISODE: To help us better understand what happened with Israelâs military operation against Iran, Nadav Eyal and Jonathan Schanzer join us for an emergency episode of the podcast.
NADAV EYAL is a columnist for Yediiot. He is one of Israelâs leading journalists. Eyal has been covering Middle-Eastern and international politics for the last two decades for Israeli radio, print and television news.
Dr. JONATHAN SCHANZER is senior vice president for research at Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Jon previously worked as a terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he played an integral role in the designation of numerous terrorist financiers. Jonathan has studied Middle East history in four countries. He earned his PhD from Kingâs College London, where he wrote his dissertation on the U.S. Congress and its efforts to combat terrorism in the 20th century. He speaks Arabic and Hebrew.
CREDITS:
ILAN BENATAR - Producer and Editor
REBECCA STROM - Media Manager
MARTIN HUERGO - Editor
IDAN COHEN - Military Intelligence Research
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