Tel Aviv Diary Podcast

Marc unpacks the reported strike on Hamas leaders in Doha—asking not just whether it worked, but whether the timing served Israel’s interests or set back fragile ceasefire/hostage talks. He weighs the claims of security establishment dissent, the diplomatic cost of targeting Qatar, and the broader question: do we want to look “tough” or act smart? Marc then pivots to U.S. politics (the Roberts Cou...

In this special episode, Marc welcomes Professor Danny Orbach , military historian at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, for a deep conversation on war crimes, international humanitarian law, and the media’s handling of the Gaza war. Orbach explains why he and his colleagues launched an in-depth study to challenge faulty genocide claims, how propaganda funnels distort reporting, and why Israel st...

On the 700th day of the war, Tel Aviv Diary turns its focus away from Gaza briefly to explore the urgent challenges facing Jewish students in North America. Marc Schulman speaks with Lauren Steinberg , Managing Director for K-12 and Campus Engagement at the Jewish Federations of North America. They discuss the surge in antisemitism after October 7, the shifting climate on U.S. campuses and schools...

I had a great discussion with Rabbi Josh Hammerman last night. it’s a long one, but I think you’ll find it both engaging and worthwhile. BREAKING NEWS: The remains of two Israelis held hostage were recovered from Gaza yesterday. One was identified as Ilan Weiss (56) from Kibbutz Be’eri, while the identity of the second has not yet been confirmed. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss...

In today’s episode of Tel Aviv Diary , I sit down with an old friend and former college roommate, Yitzhak Sokoloff , for a wide-ranging and candid conversation. Our views often diverge—he leans a little right, I lean a little left—(although we both think those definitions are no longer valuable) but our shared history and mutual respect make for an engaging and honest debate. We trace Yitzhak’s jo...

Tel Aviv Diary: Inside Israel's UN Mission with Jonathan Harounoff Join host Marc Schulman for an eye-opening conversation with Jonathan Harounoff, the international spokesperson for Israel's mission to the United Nations. Born in London to an Israeli mother and British father, with Iranian grandparents from Mashhad, Jonathan brings a unique multicultural perspective to one of the world's most cha...

This episode of the Tel Aviv Diary features host Marc Schulman interviewing Dr. Jonathan Boxman, a biologist and epidemiologist who conducted independent research on humanitarian aid effectiveness together with Prof. Netta Barak-Corren. The discussion centers on Boxman's findings from a study that began earlier in 2025, which aimed to identify successful humanitarian aid programs but ultimately fo...

In this August 15th, 2025 episode of Tel Aviv Diary , host Marc Schulman reflects on a week without major developments but heavy with underlying tensions. He explores Israel’s stalled war in Gaza, the plight of hostages, and the puzzling lack of large-scale public protest compared to the judicial reform demonstrations. Schulman critiques Israel’s failures in global information warfare, warns about...

Last night, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Royce, a full-time digital creator on Substack. I think you will enjoy the conversation This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcschulman.substack.com/subscribe

In this impassioned episode of Tel Aviv Diary , host Marc Schulman delivers a searing critique of the Israeli security cabinet’s decision to occupy all of Gaza—a move opposed by the IDF Chief of Staff and one that Schulman warns will prolong the war, doom the remaining hostages, and deepen Israel’s isolation. He dissects Prime Minister Netanyahu’s political calculations, the influence of far-right...

In this sobering episode of Tel Aviv Diary, host Marc Schulman sits down with veteran international journalist Dan Perry for an unflinching analysis of Israel's current crisis. Perry, former AP bureau chief in Israel and editor-in-chief for Europe/Africa and the Middle East, argues that Israel faces an existential threat from two converging forces that could destroy the Zionist project within a de...

Educator and civic entrepreneur Mike Prashker joins Marc to chart a sober, hopeful roadmap for Israel after October 7. Prashker—founder of Merchavim (The Institute for Shared Citizenship) and co-founder/director of The London Initiative —argues that Israel’s future hinges on three linked commitments: mature liberal democracy, universal fairness, and secure peace . He explains why citizenship must...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit marcschulman.substack.com In this powerful episode, host Marc Schulman delivers a sobering analysis of Israel's growing international isolation and the dangerous shift toward messianic politics that threatens the country's future. Schulman begins with Finance Minister Smotrich's shocking declaration that "all of Gaza is going to be part...

In this searing Tel Aviv Diary episode, veteran journalist Bradley Burston (kibbutz founder, former IDF combat medic, Gaza correspondent, Reuters peace-talks reporter, and founding editor/columnist at Haaretz.com) sits down with Mark to ask the blunt question: How did we get to a war that’s still grinding on nearly two years later—and why hasn’t Israel moved on from October 7? Burston argues that...

Description: What does Israel do when faced with impossible choices on two fronts? In this episode, Marc is joined by guest Ehud Haik to untangle the complex and dangerous situations unfolding in Syria and Gaza. They begin with the volatile crisis in Syria, where Israel confronts a harrowing dilemma. A potential genocide of the Druze community looms—a community deeply integrated into Israeli socie...

In this compelling episode of Tel Aviv Diary, host Marc Schulman sits down with Dr. Ido Baum, a law and economics professor and head of the Lewis Brandeis Institute for Society, Economy, and Democracy, to unpack the ongoing legal and constitutional crisis that has gripped Israel since January 2023. Episode Highlights Israel's Unique Democratic Structure Dr. Baum explains how Israel operates as a d...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit marcschulman.substack.com Tel Aviv Diary - July 15, 2025: When Politics and War Collide In this compelling episode, host Mark Schulman examines a day that encapsulates Israel's current struggles - where political maneuvering over military exemptions dominated headlines even as soldiers continued to fall in Gaza. The episode centers on t...

Marc returns from another heartbreaking Saturday night at Hostage Square, where hope has turned to despair. Last week, there was widespread belief that Netanyahu's trip to the US would finally bring a hostage deal—but once again, the goalposts have moved. In this deeply personal episode, Marc examines the devastating pattern revealed in recent New York Times reporting: how Netanyahu has repeatedly...

Episode Description: In this sobering episode recorded after the tragic loss of five Israeli soldiers in Gaza, host Marc Schulman and guest Ehud Haik grapple with the mounting human cost of the ongoing conflict and the uncertain diplomatic landscape ahead. As hopes for breakthrough news from Netanyahu's Washington meetings have not been met until now, the conversation turns to hard questions about...

In this deeply personal and moving episode recorded on Saturday, July 5th, 2025, host Marc Schulman reflects on nearly two years since the October 7th Hamas attack that led to the current hostage crisis. Speaking from Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, Schulman shares his observations from the weekly rallies he's attended for months, chronicling the emotional toll on families and the Israeli public. The...

Based on the transcript, here's a description of your podcast episode: Tel Aviv Diary: A Conversation with Maggie Bar Tura In this compelling episode of Tel Aviv Diary, host Marc Schulman sits down with longtime friend and social activist Maggie Bar-Tura for an intimate conversation about life, politics, and hope in contemporary Israel. Originally recorded before the recent 12-day Israel-Iran war,...

In this episode of Tel Aviv Diary, host Marc Schulman sits down with returning guest Ehud Haik to analyze the aftermath of what they call "the 12-day war" between Israel and Iran. The conversation explores the strategic implications of Israel's growing dependence on the United States, the missed opportunities and new challenges facing Israeli foreign policy, and the complex web of regional relatio...

In this episode, I share my reflections from another evening at Hostage Square, where families of hostages and former hostages gathered to share their stories and pain. Their voices carry a powerful message that's becoming harder to ignore: it's time to bring the war in Gaza to an end. After witnessing the ongoing human cost on all sides—our soldiers at risk, hostages still in danger, and civilian...

It has been a momentous two weeks in Israel, Iran, and—though to a lesser extent—the United States. In today’s podcast, I’m joined by longtime Washington-based journalist Laura Rozen. Laura has spent much of her career covering U.S.-Iran relations, including firsthand reporting on the negotiations that led to the 2015 JCPOA agreement. Over the course of 40 minutes, we try to make sense of the deve...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit marcschulman.substack.com Once again, events took us by surprise. We were caught off guard when the war began, when the United States launched its strike, and again at 1 a.m. when President Trump abruptly announced the end of hostilities. In this episode, we examine whether the ceasefire will hold and explore the implications of the war...