State of Tel Aviv, Israel Podcast

Map showing one of many waves of missile attacks overnight in Israel:I’m back today with the amazing Ya’akov Katz, a regular commentator on State of Tel Aviv and Beyond. We get into life in wartime, and then cover the key events of the last 24 hours: Hezballah attacks Israel and opens the northern front; Iran continues to slam Israel hard with waves of ballistic missiles; Iran also attacks most countries in the region - which has many scratching their heads. Iranian missile slams into a shelter in Israel; the first mass casualty event. Are our shelters adequate? How long will this go on? Give it a listen.We are making every effort to put out an audio only pod every day during this period. The focus is on getting the information out. Not quality of production. Adn for that reason we are also not doing AV. For one thing, we’re all looking a little haggard. But it just takes more time to edit AV and time, in my view, is of the essence. Please consider supporting our work. State of Tel Aviv and Beyond is independent and we rely on you, our subscribers, to put gas in our tank.Especially at a time like this. We are going flat out. We will be publishing longer dispatches which will be available in full to premium subscribers only. You can either subscribe on our site - www.stateoftelaviv.com……just follow the prompts from the SUBSCRIBE tab.Or - make a contribution to Buy Me a Coffee……Yaakov Katz is an Israeli-American author and journalist. Between 2016 and 2023, Yaakov was editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post where he continues to write a popular weekly column.He is the author of three books: “Shadow Strike – Inside Israel’s Secret Mission to Eliminate Syrian Nuclear Power”, “Weapon Wizards—How Israel Became a High-Tech Military Superpower” and “Israel vs. Iran: The Shadow War.”Prior to taking up the role of editor-in-chief, Yaakov served for two years as a senior policy adviser to Naftali Bennett during his tenure as Israel’s Minister of Economy and Minister of Diaspora Affairs.In 2013, Yaakov was one of 12 international fellows to spend a year at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University.Originally from Chicago, Yaakov has a law degree from Bar Ilan University. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife Chaya and their four children.Find Yaakov Katz on X. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

Lightly edited video recording from an hour ago with Jonathan Conricus on developments in Israel and the Middle East. Have a listen. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.stateoftelaviv.comToday’s episode begins with an extraordinary interview that was aired recently on Iran International television. Vancouver-based journalist, Negar Mojtahedi, speaks with the father of a 17-year-old youth who was badly injured by the regime and then taken from his hospital bed to be executed. The story is surreal but is one of tens of thousands. Many Ira…

I’d like to begin by thanking Andrea Marcus, a dear friend and long-time supporter of State of Tel Aviv and Beyond, for sponsoring this episode. Andrea is a Toronto resident, proud Jewish woman and spectacularly talented artist. She is deeply troubled by what has been happening in Toronto and Canada since October 7, 2023.This episode was to have been published on Sunday December 14, 2025. And then the Bondi Beach Chanukah massacre happened. Hours later, a Chanukah candle lighting began in Toronto, Canada. What ensued was appalling. As Toronto police watched.....Part I of this mini-series dropped in early December and focused on the violent attack on an IDF reserve soldier on November 5 in downtown Toronto. Jonathan Karten. Nothing about that attack was surprising. Since October 7, Toronto has become one of the most hostile cities in the western world for Jewish life. All things Jewish are targeted regularly. And the response of the police? Well, that’s what we take a hard look at in today’s podcast. Why is Toronto such a cesspit of antisemitic violence? Incitement. Hatred. Why is it tolerated? I have lived and studied this disturbing situation since October 7, carefully, and the reality of Toronto - Canada - and beyond - must be seen. And seen clearly. I have sifted through many hours of video, photographs and media coverage in order to document the broad and specific observations made. Toronto Chief of Police Myron Demkiw declined an opportunity to be interviewed to discuss these rather pressing issues.And the political leadership in Canada? With very few exceptions, they are complicit. Municipally. Provincially. Federally.This episode has shifted shape since December 14. We do address aspects of the Karten assault on November 5, in particular the arrest of six individuals connected with that incident. But we spend more time zooming out to look at the bigger picture, to try to understand why Toronto has become such fertile ground for Jew hatred. Many of the incidents we discuss took place after the assault on Jonathan Karten on November 5. And after Bondi. In the podcast notes we include links to Episode I of this series, as well as two-part series on antisemitism in Toronto that I put out a year ago. Extreme antisemitism in Toronto? It’s neither new nor going to miraculously resolve. In th podcast notes, we set out other podcasts we have produced that are directly relevant to the issues raised in this episode, including Part 1 of this 2-part series.Certain archive material may be available to premium subcribers only. No time like the present to join the State of Tel Aviv and Beyond club!If you would like to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact me directly. vivian@stateoftelaviv.comShow your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivPodcast NotesState of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscrib This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.stateoftelaviv.comUpdate: In the hours since we began final production of this podcast, Iran has initiated at least two military provocations targeting American forces in the Strait of Hormuz. The regime has also backpedaled on its commitment to negotiate with America and other nations in Ankara on Friday. Now Iran says that it will meet only with America and that it mus…

