PODCAST: ALERT! THE VANCE DOCTRINE AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR ISRAEL

THE VANCE DOCTRINE AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR ISRAEL

PLUS

GAZA PROTESTS & TARGETED ELIMINATIONS

In this episode of the podcast Yaakov Lappin and I discuss the growing unrest among the Gazan population, the flashing red warning light that Israel should heed from the emerging "Vance Doctrine" as seen in the SIGNAL messages leaked to the media around U.S. strikes on the Houthis in Yemen. 
 
Prior to that, we look into Israel's targeted elimination of Hamas's leadership in Gaza and analyze the IDF's widening campaign against Hamas. 
 
Enjoy!

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Photo Credit: Shutterstock - Joshua Sukoff

PODCAST: JOHN SPENCER, CHAIR OF URBAN WARFARE STUDIES AT WEST POINT, LIVE IN ATLANTA

JOHN SPENCER
CHAIR OF URBAN WARFARE STUDIES AT WEST POINT
LIVE IN ATLANTA

The MirYam Institute recently hosted a series of campus presentations featuring John Spencer, Chair Of Urban Warfare Studies at West Point, as the keynote speaker.

John presented to the pro, the anti and the undecided elements of the graduate student community. His initial comments were followed by extensive and robust questions from the audience. 

The campus lecture tour included:

🎯Columbia Law School

🎯The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard 

🎯The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts.

The series culminated in a live presentation to the Atlanta Jewish community.

We are delighted to make that presentation available to you via the links below. 

Enjoy!

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Photo Credit: The MirYam Institute® All Rights Reserved

PODCAST: IDF RAMPS UP OFFENSIVE OPS IN GAZA

IDF RAMPS UP OFFENSIVE OPS IN GAZA 

The IDF is ramping up its offensive inside the Gaza Strip against Hamas. Leaders of the terror organization are being steadily eliminated and the vaunted Golani Brigade is massing along Israel's border with the Strip. Gazans are fleeing southward as Israel's tanks maneuver along parts of the Netzarim corridor. 
 
Israel's Minister of Defense has called for the return of all our hostages and the expulsion of Hamas. Prime Minister Netanyahu has announced that all future negotiations will be carried out "under fire." 
 
In this episode of the show, together with my colleague Yaakov Lappin, I break down what you need to know about the current state of Israel's return to major combat operations inside the Gaza Strip. 

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Photo Credit: Shutterstock - Ziv Lavi

NEW PODCAST: BRET STEPHENS ON IRAN, JEW-HATRED AND CAMPUS TURMOIL

New Podcast Featuring: A Conversation With Bret Stephens
Iran & The Trump Administration.
Jew-Hatred In The United States.
American Campus Upheaval.

As Recorded In Front Of A Live Audience
At The MirYam Institute Annual Regional Briefing.

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Photo Credits: The MirYam Institute® All Rights Reserved

PODCAST: ZELENSKY-TRUMP CLASH & WHAT IT MEANS FOR ISRAEL

ZELENSKY-TRUMP CLASH & WHAT IT MEANS FOR ISRAEL

PLUS

THE IDF HAS A NEW CHIEF COMMANDER

In this episode of the podcast, we discuss the appointment of the IDF's new Chief of Staff, Lt. General Eyal Zamir. 

We look back on the legacy of the departing Chief of Staff, Lt. General Hertzi Halevi, and outline what some of Zamir's challenges and opportunities may be. 

We then turn to the Oval Office debacle that took place between Ukraine's President Zelensky and President Donald Trump and compare and contrast it with some of Israel's own diplomatic challenges with its American allies. 

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To purchase your tickets to the upcoming 5 ROUNDS live event in New York City featuring Alan Dershowitz, please click on the button below:

Photo Credit: Shutterstock: Joshua Sukoff

BENJAMIN ANTHONY ON AUSTRALIA'S ISRAEL CONNEXION PODCAST

FIGHTING FOR ISRAEL: BENJAMIN ANTHONY ON ISRAEL CONNEXION

In the Fighting For Israel episode of The Israel Connexion show, which aired February 26th on J-AIR 88 Australia, Benjamin Anthony shares his perspectives on defending Israel, drawing from his extensive experience as a combat veteran in the Israel Defense Forces.

