Host Simon Spungin and Haaretz columnist Allison Kaplan Sommer discuss the latest escalation between Israel and the Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip, which comes on the eve of Ramadan and just days before Israel celebrates Independence Day.

And, with guests arriving in Tel Aviv for the Eurovision Song Contest, we ask: Is Hamas merely blackmailing Israel? Will Netanyahu allow Israel's south to be bombarded with rockets while Tel Aviv parties? And why has no one on the Israeli side got a coherent plan for Gaza?

Host <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/misc/writers/WRITER-1.4968283">Simon Spungin</a> and Haaretz columnist <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/misc/writers/WRITER-1.4969038">Allison Kaplan Sommer</a> discuss <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/430-gaza-rockets-fired-at-israel-one-israeli-dead-six-palestinians-said-killed-1.7199036">the latest escalation</a> between Israel and the Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip, which comes on the eve of <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/MAGAZINE-when-is-ramadan-2019-what-is-ramadan-saudi-turkey-jerusalem-1.5372863">Ramadan</a> and just days before Israel celebrates Independence Day.
And, with guests arriving in Tel Aviv for the <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/eurovision">Eurovision Song Contest</a>, we ask: Is Hamas merely <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/.premium-netanyahu-can-no-longer-pacify-gaza-with-qatari-cash-and-empty-promises-1.7200601">blackmailing</a> Israel? Will Netanyahu allow Israel's south to be bombarded with rockets while <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-no-restraint-will-be-shown-in-gaza-because-of-eurovision-ministers-say-1.7200368">Tel Aviv parties</a>? And why has no one on the Israeli side got a <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/misc/tags/TAG-Benny-Gantz-1.6806259">coherent plan for Gaza</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.