Host Simon Spungin is joined by Haaretz's Amira Hass to discuss the recent demonstrations in the Palestinian territories and the Palestinian Authority's violent repression of those protests. We ask: What role does the Israeli occupation play in Mahmoud Abbas' ability to crush dissent? How is the Palestinian national struggle also a struggle for democracy? And why are Palestinian security forces targeting women?

Host Simon Spungin is joined by Haaretz's <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/misc/writers/WRITER-1.4968114">Amira Hass</a> to discuss the<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.premium.HIGHLIGHT-confident-of-support-from-the-west-the-pa-suppresses-protests-violently-1.9946744"> recent demonstrations</a> in the Palestinian territories and the Palestinian Authority's <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.premium-death-of-an-abbas-opponent-in-palestinian-detention-stokes-revulsion-toward-his-rule-1.9941098">violent repression</a> of those protests. We ask: What role does the Israeli occupation play in Mahmoud Abbas' ability to crush dissent? How is the Palestinian national struggle also a struggle for democracy? And why are Palestinian security forces <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.premium.HIGHLIGHT-as-palestinians-protest-death-of-an-abbas-opponent-women-are-assaulted-in-response-1.9966244">targeting women</a>?

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.

How Israel, Fatah and the PA join forces to silence Palestinian protest: LISTEN to Amira Hass

Unless something dramatic changes, the upcoming Israeli election will either end in a deadlock or a bold move to “get rid of the foolish self‑imposed arbitrary constraint of not forming coalitions with Arab parties,” political strategist and Haaretz columnist Dr. Dahlia Scheindlin said on the Haaretz Podcast.

With neither the pro-Netanyahu bloc nor the opposition parties coming close to the 61 Knesset seats they would need to take power, Scheindlin said that the Jewish Zionist Israeli parties – likely in the opposition – will be pushed to do what she believes is the right thing.

"Of course, there should be Arab parties in a governing coalition. They are 20 percent of the population. There should be no ban on parties that represent citizens of this country," Scheindlin said.

In the roundtable discussion with Haaretz correspondent Linda Dayan and host Allison Kaplan Sommer, Scheindlin discussed the new iterations of veteran parties on the center right and the left, vying for the voters who would like to see Netanyahu replaced – including those who previously voted for the prime minister and hold center-right views

These parties, Dayan said, are branding themselves as the “sane right” or the “non-schmuck right.” Their main differences with Netanyahu and his ruling coalition come down to drafting ultra-Orthodox young men to the army – and the government’s refusal to create a commission of inquiry on the events of October 7. 

Dayan also discussed the phenomenon of family members of former hostages throwing their hats in the ring on “every side of the political spectrum.”

Read more: 

How Israel's Soft Right Could Undo the anti-Netanyahu Opposition

Analysis by Dahlia Scheindlin: Can the Most Right-wing Government in Israel's History Lose an Election Over Security?

Analysis by Dahlia Scheindlin: In His Own Words: Naftali Bennett Is Committed to Annexing the West Bank

