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Call Me Back - with Dan Senor podcast

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Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

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  Ark Media  

Political and geopolitical analysis from the world's top experts, hosted by Dan Senor.

Political and geopolitical analysis from the world's top experts, hosted by Dan Senor.

 

All

Progress

Duration

Release Date

#308

A new U.S. president and the Middle East - with Tal Becker

Watch the conversation on YouTube: [https://youtu.be/vqT4MJKzEp0] (https://youtu.be/vqT4MJKzEp0)   To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: [https://arkmedia.org/] (https://arkmedia.org/)   Dan on X: [https://x.com/dansenor] (https://x.com/dansenor)   Dan on Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/dansenor] (https://www.instagram.com/dansenor)   Today, we are taking a step back to discuss many of the new opportunities across the landscape for the U.S. and Israel, as a new president takes office.    Our guest is Dr. Tal Becker, who serves as Vice President and Senior Faculty of the Kogod Research Center at Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. Tal was the former Legal Adviser of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is a veteran member of successive Israeli peace negotiation teams and, most recently, represented Israel before the International Court of Justice and played an instrumental role in negotiating and drafting the historic peace and normalization agreements (the "Abraham Accords"). Tal earned his doctorate from Columbia University in New York City, and is the recipient of numerous scholarly awards, including the Rabin Peace Prize, and the Guggenheim Prize for best international law book for his book "Terrorism and the State".   CREDITS:   ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor   MARTIN HUERGO - Editor   REBECCA STROM - Director of Operations   STAV SLAMA - Researcher    GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research Intern  ... Read more

24 Jan 2025

40 MINS

40:26

24 Jan 2025

#307

COMING HOME - with Yossi Klein Halevi & Wendy Singer

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast] (https://www.youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast)   To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: [https://arkmedia.org/] (https://arkmedia.org/)   Dan on X: [https://x.com/dansenor] (https://x.com/dansenor)   Dan on Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/dansenor] (https://www.instagram.com/dansenor)   On Sunday evening in Israel, after 471 days in captivity, three hostages — Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher  — were released from Gaza and returned home to Israel, as a ceasefire in Gaza went into effect.    There has been speculation as to why this deal was agreed upon now, and about whether January 19th effectively marked the end of the Gaza war. And more than anything, there is palpable anxiety about the fate of the remaining hostages.    To take in this moment and unpack these questions about what comes next, we are joined by Yossi Klein Halevi and Wendy Singer.   Yossi Klein Halevi is a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. Yossi has written a number of books, including his latest, "Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor," which was a New York Times bestseller. He has written for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Times of Israel. He is co-host of "For Heaven's Sake" podcast: [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/for-heavens-sake/id1522222281] (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/for-heavens-sake/id1522222281)   Yossi Klein Halevi's books: [https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001IXOA04] (https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001IXOA04)   Wendy Singer was the professional founder of Start-Up Nation Central (SNC), where she served as Executive Director for nine years. Wendy currently serves as a strategic advisor to select Israeli start-ups and NGOs, including the National Library of Israel. Before joining Israel’s tech scene, she spent sixteen years as Head of AIPAC’s Israel office. Wendy is a board member of the Shalom Hartman Institute; and a Trustee of the Russell Berrie Foundation.  ... Read more

20 Jan 2025

51 MINS

51:37

20 Jan 2025

#306

THE HOSTAGE DEAL - with Nadav Eyal

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast] (https://www.youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast)   To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: [https://arkmedia.org/] (https://arkmedia.org/)   Dan on X: [https://x.com/dansenor] (https://x.com/dansenor)   Dan on Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/dansenor] (https://www.instagram.com/dansenor)   After fifteen months of war, and months of on-again, off-again negotiations, Israel and Hamas have reached a hostage deal, which is set to take effect this upcoming Sunday.    What are the key points of the deal? What should we expect - or brace for - as hostages return home to Israel? And - will this deal mean the end of the war?    To take in this historic development, and to help us understand all the above questions, we welcome back Nadav Eyal to the podcast.    Nadav Eyal is a columnist for Yediiot. He is one of Israel’s leading journalists. Eyal has been covering Middle-Eastern and international politics for the last two decades for Israeli radio, print and television news. ... Read more

