State of Tel Aviv, Israel Podcast

This two-part podcast is long and intense. It has been in-the-making now since early November. Initially, I wasn’t sure about how to approach it. Because the reality is overwhelming. But the “how” happened organically, as events unfolded. When Ezra Levant—a well-known Canadian journalist/lawyer/provocateur—was arrested by Toronto police on Sunday, November 24, 2024, for allegedly “breaching the peace,” I understood that this was a nodal point. That the police would even consider doing what they did that day—and for the “reasons” they provided—was a ginormous red flag. There had been more than a year of constant antisemitic agitation (how’s that for a catch-all euphemism?) on the streets of Toronto, and the violence and frequency were only intensifying. The conduct of the police has been deeply concerning throughout, as is the rather nonchalant attitude of all levels of leadership: federal, provincial, and municipal. And, in Canada, of all places. How did this happen? Well, in plain sight. To suggest that this underbelly of Canadian society was not present before October 7 ignores reality. It has always been there. But much has changed in the last decade, during which time Justin Trudeau has been Prime Minister. He sets the tone, and this deliberate deconstruction of Canadian society and norms is his legacy. In Part I of this podcast, we explore the breakdown of the social and public norms that prevailed in Canada until recent years and how and why this has transpired. In Part II, we get into the institutional issues and “culture” that are encouraging the surge of open, public, and violent antisemitism. We look at the approach of Toronto Police, in particular, the sensibility in key institutions—like the senior federal bureaucracy in Ottawa and more. There are reasons for this toxic surge in Canada. It did not just “happen.” Canada is home to the fourth largest Jewish community in the world, after Israel, the U.S., and France. The majority of its 375,000-member community are concentrated in the Toronto and Montreal areas. And according to recent news reports, a significant number of Canadian Jews have been thinking seriously about leaving the country of their birth. A recent survey of Ontario-based Jewish physicians revealed that 30% were thinking of jumping ship. You can read about that here in The National Post (where I write a regular column). The Jews. Are alway the canaries in the mineshaft. All of Canada should be on heightened alert.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Podcast Notes1. Post on State of Tel Aviv website, November 24, 2024, “Canada is Done,” with two articles about escalating antisemitic violence as well as video clips from the night of violence in Montreal on Friday, November 22.2. Video of the Montreal riot, Friday, November 22, 2024—showing snippets of street violence, the burning of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in effigy, and Justin Trudeau getting down at the Taylor Swift concert in Toronto that night. Video from Dahlia Kurtz on X.3. PM Justin Trudeau on “X” commenting on the Montreal riots:4. Leader of the Opposition in Canada and likely the next PM (but don’t want to jinx it), Pierre Poilievre’s reply to Justin Trudeau on “X”:5. Photo showing Toronto Police Sergeant (Canadian/British spelling—indulge me this once) Jeffrey MacDuff joking around with one of the main organizers of regular pro-Hamas, antisemitic events in Toronto. This photograph was taken at Bathurst St. and Sheppard Ave. on the morning of Sunday, November 24, shortly before Ezra Levant was arrested. * A pro-Hamas man dressed and acting as Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in his final moments before he was killed in a gunfight with the IDF in the Gaza Strip. Masked and wounded, the Sinwar wannabe threw wooden sticks at a drone sent into a building. He was seated in a chair stained with blood before dying. Not until the body was retrieved and the mask covering his face removed did the IDF soldiers realize who the stick-throwing man was. In real life - the identity of the actor is well-known. He owns a shwarma join in a strip plaza in Mississauga, a Toronto suburb with a very large Muslim population * An “X” post showing Ezra Levant being handcuffed by Toronto Police on Sunday, November 24, at Bathurst and Sheppard. * Ezra Levant doing the “perp walk” at Bathurst and Sheppard Sunday November 24, 2024. He is escorted by Toronto Police officers on either side, wearing black toques.* Pro-Hamas and “progressive” allies “occupy” Union Station in downtown Toronto, a large transportation hub for the city and surrounding area. This has been a regular occurrence in Toronto during the past 15 months. Video: Melissa Rogers on X* November 6, 2024. Business district in downtown Toronto. Pro-Hamas Islamists block major downtown streets and pray. This “pop up” mosque phenomenon has become a regular occurrence in Toronto, Montreal and elsewhere in Canada. In Toronto, police have routinely protected those blocking public transit and roads and sidewalks. There has been no attempt to enforce bylaws or any other relevant laws and standards that exist to maintain public order. * Article by Vivian Bercovici published in Sapir Journal in the Winter 2024 edition, entitled: “Foreign Ministries: what to do when diplomats subvert elected officials.”* Article by Vivian Bercovici published in State of Tel Aviv on May 20, 2022, entitled: “On Being a Jewish Diplomat in Israel.”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.comMichael Starr has served more than 200 days of reserve duty with the IDF since October 7, 2023. Within hours of the Hamas attack, he was summoned to join his colleagues and begin preparations for war. Michael recently wrote about his experiences in The Jerusalem Post, where he is the Diaspora Affairs reporter. It is a remarkable piece. Starr writes it a…