Arab Israelis Aren't Looking for Token MKs. They're Looking for Genuine Change

In Haifa, the 'Putin Aliyah' and Despairing Arab Citizens Warn of A Dire Future

Unless something dramatic changes, the upcoming Israeli election will either end in a deadlock or a bold move to &ldquo;get rid of the foolish self‑imposed arbitrary constraint of not forming coalitions with Arab parties,&rdquo; political strategist and Haaretz columnist Dr. Dahlia Scheindlin said on the Haaretz Podcast.
With neither the pro-Netanyahu bloc nor the opposition parties coming close to the 61 Knesset seats they would need to take power, Scheindlin said that the Jewish Zionist Israeli parties &ndash; likely in the opposition &ndash; will be pushed to do what she believes is the right thing.
"Of course, there should be Arab parties in a governing coalition. They are 20 percent of the population. There should be no ban on parties that represent citizens of this country," Scheindlin said.
In the roundtable discussion with Haaretz correspondent Linda Dayan and host Allison Kaplan Sommer, Scheindlin discussed the new iterations of veteran parties on the center right and the left, vying for the voters who would like to see Netanyahu replaced &ndash; including those who previously voted for the prime minister and hold center-right views
These parties, Dayan said, are branding themselves as the &ldquo;sane right&rdquo; or the &ldquo;non-schmuck right.&rdquo; Their main differences with Netanyahu and his ruling coalition come down to drafting ultra-Orthodox young men to the army &ndash; and the government&rsquo;s refusal to create a commission of inquiry on the events of October 7.&nbsp;
Dayan also discussed the phenomenon of family members of former hostages throwing their hats in the ring on &ldquo;every side of the political spectrum.&rdquo;
Read more:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/haaretz-today/2026-07-01/ty-article/.highlight/how-israels-soft-right-could-undo-the-anti-netanyahu-opposition/0000019f-1da6-d9aa-afbf-5dbffcce0000">How Israel's Soft Right Could Undo the anti-Netanyahu Opposition</a>
Analysis by Dahlia Scheindlin:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/2026-07-02/ty-article-magazine/.premium/can-israels-most-right-wing-govt-ever-lose-an-election-because-of-security/0000019f-22c4-d4c2-abbf-36ee82370000">Can the Most Right-wing Government in Israel's History Lose an Election Over Security?</a>
Analysis by Dahlia Scheindlin: <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-politics/2026-06-30/ty-article-magazine/.premium/in-his-own-words-naftali-bennett-is-committed-to-annexing-the-west-bank/0000019f-1896-d222-a9ff-9e9779530000">In His Own Words: Naftali Bennett Is Committed to Annexing the West Bank</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2026-07-06/ty-article-opinion/.premium/arab-israelis-arent-looking-for-token-mks-theyre-looking-for-genuine-change/0000019f-3159-ddc7-a99f-39dbd8700000">Arab Israelis Aren't Looking for Token MKs. They're Looking for Genuine Change</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/2026-06-30/ty-article-magazine/.premium/in-haifa-the-putin-aliyah-and-despairing-arab-citizens-warn-of-a-dire-future/0000019e-ee93-d514-a9bf-fefb2fab0000">In Haifa, the 'Putin Aliyah' and Despairing Arab Citizens Warn of A Dire Future</a>

'Israel’s opposition must join with Arab parties to beat Netanyahu. It's the right thing to do'

Brad Lander said on the Haaretz Podcast that his resounding victory in the race for the Democratic nomination for Congress in a New York City district reflected a desire for a "reset in the U.S. relationship with Israel in the Democratic Party voting base – including in one of the most Jewish districts in the country."

Lander won by more than 30 points in New York's 10th District, covering downtown Manhattan and western Brooklyn. His win over AIPAC-endorsed incumbent Dan Goldman was part of the primaries sweep by candidates backed by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Like the other Mamdani-backed candidates, Lander campaigned on a platform opposing additional U.S. military aid to Israel and condemning AIPAC as being "dangerous." Lander said on the podcast that, once he is in Congress, he will support "steps I think will help shift away from what I see as a catastrophic 'hug Bibi' policy, which both Joe Biden and Donald Trump essentially adopted."

At the same time, he told podcast host Allison Kaplan Sommer that he still considers himself a "liberal Zionist" with ties to Israeli peace groups, and that he opposes the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. The former NYC comptroller differentiated himself from Mamdani and other members of his progressive camp who do not recognize Israel as a Jewish state and oppose nearly all 'normalized' contact with Israeli representatives.

"When people hear I will sign on to the Block the Bombs Act, and that I won't vote in favor of additional U.S. military aid to Israel while it is violating Palestinian human rights and international law, people think that's someone who has joined the 'Israel haters.' But I promise you I haven't.

"What I want is a path toward rebuilding Gaza under Palestinian leadership, an end to settler violence and meaningful negotiations toward mutual recognition," he said. "I'm very clear about my politics. You can check my mentions – I get called a 'Zionist baby killer' in my mentions as often as I get called a 'kapo.' So people know who I am."

Read more:

Why Israelis Should Stop Being Afraid of Mamdani-backed Brad Lander

Mamdani-backed Candidates Sweep New York Democratic Primary, With Israel as Fault Line

New York's Primaries Send a Clear Message: Democrats Must Reckon With Israel and AIPAC

Dan Goldman Says Support for Israel Cost Him New York Democratic Primary

Israel Critic Scores Major Democratic Primary Upset as Progressive Wave Reaches Colorado

