Jonny Gould's Jewish State

Mumford and Sons were huge.Over 14 glorious years, Winston Marshall and his friends rocked stadia in front of hundreds of thousands of adoring fans and headlined Glastonbury!If you remember all the bearded hipsters and the tweed the kids were rocking, it’s likely they were listening to the Mumfords on their AirPods.But Winston left the band in 2021 after tweeting about Unmasked: Inside Antifa's Radical Plan to Destroy Democracy, a book written by American journalist Andy Ngo.At first, Winston apologised for praising the book and decided he’d take a break from the band "to examine his blindspots". But a few months on, he then defended his support for Andy Ngo, and wrote about the reaction to his apology for the tweet.He then announced he was leaving Mumford & Sons permanently to exercise free speech without involving his former bandmates. It was a moment of sadness as he expected he’d be playing with the guys he grew up with until retirement age.So now he’s cast as a culture warrior, a description he’s in direct conflict with, as he likes to create culture - not go to war on it! Winston now produces an excellent podcast and he’s a magnet for guests including Douglas Murray, Jordan Peterson, David Baddiel, Graham Linehan and Candace Owens, who came out in defence of “Death Con 3” chump, Kanye West. Winston has a busy solo career - both in the studio and as a live performer around the world and our frank discussion is punctuated by his broad, infectious laugh. Given my delightful first couple of hours with him, he might just be better without them.Listen and enjoy Winston Marshall! This is episode of Jonny Gould’s Jewish State is supported by both Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy.You can support Jonny's podcast work by looking at the all the episodes and buying him a coffee here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the second podcast of discussions from a first ever trip to the United Arab Emirates.I attended the Global Media Congress in the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi, an impressive showcase of regional media with a clear message: “The UAE is reaching out to the world in peace and cooperation”. Amjad Taha is a well-known influencer in the Gulf Cooperation Council with a significant following on social media.The author of The Deception of the Arab Spring, an adviser to key institutions in the Arab world, Amjad was part of the first Bahrain UAE youth delegation to visit Israel as the ink was drying on the historic Abraham Accords.So what drives the UAE and how is this impacting its foreign policy?Also, in this episode, James Cleverly, Britain’s Foreign Secretary on his trip to Abu Dhabi, with a very personal experience of why the UAE and the partners of the Abraham Accords are such key allies.This episode of Jonny Gould’s Jewish State is supported by Dangoor Education.If you'd like to support Jonny's podcast work, you can do so right here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you know about the United Arab Emirates? Want to know more of Israel’s newest and perhaps most important partner in peace?I’ve just returned from my first ever trip to an Arab nation. I went to the capital, Abu Dhabi, to the Global Media Congress, a highly impressive showcase of regional media - with exhibitors from further afield including the Philippines, Russia, Azerbaijan - and Israel.It’s a place where East meets West.My guest today is typical of the spirit of big heartedness.His name is Loay Alshareef and he gave me a very personal guided tour of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, in which we talked about the differences between Islam, Judaism and Christianity - but more importantly their parallels, what binds us as people of faith - in a world where secular society’s norms can often compromise the beliefs of more conservative minded people.The majesty and craftsmanship of this 21st-century wonder is breathtaking. The extravagant chandeliers in each room, the beautifully etched windows including the 99 Koranic words for G-d.The UAE is a nation state insistent on pursuing peace in the world - even with partners who they may still have fundamental, outstanding differences with. It has a defined national story, a founder and a magnificent foundation stone in the form of the Grand Mosque.It’s all very contemporary. Very 21st century and UAE nationhood is wrapped up in Islam, an Islam of tolerance and engagement and peace. Why? Because they’re a nation in a hurry to build and create, to diversify from 20th century oil and gas to new digital and climate economies.They need the best talent from around the world to help them do it - now! So Just 12% of the country is Emirati. The remaining 88% is made up of foreigners.Like London, 200 languages are spoken among its people. Loay is outward looking and educated internationally - he is a student of languages, an alumnus of Penn State University, he’s a computer engineer by qualification, loves nothing more than assembling them!LISTEN to a fascinating trip around the Global Media Congress in conversation with Loay Alshareef.You can help Jonny's work too by donating here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support Jonny with a coffee hereFleur Hassan-Nahoum is Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem with an ambitious eye on the future. Her flying visit to the UK gave us a chance to chat on Jonny Gould’s Jewish State for the second time.Another year to go in office in Jerusalem, but will she stand for another term? There’s a Likud government to be a part of - and given her unique background, what about becoming an ambassador? She has strong diplomatic skills with her experience In Jerusalem in dealing with diverse communities. And Fleur comes from Gibraltar with English and Spanish as mother tongues (she’s the daughter of Gib’s first ever Chief Minister).Fleur also co-founded the UAE-Israel Business Council and we discuss the “baby steps” towards societal change in the conservative Arabian Gulf.Let’s also have a sober talk about Smotrich and Ben Gvir, the extreme end of Netanyahu’s comeback government. What are they really about? Is Bibi actually the root to a more stable Israel? Why has the deal with Hezbollah and Lebanon’s government over the Karish Gas Field got so many positives?And what about Qatar, the World Cup, slavery and deaths - and the outside possibility that one day, they may be peace partners? It’s all here. Listen to another energetic episode with Fleur Hassan-Nahoum.Jonny Gould’s Jewish State is brought to you with UK Toremet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve never heard a story like this! Catherine Perez-Shakdam lives in the UK. She was born and raised in France and also lived in Yemen and Iran. While living in Tehran and married with kids, she mixed in the regime classes, socialising, even going on pilgrimages to Iraq. Nothing unusual about that, you say. But Catherine is Jewish, of French Sephardi background. As an outsider in plain sight, Catherine never revealed her Jewishness - obviously - so got up close to the leadership. She says it’s a deeply political and ideological regime, not religious. Even Nihilistic. In Yemen, Catherine started writing articles critical of the Saudis which came to the attention of Iran. And while living there, she travelled with President Raisi on his private plane during election campaigning - and asked for and got a private audience with the Ayatollah Khamanei. This is Catherine’s highly revealing and detailed story of what drives Iran’s ruling class. It’s a forensic eyewitness account of a regime, which she says infiltrates the West - with murder on their minds. And that’s not all about Catherine. She’s descended from Sephardim who stayed in Spain for centuries after the 1492 expulsion. The 1930s, in fact, when her family ran from Franco’s fascists aiming for Palestine - with tragic consequences. So this is also a story of Jewish resilience. How trauma can travel through generations yet Jews emerge triumphant in a culture which strives for a better life for its children even at cost to oneself. This is the extraordinary life of Catherine Perez-Shakdam. Jonny Gould’s Jewish State is supported by UK Toremet. Help support Jonny Gould’s Jewish State (including Gift Aid) at https://www.donorbox.org/jgpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The decades old Israel-Lebanon maritime border dispute is making headlines again with the planned Israeli start-up for drilling for offshore gas in Karish in the Mediterranean. But escalating rhetoric from Iranian-sponsored Shiite terror group Hezbollah threatens war. Their leader Hassan Nasrallah claims some of Karish sits north of Lebanon’s border line. Western Europe needs Mediterranean gas since Russia invaded Ukraine. Germany and their like need to extricate themselves from Putin’s weaponisation of energy. Can Israel avoid war to become a regional energy power? And what about the Iranian protests at the same time as America attempts to renegotiate the JCPOA deal in Vienna? Edy Cohen’s a native Arab speaker, born and raised in Beirut, now living in Israel. He has over half a million followers across the Arab world. He tweets Israeli and Jewish perspectives to the Muslim neighbourhood, delving deeper than almost anyone. Edy deals in absolutes, in realpolitik and it’s the second time he’s appeared on Jonny Gould’s Jewish State. Israel’s Foreign Ministry establishment doesn’t like him because his outreach is both powerful - and unrestrained by the filter of diplomatic niceties. That’s why I like him, that’s why you reacted so positively to him – and that’s why he’s back. Welcome Edy Cohen back to our podcast! Help support Jonny Gould’s Jewish State (including Gift Aid) at https://www.donorbox.org/jgpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Greenblatt joins us for a second time as he looks on at how the Abraham Accords has matured since those historic signings in 2020. In our last instalment, Jason had just left Washington DC after co-writing President Trump’s "Peace to Prosperity Plan for Palestinians and Israelis" with Jared Kushner and US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman.It was a breakthrough document which helped seal the first four Abraham Accords agreements. Now he’s here to discuss his book, “In the Path of Abraham: How Donald Trump Made Peace in the Middle East - and How to Stop Joe Biden from Unmaking It”.Throughout our two interviews, Jason’s instinct for families and the worlds that revolve around them - on both sides - has always been at the fore: that each person he’s negotiated with is also a family man with roots, dreams and a future.I’d like to think this interview has a texture of two people who’ve come to know each other a bit better. I’ve come to respect Jason’s work in the pursuit of peace - always based on the realities. Will President Joe Biden pursue the amazing breakthrough of the Abraham Accords or will he and his administration continue to bolster Iran’s nuclear ambitions?And would he return to Washington if Donald Trump became President again? This is Jason Greenblatt. Jonny Gould’s Jewish State is supported by UK Toremet. Help support Jonny Gould’s Jewish State (including Gift Aid) at https://www.donorbox.org/jgpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Elizabethan Age draws to a close. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest serving monarch passed away peacefully at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire on Thursday 8th September 2022 after 70 years on the throne.Her loss is indescribable and her passing has sparked the most extraordinary outpouring of grief from across the world.But what did she mean to her Jewish subjects? Will the nation’s temperature change? Is the end of the Elizabethan age a symbol of the end of the post World War II settlement? Will King Charles live upto his role? And where does Israel fit into it?As the nation comes to terms with the loss of the Queen, Jonny Gould covers the whirlwind of constitutional events and political change. The episode also includes audio tributes from the Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, Lord Stuart Polak, Lord David Wolfson, the Right Hon. Grant Shapps and international royal correspondent, Jonathan Sacerdoti.I also have a lovely anecdote from Israeli President, Isaac Herzog.Jonny Gould’s Jewish State is brought to you in association with Dangoor Education.You can support Jonny's work too by donating here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hillel Neuer is so often the lone voice talking truth to power at a United Nations seemingly on interminable mission creep.Western countries are loosening their resolve in countering dictatorships. And worse still, power groups inside the UN Human Rights Council are trying to silence him.Hillel is Executive Director of UN Watch, the human rights NGO based at the UN in Geneva. Since 2009, he’s headed the annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, a renowned international gathering which provides a platform to courageous pro-democracy dissidents who put their lives on the line to demand fundamental freedoms in oppressive regimes.I was invited to host and interview Farida Khalaf, the Yazidi girl who escaped Isis. As America's vaccum is filled by China at the UN, Hillel says the repurposing of the United States' goals must start back home. What hindrance is the UN to Israel, which so often gets a rum deal in Geneva? And what future does the free world have? Is Hillel optimistic or pessimistic from his Geneva vantage point? And who’s his favourite pop star? Have a listen to appreciate the indefatigable Hillel Neuer!Jonny Gould’s Jewish State is supported by UK Toremet. Help support Jonny Gould’s Jewish State (including Gift Aid) at https://www.donorbox.org/jgpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She’s one of Britain’s most successful and irreverent writers. I met Julie Burchill at one of her favourite places on the Sussex coast - in Hove, actually, her home town for the last 27 years. Julie started her glittering career at the NME in 1976, aged 17 and left when after just two years as she thought that people in their twenties who still wrote about music were ‘sad old men'. Since then she’s had number one best-selling novels, won an Emmy and been condemned in the House of Commons. Now, in her sixties, she proclaims she’s in glorious decline - but still a cracking little scribbler. And there’s another consistent dimension to her writings. She’s always loved Jews and Israel. For a while she learned modern Hebrew at night class and even joined a synagogue. We got together to promote her brand-new substack articles, www.julieburchill.substack.com and in particular her new novella, the Judgement of Solomons, the story of an unlikely Aliyah between an Israeli and his second wife, a non-Jewish woman with the son from his first marriage hanging around. But the story has an extraordinary raison d’être, stay tuned to find what that is. Then our conversation moved onto the themes of her brilliant book, Unchosen, an autobiography through the prism of her long held philosemitic views. There’s also the why and when she quit cocaine, we lift the lid on what motivates her prolific writing career and why Israelis are turned on by the raw sex appeal of the Birmingham accent! Though this is the first time I'd met Julie, it's not the first time she came up in conversation in Jonny Gould's Jewish State and I include a tribute to her from fellow writer and commentator, Brendan O'Neill.Stay tuned for a lovely conversation practicing her three favourite hobbies. luncheon, Modern Hebrew and spite. Jonny Gould’s Jewish State is supported by UK Toremet. Help support Jonny Gould’s Jewish State (including Gift Aid) at https://www.donorbox.org/jgpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices