20/6/26 - From Hormuz to Versailles

With Israel's elections last week, the US midterms today and American strikes on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz this morning, another round of conflict with Iran looks close. We take a look at how the Islamic Republic plays its four cards: nuclear, ballistic missiles, proxies and now Hormuz. It uses each one to shield the others and keeps control of escalation even when it can't win militarily. We also cover why Trump hasn't seen it through, from the lure of "the deal" to handing diplomacy to Witkoff, Kushner and Vance. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit transported.substack.com/subscribe

At a time of recording and writing, we are less than four hours from the polls opening in the first Israeli election since the October 7 attacks. The political discourse in the months leading up to that tragic day was largely divided around judicial reform. Those fissures still exist, and the decision of the electorate will be influenced by both the pre-existing issues around the judiciary and power balances, and of course, everything that happened since. It’s going to be an interesting day, and next few weeks. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit transported.substack.com/subscribe

“Toute ma vie, je me suis fait une certaine idée de la France” -Charles de Gaulle.What ideas can we have of the Fifth Republic, in the wake of these violent riots? There are two key demographics participating, both lacking in paternal presences, as you can hear in the long, referenced in the episode and linked below. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit transported.substack.com/subscribe

Today is the third anniversary on the Gregorian calendar of the deadliest day in Jewish history since the Shoah. What lessons have been learned by the Israeli government? And for the average Jew in Israel or the diaspora? Since October 7th, we’ve gone from being peripheral to being discussed and critiqued in most countries. We have to shape the narrative about us by participating in the discussions which concern us abroad. Meanwhile, Israeli elections are in less than three weeks, and the choices of the Israeli electorate will have been shaped by the last 36 months. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit transported.substack.com/subscribe

Our Rosh Hashanah special. We look back on the major events that marked the end of 5786, and see what it all means for Jews across the globe in 5787. May all of our subscribers and listeners be inscribed in the Book of Life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit transported.substack.com/subscribe

This deal with Iran is leaving many in the pro-Israel camp scratching their heads at the very least. Was this a calculated move designed to stabilise markets and avoid a wider regional war? A concession to domestic political realities? A victory for one faction inside the Republican Party over another? Or evidence of a deeper realignment taking place across the Middle East? Or perhaps, all of the above. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit transported.substack.com/subscribe

The war with Iran may still end in a strategic victory: no nukes, no ballistic missile threat, Hezbollah shattered, and the Islamic Republic weakened from within. But if Trump, Netanyahu, and the Gulf fail to convert that into a serious regional settlement, the vacuum will not stay empty. Saudi Arabia and Turkey are already positioning themselves to build a new corridor, a new bloc, and perhaps a new Middle East that leaves Israel outside the room. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit transported.substack.com/subscribe

A multitude of developments in Iran, Lebanon, domestically within Israel which we will summarise. Cyprus as a potential off-ramp for the Jews, in between UK and Israel, following multiple successive migrations within Greater London. The role of the Jews in British society is something discussed in this episode, and as you will hear, in more formats soon. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit transported.substack.com/subscribe

Bevis Marks Synagogue is the oldest in Great Britain, founded over 300 years ago, still in use, at the heart of the City of London. Most of the Spanish & Portuguese Community now live in north-west London, so the synagogue is sparsely attended compared to its heyday where one Benjamin Disraeli attended as a child.The East London Central Synagogue on Nelson Street will soon become the Ashaadibi Education & Cultural Centre - assuming the success of their “Synagogue to Masjid Fundraiser 2026”. This is a Somali Muslim community whose goal is to “build a permanent home for Islam” where there once was a home for British Jews. It is an unpleasant coincidence that the suspect in the Golders Green attack is a Somali with British citizenship.Golders Green has of course long taken over from the East End as the centre of London Jewish life. We all have our favourite stores, bakeries and restaurants, past and present - from the legendary and long-gone Solly’s and Blooms to the ever-present Carmelli’s and Grod’s. These demonstrations of Jews putting down roots have been taken for granted, and now we sense that once again we may be uprooted.I recently wrote an essay entitled The Road Back To Britain, which was published in the most recent edition of Prophecy - available now if you purchase the print or digital version. The full, unabridged essay will be here on Transported shortly for paid subscribers. It envisions two futures for the community, depending on choices we make at the fork in the road, presumed to be a few years further down the line as we neared the next elections.In this episode we contemplate the possibility that we are already there. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit transported.substack.com/subscribe

Thoughts on marking these impactful days in Buenos Aires, as the governments of Israel and Argentina appear closer than ever. Meanwhile in London we’re having a wave of antisemitic arson attacks, with a feckless response from the Government. Is our identity in our host nations something temporary? Let’s get into it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit transported.substack.com/subscribe