16 Jan 2025

51 MINS

51:42

16 Jan 2025

#305

Trump’s National Security Adviser Mike Waltz

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast] (https://www.youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast)   To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: [https://arkmedia.org/] (https://arkmedia.org/)   Dan on X: [https://x.com/dansenor] (https://x.com/dansenor)   Dan on Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/dansenor] (https://www.instagram.com/dansenor)   As we wait in anticipation of a hostage deal, we welcome President Trump’s incoming National Security Adviser, Rep. Mike Waltz, to the podcast, to discuss the possible hostage deal, and his thoughts on the U.S.-Israel relationship.    Congressman Mike Waltz is a Colonel (Ret.) in the National Guard, and the first Green Beret to be elected to Congress. He worked on counter-terrorism in the Bush White House and was a policy advisor at the Pentagon, serving under Secretaries Rumsfeld and Gates, and a Congressman from Florida. As President Trump is sworn in as president - this upcoming Monday, January 20th, inauguration day - so will Mike Waltz, as the president’s National Security Advisor.    Mike graduated from the Virginia Military Institute with Honors and served 27 years in the U.S. Army and National Guard. After being commissioned as an Army lieutenant, Mike graduated Ranger School and was selected for the elite Green Berets, serving worldwide as a Special Forces officer with multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa. For his actions in combat, Mike was awarded four Bronze Stars, including two for Valor.    Mike is the author of the books, “Warrior Diplomat: A Green Beret’s Battles from Washington to Afghanistan”: [https://a.co/d/18NEaB0] (https://a.co/d/18NEaB0) , and “Hard Truths: Think and Lead Like a Green Beret”: [https://a.co/d/c0lnM9B] (https://a.co/d/c0lnM9B) ... Read more

15 Jan 2025

27 MINS

27:25

15 Jan 2025

#304

We need to talk about Turkey - with Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak & Nadav Eyal

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast] (https://www.youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast)   To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: [https://arkmedia.org/] (https://arkmedia.org/)   Dan on X: [https://x.com/dansenor] (https://x.com/dansenor)   Dan on Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/dansenor] (https://www.instagram.com/dansenor)   The collapse of Assad’s regime in Syria has created a new geopolitical reality, in which Turkey has emerged as a dominant regional power, both militarily and diplomatically. For Israel, this new reality entails certain risks, but also opportunities for cooperation?   What is Turkey’s next move - and what are Erdogan’s ambitions? And how is Israel preparing for this new order?    To help us understand, our guests are Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak and Call me Back regular Nadav Eyal.    Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak, who moved to Israel from Turkey, is a researcher at the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies at Tel Aviv University, and an expert on contemporary Turkish politics and society. Yanarocak is the editor of Turkeyscope, and a member of the Middle East Network Analysis Desk. He is a frequent guest on Israeli media, where he regularly appears to discuss contemporary Turkish issues.    Nadav Eyal is a columnist for Yediiot. He is one of Israel’s leading journalists. Eyal has been covering Middle-Eastern and international politics for the last two decades for Israeli radio, print and television news. ... Read more

