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

As Israel is fighting enemies on multiple fronts, it can't afford to lose any of its vital strategic assets. And according to Dr. Avishay Ben Sasson-Gordis, a researcher at Tel Aviv's Institute for National Security Studies, it is in danger of losing one of those assets: the support of American Jews.

"The loss of the special relationship between Israel and the US will force Israel to reconsider its security priorities and matter greatly to the security and foreign policy of the State of Israel," Sasson-Gordis told the Haaretz Podcast. "Within that, the Jewish community over the decades has been a major pillar of that support."

A new report co-authored by Sasson-Gordis details the data behind the deterioration of support and explains the reasons for the dramatic drop – even as the Trump White House is offering "unprecedented levels of support" for Israel. The report is intended as a wake-up call for Israeli leaders and offers a list of policy recommendations designed to stave off the deterioration.

Polls show that among the U.S. public at large, "Israel is in the red in terms of net public support in every audience except older Republicans – even traditional groups that the current government and previous Israeli governments have seen as stalwart supporters of Israel."

The Jewish community faces a "generational cliff," he said, as American Jews, particularly young Jews, are deeply influenced by the multi-front wars waged by Israel.

"If you're today a young American Jew who is not very strongly affiliated with Israel to begin with, then the experiences that you've had – either on campus or where you work or on social media – cause you to wonder whether supporting Israel is worth it for you socially and morally."

But even older members of the U.S. Jewish establishment, including institutional leaders, he said, "feel like Israel is not listening to them and is not interested in their opinions, even as they are increasingly affected by Israeli actions on the ground."

Read more:

Most U.S. Jews Do Not Identify as 'Zionists,' Even When They Support Israel, JFNA Survey Finds

Netanyahu Minister to Reform Rabbi MK Kariv: 'You're Marrying Dogs in Your Delusional Synagogues'

Analysis by Joshua Leifer: J Street Isn't Out of Touch With American Jews, but Israel's Settler Right Is

'A Critical Mass of U.S. Jews Is Now Disgusted With Israel'

Analysis by David Rosenberg: The Future of American Jewry Looks Bleak

Read the full INSS report

As Israel is fighting enemies on multiple fronts, it can't afford to lose any of its vital strategic assets. And according to Dr. Avishay Ben Sasson-Gordis, a researcher at Tel Aviv's Institute for National Security Studies, it is in danger of losing one of those assets: the support of American Jews.
"The loss of the special relationship between Israel and the US will force Israel to reconsider its security priorities and matter greatly to the security and foreign policy of the State of Israel," Sasson-Gordis told the Haaretz Podcast. "Within that, the Jewish community over the decades has been a major pillar of that support."
A new report co-authored by Sasson-Gordis details the data behind the deterioration of support and explains the reasons for the dramatic drop &ndash; even as the Trump White House is offering "unprecedented levels of support" for Israel. The report is intended as a wake-up call for Israeli leaders and offers a list of policy recommendations designed to stave off the deterioration.
Polls show that among the U.S. public at large, "Israel is in the red in terms of net public support in every audience except older Republicans &ndash; even traditional groups that the current government and previous Israeli governments have seen as stalwart supporters of Israel."
The Jewish community faces a "generational cliff," he said, as American Jews, particularly young Jews, are deeply influenced by the multi-front wars waged by Israel.
"If you're today a young American Jew who is not very strongly affiliated with Israel to begin with, then the experiences that you've had &ndash; either on campus or where you work or on social media &ndash; cause you to wonder whether supporting Israel is worth it for you socially and morally."
But even older members of the U.S. Jewish establishment, including institutional leaders, he said, "feel like Israel is not listening to them and is not interested in their opinions, even as they are increasingly affected by Israeli actions on the ground."
Read more:
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/2026-02-06/ty-article/most-u-s-jews-do-not-identify-as-zionists-even-when-they-support-israel-survey-finds/0000019c-321e-d663-a39c-3fbec6b20000">Most U.S. Jews Do Not Identify as 'Zionists,' Even When They Support Israel, JFNA Survey Finds</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-05-20/ty-article/.premium/netanyahu-minister-to-reform-rabbi-youre-marrying-dogs-in-your-synagogues/0000019e-45a9-d63d-a3de-45a969120000">Netanyahu Minister to Reform Rabbi MK Kariv: 'You're Marrying Dogs in Your Delusional Synagogues'</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2026-05-19/ty-article/.premium/j-street-isnt-out-of-touch-with-american-jews-but-israels-settler-right-is/0000019e-4062-dab3-adfe-d87608aa0000">Analysis by Joshua Leifer: J Street Isn't Out of Touch With American Jews, but Israel's Settler Right Is</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/2026-03-26/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/a-critical-mass-of-u-s-jews-is-now-disgusted-with-israel/0000019d-2b4e-d868-a1bd-7bef4dcd0000">'A Critical Mass of U.S. Jews Is Now Disgusted With Israel'</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2026-05-20/ty-article/.premium/the-future-of-american-jewry-looks-bleak/0000019e-45da-dc0d-a99e-cdfe83360000">Analysis by David Rosenberg: The Future of American Jewry Looks Bleak</a>
<a href="https://www.inss.org.il/publication/us-jewry/">Read the full INSS report</a>

'Sounding the alarm': Inside a deepening crisis as American Jewish support for Israel erodes on left and right

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his desire not to "get stuck" in Middle East conflict and clearly wants to avoid a renewal of full-on war with Iran – but he may not have a choice, Haaretz senior analyst Amos Harel told the Haaretz Podcast.

"The Iranians are not playing ball. They're not willing to make the concessions he's demanding," Harel said. "Under these circumstances, he may be pushed into a corner" and resume strikes on Iranian targets.

It is a scenario that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clearly desires, Harel said, but it isn't clear whether Trump will include Israel directly in the offensive if it returns to striking Iran. The Israeli military is, he notes, on "high alert."

On the podcast, Harel speaks to host Allison Kaplan Sommer about the "fake cease-fires" in Israel's multiple fronts – where agreements exist on paper, but attacks and drone strikes continue – in Gaza, between Iran and the Gulf states, and between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

In Lebanon, he noted, the number of IDF and Lebanese casualties – the latter of which recently passed 3,000 – are "massive" considering that there is no full-scale war officially raging and a recently renewed cease-fire agreement is supposed to be in place.

"We're shedding blood there, and this is not going anywhere positive soon," Harel said. "It all goes back to the fact that Netanyahu time and time again insists on not initiating any kind of diplomatic solution after the guns go silent."

"After operational success is achieved, he always refuses because of his political situation and refuses to undertake any kind of serious negotiations with the other side."

Read more:

Trump Says He Paused Attack on Iran, Signals Nuclear Deal May Be Possible

Analysis by Amos Harel: As Trump Hesitates With Iran, Israel Acts as if Return of War Inevitable

Unmoved by Trump's Ticking Clock, Iran Forms a New Reality in the Persian Gulf

Israeli Soldiers in Lebanon Complain of Risky, Pointless Missions in Broad Daylight

Israel and Hezbollah Trade Fire Across Lebanon Border Despite Cease-fire Extension

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his desire not to "get stuck" in Middle East conflict and clearly wants to avoid a renewal of full-on war with Iran &ndash; but he may not have a choice, Haaretz senior analyst Amos Harel told the Haaretz Podcast.
"The Iranians are not playing ball. They're not willing to make the concessions he's demanding," Harel said. "Under these circumstances, he may be pushed into a corner" and resume strikes on Iranian targets.
It is a scenario that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clearly desires, Harel said, but it isn't clear whether Trump will include Israel directly in the offensive if it returns to striking Iran. The Israeli military is, he notes, on "high alert."
On the podcast, Harel speaks to host Allison Kaplan Sommer about the "fake cease-fires" in Israel's multiple fronts &ndash; where agreements exist on paper, but attacks and drone strikes continue &ndash; in Gaza, between Iran and the Gulf states, and between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
In Lebanon, he noted, the number of IDF and Lebanese casualties &ndash; the latter of which recently passed 3,000 &ndash; are "massive" considering that there is no full-scale war officially raging and a recently renewed cease-fire agreement is supposed to be in place.
"We're shedding blood there, and this is not going anywhere positive soon," Harel said. "It all goes back to the fact that Netanyahu time and time again insists on not initiating any kind of diplomatic solution after the guns go silent."
"After operational success is achieved, he always refuses because of his political situation and refuses to undertake any kind of serious negotiations with the other side."
Read more:
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iran/2026-05-18/ty-article/iranian-official-u-s-shows-flexibility-on-irans-nuclear-program-in-talks/0000019e-3c2c-d5a4-afde-7ebfeae80000">Trump Says He Paused Attack on Iran, Signals Nuclear Deal May Be Possible</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iran/2026-05-18/ty-article/.premium/as-trump-hesitates-israel-prepares-for-renewed-iran-strikes/0000019e-3797-d0ff-afbe-77d7af7a0000">Analysis by Amos Harel: As Trump Hesitates With Iran, Israel Acts as if Return of War Inevitable</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/2026-05-19/ty-article/.premium/unmoved-by-trumps-threats-iran-creates-a-new-reality-in-the-persian-gulf/0000019e-3d45-d104-abde-fdcfd0170000">Unmoved by Trump's Ticking Clock, Iran Forms a New Reality in the Persian Gulf</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-05-19/ty-article/.premium/idf-soldiers-in-lebanon-complain-of-risky-pointless-missions-in-broad-daylight/0000019e-3cbe-df7e-a5be-3eff1fef0000">Israeli Soldiers in Lebanon Complain of Risky, Pointless Missions in Broad Daylight</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/lebanonnews/2026-05-17/ty-article/.premium/israel-and-hezbollah-trade-fire-across-border-despite-cease-fire-extension/0000019e-3577-d26f-a39e-b7ffd3d80000">Israel and Hezbollah Trade Fire Across Lebanon Border Despite Cease-fire Extension</a>