Benjamin discusses how his participation in various military operations, including Operation Swords of Iron (2023-), Operation Protective Edge (2014), Operation Pillar of Defense (2012), and the Second Lebanon War (2006), has profoundly influenced his policy outlook. He also opines on President Donald Trump's vision for the Gaza Strip.

Photo Credit: The MirYam Institute® All Rights Reserved

PODCAST: HEART WRENCHING FUNERALS

HEART WRENCHING FUNERALS & YAIR LAPID'S PREPOSTEROUS PROPOSAL

In this episode we discuss the tragic funerals of Shiri Bibas and her two young children, Ariel and Kfir and of Oded Lifshitz and the national and international outpouring that their return has generated. 

We then delve into the IDF's investigation of what transpired on October 7th in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, before assessing the "Day After" proposal Yair Lapid presented to a Washington D.C. audience. 

Finally, you can watch the referenced episode of "Israel Outside-In" featuring a beach workout for budding IDF special forces soldiers via the link below. 

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Watch the referenced episode of "Israel Outside In" featuring a beach workout for budding IDF special forces soldiers via the link below:

Photo Credit: Hostages and Missing Families Forum Courtesy Bibas & Lifshitz Families

PODCAST: THE BIBAS FAMILY & ODED LIFSHITZ'S FATE

THE BIBAS FAMILY & ODED LIFSHITZ'S FATE

In this episode of the podcast, we discuss the anticipated, tragic return of the bodies of Shiri Bibas, Ariel Bibas and Kfir Bibas to Israel, along with the body of Oded Lifshitz. 

All four of these hostages were kidnapped alive by Hamas on October 7th, 2023. 

The Bibas family, whose two young children became symbols of Hamas's depravity and of Israel's suffering due to their red hair and young age, is the only family that was kidnapped in its entirety on October 7th. 

The MirYam Institute hosted Izhar Lifshitz, Oded Lifshitz's son, in Poland during our annual I-SAP tour for cadets of the U.S. military academies, during which he spoke to them about his family's suffering since that day. 

A link to that episode can be found below. 

This episode of the show is not one that I was comfortable recording, as a part of me continues to hope against hope, for the return of our hostages alive. 

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Listen to my conversation with Izhar Lifshitz below:

Photo Credit: Canva, Hostages & Missing families Forum

PODCAST: ISRAELI HOSTAGE RESCUED FROM HAMAS DUNGEONS SPEAKS OUT

ISRAELI HOSTAGE RESCUED FROM HAMAS DUNGEONS SPEAKS OUT

In advance of the expected release of a further three hostages tomorrow, today's show features a conversation between me and Almog Meir-Jan. 

Almog was seized by Hamas on October 7th, 2023 and held hostage inside the Gaza Strip until he was rescued by Israel's security forces at the age of 21 in one of the most daring rescue operations ever undertaken by Israel. That operation, which took place on June 8th, 2024, was renamed Operation ARNON, after Y.A.M.A.M. operator, Chief Inspector Arnon Zmora, who was wounded by Hamas terrorists and later died of his wounds. Along with Almog, Noa Argamani, 26, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41, were also rescued.

On December 10th, 2023, I interviewed Almog in front of a live Manhattan Audience, to gauge his reflections on his time in captivity, his perspective on the rescue operation, his outlook on life now that he's freed, and his view on the need to redeem all of the remaining hostages. 

I also praised his mother, Orit, whom our organization escorted throughout her fight to ensure that Almog's plight remained at the forefront of public consciousness, and who we brought to address members of the U.S. House of Representatives, members of the Senate, and legislators in the British parliament and government. 

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Photo Credit: The MirYam Institute © 2024 - All Rights Reserved

PODCAST: TRUMP’S GAZA COMMENTS SHAKE UP THE WORLD!

TRUMP’S GAZA COMMENTS SHAKE UP THE WORLD!

In this episode of the show Yaakov Lappin and I analyze the press briefings of Donald Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu during Bibi’s trip to D.C.

Doubling down on the idea of relocating Gazans to areas out of Gaza, Donald Trump expressed his desire to see America take ownership of the Strip and to rebuild it together with international partners.

His comments have received the protestations of the UN, much of the EU, Heads of Middle Eastern states and more. 

What does all of that mean? Yaakov and I discuss it all here. 

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Photo Credit: US President Donald Trump with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, in Washington, February 4, 2025. (Avi Ohayon/GPO)

PODCAST: GAZANS TO EGYPT?

