Host Simon Spungin is joined by Haaretz diplomatic correspondent Noa Landau and Anshel Pfeffer to discuss the deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates over the normalization of relations between the two countries – in exchange for suspending plans to annex parts of the West Bank. We ask: Who are the winners and losers in a deal that will have little practical impact? Are the Palestinians justified to feel abandoned? Has Benjamin Netanyahu now cleared his debt to President Donald Trump? And what does the deal mean for regional and domestic politics?

Host Simon Spungin is joined by Haaretz diplomatic correspondent Noa Landau and Anshel Pfeffer to discuss the deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates over the normalization of relations between the two countries &ndash; in exchange for suspending plans to annex parts of the West Bank. We ask: Who are the winners and losers in a deal that will have little practical impact? Are the Palestinians justified to feel abandoned? Has Benjamin Netanyahu now cleared his debt to President Donald Trump? And what does the deal mean for regional and domestic politics?

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.

Inside Israel’s no-change, no-cost peace deal with the UAE

In a special investigation on a "revolution" that has taken place over the past three years, Haaretz reporters Yarden Michaeli, Matan Golan and Yaniv Kubovich detailed the push to restore and drastically expand Israeli presence in the northern West Bank that was part of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Gaza disengagement plan in 2005.

On the Haaretz Podcast, Michaeli discusses how the settler movement and far-right politicians have spent the 20 years since the disengagement took place planning how to execute their "return" to four West Bank settlements located in the largest contiguous area of Palestinian population in the area.

With the ascent of the most far-right government in history in 2022, members of the movement have used their power and influence in what is essentially "the settlers' government" to "return big time," Michaeli said.

In the newly published Haaretz investigation, "Undoing History," Michaeli and his team reveal how 18 new settlements and eight new army bases are cutting through the largest contiguous Palestinian population in the West Bank.

The comprehensive effort includes military deployments, new bases and checkpoints, road construction, land expropriations, the displacement of more than 32,000 residents from three refugee camps and the terrorizing of daily Palestinian life in what senior military officials warn could destabilize an already volatile region.

Every aspect of the plan, Michaeli warned, is "bad news" and "harmful" to the Palestinians living there, and that the infrastructure in place "will be very hard to remove" – undermining the Oslo Accords and the possibility of a two-state solution.

Read more: 

Undoing History: As the World Watched Gaza, Settlers Charged Ahead in the West Bank. A Clash Is Imminent

Foreign Ministry Rejects Smotrich's Claim He Axed 1997 Hebron Accord With PA, as Israel Takes Municipal Powers From Palestinians

How Israel Is Using Archaeology to Advance West Bank Annexation

Former PM Ehud Olmert: Israel Is Conducting a Systematic Campaign of Ethnic Cleansing and Crimes Against Humanity in the West Bank

'Nobody's Born a Soldier': The Israeli Teens Refusing the Military Draft Say They Can Take the Backlash