Back to full-on war with Iran? Amos Harel on Trump’s dilemma and Netanyahu’s desire 

On a special edition of the Haaretz Podcast celebrating its 500th episode, host Allison Kaplan Sommer speaks to iconic Israeli musician David Broza – the composer of "Things Will Be Better," one of Israel’s best-known peace anthems – on performing in a time of war, chaos and despair in his country.

“There’s no rationale to being Israeli,” Broza, 70, said on the podcast. "My mission is to exist as an artist and to be very much aware of where I come from and not just leave it behind and shy away from it."

Broza describes himself as being “sad but hopeful,” adding that he “would have to stop singing if I wasn’t hopeful.” Having lived in Francoist Spain in his youth, he observed that how "in fascist governments, the artists are the first ones to be burnt, banned, thrown out... And yet you can't erase the art. We need strength now. We need songs. We need art."

Broza’s music crosses cultures and genres – fusing Spanish guitar with contemporary rock and folk music, and emphasizing themes of peace and social justice. He has collaborated widely with top artists including Paul Simon, Sting, Van Morrison and Bob Dylan – and with Palestinian artists.

His belief in art to overcome conflict puts him at odds with advocates of boycotts.

"I am so adamantly anti-boycott that you can't even believe it. BDS is such a lie. It's bullshit," he declared on the podcast. "Boycott will put an end to any hope for future collaboration. If we stop talking to each other, if we do not communicate with each other, we will never step over the threshold."

At the same time, he added, "I don't disregard what's going on. I don't disregard the ultra right-wing government we have here, or the crazy government in America." But his role, he said, is clear – to play the role of the troubadour and sing “to anyone, settlers or leftists.”

On a special edition of the Haaretz Podcast celebrating its 500th episode, host Allison Kaplan Sommer speaks to iconic Israeli musician David Broza &ndash; the composer of "Things Will Be Better," one of Israel&rsquo;s best-known peace anthems &ndash; on performing in a time of war, chaos and despair in his country.
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no rationale to being Israeli,&rdquo; Broza, 70, said on the podcast. "My mission is to exist as an artist and to be very much aware of where I come from and not just leave it behind and shy away from it."
Broza describes himself as being &ldquo;sad but hopeful,&rdquo; adding that he &ldquo;would have to stop singing if I wasn&rsquo;t hopeful.&rdquo; Having lived in Francoist Spain in his youth, he observed that how "in fascist governments, the artists are the first ones to be burnt, banned, thrown out... And yet you can't erase the art. We need strength now. We need songs. We need art."
Broza&rsquo;s music crosses cultures and genres &ndash; fusing Spanish guitar with contemporary rock and folk music, and emphasizing themes of peace and social justice. He has collaborated widely with top artists including Paul Simon, Sting, Van Morrison and Bob Dylan &ndash; and with Palestinian artists.
His belief in art to overcome conflict puts him at odds with advocates of boycotts.
"I am so adamantly anti-boycott that you can't even believe it. BDS is such a lie. It's bullshit," he declared on the podcast. "Boycott will put an end to any hope for future collaboration. If we stop talking to each other, if we do not communicate with each other, we will never step over the threshold."
At the same time, he added, "I don't disregard what's going on. I don't disregard the ultra right-wing government we have here, or the crazy government in America." But his role, he said, is clear &ndash; to play the role of the troubadour and sing &ldquo;to anyone, settlers or leftists.&rdquo;

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

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