184. Israel at War, Explained: Why Isn't There a Hostage Deal?

Where do Hezbollah and Hamas get their money? State sponsors, legitimate businesses, donations and humanitarian aid, and criminal activity all pour billions into the terrorists’ banks — which are now prime targets for Israel.

Jews are feeling uneasy about whomever they vote for — Donald Trump or Kamala Harris — because both parties are rife with antisemitism. Whether in the form of conspiracy theories or anti-Zionism, it’s evidence of an ailing society. Can Americans fix this rot in their politics?

Re-releasing an episode from the archives with a major update. Episode 63 from Season 3 Unsolved Jewish Mysteries explored the theory that Christopher Columbus was Jewish. Now there is a major new DNA finding that provides some answers.

Hezbollah attacked Israel on October 8 last year, laying siege to the north of the country that has killed civilians, burned entire towns to the ground, and driven tens of thousands of Israelis from their homes. Israel is now fighting back in an effort to push Hezbollah off the border and stop the attacks. Let’s look at what’s happening and why now.

Hamas executed six hostages. Israelis accuse Prime Minister Netanyahu of abandoning them for his own self-interest. They no longer trust the government to get the hostages back or wage this war effectively. So why isn't there a hostage deal? And how is Netanyahu managing to stay in power?

Prime Minister Benjamin addressed the United States Congress amidst a wild week of politics. We’ll examine a few takeaways regarding his own standing, Kamala Harris, the Left, and the upcoming US election.

Israel’s exceptional hostage rescue operation on June 8 — and how the upside-down world condemned it.

President Biden imposed a temporary arms embargo on Israel. He’s holding back certain types of weapons to try to prevent Israel from invading Rafah in southern Gaza. How should we think about this decision?

Hamas continues to hold 132 hostages. That’s 132 war crimes committed each and every day they are held. The best way to end this round of war is for Hamas to return them immediately. Instead they are subjected to the whims of international politics, diplomatic maneuvering, and demands on Israel to pay an ever-steeper price for their return.

It’s not just Israel and the Palestinians who have to make changes to create a Palestinian state. The U.S., Europe, and the moderate Arab countries will need to work together to run Gaza, ensure Israel’s security, and, most importantly, defend decent civilization from the existential threat of Islamic jihadism.