Theodor Herzl is the father of the modern political Zionist movement, but the centrality of his vision to the founding of the state of Israel is less understood than it might be. Herzl was living an assimilated life in late 19th-century Vienna but continually came up against brick walls blocking his professional advancement. Because he was Jewish. He quickly formed the view that the Jewish people must transform from victims to masters of their fate. Putting pen to paper, he wrote essays, plays, and even one or two novels. His writing is turgid but important as it articulates a bold and modern political ideology that, in turn, became the spark for the organized Zionist movement. Herzl’s spirit animal is David Matlow, who I am proud to call a friend. A Toronto lawyer, Matlow has amassed the largest collection of Herzl-related “stuff” in the world over decades. His fascination with Herzl began when he was a young boy visiting his grandparents every summer in Israel. The objects he has found over decades bring to life the man and his extraordinary legacy. Oy. And the stories. Matlow’s collection fetish really took off with the advent of the internet—which also coincided with a remarkable find in a garbage bin in Jerusalem. Matlow has a gift for telling a good tale, and he has done wonders portraying the work, life, and legacy of Theodor Herzl. Until January 23, a small selection of his collection is featured in an exhibition at the Temple Emanu-El in New York. If you can get there, it is well worth attending. Our discussion is not only informative but, like David Matlow, engaging and fun. It is the perfect indulgence for this time of year. State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Podcast Notes* The cardboard portrait of Herzl that was framed in the living room of David Matlow’s grandparents’ home in Ramat Gan.* Cards from the first seven Zionist Congress meetings held annually, beginning with the Basel meeting in 1897, when the iconic photo of Herzl on the balcony was taken. * We’re Canadian. Herzl. Hockey. Because - why not? David was even kind enough to give me two pairs of socks with a hockey playing Herzl print. This figurine did not make it into the Exhibit.* The Norwegian sardines branded “Dr. Herzl.”* The locket notebook signed by “Benjamin”, as Herzl was known to his close friends. * The poster for the “All About Herzl” Exhibit at the Bernard Museum, Temple Emanu-El, New York City.* A few photographs from the exhibition. * David Matlow on one of many visits - I assume - to Herzl’s grave in Jerusalem. If you look closely you will see that he is wearing the Herzl hockey socks.His brief bio is below.David Matlow practices law at Goodmans LLP in Toronto. He owns the world's largest collection of Theodor Herzl memorabilia (over 6,000 items), and his Herzl Project is designed to inform people about Herzl's work to inspire them to work to complete Herzl's dream. He is the chairman of the Ontario Jewish Archives and a director of the Center for Israel Education. In David’s weekly Treasure Trove column in the Canadian Jewish News he showcases one historical item from his collection, which all together tell the story of Israel through “stuff". More information about the Herzl Project is available at www.herzlcollection.com 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