Brad Lander said on the Haaretz Podcast that his resounding victory in the race for the Democratic nomination for Congress in a New York City district reflected a desire for a "reset in the U.S. relationship with Israel in the Democratic Party voting base &ndash; including in one of the most Jewish districts in the country."
Lander won by more than 30 points in New York's 10th District, covering downtown Manhattan and western Brooklyn. His win over AIPAC-endorsed incumbent Dan Goldman was part of the primaries sweep by candidates backed by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Like the other Mamdani-backed candidates, Lander campaigned on a platform opposing additional U.S. military aid to Israel and condemning AIPAC as being "dangerous." Lander said on the podcast that, once he is in Congress, he will support "steps I think will help shift away from what I see as a catastrophic 'hug Bibi' policy, which both Joe Biden and Donald Trump essentially adopted."
At the same time, he told podcast host Allison Kaplan Sommer that he still considers himself a "liberal Zionist" with ties to Israeli peace groups, and that he opposes the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. The former NYC comptroller differentiated himself from Mamdani and other members of his progressive camp who do not recognize Israel as a Jewish state and oppose nearly all 'normalized' contact with Israeli representatives.
"When people hear I will sign on to the Block the Bombs Act, and that I won't vote in favor of additional U.S. military aid to Israel while it is violating Palestinian human rights and international law, people think that's someone who has joined the 'Israel haters.' But I promise you I haven't.
"What I want is a path toward rebuilding Gaza under Palestinian leadership, an end to settler violence and meaningful negotiations toward mutual recognition," he said. "I'm very clear about my politics. You can check my mentions &ndash; I get called a 'Zionist baby killer' in my mentions as often as I get called a 'kapo.' So people know who I am."
Read more:
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2026-06-26/ty-article-magazine/.premium/why-israelis-should-stop-being-afraid-of-mamdani-backed-brad-lander/0000019e-ff9a-d803-abdf-ffbaf9030000">Why Israelis Should Stop Being Afraid of Mamdani-backed Brad Lander</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2026-06-24/ty-article/.premium/mamdani-backed-brad-lander-defeats-dan-goldman-in-ny-10-democratic-primary/0000019e-f730-d58e-afbf-f77baaa70001">Mamdani-backed Candidates Sweep New York Democratic Primary, With Israel as Fault Line</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2026-06-24/ty-article/.premium/ny-primaries-send-a-clear-message-democrats-must-reckon-with-israel-aipac/0000019e-f9f1-d58e-afbf-fdfbcb610000">New York's Primaries Send a Clear Message: Democrats Must Reckon With Israel and AIPAC</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2026-07-02/ty-article/.premium/goldman-says-support-for-israel-cost-him-new-york-democratic-primary/0000019f-227c-d4dc-a3bf-2efca6130000">Dan Goldman Says Support for Israel Cost Him New York Democratic Primary</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2026-07-01/ty-article/.premium/democrats-progressive-wave-hits-colorado-with-win-for-29-year-old-israel-critic/0000019f-1b86-def9-a9ff-bbcecc0a0000">Israel Critic Scores Major Democratic Primary Upset as Progressive Wave Reaches Colorado</a>

‘I promise I haven’t joined the Israel haters’: Brad Lander sits down with Haaretz

In the inaugural episode of Haaretz’s new Election Podcast, host Allison Kaplan Sommer welcomes the first weekly panel of Haaretz analysts who will be examining and explaining developments in the intensifying countdown to the fateful elections this fall. 

This week, senior analyst Esther Solomon and Palestinian affairs correspondent Nagham Zbeedat assess the state of a race in which neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his opposition currently have a path to victory according to the polls. 

At the moment, “Netanyahu is more or less maxed out on however many people will still be loyal to him,” Solomon said. “He cannot crack the numbers to get anywhere near a majority to form a coalition.” 

She discussed the ways in which Netanyahu visibly battled for political survival in a hastily called press conference Saturday night – from his reframing of the ongoing bloodshed in Lebanon to an invitation to his opponents to join him in a unity government. 

Netanyahu’s call for unity and vow to do “everything to diffuse” a “civil war,” Solomon said, showed an extraordinary “degree of chutzpah” given that “there has been no issue he hasn’t tried to divide and inflame and incite within Israeli society.”  

Zbeedat provided an update on ongoing negotiations between Hadash, Ta’al, Balad and United Arab List to run together as the Joint List, as the Arab parties did in previous elections. The four parties – which  have the power to tip the balance when it comes to building a government coalition – remain divided over whether they would be willing to join a coalition led by the winning Jewish Zionist party.  

The Gaza war and the lack of action to tackle the organized crime and gun violence tearing apart Arab society, Zbeedat noted, is likely to drive more Palestinian citizens of Israel to the polls than in years past.

In her reporting, she said, she has spoken to Arab Israelis who have ideologically boycotted elections in the past and “now want to vote – but more out of desperation, out of despair and out of fear, rather than faith in the election and democracy.”