13 Jan 2025

50 MINS

50:41

13 Jan 2025

#303

What Happened to Jimmy Carter? - with Ken Stein

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast] (https://www.youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast) To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: [https://arkmedia.org/] (https://arkmedia.org/) Dan on X: [https://x.com/dansenor] (https://x.com/dansenor) Dan on Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/dansenor] (https://www.instagram.com/dansenor)   Yesterday in Washington D.C., former U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s funeral service was held at the National Cathedral.    The former president’s post-presidential legacy has had a lasting impact on today’s Middle East. President Carter was known for brokering the Egypt-Israel peace treaty between Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin, which has lasted over four decades. However, he was also the first national leader of his stature to openly embrace Hamas, to accuse Israel of “apartheid”, and to legitimize Hamas’s slaughtering of Jews through suicide bombings and other forms of terrorism, during and following the Second Intifada.    How did President Carter go from an engaged diplomat working for peace between Israel and Egypt to championing Hamas and its narrative of Israeli “apartheid”?    To discuss the paradox of President Carter when it comes to Israel, and his impact on current day events in the Middle East, our guest is Ken Stein.    Dr. Kenneth W. Stein is Emeritus Emory Professor of Middle Eastern History and Israel studies where he taught from 1977-2024.  Early in the 1980s, he led  the Middle East Program of the Carter Center, which included multiple trips to the region with the Carters, writing a book with him, and  providing monthly analyses to the former president. In 1998, Ken established the first Israel Studies Center in North America and founded the Center for Israel Education in 2008.   Pertinent to this interview, are his 1999 publication, Heroic Diplomacy: Sadat, Kissinger, Carter, Begin and the Quest for Arab-0Israeli Peace  and a personal collection of the hundreds of hours of conversations he had with Carter over a twenty year span.  He is also the author with Ambassador Samuel Lewis,  “Making Peace Among Arabs and Israelis: Lessons from Fifty Years of Negotiating Experience”,   [https://www.amazon.com/Making-peace-among-Arabs-Israelis/dp/B002X78MGW [amazon.com]] (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.amazon.com/Making-peace-among-Arabs-Israelis/dp/B002X78MGW__;!!Dx16bL0kVNul!yqjgme6sjlDIJgdbnfP_yDR2xWLdPLb7lNIRrr18kK5Ad3TPnyNEfyb8pbNgjxC4X9Klq7fV3SKjiscn4N2S$)   Book discussed in this episode: [https://tinyurl.com/4h7pmwzf] (https://tinyurl.com/4h7pmwzf)   Recent article by Ken Stein: [https://m.jpost.com/international/article-835320] (https://m.jpost.com/international/article-835320) ... Read more

10 Jan 2025

52 MINS

52:17

10 Jan 2025

#302

The IDF's top secret commando operation in Syria - with Nadav Eyal

Watch the episode on YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr8LqOg69K8] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr8LqOg69K8) To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit:   [https://arkmedia.org/] (https://arkmedia.org/) Dan on X: [https://x.com/dansenor] (https://x.com/dansenor) Dan on Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/dansenor] (https://www.instagram.com/dansenor)   A few days ago, we all learned of new details and viewed footage from one of Israel's most high-risk and complex commando operations. The operation was a covert mission conducted by the IDF on September 8, 2024, targeting an underground missile production facility near Masyaf, Syria. The facility, associated with Syria's Scientific Studies and Research Center, was reportedly on the verge of producing precision-guided missiles with ranges of up to 300 kilometers, intended to be supplied to Hezbollah for use against Israel.  To unpack what exactly happened in this operation to neutralize this Iranian/Syrian facility — and the implications for Israel’s broader war with Iran — we are joined by Nadav Eyal.  Nadav Eyal is a columnist for Yediiot. He is one of Israel’s leading journalists. Eyal has been covering Middle-Eastern and international politics for the last two decades for Israeli radio, print and television news. ... Read more

06 Jan 2025

45 MINS

45:20

06 Jan 2025

#301

How Israel’s Spies Penetrated Hezbollah - with Ronen Bergman

🔗 Watch video episodes of Call me Back on YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast] (https://www.youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast) 🔗 Visit our website to sign up for updates, access transcripts and more: [https://arkmedia.org/] (https://arkmedia.org/) 🔗 Dan on X: [https://x.com/dansenor] (https://x.com/dansenor) 🔗 Dan on Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/dansenor] (https://www.instagram.com/dansenor) The string of Israeli successes against Hezbollah — culminating in the killing of Hassan Nasrallah — last September was partly the work of Israeli military and intelligence agencies infiltrating Hezbollah’s networks, planting booby-trapped communication devices, and tracking the leaders’ movements to dismantle the group's military capabilities. This campaign crippled Hezbollah by also destroying thousands of missiles and disrupting its leadership, delivering a blow to Iran’s regional strategy.  An investigative report recently published by the New York Times delves into how deeply Israeli intelligence had penetrated Hezbollah ranks. Our guest today is one of the report’s authors: Ronen Bergman.  Ronen Bergman is a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine and Senior Correspondent for Military and Intelligence Affairs for Yedioth Ahronoth, an Israeli daily. Ronen has won a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on the Israel-Hamas war and the pre-war intelligence failures.  The New York Times’ investigative report, co-authored by Ronen: “Behind the Dismantling of Hezbollah: Decades of Israeli Intelligence” - [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/29/world/middleeast/israel-hezbollah-nasrallah-assassination-intelligence.html] (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/29/world/middleeast/israel-hezbollah-nasrallah-assassination-intelligence.html) ... Read more

02 Jan 2025

49 MINS

49:46

02 Jan 2025

#300

The Brutality of War - with Yossi Klein Halevi

🔗 Subscribe to watch video episodes of Call me Back on YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast] (https://www.youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast) 🔗 Visit our website to sign up for updates, access transcripts and more: [https://arkmedia.org/] (https://arkmedia.org/) 🔗 Dan on X: [https://x.com/dansenor] (https://x.com/dansenor) 🔗 Dan on Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/dansenor] (https://www.instagram.com/dansenor) Last Thursday, The New York Times published a long investigative piece titled “Israel Loosened Its Rules to Bomb Hamas Fighters, Killing Many More Civilians”. The article tries to identify an unprecedented shift in the IDF’s military strategy and rules of engagement during its response to Hamas’s October 7 invasion, and reports on the impact on Palestinian civilians, including a substantial increase in risk to Palestinian civilians.  To discuss the ethics of Israel fighting a just war justly, to help us unpack and respond to the key charges in the Times investigation, and to briefly reflect on the (post-presidential) legacy of President Jimmy Carter, we welcome back to the podcast, Yossi Klein Halevi, who is a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. Yossi has written a number of books, including his latest, "Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor," which was a New York Times bestseller. He has written for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Times of Israel. He is co-host of "For Heaven's Sake" podcast. Yossi Klein Halevi's books: [https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001IXOA04] (https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001IXOA04) Articles discussed in this episode:  “Israel Loosened Its Rules to Bomb Hamas Fighters, Killing Many More Civilians” [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/26/world/middleeast/israel-hamas-gaza-bombing.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&tgrp=sty&pvid=1FCD1780-A3CA-40EB-BBFF-99870A87D46E] (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/26/world/middleeast/israel-hamas-gaza-bombing.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&tgrp=sty&pvid=1FCD1780-A3CA-40EB-BBFF-99870A87D46E) “Teens forced to perform sexual acts on each other: Report to UN details Hamas torture” [https://www.timesofisrael.com/teens-forced-to-perform-sexual-acts-on-each-other-report-to-un-details-hamas-torture/] (https://www.timesofisrael.com/teens-forced-to-perform-sexual-acts-on-each-other-report-to-un-details-hamas-torture/) “Jimmy Carter, friend of dictators and champion of terrorists”  [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/3181150/jimmy-carter-friend-dictators-and-champion-terrorists/] (https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/3181150/jimmy-carter-friend-dictators-and-champion-terrorists/) ... Read more

30 Dec 2024

50 MINS

50:48

30 Dec 2024

#299

REPLAY: Lessons learned from the hostage deal - with Haviv Rettig Gur

  🔗Subscribe to watch video episodes of Call me Back on YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast] (https://www.youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast) 🔗Visit our website to sign up for updates, access transcripts and more: [https://arkmedia.org/] (https://arkmedia.org/) 🔗Dan on X: [https://x.com/dansenor] (https://x.com/dansenor) 🔗Dan on Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/dansenor] (https://www.instagram.com/dansenor) On thousands of street corners in Israel today, there are banners that read: “bring the hostages back from the darkness.” It’s excruciating to think that this is the second Hanukkah since October 7th with hostages still in Gaza.  For today’s episode, we will be replaying an episode from a conversation I had with Haviv Rettig Gur during the 4th day of the pause in fighting during the last (and, to date, only) hostage deal, while hostages were being returned to Israel, back in November 2023. As Haviv put it  in this conversation, it had been the first time since October 7 that he could “breathe”. It’s a feeling that we can pray will be alive again soon.  This replay episode is one way to reflect on where we were a year ago, and where we are now. Today, Hamas is only more desperate and Israel’s geopolitical and military position in the Middle East has never been stronger. There is a lot of analysis in this conversation with Haviv that is relevant to the hostage negotiations occurring right now. ... Read more

27 Dec 2024

54 MINS

54:44

27 Dec 2024

#298

The Hostage Negotiations - with Nadav Eyal

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 Israel’s leading journalists. Eyal has been covering Middle-Eastern and international politics for the last two decades for Israeli radio, print and television news. ... Read more

23 Dec 2024

48 MINS

48:35

23 Dec 2024

#297

1929: A harbinger of October 7th - with Yardena Schwartz

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] (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: “Ghosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict” - 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 “Ghosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict.” 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.    Yardena’s newly released book, “Ghosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli conflict”: [https://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Holy-War-Palestine-Arab-Israeli/dp/145494921X] (https://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Holy-War-Palestine-Arab-Israeli/dp/145494921X)   Pre-order the audiobook here: [https://tinyurl.com/hwphyrp4] (https://tinyurl.com/hwphyrp4)   Video on the seven American hostages held in Gaza: [http://pic.x.com/pkUKmtYrQW] (http://pic.x.com/pkUKmtYrQW) ... Read more

20 Dec 2024

53 MINS

53:49

20 Dec 2024

#296

Assad’s Death Factory - with Joseph Braude & Ahed Al Hendi

Many would consider the term ‘death factory’ 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 regime’s collapse, just one week ago. It has been reported that 96,000 people have disappeared into Syria’s 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 Syria’s 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] (https://www.thefp.com/p/watch-assads-human-slaughterhouse-sednaya-prison) ... Read more

16 Dec 2024

26 MINS

26:44

16 Dec 2024

#295

Iran’s Next Move - with Raz Zimmt

Over the past few months, and especially in recent days, we have seen Iran’s decades-old proxy system and strategy collapsing.    What are Iran’s options?    To help us understand how Iran is dealing with this crisis, our guest is Raz Zimmt, one of Israel’s 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/syria-rebels/) [https://www.inss.org.il/publication/iran-changes/] (https://www.inss.org.il/publication/iran-changes/) ... Read more

12 Dec 2024

41 MINS

41:24

12 Dec 2024

#294

A WINDOW OPENS FOR A HOSTAGE DEAL - with Nadav Eyal

HOUSEKEEPING NOTE:    Please note that as of our Thursday episode this week, we will be updating Call Me Back’s 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.    TODAY’S EPISODE:   As we witness Iran’s 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 Iran’s air defenses, a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, and finally the fall of the Assad regime, which has collapsed Iran’s 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 Israel’s 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/] (https://arkmedia.org/) ... Read more

10 Dec 2024

38 MINS

38:28

10 Dec 2024

#293

THE END OF ASSAD IN SYRIA - with Nadav Eyal

HOUSEKEEPING NOTE:    Please note that as of our Thursday episode this week, we will be updating Call Me Back’s 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.    TODAY’S 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 Assad’s rule in Syria, and the implications for Israel.    Nadav Eyal is a columnist for Yediiot. He is one of Israel’s 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/] (https://arkmedia.org/) ... Read more

08 Dec 2024

42 MINS

42:31

08 Dec 2024

#292

Chaos in Syria: a win for Israel & US? - with Yonatan Adiri

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] (https://givebutter.com/c/JFSFallAuction/auction) To learn more about the work of the Jewish Food Society, visit: [https://www.jewishfoodsociety.org] (https://www.jewishfoodsociety.org/) TODAY’S 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 “red line” in the summer of 2012 against the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.  To learn more about Yonatan’s startup, Healthy.io: [https://healthy.io/] (https://healthy.io/) ... Read more

05 Dec 2024

38 MINS

38:04

05 Dec 2024

#291

Is Israel Winning? - with Haviv Rettig Gur

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] (https://givebutter.com/c/JFSFallAuction/auction)   To learn more about the work of the Jewish Food Society, visit: [https://www.jewishfoodsociety.org] (https://www.jewishfoodsociety.org)   TODAY’S 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. ... Read more

02 Dec 2024

47 MINS

47:55

02 Dec 2024

#290

CEASEFIRE - with David Horovitz

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] (https://x.com/davidhorovitz) The Times of Israel: [https://www.timesofisrael.com/] (https://www.timesofisrael.com/) ... Read more

26 Nov 2024

41 MINS

41:47

26 Nov 2024

#289

The ICC vs Netanyahu & Gallant - with Natasha Hausdorff

This past Thursday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israel’s 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 “murder and persecution”, 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   ... Read more