I met Igal Hecht, an independent Canadian-Israeli documentary filmmaker, in late September in Toronto. We sat on the patio of one of the many locations of Israeli-owned Landwer Cafe, and spoke about his very intense film, The Killing Roads. It was a glorious early fall day, strong sun, perfect temperature, too many bees. But we were elsewhere in our conversation, talking about the roads of southern Israel on October 7, 2023. You will find the link to Igal Hecht’s film – which is just under two hours – in the podcast notes. We have also included some photographs provided by Hecht. Shortly after returning to my new home in southern Israel - and after October 7, 2024 had passed - Igal and I connected online to record this interview. I encourage you to listen to our exchange before watching the film. It provides important background and context. This. Is the story of the roads on October 7, 2023..State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Podcast Notes* Link to the movie: www.thekillingroads.com* “Israel Says Documents Found in Gaza Show Hamas’s Attack Planning, Iran Ties.”, Wall Street Journal, October 12, 2024. * STLV podcast published on October 11, 2024A story of a young couple escaping Nova and ambushed on 232 is told, in words, visuals and song. In the podcast notes to that episode we have included various video clips from the grassroots commemoration ceremony organized in Tel Aviv’s HaYarkon Park on the evening of October 7, 2024. One clip is of Israeli music star, Ivri Lider, singing an absolutely beautiful song that he wrote that just breaks the heart. He memorializes the tragic story of Yuval Tabelsi, who was trapped in a car on 232, with her husband and friends. All but Yuval were massacred. She “played” dead in the car and miraculously escaped murder. Hers is one of so many stories that we will never know, because of what happened that day on the killing roads.* Clip of Israeli music legend, Ivri Lider, singing "I Had a Chance to Love", inspired by Yuval's love story, so tragically cut short. Ivri is joined on stage towards the end of the performance by Yuval. The Hebrew lyrics are subtitled in English; andThe Killing Roads PosterIn 1999, Igal Hecht founded Chutzpa Productions Inc., establishing himself as a filmmaker known for bold, thought-provoking content. His award-winning films explore a wide spectrum of subjects, from urgent human rights issues to pop culture phenomena, consistently sparking important discussions and debate. With a career spanning more than two decades, Igal has produced over 70 documentary films and 20 television series, many of which have reached global audiences. His work has been featured on prominent platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC, Documentary Channel, CBC, YES-TV in both Israel and Canada, HBO Europe, Vice TV, and more, earning him national and international recognition. Igal's most recent film, The Killing Roads, has received widespread critical acclaim and garnered over 3 million viewers on social media, further solidifying his reputation as a filmmaker unafraid to tackle difficult and uncomfortable realities head-on. 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

It’s wonderful to have Ya’akov Katz back to discuss domestic Israeli politics and leadership. We jump into the discussion using his superb piece published last Friday in The Jewish Chronicle. (The link is set out in podcast notes, below.) On the one hand, Ya’akov writes, we have a very Machiavellian leader who is constantly calculating where and how to achieve an advantage, which, I suppose, is the mark of any successful politician. With Bibi, though, it’s about degree. And then there is the Bibi who has led Israel through these dreadful 15 months since October 7 and is taking credit for having redrawn the map of the Middle East. That’s where it gets complicated. How much is because of Bibi, how much is because of a strong collective effort, and how much is, well, just serendipitous? You can listen to the podcast version—link at the top of this note—or check out our YouTube channel, where you get to watch us too!As you may be aware, we launched our YouTube channel last week with a long interview with Professor Gad Sa’ad, author international bestseller, The Parasitic Mind, and among the most influential public intellectuals. I’m working hard to put the finishing touches on a long, in-depth podcast about the virulent antisemitism that has gripped Canada and is now the focus of a lot of negative international attention. And we’ve got some more excellent holiday content coming. Thanks, as always, for being here.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Podcast Notes:Link to article published in Jewish Chronicle on Friday, December 20, by Ya’akov Katz.Link to Weekend Interview article by Elliot Kaufman in Wall Street Journal, published Saturday, December 21.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.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

Gad Sa’ad, an acclaimed academic and author of 'The Parasitic Mind', dives into the complex themes of antisemitism and the moral decay of western societies. He likens harmful ideologies to 'mind pathogens' that infect societal behavior. Sa’ad critiques Canadian politics, highlighting the rising anti-Semitism and the cultural chaos resulting from identity politics. With humor and sharp insights, he also shares his experiences at Mar-a-Lago and emphasizes resilience in standing up for beliefs amidst societal pressures.

