In the latest sign that the news is nuts, Donald Trump said the Middle East will have peace, including Hamas.

I riff on why global events have become an avalanche of insanity.

Peace is not only possible but inevitable. We can see it in our lifetimes.

You have to believe it first.

Ahed Tamimi is a world famous Palestinian activist.

I break down a recent podcast appearance she gave, where, among other things, she says

* her fight is against Jews and not Zionists, and

* she wishes WW III would begin, so that it won't just be the Palestinians who suffer

Grisha Yakubovich served over 30 years in the Israeli army, including time leading the strategy and coordination of infrastructure projects in the Palestinian Territories. He was the last Israeli mayor of Gaza during the civil administration in Gaza in 1994. He runs Grisha Consulting which provides strategic consulting about projects in the West Bank to private companies, governments, and NGOs. 00:00 The State of Affairs: War and Stagnation 05:39 Cultural Roots of Conflict: Education and Ideology 11:28 Identity and Belonging: The Israeli Perspective 17:27 The Cycle of Revenge: Historical Context and Future Implications 23:38 Corruption and Power: The Financial Underpinnings of Conflict 32:10 Understanding the Complexity of Hamas and Hezbollah 33:38 The Nature of Violence and Cruelty in Gaza 36:30 The Scale of Cruelty: Reflections on October 7th 39:09 The Future of Gaza: Relationships and Responsibilities 41:51 The Role of Gazans in Their Own Future 42:38 The Dynamics of Control in Gaza 44:36 Hamas: Governance and Humanitarian Challenges 47:38 The Path to Change: Palestinian Authority vs. Hamas 50:38 The Economic Reality of Gaza: Aid and Dependency 53:38 The Interplay of Aid and Governance in Gaza 58:31 The Role of International Organizations in Gaza 01:00:46 The Historical Context of Hamas' Power 01:03:45 The Fuel and Water Supply Dynamics in Gaza 01:06:03 Water Crisis in Gaza 01:07:51 International Aid and Energy Solutions 01:09:50 Palestinian Authority's Role 01:11:26 UNRWA and Humanitarian Aid Challenges 01:12:51 Energy and Water Infrastructure Issues 01:17:01 Victimhood and Responsibility 01:17:43 Comparative Suffering: Palestinians vs. Others 01:20:28 The Role of Education and Success 01:21:46 Interdependence of Israeli and Palestinian Economies 01:24:55 Historical Claims and Modern Realities 01:26:57 Empowerment vs. Victimhood 01:30:33 Cultural Heroes and Societal Progress 01:31:49 Hope for Coexistence 01:39:33 Reconstruction and Accountability

Mustafa Akyol is a senior fellow on Islam and modernity at The Cato Institute. He is the author of several books, such as Islam Without Extremes and Reopening Muslim Minds. His latest book is called The Islamic Moses: https://www.amazon.com/Islamic-Moses-... Follow him on X: @AkyolinEnglish 00:00 Introduction to Mustafa Akyol's Work 01:42 The Role of Islamic Modernism 04:53 Theological Perspectives: Asharism vs. Mutazilism 07:41 Reform in Islamic Thought 10:51 The Euthyphro Dilemma and Moral Philosophy 13:44 Apostasy and Human Rights in Islam 16:37 The Impact of Hadith on Islamic Law 19:43 The Tension Between Islam and the West 22:33 Personal Experiences and Challenges 25:29 The Future of Islam and Modernity 50:38 The Role of Personal Choice in Religion 52:58 The Spectrum of Islamic Beliefs 56:57 The Constitution of Medina and Pluralism 01:04:20 Nationalism and Its Impact on Jewish-Muslim Relations 01:19:03 Responses to Violence and the Quest for Peace 01:45:41 The Islamic Moses: Bridging Faiths

Nati Dinnar is the co-founder and CEO of IZZY - streamisrael.tv, the premier platform dedicated to showcasing Israeli television and movies to international audiences.

Rawan Gabrielle Osman is the founder of Arabs Ask, which advocates online for the normalization between Arab countries and Israel.

Follow Rawan on Instagram: rawanosman2024

X: @RawaneOsmane

Derek Penslar is the William Lee Frost Professor of Jewish History. He is the director of undergraduate studies within the department and directs Harvard’s Center for Jewish Studies. 00:00 Introduction and Personal Background 00:20 Teaching History and Jewish Studies at Harvard 02:37 The Role of Military History in Understanding Israel 07:37 Challenges Faced by Jewish Students in Progressive Spaces 10:34 Exploring Jewish History and Identity 13:25 Personal Experiences during Times of Conflict 24:00 The Need for Open and Respectful Dialogue 29:07 Challenges Faced by Jewish Students 37:37 The Impact of Social Media and Antisemitism 50:23 Motivations Behind Pro-Palestinian Activism 56:09 The Role of Universities in Addressing Challenges 01:00:2 Resilience and Understanding Complexity

Eylon Levy is the host of the Israel: State of a Nation podcast. Before that he was an Israeli government spokesman and the international media advisor to the President of Israel.