In this special podcast we go deep into the darkness that has descended upon the Kurdish ethnic minority in northern Syria. The massacre of civilians and brutality is reminiscent of ISIS. In fact, the Syrian state army is comprised of many former jihadists - some still openly wearing ISIS patches on their uniforms. The Kurds, of course, led the military force that led the assault on ISIS and its eventual retreat and defeat. But with the anointment of former al Qaeda man, Ahmed al Sharaa, as President of Syria…..violent Islamism has enjoyed something of a resurgence.Absolute hell has been visited upon the Syrian Kurds while the west and the world are distracted by chaos in the Islamic Republic of Iran. But the massacre of Syrian Kurds has barely been noticed. We feature interviews with four experts on the Syrian Kurds. (Their photos and bios are set out below in the Podcast Notes.) Each one brings a very deep understanding of the complexity of this situation. In order to assist as you work your way through this we have provided time stamps so that you may skip to particular bits that interest you more.In addition to the experts featured here we spoke to many others. I am grateful to all for their time and generosity in sharing their expertise and insight. I would like to draw particular attention to Noor Dahri, a devout Muslim living in the UK and originally from Pakistan. I learned so much from Noor and hope to share part of our interview in the near future. Editing such rich material is not easy. So thanks, Noor, for helping me to better understand the forces that are driving fanatical Islamism in the Middle East and the west.And to our loyal listeners, this episode is being made available to all subscribers in full. Consider it our contribution to doing whatever is possible to amplify awareness of the Kurdish plight.There are some graphic videos included in this podcast. If you prefer not to view them we provide advance notice so that you may skip over them.Timestamps:Introduction with video clips: 00:00Interview with Dr. Qanta A. Ahmed: 05:53Al Jazeera report on the release of ISIS prisoners in Al Hol Detention Camp in northern Syria: 36:41Interview with Ateret Shmuel: 39:22Interview with Dr. Jan Ilhan Kizilhan: 51:54Interview with Ahmad Sharawi: 01:02:15Conclusion: 1:19:08Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivPodcast Notes:* Maps referred to and shown in the podcast introduction:* X post of U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, on January 20, 2026:Full text of this post: The greatest opportunity for the Kurds in Syria right now lies in the post-Assad transition under the new government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa. This moment offers a pathway to full integration into a unified Syrian state with citizenship rights, cultural protections, and political participation— long denied under Bashar al-Assad’s regime, where many Kurds faced statelessness, language restrictions, and systemic discrimination.Historically, the US military presence in northeastern Syria was justified primarily as a counter-ISIS partnership. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by Kurds, proved the most effective ground partner in defeating ISIS’s territorial caliphate by 2019, detaining thousands of ISIS fighters and family members in prisons and camps like al-Hol and al-Shaddadi. At that time, there was no functioning central Syrian state to partner with—the Assad regime was weakened, contested, and not a viable partner against ISIS due to its alliances with Iran and Russia.Today, the situation has fundamentally changed. Syria now has an acknowledged central government that has joined the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (as its 90th member in late 2025), signaling a westward pivot and cooperation with the US on counterterrorism. This shifts the rationale for the US-SDF partnership: the original purpose of the SDF as the primary anti-ISIS force on the ground has largely expired, as Damascus is now both willing and positioned to take over security responsibilities, including control of ISIS detention facilities and camps.Recent developments show the US actively facilitating this transition, rather than prolonging a separate SDF role:• We have engaged extensively with the Syrian Government and SDF leadership to secure an integration agreement, signed on January 18, and to set a clear pathway for timely and peaceful implementation.• The deal integrates SDF fighters into the national military (as individuals, which remains among the most contentious issues), hand over key infrastructure (oil fields, dams, border crossings), and cede control of ISIS prisons and camps to Damascus.• The US has no interest in long-term military presence; it prioritizes defeating ISIS remnants, supporting reconciliation, and advancing national unity without endorsing separatism or federalism.This creates a unique window for the Kurds: integration into the new Syrian state offers full citizenship rights (including for those previously stateless), recognition as an integral part of Syria, constitutional protections for Kurdish language and culture (e.g., teaching in Kurdish, celebrating Nawruz as a national holiday), and participation in governance—far beyond the semi-autonomy the SDF held amid civil war chaos.While risks remain (e.g., fragile ceasefires, occasional clashes, concerns over hardliners, or the desire of some actors to relitigate past grievances), the United States is pushing for safeguards on Kurdish rights and counter-ISIS cooperation. The alternative—prolonged separation—could invite instability or ISIS resurgence. This integration, backed by US diplomacy, represents the strongest chance yet for Kurds to secure enduring rights and security within a recognized Syrian nation-state.In Syria, the United States is focused on: 1) ensuring the security of prison facilities holding ISIS prisoners, currently guarded by the SDF; and 2) facilitating talks between the SDF and the Syrian Government to allow for the peaceful integration of the SDF and the political inclusion of Syria’s Kurdish population into a historic full Syrian citizenship.* Dr. Qanta A. AhmedDr. Ahmed is a physician, non-fiction author and broadcast media commentator. Her first book, In the Land of Invisible Women (Sourcebooks 2008) details her experience of living and working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and has been published internationally in 14 countries. She is also a prolific opinion journalist and contributor to the American, British, Australian, Pakistani and Israeli media. Dr.Ahmad has been recognized for her work as a physician, researcher, journalist and advocate. She lives and works in New York City.* Ateret Shmuel Ateret Shmuel lives with her two children in Jerusalem and is the founder of the not-for profit organization Indigenous Bridges and has worked with Kurdish communities and organizations in the Middle East for more than 20 years. https://www.indigenousbridges.com/* Jan Ilhan KizilhanDr. Jan Ilhan Kizilhan is a psychologist, psychotherapist, trauma expert, orientalist, author and publisher. He is also the Director of the Institute for Health Science the State University in Baden-Württemberg, Germany and the chief psychologist of the Special-Quota Project, a programme funded by the State Government of Baden Württemberg. The project brought 1,100 women and children who were in IS captivity to Germany for medical treatment. He is the Founding Dean of the Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychotraumatology at the University of Duhok/Northern Iraq.* Ahmad SharawiAhmad Sharawi is a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, focusing on Middle East affairs, specifically the Levant, Iraq, and Iranian intervention in Arab affairs, as well as U.S. foreign policy toward the region. Previously, Sharawi worked at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, where he focused mainly on Hezbollah. He created a map visualizing the border clashes on the Israeli-Lebanese frontier and authored articles on Jordan and Morocco. Ahmad previously worked at the International Finance Corporation and S&P Global. He holds a B.A. in international relations from King’s College London and an M.A. from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.stateoftelaviv.comWe were fortunate to speak yesterday with Lt. Col. (Res.), senior fellow at FDD and regular on State of Tel Aviv and Beyond, Jonathan Conricus- who is catching his breath between speaking tours and consulting abroad. On Monday afternoon, moments after the news came that the remains of Ran Gvili had been identified in the Gaza Strip and were being return…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.stateoftelaviv.comAmbassador Michael Oren brings decades of deep experience as an historian, diplomat, and politician to bear on this critical moment in Mid-East volatility. Asked at the outset of our discussion what’s at stake, he did not hesitate for a second. “Everything.” We discuss the always wobbly status quo in the region and the sweeping change that has gone down…

