Host Simon Spungin talks to Amira Hass, Haaretz's long-serving correspondent in the Occupied Territories, about the cost-of-living protests in the Gaza Strip, the "accidental" rocket fire on Tel Aviv and how Israel's policy of separating the West Bank from Gaza is effectively stifling Palestinian national unity.

We also discuss the first election in Israeli history in which the Palestinians are a non-issue and ask what it will take get them back on the agenda.

Host&nbsp;<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/misc/writers/WRITER-1.4968283" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Simon Spungin</a>&nbsp;talks to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/misc/writers/WRITER-1.4968114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amira Hass</a>, Haaretz's long-serving correspondent in the Occupied Territories, about the <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.premium-hamas-forces-clash-with-gazans-protesting-high-cost-of-living-1.7023612">cost-of-living protests</a> in the Gaza Strip, the "accidental" <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-rocket-fire-by-mistake-gaza-israel-write-off-tel-aviv-attack-as-incompetence-1.7023916">rocket fire</a> on Tel Aviv and how Israel's policy of separating the West Bank from Gaza is effectively stifling Palestinian national unity.
We also discuss the <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections">first election</a> in Israeli history in which the Palestinians are a non-issue and ask what it will take get them back on the agenda.

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – a weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – a weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

Your audio guide to Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World.

Haaretz Podcast

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – the Haaretz weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer. 

From Haaretz – Israel's oldest daily newspaper – the Haaretz weekly podcast in English on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, hosted by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

For every Gaza rocket, Israel commits thousands of crimes. Listen to Amira Hass

The dramatic landslide election in Hungary toppling authoritarian populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, resonated deeply for Israel in diverse ways, explained Haaretz’s David Issacharoff, who covered the election from Budapest, speaking on the Haaretz Podcast. 

For Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his supporters, it meant the loss of his “closest ally” in Europe who would no longer stand up for Israel by pulling out of the International Criminal Court when it issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders – and bucking the European Union in defense of the Jewish state. 

For Israelis desperate to rid themselves of Netanyahu’s leadership, the end of Orbán’s 16-year reign offers inspiration. Issacharoff noted that young anti-Orbán voters he interviewed “said exactly the same things that many young Israelis believe too: that he’s been making their country a pariah, and they don’t feel part of the wider world anymore.” 

Although the two countries are very different, there are lessons from the Hungarian campaign of Péter Magyar, and Netanyahu’s opponents must learn them. The biggest lesson? "Turning the anxiety into hope." 

Read more:

Hungary's PM-elect Magyar Signals Shift in Israel Policy With Return to International Criminal Court

'It Won't Get Worse': After 16-years Under Orbán, Hungary's Jews Are Split Over What Comes Next

'We Hope You Can Do It Too': How Israel Echoed in Hungary's Election

Hungry for Hungary: Why Are Netanyahu's Ministers Flocking to Budapest?

Could Orbán's Crushing Defeat Be a Blueprint for Netanyahu's Opponents?

The dramatic landslide election in Hungary toppling authoritarian populist Prime Minister Viktor Orb&aacute;n, resonated deeply for Israel in diverse ways, explained Haaretz&rsquo;s David Issacharoff, who covered the election from Budapest, speaking on the Haaretz Podcast.&nbsp;
For Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his supporters, it meant the loss of his &ldquo;closest ally&rdquo; in Europe who would no longer stand up for Israel by pulling out of the International Criminal Court when it issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders &ndash; and bucking the European Union in defense of the Jewish state.&nbsp;
For Israelis desperate to rid themselves of Netanyahu&rsquo;s leadership, the end of Orb&aacute;n&rsquo;s 16-year reign offers inspiration. Issacharoff noted that young anti-Orb&aacute;n voters he interviewed &ldquo;said exactly the same things that many young Israelis believe too: that he&rsquo;s been making their country a pariah, and they don&rsquo;t feel part of the wider world anymore.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Although the two countries are very different, there are lessons from the Hungarian campaign of P&eacute;ter Magyar, and Netanyahu&rsquo;s opponents must learn them. The biggest lesson? "Turning the anxiety into hope."&nbsp;
Read more:
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/2026-04-13/ty-article/.premium/hungarys-pm-elect-magyar-pledges-icc-return-vows-pragmatic-israel-policy-shift/0000019d-8799-d7a4-a7df-bf9f38e90000">Hungary's PM-elect Magyar Signals Shift in Israel Policy With Return to International Criminal Court</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/2026-04-13/ty-article-magazine/.premium/after-16-years-under-orban-hungarys-jews-are-split-over-what-comes-next/0000019d-87cc-d7a4-a7df-bfdf728e0000">'It Won't Get Worse':&nbsp;After 16-years Under Orb&aacute;n, Hungary's Jews Are Split Over What Comes Next</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/haaretz-today/2026-04-13/ty-article/.highlight/we-hope-you-can-do-it-too-how-israel-echoed-in-hungarys-election/0000019d-86f1-dedb-afbd-a6ff2abb0001">'We Hope You Can Do It Too': How Israel Echoed in Hungary's Election</a>
<a href="http://haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-politics/2026-02-17/ty-article-magazine/.premium/hungry-for-hungary-why-are-netanyahus-ministers-flocking-to-budapest/0000019c-6591-d618-a19d-77ff9f470000">Hungry for Hungary:&nbsp;Why Are Netanyahu's Ministers Flocking to Budapest?</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-politics/2026-04-15/ty-article/.premium/could-orbans-crushing-defeat-be-a-blueprint-for-netanyahus-opponents/0000019d-90d9-db3b-a3dd-bcdbb7210000">Could Orb&aacute;n's Crushing Defeat Be a Blueprint for Netanyahu's Opponents?</a>

