In this episode of the Haaretz podcast, Rahm Emanuel – former White House chief-of-staff, veteran Democratic party insider, and potential presidential hopeful – speaks with guest host Joshua Leifer about the future of the U.S.-Israel relationship, the potential consequences of the upcoming elections in Israel, and the politics of Jewish identity in the current moment.

In July, Emanuel delivered a speech at Tel Aviv University in which he strongly criticized Israel's government, called for sanctions against violent settlers and companies building settlements, and proposed ending U.S. military assistance to Israel, all as part of a larger vision encompassing Israel's regional normalization and the creation of a Palestinian state.

On the podcast this week, he elaborated on the rationale behind the speech and what he calls the 23-three-state solution, based on the 2002 Saudi Peace Initiative. "I think lining up the Arabs' desire for stability with Israel's desire for security, with the Palestinians' desire for sovereignty – you can actually make the politics and policy work together," he said.

But to get there, he stressed, will require a change in Israeli leadership. Netanyahu, Emanuel added, "undermined any ability to have a partner in the purpose of building up Hamas."

Still, in the wake of the wars in Gaza and Iran, Emanuel stressed, the U.S.–Israel relationship "is not going to be the same relationship it was in the past, it can't be."

"We are at a tipping point," he said. "There is no reset button here."

Read more:

Rahm Emanuel Wants to Save Israel. But Are Israelis Listening?

This Month, Israelis Will Vote on Palestine. There's Only One Choice on the Ballot

The Week the Democrats Defined the Israel-Palestine Debate for 2028

In this episode of the Haaretz podcast, Rahm Emanuel &ndash; former White House chief-of-staff, veteran Democratic party insider, and potential presidential hopeful &ndash; speaks with guest host Joshua Leifer about the future of the U.S.-Israel relationship, the potential consequences of the upcoming elections in Israel, and the politics of Jewish identity in the current moment.
In July, Emanuel <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2026-07-08/ty-article/.premium/rahm-emanuels-tough-love-wins-warm-welcome-in-tel-aviv/0000019f-4325-df3a-afbf-6f3dfdb70000">delivered a speech</a> at Tel Aviv University in which he strongly criticized Israel's government, called for sanctions against violent settlers and companies building settlements, and proposed ending U.S. military assistance to Israel, all as part of a larger vision encompassing Israel's regional normalization and the creation of a Palestinian state.
On the podcast this week, he elaborated on the rationale behind the speech and what he calls the 23-three-state solution, based on the 2002 Saudi Peace Initiative. "I think lining up the Arabs' desire for stability with Israel's desire for security, with the Palestinians' desire for sovereignty &ndash; you can actually make the politics and policy work together," he said.
But to get there, he stressed, will require a change in Israeli leadership. Netanyahu, Emanuel added, "undermined any ability to have a partner in the purpose of <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/gaza/2026-10-18/ty-article/.premium/report-israel-backed-qatari-gaza-funding-before-october-7-approved-recipients/000001a1-505e-d1de-a3a5-737ea1f50000">building up Hamas</a>."
Still, in the wake of the wars in Gaza and Iran, Emanuel stressed, the U.S.&ndash;Israel relationship "is not going to be the same relationship it was in the past, it can't be."
"We are at a tipping point," he said. "There is no reset button here."
Read more:
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2026-07-09/ty-article-magazine/.premium/rahm-emanuel-wants-to-save-israel-but-are-israelis-listening/0000019f-476b-df3a-afbf-6f7b906c0000">Rahm Emanuel Wants to Save Israel. But Are Israelis Listening?</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-politics/2026-10-14/ty-article/.premium/israelis-are-about-to-vote-on-palestine-theres-only-one-choice-on-the-ballot/000001a1-3a53-d72d-ada3-7b7f5fbd0000">This Month, Israelis Will Vote on Palestine. There's Only One Choice on the Ballot</a>
<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2026-07-12/ty-article/.premium/the-week-the-democrats-defined-the-israel-palestine-debate-for-2028/0000019f-5787-d6c0-a9df-df9fbd8e0000">The Week the Democrats Defined the Israel-Palestine Debate for 2028</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.