Is There a Future for Israel Studies?

In today’s episode, Yaakov Katz speaks with Col. (Ret.) David Hacham, a former IDF intelligence officer who spent years in Gaza and took part in the Oslo process. They discuss Hamas, Arafat, and how it all connects to Yaakov’s new book, While Israel Slept.

Yaakov and Shmuel Rosner unpack the latest turns in the war, weighing Netanyahu’s next move: will he strike a deal, or push to expand the fighting?

As Israel weighs its next moves, the battlefield is only part of the story. With talk of expanding the war, questions swirl over what Prime Minister Netanyahu is really aiming for – and whether his strategy can survive the growing diplomatic tsunami crashing over Jerusalem. Veteran analysts Shmuel Rosner and Gil Troy join Yaakov to unpack the military, political, and international dimensions of this pivotal moment – and what it all means for Israel’s future.

As Europe moves to recognize a Palestinian state, Ambassador Jeremy Issacharoff joins Yaakov to unpack what it means for Israel’s global standing, the fallout with Germany, and the impact on efforts to contain Iran.

Rabbi David Stav, Chief Rabbi of Shoham and co-founder of Tzohar, joins us to reflect on Tisha B’Av. With Israel still at war and families grieving, how do we mark a day of mourning and unity? Rabbi Stav shares what this moment demands of us.

As U.S. campuses grow more hostile to Zionism, Israel Studies faces an identity crisis – and possible extinction. Dr. Sara Hirschhorn joins us to discuss JPPI’s new report on the field’s challenges, its “administrative homelessness,” and how it might survive by reimagining itself beyond the ivory tower.

With mounting public pressure, fissures inside the war cabinet, a NYT report on Netanyahu dragging out the war, and growing tensions between the military and political leadership, we unpack what’s happening behind the scenes – and what it means for Israel’s future.

What is it like to spend hundreds of days inside Gaza since October 7? In this gripping episode, we speak with Dr. Tuvia Book—IDF reservist, educator, and author—who has served continuously on the front lines throughout Israel’s war with Hamas. From the chaos of combat to the quiet moments between missions, Book shares what daily life is really like for soldiers operating in Gaza amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations. This is a conversation about courage, sacrifice, innovation—and the future of Israeli unity. 

What are Iranians saying about the recent war and what do Gazans think about the continued battle against Hamas? Michael Milshtein, a former IDF intelligence officer and one of Israel’s top scholars on Palestinian society, joins us to unpack the shifting public sentiment inside two of the region’s most volatile arenas.

Will the ceasefire hold? After nearly two weeks of intense fighting, tensions remain high between Israel and Iran. On this episode, we ask the big questions: Can the truce survive? Will Donald Trump continue to stand by Israel? Is regime change in Iran still a realistic objective? And perhaps most critically—does Netanyahu know how to navigate a volatile president who woke up this morning fuming that the ceasefire might already be unraveling?