GAZANS TO EGYPT?

EGYPTIAN SECURITY FORCES IN GAZA?

BRINGING THE HOSTAGES HOME!

In this episode of the show, Yaakov Lappin and I discuss President Trump’s suggestion that the Gazans should be relocated to Egypt and Jordan, before talking about the mass movement of Gazans back to the north of the Strip and the flawed security and inspection mechanism in place as they do so. 

We then discuss the nominees for the next IDF Chief and finally close on Iran’s threat of a ‘massive cost’ to the region if it’s nuclear weapons program is attacked. 

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Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com - The MirYam Institute - All Rights Reserved

PODCAST: THREE OF ISRAEL'S HOSTAGES HAVE COME HOME!

THREE OF ISRAEL'S HOSTAGES HAVE COME HOME!
CELEBRATING THEIR RETURN AMID CONCERNS ABOUT THE DEAL

Today, on Sunday, January 19th, 2025, Romi Gonen (24), Emily Damari (28) and Doron Steinbrecher (31), were reunited with their loved ones inside Israel.

In this episode of the podcast, I'm joined by Yaakov Lappin, In-House-Analyst at The MirYam Institute, to discuss their redemption from inside the Gaza Strip.  

We break down our reactions to the images of their release - including the danger in which they were placed as they were transferred from one Red-Cross vehicle to the other, surrounded by thousands of Gazans inside Gaza - the terms of the hostage-release deal as they pertain to the redeployment of the IDF, and the sacrifices made by our soldiers in order to bring us to this moment.

We also note the rescue of the remains of Oron Shaul (Z"L), who was killed and held captive by Hamas during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, and we discuss the implications of the ceasefire on the near and long-term security of the State of Israel. 

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Photo Credit: Israel Defense Forces

PODCAST: HOSTAGE RELEASE DEAL ON THE BRINK OF BEING SEALED

This podcast was recorded on Wednesday, January 15th, against the declaration by Donald Trump that a hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas has been reached. In this episode of the show, Yaakov Lappin and I discuss the mooted hostage release deal, together with its implications for Israeli society, the IDF, Israel's security and the hostage families; while noting the Benjamin Netanyahu is yet to confirm that a deal has been struck.

We also analyze what might have been offered as a "sweetener" of the deal by the incoming President-Elect, Donald Trump to Prime Minister Netanyahu and whether or not U.S. collaboration around the targeting of Iran's nuclear weapons program may be what persuaded Israel's premiere to step back from several of his stated red-lines.

While we celebrate the return of every hostage, we present our notes of caution as to the consequences that may accompany the deal.

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Photo Credit: Jose Hernandez/Shutterstock

SEASON FINALE: ISRAEL DESTROYS ENEMY'S NUCLEAR REACTOR IN SURPRISE AERIAL, CROSS BORDER RAID

In this season finale, former Chief Commander of the Israeli Airforce, Major General (Res.) Eli Shkedi, tells me about Israel's stark surprise at the knowledge that an enemy state was developing a nuclear weapons program.

In this conversation, he takes me behind the scenes of his discussions with Israel's former Prime Minister, the conversations between Israeli and American leaders and the daring raid that was planned to destroy the nuclear program.

After that, I travel to Israel's Ben-Shemen forest to sample traditional Middle-Eastern foods before walking through monuments to the victims of the Nazi Holocaust and the brave pilots of the Israeli Air-Force.

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Photo Credit: U.S. Government

PODCAST: KEEP THE ENEMY AWAY FROM OUR BORDERS

In this episode, Yaakov Lappin and I discuss several of this week’s events, many of which are the result of Israel's enemies operating far too close to its borders. 
 
Those subjects include the recent recovery of the body of a hostage kidnapped on October 7th, an overview of the tragic number of hostages kidnapped alive who are now dead, the lack of enforcement of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), as well as the urgent man-power needs of the IDF in the midst of a multi-front war that has endured for well over a year. 
 
We also analyze efforts to draft the Haredi population and the implications of doing so, or failing to do so.

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Photo Credit: Anas-Mohammed/Shutterstock.com

EPISODE 4 PART 1: HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR'S SON BECOMES COMMANDER OF ISRAELI AIR-FORCE

In this episode, I'm invited into the home of Major-General (Res.) Eliezer Shkedi, the son of a holocaust survivor who climbed Israel's military ranks to become the Chief Commander of The Israeli Air-Force.