25 Nov 2024

47 MINS

47:22

25 Nov 2024

#288

Ending the Lebanon War - with Nadav Eyal

On an almost daily basis, Hezbollah fires hundreds of missiles and rockets into Israel’s 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 what’s 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 Israel’s leading journalists. Eyal has been covering Middle-Eastern and international politics for the last two decades for Israeli radio, print and television news. ... Read more

21 Nov 2024

40 MINS

40:31

21 Nov 2024

#287

How Vanderbilt University is getting it right - with Chancellor Diermeier

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 shouldn’t have been surprised.   Many of us lament what is happening in higher education. But at CallMeBack, we have also observed some bright spots — universities with inspiring leaders and healthy intellectual climates —  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 University’s 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 Diermeier’s piece in the Wall Street Journal, ‘Free speech Is Alive and Well at Vanderbilt University’ [https://www.wsj.com/articles/free-speech-is-alive-and-well-at-vanderbilt-university-023884d1] (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: ‘Scholarly Associations Aren’t Entitled to Their Opinions’ [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] (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) ... Read more

18 Nov 2024

41 MINS

41:38

18 Nov 2024

#286

The Future of Gaza - with Haviv Rettig Gur

In recent weeks, with the IDF focusing most of its attention on the Northern front, the media has been paying less attention to what’s 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. ... Read more

14 Nov 2024

44 MINS

44:34

14 Nov 2024

#285

The Far Left’s Gift to Trump - with Ritchie Torres

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 York’s 15th congressional district. He is a member of the House Committee on Financial Services and the House’s 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 Powell’s interview with Ritchie Torres in the Atlantic - [https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/11/democrats-lost-voters-ritchie-torres/680599/] (https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/11/democrats-lost-voters-ritchie-torres/680599/) ... Read more

11 Nov 2024

33 MINS

33:39

11 Nov 2024

#284

POGROM IN AMSTERDAM - with Ayaan Hirsi Ali & Omer Bigger

Last night in Amsterdam, dozens of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans suffered a pogrom in the streets of Amsterdam, following the soccer team’s 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.  Ayaan’s piece on the pogrom in Amsterdam: [https://courage.media/2024/11/08/the-pogrom-in-amsterdam/] (https://courage.media/2024/11/08/the-pogrom-in-amsterdam/) To buy Ayaan’s books: [https://tinyurl.com/pd34a9s8] (https://tinyurl.com/pd34a9s8) Also discussed in this episode: “Pogrom 2024” John Podhoretz: https://www.commentary.org/john-podhoretz/pogrom-2024/ ... Read more

08 Nov 2024

29 MINS

29:53

08 Nov 2024

#283

GALLANT FIRED, TRUMP ELECTED – with Nadav Eyal & Amit Segal

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 Israel’s 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 country’s largest circulation newspaper.  ... Read more

07 Nov 2024

42 MINS

42:18

07 Nov 2024

#282

Iran’s November Surprise? with Nadav Eyal

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 today’s episode, we try to unpack what’s 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 Israel’s leading journalists. Eyal has been covering Middle-Eastern and international politics for the last two decades for Israeli radio, print and television news.  ... Read more

03 Nov 2024

55 MINS

55:00

03 Nov 2024

#281

Israel, Iran, Trump, Harris - with Dr. Micah Goodman

WATCH THE CONVERSATION ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/-MGg6Oe5_7A Micah Goodman is on the speed-dial of a number of Israeli political leaders – 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 Israel’s most influential public intellectuals, having written books ranging from biblical lessons for the modern age to Israel’s geopolitics. Micah has a new book (in Hebrew), called ‘The Eighth Day’, in which Micah tries to understand the implications of the nation’s trauma and what it means for the other ‘day after’ (not the ‘day after’ in Gaza, but the ‘day after’ inside Israel).Micah Goodman’s books in English: Catch-67 — [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/catch-67-micah-goodman/1128089735?ean=9780300248418] (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/catch-67-micah-goodman/1128089735?ean=9780300248418) The Wondering Jew — [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wondering-jew-micah-goodman/1136574622?ean=9780300252248] (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wondering-jew-micah-goodman/1136574622?ean=9780300252248)   ... Read more

01 Nov 2024

35 MINS

35:21

01 Nov 2024