'The Hungarians turned their anxiety into hope, that's the main lesson for Israelis'

As diplomatic talks between Iran and the United States continue in an effort to extend the temporary cease-fire due to expire on April 22, public opinion surveys show that while a majority of Israelis oppose the cease-fire, support for the Iran war is declining. 

Alon-Lee Green, the national co-director of Standing Together and one of the main organizers of demonstrations against the joint U.S.-Israel offensive in Iran, told the Haaretz Podcast that he is “encouraged” by the decrease in support among Israelis. 

“I think a lot of people are waking up and joining this protest,” Green said. “It's delusional to believe that the promises that have been made to us at the beginning of the war are still valid somehow, and that we're still fighting to change the regime in Iran or to save Iranians while we're killing them and making them refugees.”

Through the protests, Standing Together “tried to remind the Israeli public that just eight months ago, we ended the first Iran war with big promises, with Netanyahu saying that we scored a historic win, that we annihilated the ballistic missile program of Iran, that we annihilated the nuclear threat of Iran,” Green said. “

Green was among the protesters who, after being detained by police at the April 4 antiwar protest in Tel Aviv, were not permitted to enter a shelter during a missile barrage. Police instead took detainees to the lobby of a nearby building that was enclosed entirely in glass. On the podcast, he also recounts being targeted by right-wing activists who have poured chemicals outside his door and repeatedly tried to break into his private residence.

Op-ed by Alon-Lee Green | I Trusted Israel Police to Protect Me at the anti-Iran War Protest. I Was Wrong

Israel's Top Court Orders Police to Allow Tel Aviv Anti-gov't Protests Despite IDF Gathering Limit

Most Israelis Disapprove of Government's Handling of Iran War, Survey Shows

Analysis by Dahlia Scheindlin | Chained to Netanyahu's Wars, Israelis Don't Know What to Do When They Are Over

At Israel's Anti-war Protests, You're Safer as a Horse Than a Human

Majority of Israelis Oppose Iran Cease-fire and Expect War to Resume, Poll Shows

As diplomatic talks between Iran and the United States continue in an effort to extend the temporary cease-fire due to expire on April 22, public opinion surveys show that while a majority of Israelis oppose the cease-fire, support for the Iran war is declining.&nbsp;
Alon-Lee Green, the national co-director of Standing Together and one of the main organizers of demonstrations against the joint U.S.-Israel offensive in Iran, told the Haaretz Podcast that he is &ldquo;encouraged&rdquo; by the decrease in support among Israelis.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I think a lot of people are waking up and joining this protest,&rdquo; Green said. &ldquo;It's delusional to believe that the promises that have been made to us at the beginning of the war are still valid somehow, and that we're still fighting to change the regime in Iran or to save Iranians while we're killing them and making them refugees.&rdquo;
Through the protests, Standing Together &ldquo;tried to remind the Israeli public that just eight months ago, we ended the first Iran war with big promises, with Netanyahu saying that we scored a historic win, that we annihilated the ballistic missile program of Iran, that we annihilated the nuclear threat of Iran,&rdquo; Green said. &ldquo;
Green was among the protesters who, after being detained by police at the April 4 antiwar protest in Tel Aviv, were not permitted to enter a shelter during a missile barrage. Police instead took detainees to the lobby of a nearby building that was enclosed entirely in glass. On the podcast, he also recounts being targeted by right-wing activists who have poured chemicals outside his door and repeatedly tried to break into his private residence.
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2026-04-06/ty-article-opinion/.premium/i-trusted-israel-police-to-protect-me-at-the-anti-iran-war-protest-i-was-wrong/0000019d-6333-da4e-a5df-6b3f37b00000">Op-ed by Alon-Lee Green | I Trusted Israel Police to Protect Me at the anti-Iran War Protest. I Was Wrong</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-politics/2026-04-10/ty-article/.premium/israels-top-court-orders-police-to-allow-anti-govt-protests-despite-idf-limit/0000019d-77b6-da4e-a5df-7fbea86e0000">Israel's Top Court Orders Police to Allow Tel Aviv Anti-gov't Protests Despite IDF Gathering Limit</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-politics/2026-04-14/ty-article/.premium/most-israelis-disapprove-of-governments-handling-of-iran-war-survey-shows/0000019d-8a36-d290-afbf-aa76c9fe0000">Most Israelis Disapprove of Government's Handling of Iran War, Survey Shows</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-04-13/ty-article/.premium/now-what-the-iran-war-has-left-israelis-more-confused-than-ever/0000019d-8757-d0e6-ad9d-af7f94230000">Analysis by Dahlia Scheindlin | Chained to Netanyahu's Wars, Israelis Don't Know What to Do When They Are Over</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/haaretz-today/2026-04-05/ty-article/.highlight/at-israels-anti-war-protests-youre-safer-as-a-horse-than-a-human/0000019d-5da7-d68a-a39d-5db780d20000">At Israel's Anti-war Protests, You're Safer as a Horse Than a Human</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-04-12/ty-article/.premium/majority-of-israelis-oppose-iran-cease-fire-and-expect-war-to-resume-poll-shows/0000019d-81ad-dda0-a1ff-8fef28ed0000">Majority of Israelis Oppose Iran Cease-fire and Expect War to Resume, Poll Shows </a>

'We'll kill you, traitor': How far-right thugs and police target Israel's antiwar protest leaders

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is "extremely disappointed" by the terms of the temporary cease-fire hammered out between Donald Trump's White House and Iran, but has little choice but to accept it and try to spin it as a victory, said Haaretz senior defense analyst Amos Harel, speaking on the Haaretz Podcast.

With none of Israel's declared goals of the war achieved - defeat of the regime and elimination of Iran's missile and nuclear threat, Netanyahu still "has to keep up appearances," said Harel. "He has to tell his public, his voters, that this was an enormous success. But this is not the way things actually happened. What we have is massive operational success, which - as we knew in advance - did not translate into a strategic victory."

Israel's leadership is concerned the clock may be ticking, Harel predicted, on Trump's position allowing Israel to continue fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon, which is why Israel hit targets intensively immediately following the cease-fire announcement.

"It's quite clear that Netanyahu wants to keep the Lebanon front open," he noted. "It's beneficial for him to keep striking Hezbollah, to hit them and do damage, and also create the notion among Israelis that the war still goes on."

Read more: 

Israel Botched the Iran War – and Shattered Its Standing in the U.S.

Fragile U.S.–Iran Cease-fire May Collapse Within Days, Even as Tehran Pushes to End War, Israeli Officials Say

As U.S. Retreats, Iran Seeks to Sway Cease-fire to Establish New Regional Order

Iran: Sanctions Relief, Reparation, Control of Hormuz to Be Discussed in Talks With U.S.

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is "extremely disappointed" by the terms of the temporary cease-fire hammered out between Donald Trump's White House and Iran, but has little choice but to accept it and try to spin it as a victory, said Haaretz senior defense analyst Amos Harel, speaking on the Haaretz Podcast.
With none of Israel's declared goals of the war achieved - defeat of the regime and elimination of Iran's missile and nuclear threat, Netanyahu still "has to keep up appearances," said Harel. "He has to tell his public, his voters, that this was an enormous success. But this is not the way things actually happened. What we have is massive operational success, which - as we knew in advance - did not translate into a strategic victory."
Israel's leadership is concerned the clock may be ticking, Harel predicted, on Trump's position allowing Israel to continue fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon, which is why Israel hit targets intensively immediately following the cease-fire announcement.
"It's quite clear that Netanyahu wants to keep the Lebanon front open," he noted. "It's beneficial for him to keep striking Hezbollah, to hit them and do damage, and also create the notion among Israelis that the war still goes on."
Read more:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/2026-04-08/ty-article/.premium/israel-botched-the-iran-war-and-shattered-its-standing-in-the-u-s/0000019d-6c6c-d759-ab9d-7dfd89320000">Israel Botched the Iran War &ndash; and Shattered Its Standing in the U.S.</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-04-09/ty-article/.premium/fragile-u-s-iran-cease-fire-may-collapse-within-days-israeli-officials-say/0000019d-71c8-db3c-a3df-f9cd812b0000">Fragile U.S.&ndash;Iran Cease-fire May Collapse Within Days, Even as Tehran Pushes to End War, Israeli Officials Say</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/2026-04-09/ty-article/.premium/as-u-s-retreats-iran-seeks-to-sway-cease-fire-to-establish-new-regional-order/0000019d-6e80-db3c-a3df-ef857a280000">As U.S. Retreats, Iran Seeks to Sway Cease-fire to Establish New Regional Order</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iran/2026-04-08/ty-article/.premium/this-is-irans-proposal-for-a-cease-fire-to-end-the-war-with-the-u-s/0000019d-6be8-d23d-a59d-fffc50300000">Iran:</a><a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iran/2026-04-08/ty-article/.premium/this-is-irans-proposal-for-a-cease-fire-to-end-the-war-with-the-u-s/0000019d-6be8-d23d-a59d-fffc50300000"> Sanctions </a><a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iran/2026-04-08/ty-article/.premium/this-is-irans-proposal-for-a-cease-fire-to-end-the-war-with-the-u-s/0000019d-6be8-d23d-a59d-fffc50300000">Relief, Reparation, Control of Hormuz to Be Discussed in Talks With U.S.</a>
&nbsp;

For every Gaza rocket, Israel commits thousands of crimes. Listen to Amira Hass

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