He tells me about his father's personal history and how that informed his decision to serve and protect the State of Israel however he could.

In 2003, against the objections of the Polish government, General Shkedi approved of a ceremonial Israeli flyover above the Nazi Death Camp at Auschwitz in an astonishing display of his conviction that "Never Again" must truly mean "Never Again."

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Photo Credit: THE MIRYAM INSTITUTE © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2024

PODCAST: IDF COMMANDO RAID DEEP IN SYRIA AND TERROR IN AMERICA

In this episode, I’m joined by The MirYam Institute In-House Analyst Yaakov Lappin to discuss the incredible IDF commando raid inside Syria to destroy a massive Iranian weapons making facility.

The raid, led by the Israeli Air-Force and Air-Force Commandos, took place in September but information about it was only cleared for publication this week. 

We are then joined by Micah Jones, Esq. and Frank Sobchak, PhD., two of MirYam’s I-LAP Israel trip Alumni, both former officers in the U.S. Army, for their insights on the recent terror attacks in Las Vegas and New Orleans, before rounding out the show with a brief conversation about the departure of Israel’s former Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant from politics and the state of Israeli mainstream media.

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Photo Credit: Members of the IAF’s Shaldag unit carry out a raid against an Iranian missile factory near Masyaf, Syria, September 8, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces).

PODCAST: THE HOUTHIS, OUR HOSTAGES, HAMAS, IRAN'S NUKES + WHAT AWAITS IN 2025?

In this final episode of the podcast for this year, I sit down with Yaakov Lappin, In-House analyst for The MirYam Institute, to discuss the increased incoming fire Israel has faced from the Houthis of late, the ongoing hostage crisis and its potential for resolution, and whether or not now is the time for Israel to take out Iran's nuclear weapons program. 

We round off the discussion with one or two predictions about 2025, focused on Israeli elections, the broadening of the Abraham Accords and whether or not the war will come to a close in the coming 12 months. 

If you've enjoyed the podcast this year, please be sure to subscribe and to leave a comment and rating at wherever it is you get your podcasts from. 

You can also make a real impact this year-end by making a tax deductible donation to The MirYam Institute via the link below. 

Wishing you and yours a Happy Chanukah, a wonderful holiday season and a successful, happy and peaceful 2025!

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Photo Credit: THE MIRYAM INSTITUTE © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2024

EPISODE 3: AT THE LEBANON-ISRAEL BORDER WITH BRIG. GEN. "CHIKO" TAMIR

Filmed before the Hamas massacre of October 7th, Brigadier General "Chiko" Tamir invites me into his home, right at the border between Israel and Lebanon, to talk about his career as a venerated combat officer in the Israel Defense Forces.

He took me behind the scenes of his military escapades, including the firefight he led that killed the son of the recently eliminated Head of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, his decision to bring the body of Nasrallah's son back to Israel, and the successful exchange Israel later made in order to recover the body of one of Israel's fallen soldiers.

In Part 2, he gives an ominous warning about Hamas's determination to build a full scale terrorist-army and the need for Israel to counter that threat. He then outlines his views on leadership on the battlefield and in life, before I set out on my way to enjoy a bite of KNAFE, an Israeli dessert stuffed with cheese and other delights, baked by Lebanese refugees who now live in Israel.

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Photo Credit: THE MIRYAM INSTITUTE © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2024

PODCAST: IDF AMPUTEE & HERO: 'PUT YOUR LEGS ON!'

In this episode, recorded on December 12th, 2024, I sit down with IDF veteran, amputee and hero, Boris Shtonda, whose leg was amputated as a result of a catastrophic injury he sustained inside the Gaza Strip following the October 7th massacre. 

Boris tells me about his career in the IDF elite counter-terror unit, Duvdevan, his work as a close protection officer where he guarded over Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, Former Head of Mossad Yossi Cohen and others and how his life changed after October 7th. 

Hearing the news of the Hamas rampage while on vacation in Japan, Boris flew home, joined his unit, was injured and began his journey back to a functioning and fulfilling life. 

He shares what Judaism says about amputations, what he feels are his next missions in life and his ambition to make history by climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. 

It’s an incredible story bound up by his credo…that whatever life throws at you, always “PUT YOUR LEGS ON!”

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Photo Credit: THE MIRYAM INSTITUTE © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2024