Support Eylon's work: bit.ly/NID2024

Follow Eylon on X: @EylonALevy

Menachem Bombach is the president and CEO of Netzach Educational Network, which seeks to educate Israel's ultra-Orthodox Jews in math, English, science, civics and arts alongside high quality Torah studies. Check out Netzach here: https://netzach.org.il/en/home/

Aziz Alghashian is a SEPAD and CARPO Fellow, whose main topic of research is Saudi policy towards Israel. He has a PhD from the University of Essex where he taught International Relations, and Politics and Middle Eastern Studies. Follow Aziz on X: @AzizAlghashian 00:00 Introduction and Background
03:00 Misconceptions about Saudi Arabia
06:13 Saudi Arabia's Experience with Terrorism
08:58 Life in Saudi Arabia
11:57 Cultural Differences in the UK
21:57 Purpose of Sending Overseas Cadets to Sandhurst
28:57 Leadership and Values at Sandhurst
33:07 Continuing Education and Focus on Saudi Foreign Policy
33:47 Understanding Saudi Foreign Policy
39:31 The Tendency Towards Empire Building in Islam
40:30 Saudi Arabia's View of Authority and Empire Building
48:23 The Role of Islam in Saudi Foreign Policy
53:40 Spreading Islam and Interfaith Dialogue
56:23 The Challenge of Saudi Arabia's Image
01:02:59 The Potential for Dialogue and Understanding
01:09:25 Normalization and the Saudi Position
01:15:20 Saudi Arabia's Demands for Normalization
01:16:35 Challenges to Normalization
01:17:35 Saudi Arabia's Contingency Position
01:18:04 Devastation of October 7th
01:19:01 Misinterpretation of Saudi Statements
01:19:30 Domestic Politicization of Saudi Arabia
01:20:28 Longing for Acceptance by the World
01:21:28 Biden's Anti-MBS Stance
01:22:27 Normalization with Iran
01:23:26 Flaw in Normalization with Iran
01:24:08 Saudi Policy Towards Israel
01:25:06 Saudi Communication with Israel
01:26:06 Complexity of Iran's Domestic Politics
01:27:04 Reframing the Relationship with Iran
01:28:04 Different Approaches to Security
01:29:05 Saudi Arabia's Economic Restructuring
01:30:22 Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030
01:32:42 Cultural Transformation and Innovation
01:36:28 Saudi Arabia's Tolerant Vision of Islam
01:40:23 Saudi Arabia's Economic and Social Reforms
01:45:28 Cutting Funding for Radical Islam
01:50:11 Saudi Arabia's Economic Restructuring
01:52:53 Long-Term Trends for Saudi Arabia

Naomi Kahn is the director of the International Division of Regavim, an Israeli NGO that monitors and pursues legal action against illegal construction in Israel and in the West Bank. 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:00 Regavim: Impacting Israel's Land Use Policy 10:00 Challenges in Israel's Land Use Policy 20:00 Outdated Laws in Judea and Samaria 25:00 Illegal Construction and Annexation 30:00 Contiguity and Security Concerns 31:46 The Complexity of Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict 36:09 The Right Wing Perspective on Jewish Sovereignty 38:44 The Two-State Solution and the Eradication of Jordan 41:14 The Palestinian Refugee Population 44:01 The Black-and-White Presentation of the Conflict 45:14 The Need for Clear Borders and Protection 49:13 The Historical Trauma of Palestinians 52:25 The Palestinian Perspective on Security Control 56:18 The Burden of Occupation and the Desire for Peace 59:00 The Perception of Israelis as Settlers 01:01:28 The Role of Incitement and Education in Palestinian Society 01:04:14 The Challenge of Grafting Democracy onto a Non-Democratic Society 01:05:41 The Agenda of Annihilation 01:06:12 Resentment and Hatred 01:07:31 Loss of Territory 01:08:40 The Role of Egypt 01:09:39 Losing Control of the Territory 01:10:33 The Cultural Mindset 01:11:55 Lack of Resistance 01:14:31 Living Under Constant Rocket Attacks 01:16:22 Sanctions on Israeli Settlers 01:19:14 Exaggeration of Settler Violence 01:25:25 Faulty Data and Fabricated Narrative 01:30:13 Sanctioning the Entire Israeli Banking System 01:37:15 Undermining Israel's Democratic System 01:39:25 Peace Now's Targeting of Individuals 01:41:20 US Sanctions and Impediments to Two-State Solution 01:42:06 American Foreign Policy and Incoherence 01:43:27 Biden's Behavior and Impact on Elections 01:46:13 Sanctions and Demands on Israel 01:48:30 Israel's War for Survival 01:50:09 Israeli Realizations and Resolve 01:52:06 US Power and Israel's Importance 01:54:09 Israel's Capabilities and Need for Allies 01:56:04 Facing the Truth and Justifying Israel's Existence 01:57:23 Israel's Resolve and Lack of Allies

Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib is a Middle East political analyst. He lives in the US but he has a large family in Gaza, where he spent parts of his youth. He has a master’s degree in intelligence studies from American Military University. He has written and contributed extensively to publications on Gaza’s affairs in U.S., Israeli, Jewish and Arab outlets. 00:00 Introduction 02:11 Life in Gaza 03:42 Concerns and Sleepless Nights 06:11 Impact of Bombings on Family Homes 07:15 Loss of Family Members 09:03 Dealing with Tragedy 10:02 Failed Leadership 13:26 War Crimes 16:21 War of Ideas 18:20 Failed Palestinian Leadership 22:02 Opportunity for Change 27:11 Gaza as a Model for Palestinian State 32:07 Responsibility and Moving Forward 38:22 Building a Better Future 43:09 Consequences of Hamas' Actions 43:50 The Consequences of Hamas' Actions 44:38 Poor Leadership and the Detrimental Effects on Palestinians 46:22 The Importance of Individual and Community Improvement 47:33 Hamas' Engineering Feats and Intentions 48:40 The Difference Between Hamas' Vision and Reality 49:25 The Complexity of Support for Hamas 50:21 Different Tiers of Support for Hamas 52:19 Support for Resistance and Hamas' Manipulation 55:19 The Role of Al Jazeera in Shaping Public Opinion 56:16 The Complexity of Al Jazeera's Coverage 58:26 Declining Viewership of Al Jazeera 59:25 The Manipulation of Public Opinion by Hamas 01:02:39 The Complexity of Support for Hamas in Polls 01:06:18 Shared Values and Influence of the United States 01:10:37 Challenges in Gauging Public Opinion in Gaza 01:21:39 The Need for Negotiated Settlement and Political Transformation 01:23:03 The Importance of Releasing Hostages 01:24:43 Political Off-Ramps for Hamas 01:25:57 Rehabilitation of Hamas Fighters 01:27:22 Inability to Eliminate Hamas 01:28:40 Immediate Deal and Off-Ramps for Hamas 01:30:34 Lessons from De-Baathification in Iraq 01:31:04 Incentivizing Former Hamas Members 01:32:01 Divorcing Military and Political Aspects of Hamas 01:33:10 Hamas' Political Struggles 01:34:02 Hamas' Shift to Violence 01:36:31 Multi-Phase Approach for Gaza 01:37:11 Religious vs. Political Leadership 01:38:44 Importance of Symbols like Al-Aqsa 01:43:11 Steps for a Constructive Palestinian Future 01:48:21 Gaza First Model 01:51:36 Palestinian Agency and Decision-Making 01:53:01 Potential Challenges and Opposition 01:56:14 Political Reckoning in Israel 01:57:02 Gratitude for Support

Some words from the heart.

Nimrod Novick is Israel Policy Forum’s Israel fellow, a senior associate at the Economic Cooperation Foundation (ECF) and is a member of the Executive Committee at Commanders for Israel’s Security (CIS). Nimrod was a senior foreign policy advisor to Shimon Peres, and maintains close contacts with the Egyptian intelligence community, Jordanian security establishment, Palestinian political leadership, and Saudi security experts, as well as with senior U.S., European, U.N., and other relevant officials dealing with Middle East policy. 00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections 03:24 The Trauma of Recent Events 08:53 The Role of the Families of the Hostages 11:52 Proposed Solutions and the Oslo Process 19:23 The Conflict Between Objectives 22:59 The Morning After and the Biden Initiative 25:11 The Need for Palestinian Authority Reform 29:21 The Importance of Moral and Ethical Standards 36:12 The Cultural Shift Needed for Progress 41:13 The Necessity of an Amicable Split 44:43 The Popularity of Hamas and Trust in Polls 46:03 The Importance of Hope 48:02 Understanding Hope in the Palestinian Context 50:02 The Role of Religion in the Peace Process 55:08 The Need for Religious Framing in the Peace Process 59:38 Lessons from the Oslo Era 01:09:24 Balancing Emotional Connection and Political Arrangements 01:14:50 Considering Religious Aspects in the Peace Process 01:22:44 The Historic Fork in the Road 01:27:43 The Potential for Change 01:30:48 Regional Integration and Stabilization 01:32:23 Conditions for International Involvement 01:33:22 Stabilizing and Reforming the Palestinian Authority 01:34:17 Normalization with Saudi Arabia 01:35:47 The Fork in the Road 01:36:24 The Potential Future 01:37:18 The Gamble and Potential Outcomes 01:38:31 The Lack of a Plan B 01:39:09 Security Control and Trust in Gaza 01:39:53 Demilitarization and Smuggling Control 01:40:28 The Morning After and Gaza's Future 01:41:41 Political Considerations and Stuck in Jerusalem 01:42:24 Preparing for the Transition Period 01:43:12 Messengers and Ambassadors of Hope 01:44:06 Egypt's Alternative Strategy

