(249) Israel's Election Explained: Why Small Parties Could Decide Who Leads the Country

Israel is heading toward an election, but if you're used to American politics, understanding what happens next can be surprisingly complicated. In this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Pesach and Doug break down how Israeli elections actually work, why hundreds of thousands of votes can effectively disappear, and why the battle over the Haredi military draft could reshape the political map. They look at Netanyahu's prospects, Gadi Eisenkot's challenge, Ofer Winter's new right-wing party, and why Pesach believes Israel's polls may be telling a misleading story. But first, as Rosh Hashanah approaches, Pesach explores a striking theme of the Jewish New Year: why declaring God as King points beyond the Jewish people toward a vision of all nations ultimately serving God together.

Has the West gone too far to save itself? For decades, British journalist and author Melanie Phillips has warned that Western civilization is abandoning the religious beliefs, moral assumptions, family structures, and national identities that made it possible in the first place. In this wide-ranging conversation, she joins Pesach and Doug to explain why she believes Britain is further down that road than America, why the rejection of biblical values has left the West increasingly unable to distinguish good from evil, and why there are still reasons for hope. But at the heart of the conversation is Israel. Phillips argues that the West's obsession with condemning the Jewish state is not a side issue but a window into its deeper crisis. She explains why she sees anti-Zionism as an extension of Jew hatred, why Israel's willingness to defend itself provokes such fury, and why the West may ultimately need to rediscover Israel and the Jewish people in order to rediscover itself. And despite everything, Phillips ends on an unexpectedly optimistic note: Israel, she says, is a society that still believes in faith, family, nation, children, and the future. The question is whether the rest of the West can learn to believe in itself again. This Holiday season, 1 in 3 Israeli children won't know if there will be food on the table. You can change that. Sponsor a holiday meal and bring hope to the hungry.

Diane Neal was already well known to millions from her roles on Law & Order: SVU and NCIS. But after a successful career in American television, her life took a turn she never could have anticipated. When her father died and her mother was struggling, Diane suggested that they embark on "one last great adventure" together: making Aliyah. What followed was a remarkable journey of loss, upheaval, faith, and ultimately a new life in Israel. In this deeply personal conversation, Diane joins Doug and Pesach to tell the extraordinary story of how she came to Israel with almost nothing, why she believes God was pushing her toward the Jewish homeland, what she discovered about Israeli society after October 7, and why she now tells Jews around the world that there is no place like home. It's a candid, funny, emotional, and inspiring conversation about faith, courage, Israel, and what really matters when everything else is stripped away. If you believe in standing with Israel, help us put that belief into action by giving generously through israel365.com/give.

For decades, Syrians were taught to see Israel as the enemy. Then, as Syria descended into a brutal civil war, something extraordinary happened: Israel began bringing wounded Syrian civilians across the border for lifesaving medical care. Lt. Col. (res.) Eyal Dror was the commander of Operation Good Neighbor, the IDF's remarkable humanitarian mission that carried out some 700 operations and provided medical care, food, clothing, fuel, and other assistance to Syrians living just across Israel's border. And every mission carried real risks, with ISIS, al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, and other armed groups operating nearby. In this episode, Pastor Doug Reed and Rabbi Pesach Wolicki speak with Lt. Col. Dror about why Israel chose to help people raised to hate it, the Syrian civilians whose encounters with Israelis transformed their perceptions of the Jewish state, the Christian organizations that worked alongside the IDF, and the difficult moral decisions Dror and his soldiers faced along the way. They also discuss what Operation Good Neighbor teaches about Israel and Jewish values, and what Dror believes Israel got wrong in its more recent approach to the Druze community in Syria.

Who controls the land of Israel, and who gets to decide its future? Naomi Kahn, Director of the International Division of Regavim, joins Pesach and Doug for a wide-ranging conversation about the ongoing struggle over land, sovereignty, and history in Judea and Samaria. Naomi explains why the European Union and Canada have imposed sanctions on Regavim, how those sanctions have affected the organization's ability to operate, and why she believes the issue goes far beyond Regavim itself. She also describes what Regavim says is a systematic, internationally funded effort to establish facts on the ground through illegal Palestinian construction in Area C, and asks why Israel has often failed to enforce its own laws. The conversation then turns to another battlefield: biblical archaeology. Naomi discusses the destruction and neglect of ancient Jewish sites and explains why preserving the physical evidence of biblical history matters not only to Jews and Israelis, but to Christians and anyone who cares about the biblical foundations of Western civilization.

Combat veteran Meir Wolicki offers a firsthand look at how the IDF approaches the ethics of modern warfare, why protecting civilians comes at enormous tactical cost, and how those experiences have strengthened rather than weakened his faith. He also reflects on serving alongside Christians who share a commitment to the God of Israel and to Israel's future.

Rabbi Daniel Schonbuch joins Pastor Doug Reed and Rabbi Pesach Wolicki to examine what Zohran Mamdani's rise to the New York mayor's office reveals about the changing political and cultural landscape in America. They discuss the growth of the Democratic Socialists of America, the alliance between the far left and political Islam, rising antisemitism in New York City, and why these developments should concern both Christians and Jews. The conversation also explores coalition-building across faith communities and why defending biblical values and democratic ideals has become an increasingly urgent challenge.

Why have decades of negotiations, sanctions, and military pressure failed to change Iran's behavior? According to Dr. Harold Rhode, the answer lies in something far deeper than politics. It lies in culture. Having lived in Iran during the Islamic Revolution and later served for twenty-eight years as the Pentagon's leading adviser on the Islamic world, Dr. Rhode argues that American policymakers repeatedly misunderstand how Iranian leaders think because they assume that other cultures share Western assumptions about compromise, diplomacy, and power. Drawing on his remarkable firsthand experiences, he explains why cultural misunderstandings have shaped U.S. policy toward Iran for decades, how the regime maintains its grip on power, and what Israel and the United States should learn if they hope to confront the Islamic Republic successfully. This conversation offers a fascinating look at the intersection of culture, history, and geopolitics, and demonstrates why understanding an adversary's worldview may be the most important step toward defeating it.

Is the region drifting toward another major war, or are all sides carefully managing the conflict? Elliott Chodoff returns to Shoulder to Shoulder to explain the strategic calculations behind the latest confrontation with Iran. He discusses why Western diplomacy often misunderstands Middle Eastern political culture, why Iran continues to test American resolve, how Israel might respond if attacked, and why Lebanon remains one of the region's biggest wild cards. Rather than focusing on the daily headlines, this conversation examines the deeper strategic forces shaping events and what they could mean for the months ahead. Join an all-star panel of Middle East experts for a special Israel365 webinar on Iran, regional security, and what comes next. Register at israel365.com/regime.

As America celebrates its 250th birthday, Pastor Doug Reed and Rabbi Pesach Wolicki look beyond fireworks and patriotism to the ideas that made the American experiment unique. They explore how the Bible shaped the Founders' understanding of liberty, why freedom and personal responsibility are inseparable, and what passages from Deuteronomy, the Ten Commandments, and even Little House on the Prairie reveal about the moral foundations of a free society. Along the way, they discuss the Ark Encounter, biblical literalism, and why Israel's appreciation for America reflects more than politics. It's a thoughtful conversation about faith, freedom, and the enduring power of America's Judeo-Christian heritage.