On Monday afternoon I had the privilege to speak with the German Ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert. Since taking up his post in July, 2022, Seibert has distinguished himself as a different kind of diplomat. He interacts extensively with “regular” Israelis and has a sharp sense as to what matters. And among the key issues that has dominated the national zeitgeist in Israel since October 7 is the ongoing and brutal captivity of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Seibert recalls how he was contacted on October 8 by the family member of a German citizen taken hostage. Since then he has been engaged in doing all he can to highlight their plight. Continued attention from prominent diplomats ensures that the media—and the world—do not forget. In a wide-ranging conversation, Ambassador Seibert shares with us his hopes for dignity, security, and peace for Israelis and Palestinians. It may seem and feel impossible at this point in time, he suggests, but from this tragedy may come opportunity. Seibert has an easy manner about him, and his efforts to learn Hebrew—which he speaks very well—have made him something of a standout. As does his professional background. Seibert is not a professional diplomat; however he has been tutored by one of the best in the business—perhaps ever. For almost 12 years he served as the spokesman for the German government, working very closely with Chancellor Angela Merkel—a political and diplomatic titan, in my view. Few are more experienced, expert, and accomplished as is Ms. Merkel. And Steffen Seibert was at her side, as he tells it, and has seen it all. A fascinating chat—and even with some unplanned drama—the major missile attack on central Israel by the Houthis happened just as we were getting going. State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Podcast NotesMap of missile targets of Houthi attack that occurred in the midst of the State of Tel Aviv interview with Ambassador Seibert.Steffen Seibert (@GerAmbTLV) / 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

It all went down with lightning speed and took the world by surprise: the toppling of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime by a group of rebels united in their hatred of the brutal dictator. Abu Mohammed al Jolani, who has led this so-far successful rebellion, has been working to present to the world a pragmatic image. He has been associated since his youth with various jihadist groups but is suggesting that the new Syria will be a proper country where civilians may go about their lives peacefully. Olive branches have been sort of extended to the Kurds as well as Israel, but in very guarded language. After all, Turkish President Erdogan has been Jolani’s main benefactor and supplier of weapons, and he is not known to be a silent, benign actor. No. If Erdogan is in the mix, it is because he wants something. And we already know that he wants to bomb the Kurds into submission. Because that is what he has been doing for the past week or so. So—something’s gotta give. Syria is a complex pastiche of minorities—religious and ethnic—and many scores to settle. ISIS-aligned jihadists remain strong in sections of northern Syria, where thousands of former ISIS fighters and their families are imprisoned in primitive camps controlled by the Kurds. Russia has been driven from its Syrian bases. Iran has suddenly lost its land bridge through Syria to Lebanon, cutting off Hezballah supply routes. And the Biden administration just isn’t getting too fussed about Turkey these days. It will leave that mess for President-elect Trump. The Biden White House is doing its darnedest to negotiate a deal for the release of the remaining 100 hostages in Hamas captivity. The stuff of an emotional and enduring legacy. To untangle it all we speak with Turkish expert (and expatriate) Sinan Ciddi, whose biography is featured below.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Sinan Ciddi is an expert on Turkish politics and an associate professor of National Security Studies at Marine Corps University (MCU). Prior to joining MCU, Sinan was the Executive Director of the Institute of Turkish Studies, based at Georgetown University (2011-2020). He continues to serve as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.Sinan is the author of Kemalism in Turkish Politics: The Republican People’s Party: Secularism and Nationalism (Routledge, January 2009) a book which explains the electoral weakness of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party.He obtained his Ph.D. from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London in 2007 in the field of Political Science. 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