Roy Hadad is the head of business development for SelectMedia. He was called up for reserve duty after the October 7th attacks. He spent more than two months fighting in Gaza. 00:00 Reconnecting and Reflecting on the Past 00:39 Military Service in Israel 01:08 Anti-Terror Unit and Daily Operations 02:17 The Reality of Daily Operations 03:06 Uncertainty and Emotional Impact 04:48 Transitioning to Civilian Life 05:22 Return to Service and Family Life 06:09 October 7th and the Start of the War 07:08 Preparing for Deployment 08:06 Mixed Emotions and Sense of Duty 09:38 Personal Connection and Impact 10:36 The Gravity of the Situation 11:47 The Reality of the Conflict 13:19 Witnessing the Destruction in Gaza 14:21 Fighting for Existence 15:03 The Importance of Service 16:18 Reserve Duty and Continued Service 19:08 Antisemitism and International Response 20:02 Belgium's Muslim Community 21:37 Family and Friends in Belgium 25:14 Sovereignty and Self-Defense 26:57 Preparing for War and Mixed Emotions 27:46 Proud and Excited to Serve 29:54 Living in Gaza and Constant Alertness 31:14 Entering Gaza and Protecting Convoys 32:37 The Danger of Daytime Operations 35:09 Close Calls and Constant Stress 39:54 Contact with the Enemy and Hearing Gunfire 42:02 Experiencing Friendly Fire 43:18 The Devastation of War 45:35 The Fragility of Civilization 48:32 The Reality of War 51:49 The Ruins of Gaza 53:14 The Consequences of Hate 54:37 The Orientation Towards Life 57:02 The Self-Destructive Nature of Hate 59:22 The Need for Change in Gaza 01:02:23 The Role of the People in Gaza 01:05:21 The Path to Ending the War 01:08:00 The Desire for Peace and Building 01:09:07 Teaching Children about the Conflict 01:13:45 The Safety of Israel 01:14:14 Gratitude for Sacrifices

Lior Bensoussan is the cofounder of the Tel Aviv gym Humble Club. He was called up for reserve duty on October 7th and eventually spent nearly a month and a half fighting inside Gaza in Israel's war against Hamas. Lior's Instagram handle: lior.bensouss Episode timeline: 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:14 Joining the Army and Training 08:35 Entering Gaza and the Reality of War 30:04 Crossing into Gaza and Initial Impressions 36:35 Searching for Tunnels and Hostages 41:31 The Job and Experience in Gaza 45:32 The Role of Luck and Randomness in War 45:55 Randomness and Close Calls 47:12 Sleeping Conditions 48:24 Getting Used to the Sounds 49:02 Guard Duty and Sleep Patterns 51:11 Sleeping While Tired 51:18 Mental Focus During Missions 52:46 Food in the Army 54:37 The Shitty Existence of Soldiers 56:13 Motivation and Purpose 57:15 Silencing Negative Thoughts 58:57 The Fruits of Sacrifice 01:00:50 Eating Military Rations 01:04:32 Life After the Army 01:07:30 Leaving the Army 01:08:43 Communication with Family 01:12:14 Feeling Guilty 01:17:40 Possibility of Being Called Back 01:18:52 Loss and Mourning 01:20:47 Impact of Traumatic Experiences 01:23:10 Gratitude for Support 01:28:19 Impact of Music and Support for Soldiers 01:29:07 Generosity and Appreciation in Israeli Culture 01:30:20 Changing Attitudes Towards Military Service 01:31:20 The Importance of National Defense

(Recorded before October 7) Yishai Fleisher is the international spokesman for the Jewish community in Hebron, and the host of the Yishai Fleisher Israel Podcast. He was also an adviser to Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's minister of public security. Follow Yishai on X: @YishaiFleisher YouTube: @YishaiFleisherTV Instagram: yishaifleisher

Zachary Foster is a historian of Palestine. He got his PhD from Princeton. This episode was recorded before the Oct. 7 terrorist atrocities. Follow him on X: @_ZachFoster He writes a newsletter about Palestine: https://palestinenexus.com/

Jonathan Pollard spent nearly 30 years in American prisons after being convicted for spying for Israel. He now writes and speaks about geopolitics in various media channels, and is an investor and co-founder in a handful of technology companies.