Last Thursday Negar Mojtahedi of Iran International spoke with State of Tel Aviv and Beyond about the horrific testimonies seeping through the digital and telephone blackout in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Today, we bring you a special report on Mojtahedi’s interview with one man who had been visiting family in Iran when the uprising began. He managed to leave last week. Mojtahedi’s interview with him - which we show here - is a rare first-hand account of the horror unfolding in Iran. We thought it more important to share this footage as quickly as possible, which is why there are no English subtitles. (AI cannot handle heavily accented English - yet.) The gentleman interviewed speaks English well….you will just have to focus and listen, carefully. This interview is the most detailed, lengthy and compelling testimony that I have come across since this crisis began. Extraordinary work by Negar Mojtahedi and Iran International. After the interview, we provide some brief commentary and context for the current state of affairs: Will the U.S. intervene? Please check the time stamps below if you wish to skip ahead. This episode is available to all subscribers. Tomorrow we bring you a special in-depth interview with Ambassador Michael Oren, where we dive into the history and present positions of key middle eastern countries and how they are posturing as this crisis intensifies. That podcast will be available for premium, subscribers only. (A short preview will be available to all.)Introduction: 00:00-2:49Interview with man in Tehran: 2:50-24:12Context and conclusion: 24:13-29:15Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivState of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

As I write this short note, we are waiting for President Trump to begin a live press conference any minute. It is 10:20 pm in Israel and you can feel it in the air. Bristling tension. Airlines have cancelled flights to and from Israel and there is a pace of information flowing that is beyond frenetic. Whatever happens - or doesn’t - the conversation I had earlier today with Negar Mojtahedi- will be as relevant tomorrow as it is at the moment, no matter what transpires.Mojtahedi is a Canadian journalist of Iranian descent who is fluent in Farsi. Based in Vancouver, Canada, she is a journalist with Iran International, the premiere media voice for the Iranian diaspora and opposition to the Islamic Republic regime.In this podcast we discuss the brutal slaughter that has been unleashed on the Iranian people since December 28 by Iranian police and others. This podcast is direct and nothing is sugar coated. Mojtahedi is in constant contact with experts globally as well as sources within Iran. Her plea - which you will hear - reflects desperate concern.The U.S. must do something. Now. Before it’s too late.We discuss the brutality of the Basij and other police - opening fire with military grade weapons on masses of unarmed civilians. This is a quick update and includes very informative clips that you may have missed. The Basij police - a force of at least 2 million of a population of 90-million - are singled out for particular attention, as they have been in Israel as well. This low-level militia force is likely doing much of the killing - and Iranians have begun to dox them with red paint and threats on their homes. Tune in for this and more.Follow Negar on X @NegarMojtahedi / Instagram @negarmojtahedi State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe