BICOM's Podcast

James Sorene, Richard Pater and Calev Ben Dor discuss Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar’s interview with Yediot Ahronot, the increase in attacks on the Israeli border, IDF reinforcements and the role of the Palestinian Authority limiting options in Gaza to punish Hamas.

James Sorene interviews Jerusalem Post defence correspondent Anna Ahronheim about the imminent arrival of the S-300 air defence system in Syria and how it will affect Israeli operations against Iranian forces. They also discussed the Israeli Defence Force Chief of Staff’s warning about the high chance of increased violence in the West Bank and the IDF ombudsman’s report on military preparedness. 

James Sorene interviews Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Assaf Orion to ask why Syria shot down a Russian surveillance aircraft and what it means for Israeli-Russian relations and Israel’s ongoing fight against Iran in Syria. Assaf was head of Strategy in the Planning Directorate in the IDF General Staff (2010-2015) and is currently a senior research fellow at the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies...

BICOM Director of Reserach Calev Ben-Dor talks with Einat Wilf, a former Labor MK and writer. Einat discusses her new book, The War of Return (published in Hebrew) on the perpetuation of the Palestinian refugee issue, as well as why she believes the US's decision to end its funding to UNRWA, the UN agency responsbile for Palestinians refugees, is a positive step for a lasting peace. 

James Sorene talks with Anshel Pfeffer, biographer of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Haaretz writer about Israeli domestic politics and the likelihood of early elections in 2019.

James Sorene interviews Gershon Baskin the founder of IPCRI, the Israel Palestine Center for Research and Information, Jerusalem Post columnist and the man who negotiated the secret back channel with Hamas for the release of Gilad Shalit in 2011. 

James Sorene interviews Dr. Amir Fuchs from the Israel Democracy Institute to discuss how the Supreme Court will handle challenges to the Nation-State Law and what the Israeli Government might do in response to protests from the Druze community. James Sorene, Richard Pater and Calev Ben Dor also debate whether the politics of the Nation-State Law indicate Israel is heading for early elections.

James Sorene discusses the impact of Israel’s new Nation State Law with Times of Israel’s political correspondent Haviv Rettig Gur.

Director of BICOM Israel Richard Pater and Director of Research Calev Ben Dor are joined by special guest Celine Touboul, Deputy Director General and Senior Researcher of the Economic Cooperation Foundation, to discuss the recent wave of violence between Israel and Hamas on the Gaza border.

James Sorene, Richard Pater and Calev Ben Dor are joined by special guest Sarit Zehavi to talk about Syria, Iran and Israeli domestic politics. Sarit was a senior officer in Israeli  Military Intelligence and now heads a research centre analysing the security situation in northern Israel. 

James Sorene, Richard Pater and Calev Ben Dor are joined by special guest Jonathan Spyer, Research Fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies to discuss the Assad regime's military offensive in Southern Syria, US policy in Syria and the plight of Syrian refugees. The BICOM team also analyse the story of Khan al-Ahmar and the proposed Israeli demolition of the Bedouin settlement.

BICOM CEO James Sorene and Director in Israel Richard Pater are joined by Justin Cohen, News Editor of the Jewish News, to discuss Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge's historic visit to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

BICOM CEO James Sorene and Director of BICOM in Israel Richard Pater discuss the ongoing damage caused by flying firebombs launched at Israel from Gaza, Prince William's upcoming visit to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority and Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt's forthcoming meetings in the region. They are joined by BICOM Senior Visiting Fellow Brig. Gen. (Res) Mike Herzog.

BICOM CEO James Sorene and Director of BICOM in Israel Richard Pater are joined by Senior Research Associate Dr Toby Greene to discuss Saudi Arabia and BICOM’s latest briefing: "Transform or bust? Implications of the Saudi revolution" which analyses the potential for social and economic reform in the Kingdom.

BICOM CEO James Sorene and Director of BICOM in Israel Richard Pater discuss Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Europe. James also spoke with Brig. Gen. (Res.) Nitzan Nuriel, currently an Associate at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC), Herzliya and former Director of Israel's Counter-Terrorism Bureau. They discussed the...

BICOM CEO James Sorene and Director of Research Calev Ben-Dor discuss the possibility of a ceasefire in Gaza and Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s visit to Moscow.

BICOM CEO James Sorene, Director of BICOM in Israel Richard Pater, Director of Research Calev Ben Dor and Senior Research Associate Dr Toby Greene meet in Israel to discuss the significance of continued tension in Gaza and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s demands on Iran. They are joined by special guest Jacky Hugi, the Middle East Editor for Israel's Army Radio and columnist for the Maariv new...

BICOM CEO James Sorene, Director in Israel Richard Pater and Director of Research Calev Ben Dor discuss the violence on the Gaza border this week and what might happen next.

BICOM CEO James Sorene, Director in Israel Richard Pater and Director of Research Calev Ben-Dor discuss Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech on Iran's nuclear ambitions and the recent missile strikes in Syria.

BICOM CEO James Sorene, Director in Israel Richard Pater and Director of Research Calev Ben-Dor discuss the Iran nuclear deal, Russia supplying the S-300 anti-aircraft system to Syria and a split among Hamas leaders in Gaza.

BICOM CEO James Sorene, Director in Israel Richard Pater and Director of Research Calev BenDor discuss the recent protests on the Gaza border and the violence instigated there by Hamas

BICOM CEO James Sorene, Director in Israel Richard Pater and Director of Research Calev Ben Dor discuss the recent air-strikes against targets in Syria following chemical attacks in Douma and what it means for Israel and the wider region. They are joined by Dr Eran Lerman, a former Deputy Director in Israel's National Security Council.