In a special investigation on a "revolution" that has taken place over the past three years, Haaretz reporters Yarden Michaeli, Matan Golan and Yaniv Kubovich detailed the push to restore and drastically expand Israeli presence in the northern West Bank that was part of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Gaza disengagement plan in 2005.
On the Haaretz Podcast, Michaeli discusses how the settler movement and far-right politicians have spent the 20 years since the disengagement took place planning how to execute their "return" to four West Bank settlements located in the largest contiguous area of Palestinian population in the area.
With the ascent of the most far-right government in history in 2022, members of the movement have used their power and influence in what is essentially "the settlers' government" to "return big time," Michaeli said.
In the newly published Haaretz investigation, "Undoing History," Michaeli and his team reveal how 18 new settlements and eight new army bases are cutting through the largest contiguous Palestinian population in the West Bank.
The comprehensive effort includes military deployments, new bases and checkpoints, road construction, land expropriations, the displacement of more than 32,000 residents from three refugee camps and the terrorizing of daily Palestinian life in what senior military officials warn could destabilize an already volatile region.
Every aspect of the plan, Michaeli warned, is "bad news" and "harmful" to the Palestinians living there, and that the infrastructure in place "will be very hard to remove" &ndash; undermining the Oslo Accords and the possibility of a two-state solution.
Read more:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/security-aviation/2026-06-23/ty-article-static/.premium/as-the-world-watched-gaza-israeli-settlers-charged-ahead-in-the-west-bank-a-clash-is-imminent/0000019e-b6d1-d7bd-a3bf-befd20750000">Undoing History:&nbsp;As the World Watched Gaza, Settlers Charged Ahead in the West Bank.&nbsp;A Clash Is Imminent</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-06-16/ty-article/.premium/foreign-ministry-refutes-smotrichs-canceling-hebron-agreement-statement/0000019e-d06c-de6a-a79f-fd6de3640000">Foreign Ministry Rejects Smotrich's Claim He Axed 1997 Hebron Accord With PA, as Israel Takes Municipal Powers From Palestinians</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-politics/2026-06-11/ty-article-magazine/is-israel-using-archaeology-to-advance-west-bank-annexation/0000019e-930f-d552-a7be-9f8ff6100000">How Israel Is Using Archaeology to Advance West Bank Annexation</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2026-06-18/ty-article-opinion/.premium/israel-is-conducting-a-systematic-campaign-of-ethnic-cleansing-in-the-west-bank/0000019e-db02-d7a4-a99f-dfce00a20000">Former PM Ehud Olmert: Israel Is Conducting a Systematic Campaign of Ethnic Cleansing and Crimes Against Humanity in the West Bank</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-06-19/ty-article-magazine/.premium/nobodys-born-a-soldier-the-israeli-teens-who-say-the-draft-is-a-choice/0000019e-daaa-deca-ab9e-defb61770000">'Nobody's Born a Soldier':&nbsp;The Israeli Teens Refusing the Military Draft Say They Can Take the Backlash</a>

Haaretz investigation: The Israeli far-right’s West Bank land grab and why it's a ticking time bomb

As Israelis focused on the life-and-death issues around conflicts with Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas, the Netanyahu government has slowly but steadily progressed in its campaign to eliminate the gatekeepers of liberal democracy in order to consolidate the power of elected politicians, constitutional law expert Prof. Adam Shinar told the Haaretz Podcast. 

The steps it has taken were “not exactly the package” of radical reforms it proposed in 2023 that brought hundreds of thousands of Israelis into the streets, Shinar said, but they are firmly marching Israel in the direction of a weakened judiciary, civil service and media, by putting more power in the hands of the ruling parties. 

Initially, after October 7, the push for a judicial coup ground to a halt. But as the war continued, explained Shinar, a professor at Reichman University, changes were still made – if not directly through legislation, then by the appointment of Netanyahu loyalists in key positions. 

"The government saw an opening. It said, 'Hey, we can do many, many things. The public is distracted, the public is concerned about other things, and we can do a lot.”

If Netanyahu remains in power after the fall elections, Shinar predicted, the push for a total judicial overhaul will return “on steroids.”

To succeed in moving Israel further from the democracy he emphasized, "You don't have to dismantle everything, it's enough that you dismantle several key components – limiting judicial review and changing the way the attorney general is appointed. … That's 60 to 70 percent of the way.”   

Read more:

Haaretz Explainer: What Are the Judicial Overhaul Bills About, and Can the High Court Strike Them Down?

With the Election Clock Ticking, Netanyahu's Coalition Is Pushing Contentious Judicial Overhaul Bills

Anti-government Protests Take Place Across Israel, Five Arrested

Knesset Grants Likud Lawmaker Immunity After She Exposed Identity of Shin Bet Agent

When Roman Gofman Came to Israel, He Was a 'Stinking Russian.' Now He's Set to Head the Mossad

As Israelis focused on the life-and-death issues around conflicts with Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas, the Netanyahu government has slowly but steadily progressed in its campaign to eliminate the gatekeepers of liberal democracy in order to consolidate the power of elected politicians, constitutional law expert Prof. Adam Shinar told the Haaretz Podcast.&nbsp;
The steps it has taken were &ldquo;not exactly the package&rdquo; of radical reforms it proposed in 2023 that brought hundreds of thousands of Israelis into the streets, Shinar said, but they are firmly marching Israel in the direction of a weakened judiciary, civil service and media, by putting more power in the hands of the ruling parties.&nbsp;
Initially, after October 7, the push for a judicial coup ground to a halt. But as the war continued, explained Shinar, a professor at Reichman University, changes were still made &ndash; if not directly through legislation, then by the appointment of Netanyahu loyalists in key positions.&nbsp;
"The government saw an opening. It said, 'Hey, we can do many, many things. The public is distracted, the public is concerned about other things, and we can do a lot.&rdquo;
If Netanyahu remains in power after the fall elections, Shinar predicted, the push for a total judicial overhaul will return &ldquo;on steroids.&rdquo;
To succeed in moving Israel further from the democracy he emphasized, "You don't have to dismantle everything, it's enough that you dismantle several key components &ndash; limiting judicial review and changing the way the attorney general is appointed. &hellip; That's 60 to 70 percent of the way.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Read more:
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-02-14/ty-article/.premium/what-are-the-judicial-overhaul-bills-about-and-can-the-high-court-strike-them-down/00000186-4f7d-d603-a7bf-cfff22e40000">Haaretz Explainer:&nbsp;What Are the Judicial Overhaul Bills About, and Can the High Court Strike Them Down?</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/2026-05-31/ty-article/.premium/netanyahus-coalition-pushes-judicial-overhaul-expecting-imminent-dissolution/0000019e-7cf8-d7e1-abdf-fffe5b3f0000">With the Election Clock Ticking, Netanyahu's Coalition Is Pushing Contentious Judicial Overhaul Bills</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-politics/2026-06-13/ty-article/.premium/anti-government-protests-take-place-across-israel/0000019e-c1cb-d86d-adde-fdff07470000">Anti-government Protests Take Place Across Israel, Five Arrested</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/2026-06-17/ty-article/.premium/knesset-grants-likud-mk-immunity-after-she-exposed-identity-of-shin-bet-agent/0000019e-d5ab-d2be-abbf-ffef7a130000">Knesset Grants Likud Lawmaker Immunity After She Exposed Identity of Shin Bet Agent</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-04-21/ty-article-magazine/.premium/when-he-came-to-israel-he-was-a-stinking-russian-now-hes-set-to-head-mossad/0000019d-b06b-dbb2-a19d-b77f607e0000">When Roman Gofman Came to Israel, He Was a 'Stinking Russian.'&nbsp;Now He's Set to Head the Mossad</a>

Inside Israel’s other war: fighting the quiet dismantling of democracy

Israel is in a strategically weakened position – and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will take a hard political hit if reports on the details of U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding are accurate, Haaretz columnist Joshua Leifer said on the Haaretz Podcast. 

Netanyahu had been “riding high,” planning to face Israel’s upcoming elections in the fall having compensated for his failures that led to October 7 by boldly “reconfiguring the map of the Middle East, and disassembling Iran's proxy network of Hezbollah and Hamas, and taking on the Iranian regime itself,” Leifer said. 

The Israeli leader thought “his legacy [would] be rehabilitated by those wars. Fast forward to where we are now, and that's not the case, and he’s having to confront that,” Leifer added. “Strategically, Israel's in a terrible place, where the Iranian regime is stronger than it was, and it is now able to enforce a new kind of equation where Israeli freedom of movement is limited by the potential threat of ballistic missiles from Iran – which wasn't the case prior to October 7.”

Netanyahu, Leifer said, has been “backed into a corner” on all of Israel’s fronts – Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and now Iran. He must follow Trump’s dictates and has turned Israel into “a total vassal state of the U.S.” and “Trump’s lapdog.” If he were to defy Trump, he runs the risk of losing American support, which could endanger the country even more.

