Quillette Podcast The Historical Case for Israel
Apr 5, 2026
Roy Altman, a U.S. district court judge and author of Israel on Trial, makes a concise legal and historical case for Jewish presence in the land of Israel across millennia. He discusses archaeology and legal evidence, genetic links to the Levant, the Babylonian exile and Persian return, claims like the Khazar theory, Hadrian’s renaming, and whether settler colonialism applies.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
October 7th Sparked Personal and Communal Solidarity
- Roy Altman describes how October 7th shattered complacency and prompted widespread support from colleagues and strangers.
- He recounts late-night despair with his wife and then judges and friends reaching out, visiting, and joining Israel trips as tangible solidarity.
Ancient Artifacts Strengthen Israel's Historical Claim
- Roy Altman argues archaeological artifacts created long before modern disputes carry extra credibility in proving historical Jewish presence.
- He uses the 1205 BC Merneptah stele and other long-known finds to counter claims that Jewish history in the land is fabricated.
Genetics Corroborate Continuous Levantine Jewish Lineage
- Genetic studies link major Jewish populations back to the Levant and disprove the Khazar-origin theory for modern Jews.
- Altman cites DNA consistency across Sephardi, Ashkenazi, Mizrahi and Iraqi/Iranian Jews and timing matching the Babylonian exile.