A favorite State of Tel Aviv guest, Ya’akov Katz, returns today to dig deeply into the dramatic collapse of the al-Assad regime in Syria and what it all may mean going forward for Syria, Israel, the Middle East, and the world. Following more than 50 years of brutal rule, the despotic rulers were deposed with lightning speed and skill by a group of rebels led by Ha’yat Tahrir al Sham—or HTS for short—an Islamist army led by a former al Qaeda loyalist who is now poised to become the putative leader of Syria. Whereas the joy over the fall of Bashar al-Assad is clear, it may be premature. HTS is really a conglomeration of numerous jihadist groups in Syria that have united over their common goal to depose the Assad regime. In areas in the north of Syria that have been controlled by rebels for more than a week, there are reports that Sharia law has been imposed. Jubilation, in this situation, is better contained for a while until we see how things settle out. Ya’akov and I do what we do—and get into the various regional and global superpowers with strong stakes in this conflict—and, of course, what it may mean for Israel. It has been a very busy few days on the northern border with Syria, where Islamist rebels came disturbingly close to the border with Israel. For now, that risk factor seems to be under control. Finally, we get into quite dramatic developments regarding the possibility of a hostage deal being negotiated. It’s way too early to allow our hopes to be raised… but we can’t help ourselves. Always looking for that silver lining. Thanks for being here and listening.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Podcast Notes* First broadcast by the Syrian rebels from the broadcasting center in Damascus.* Video footage of Syrian Prime Minister being taken to the Four Seasons Hotel, Damascus, by rebel forces* Article published in the Daily Telegraph about the personal background of HTS leader., Abu Mohammed Julani. (spelling varies)* Hamas video of hostage Matan Zangauker, released on Saturday, December 7, 2024.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.”Shadow Strike was recently adapted into a docudrama by Reshet Media and his books have been published in a number of languages including English, Hebrew, Czech, Polish, Japanese and Mandarin.His next book – tentatively titled “Precision Strike” – is scheduled for publication by St. Martin’s Press in the Spring of 2025.Yaakov served for close to a decade as the paper's military reporter and defense analyst and was a lecturer at Harvard University where he taught an advanced course in journalism. He also served as Israel correspondent for Jane’s Defence Weekly. 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. 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

A favorite State of Tel Aviv podcast guest, Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus joins us today. A former IDF spokesman with a knack for distilling the complexity of the Middle East, our discussion with Conricus today is longer than usual. That is because - even for this impossibly volatile region - these last few days have been exceptional. A massive insurgency against the rule of Syrian President Bashir Assad was launched in recent days, seemingly out of nowhere. Clearly backed by Turkey, the rebel forces are using American military equipment and advancing quickly on their final target—Damascus. Should the regime falter or fall, then the implications for Israel and the region are significant. We go deep into the weeds on this development before shifting to the West Bank. Always a center of unrest, Judea and Samara have been building to a furious boil, and Conricus worries that Israeli leadership is not paying adequate attention to this area. Jewish extremists have been engaged in unprovoked violence against Arabs, and the Shin Bet security service has been finding significant stashes of advanced weapons to be used by terrorist organizations. None of this bodes well for domestic stability and security. And, finally, of course, there is the Gaza Strip. Whereas hostilities on the northern front seem to be abating with the newly negotiated ceasefire with Lebanon, there is no sign of the conflict slowing in the Gaza Strip, in spite of the very significant degradation of Hamas’ fighting capabilities and weapons arsenal. Israelis are beginning to ask what, exactly, is going on there. Former IDF Chief of Staff and Minister of Defense, Moshe (Bogey) Ya’alon, made some very sharp comments on Sunday about the IDF’s conduct in the Gaza Strip, causing a kerfuffle in Israel and the international media. After more than a year of exceptionally long and grueling service, 25% of the reservists being called up for duty, often for the third time in a year, are refusing to show up. They are losing confidence in IDF leadership, and their lives are in turmoil. And all Israelis—including a majority of Likud supporters—are astonished and furious that 101 hostages remain in Hamas captivity. PM Netanyahu has run out of excuses to delay making their freedom a priority. The question is – will he? A deep and no-holds-barred dive. Have a listen…State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Podcast Notes* This article gets into the controversial comments made on Sunday by Moshe Ya’alon, which are discussed in the podcast.Jonathan Conricus served in the IDF for 24 years, four of them as spokesman during the intense 11 days of the Guardian of the Walls Operation between Israel and Hamas. Now a reserve officer, he focuses on American media. He was born in Jerusalem to a Swedish father and an Israeli mother and spent his formative years in Sweden. 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