Read more: 

What You Need to Know About the U.S.-Iran Deal – and What It Means for Israel

Report: Billions in Frozen Iranian Assets May Be Released Under U.S.–Iran Deal

Israeli Withdrawal From Lebanon Not Part of U.S.-Iran Deal, White House Official Says

'Don't Bullshit Us, Trump': Netanyahu Loyalists Rage at 'Treacherous' United States Over Iran Deal

Netanyahu Says Israel to Remain in Security Buffer Zones in Lebanon, Gaza and Syria After U.S.-Iran Deal Signed

Amos Harel: The Iran Fiasco Is Netanyahu's Biggest Failure Since October 7

Read more analysis from Haaretz's Joshua Leifer

Israel is in a strategically weakened position &ndash; and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will take a hard political hit if reports on the details of U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding are accurate, Haaretz columnist Joshua Leifer said on the Haaretz Podcast.&nbsp;
Netanyahu had been &ldquo;riding high,&rdquo; planning to face Israel&rsquo;s upcoming elections in the fall having compensated for his failures that led to October 7 by boldly &ldquo;reconfiguring the map of the Middle East, and disassembling Iran's proxy network of Hezbollah and Hamas, and taking on the Iranian regime itself,&rdquo; Leifer said.&nbsp;
The Israeli leader thought &ldquo;his legacy [would] be rehabilitated by those wars. Fast forward to where we are now, and that's not the case, and he&rsquo;s having to confront that,&rdquo; Leifer added. &ldquo;Strategically, Israel's in a terrible place, where the Iranian regime is stronger than it was, and it is now able to enforce a new kind of equation where Israeli freedom of movement is limited by the potential threat of ballistic missiles from Iran &ndash; which wasn't the case prior to October 7.&rdquo;
Netanyahu, Leifer said, has been &ldquo;backed into a corner&rdquo; on all of Israel&rsquo;s fronts &ndash; Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and now Iran. He must follow Trump&rsquo;s dictates and has turned Israel into &ldquo;a total vassal state of the U.S.&rdquo; and &ldquo;Trump&rsquo;s lapdog.&rdquo; If he were to defy Trump, he runs the risk of losing American support, which could endanger the country even more.
Read more:&nbsp;
<a href="What%20You%20Need%20to%20Know%20About%20the%20U.S.-Iran%20Deal%20&ndash;%20and%20What%20It%20Means%20for%20Israel">What You Need to Know About the U.S.-Iran Deal &ndash; and What It Means for Israel</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iran/2026-06-16/ty-article/.premium/report-billions-in-frozen-iranian-assets-may-be-released-under-u-s-deal/0000019e-cee1-d142-a19e-ffe3b3640000">Report: Billions in Frozen Iranian Assets May Be Released Under U.S.&ndash;Iran Deal</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/lebanonnews/2026-06-15/ty-article/.premium/israeli-withdrawal-from-lebanon-not-part-of-u-s-iran-deal-wh-official-says/0000019e-cc34-d9a8-a5de-df772bc90000">Israeli Withdrawal From Lebanon Not Part of U.S.-Iran Deal, White House Official Says</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-politics/2026-06-15/ty-article/.premium/netanyahu-loyalists-rage-at-treacherous-united-states-over-iran-deal/0000019e-cb57-d1bc-abbe-cf5fa9ac0000">'Don't Bullshit Us, Trump': Netanyahu Loyalists Rage at 'Treacherous' United States Over Iran Deal</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-06-15/ty-article/.premium/netanyahu-says-israel-to-stay-in-border-buffer-zones-after-u-s-iran-deal-signed/0000019e-cc8d-d9a8-a5de-dfef2bd90000">Netanyahu Says Israel to Remain in Security Buffer Zones in Lebanon, Gaza and Syria After U.S.-Iran Deal Signed</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-06-16/ty-article/.premium/trumps-iran-deal-may-be-the-toughest-pill-netanyahu-has-had-to-swallow/0000019e-ccf3-d142-a19e-fff3acc50000">Amos Harel: The Iran Fiasco Is Netanyahu's Biggest Failure Since October 7</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/ty-WRITER/0000017f-da32-d42c-afff-dff23e3e0000">Read more analysis from Haaretz's Joshua Leifer</a>

Inside Israel’s no-change, no-cost peace deal with the UAE

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