Find the latest projections from Haaretz's 2026 election poll tracker

Read more:

Analysis: A Reality Check for Netanyahu's Delusional Post-Election Unity Ploy

Analysis: For Arabs, the Ballot Box Is the Last Resort to Tackle Israel's Crime Epidemic

Majority of Israel's First-time Voters Believe Their Ballot Can Change the Country, Poll Shows

Arab Parties Mull Partial Joint List as Rifts Over Joining anti-Netanyahu Coalition Continue

Jewish-Arab Movement Standing Together Launches Knesset Run With Party Built on 'Politics of Hope'

'The Jews Turned Against Us, Even the Leftists': The Bedouin City Poised to Play Kingmaker in Israel's Election

In the inaugural episode of Haaretz&rsquo;s new Election Podcast, host Allison Kaplan Sommer welcomes the first weekly panel of Haaretz analysts who will be examining and explaining developments in the intensifying countdown to the fateful elections this fall.&nbsp;
This week, senior analyst Esther Solomon and Palestinian affairs correspondent Nagham Zbeedat assess the state of a race in which neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his opposition currently have a path to victory according to the polls.&nbsp;
At the moment, &ldquo;Netanyahu is more or less maxed out on however many people will still be loyal to him,&rdquo; Solomon said. &ldquo;He cannot crack the numbers to get anywhere near a majority to form a coalition.&rdquo;&nbsp;
She discussed the ways in which Netanyahu visibly battled for political survival in a hastily called press conference Saturday night &ndash; from his reframing of the ongoing bloodshed in Lebanon to an invitation to his opponents to join him in a unity government.&nbsp;
Netanyahu&rsquo;s call for unity and vow to do &ldquo;everything to diffuse&rdquo; a &ldquo;civil war,&rdquo; Solomon said, showed an extraordinary &ldquo;degree of chutzpah&rdquo; given that &ldquo;there has been no issue he hasn&rsquo;t tried to divide and inflame and incite within Israeli society.&rdquo; &nbsp;
Zbeedat provided an update on ongoing negotiations between Hadash, Ta&rsquo;al, Balad and United Arab List to run together as the Joint List, as the Arab parties did in previous elections. The four parties &ndash; which&nbsp; have the power to tip the balance when it comes to building a government coalition &ndash; remain divided over whether they would be willing to join a coalition led by the winning Jewish Zionist party.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Gaza war and the lack of action to tackle the organized crime and gun violence tearing apart Arab society, Zbeedat noted, is likely to drive more Palestinian citizens of Israel to the polls than in years past.
In her reporting, she said, she has spoken to Arab Israelis who have ideologically boycotted elections in the past and &ldquo;now want to vote &ndash; but more out of desperation, out of despair and out of fear, rather than faith in the election and democracy.&rdquo;
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/2026-05-27/ty-article-static/israel-2026-election-poll-tracker-the-latest-projections/0000019e-35f6-d813-adde-77fe823d0000">Find the latest projections from Haaretz's 2026 election poll tracker</a>
Read more:
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/2026-06-28/ty-article/.premium/after-months-of-trumps-humiliation-netanyahu-seizes-a-chance-to-spin-a-victory/0000019f-0eb2-d113-a1ff-afbe6b7f0000">Analysis:&nbsp;A Reality Check for Netanyahu's Delusional Post-Election Unity Ploy</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/2026-06-29/ty-article/.premium/for-arabs-the-ballot-box-is-the-last-resort-to-tackle-israels-crime-epidemic/0000019f-1289-d296-a5bf-73cf000d0000">Analysis: For Arabs, the Ballot Box Is the Last Resort to Tackle Israel's Crime Epidemic</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/2026-06-21/ty-article/.premium/majority-of-israels-first-time-voters-believe-their-ballot-can-change-reality/0000019e-ea2b-d4c5-a9fe-ff6b2be30000">Majority of Israel's First-time Voters Believe Their Ballot Can Change the Country, Poll Shows</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/2026-06-10/ty-article/.premium/arab-parties-mull-partial-joint-list-as-rifts-over-joining-coalition-continue/0000019e-b0eb-dd6c-a3df-f0efb9b30000">Arab Parties Mull Partial Joint List as Rifts Over Joining anti-Netanyahu Coalition Continue</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-politics/2026-06-16/ty-article/.premium/jewish-arab-movement-standing-together-launches-knesset-run-with-new-party/0000019e-cb84-d45a-ab9e-cfee31570000">Jewish-Arab Movement Standing Together Launches Knesset Run With Party Built on 'Politics of Hope'</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/2026-06-18/ty-article-magazine/.premium/the-bedouin-city-poised-to-play-kingmaker-in-israels-upcoming-election/0000019e-ac5b-df19-a59e-ff7b7eff0000">'The Jews Turned Against Us, Even the Leftists': The Bedouin City Poised to Play Kingmaker in Israel's Election</a>

How Israel, Fatah and the PA join forces to silence Palestinian protest: LISTEN to Amira Hass

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