The Jerusalem Dispatch

Join Calev Ben-David and Ruth Marks Eglash as they discuss the latest news impacting life in Jerusalem. From the Iran deal with the US to the Maccabiah, you don't want to miss this discussion.

Two months after the Iran war ended, Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel again last night. Houthi missiles came in from Yemen. Israel struck Iranian energy storage sites overnight. Sirens went off across central Israel and one missile hit the West Bank. In this episode of the Jerusalem Dispatch, recorded hours after the attack, hosts Calev Ben-David and Ruth Marks Eglash make the argument the...

The Iran war isn't over — and the deal taking shape may already be a loss for Israel. In this Jerusalem Dispatch episode, Calev Ben-David and Ruth Marks Eglash, editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Report, take stock of where Israel actually stands. Ben-David argues the emerging US–Iran agreement looks like a slightly firmer version of the 2015 Obama deal — light on Iran's ballistic missiles, silent o...

The latest episode of The Jerusalem Dispatch podcast delves into the growing concerns surrounding Jewish communities in the diaspora, particularly focusing on the atmosphere in the UK. Co-host Ruth Marks Eglash, back from a trip to London, shared her insights into the heightened sense of vulnerability among British Jews. Her visit coincided with a terrorist attack in Golders Green, sparking deeper...

In this episode of the Jerusalem Dispatch, David Brinn, former managing editor of The Jerusalem Post, joins Calev Ben-David for a deep dive into the complexities surrounding Israel’s Independence Day celebrations. As the country commemorates its fallen soldiers during Memorial Day and transitions into Independence Day, David and Calev reflect on the emotional weight of these observances, especiall...

In this week’s episode of The Jerusalem Dispatch podcast, co-hosts Ruth Marks Eglash and Calev Ben-David dive into the unfolding geopolitical tensions between Israel, Iran, and the United States. With a tentative ceasefire in place between Israel and Iran, the hosts discuss the uncertain future of the fragile peace, exploring whether the war has achieved its intended goals.

The Jerusalem Dispatch podcast hosts Calev Ben-David and Ruth Marks Eglash offer a window into daily life in Israel amid ongoing regional conflict, as well as broader strategic and societal implications. Speaking from Jerusalem, the hosts describe a reality in which missile alerts and shelter runs have become routine, though far from normalized. Civilians, particularly families with young children...

Join us for this episode of the Jerusalem Dispatch Podcast, where we dive into the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. Hosted by Ruth Marks Eglash, Editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Report, and Calev Ben-David, anchor of the ILTV Security Brief, they provide firsthand accounts of life under attack in Israel, including the emotional toll and resilience of those in the affected areas. We also d...

Calev Ben David and Ruth Marks Eglash record remotely from their homes as Operation Roaring Lion enters its first days. The Jerusalem Post journalists break down what Israel and the US have achieved so far in their strikes on Iran, from the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei to the dismantling of Iran's missile defenses. They discuss daily life under ballistic missile fire, including the deadly s...

In the latest episode of The Jerusalem Dispatch, hosts Ruth Marks Eglash, editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Report , and journalist and news anchor Calev Ben-David, discuss the ongoing geopolitical dynamics surrounding Israel, Iran, and the United States. Their conversation revolves around the recent diplomatic discussions between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump, focusing on Iran's nuc...

The latest episode of The Jerusalem Dispatch podcast, hosted by Ruth Marks Eglash and Calev Ben-David, delves into the rising tensions between Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The hosts discuss the looming possibility of a US attack on Iran and the defensive preparations in Tehran, including missile threats directed at Israel. 

In this week's episode, Elliot and Calev discuss the horrific terror attack that took place in Sydney Australia. They also cover some crucial Hanukah history, the Board of Deputies for British Jews, and Mansour Abbas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally asked President Isaac Herzog for a pardon, a move that could reshape the legal and political landscape ahead of an election year. In this episode of The Jerusalem Dispatch, Calev Ben David and Elliot Jager break down what the request means, why it happened now, and how the White House’s involvement fits into the picture. The conversation also covers T...

From May 26, 2025 On the eve of Jerusalem Day, Elliot delivers a state-of-the-city report: a young, divided, and surprisingly poor capital where Haredi and Arab students now outnumber Zionist-curriculum pupils. The hosts react to the terror attack on a DC synagogue and the leak of US plans to strike Iran. The episode closes with a birthday tribute to Bob Dylan, exploring his Jewish journey from "N...

From May 12, 2025 A new pope is elected—and Elliot examines the troubling antisemitic legacy of his namesake, Leo XIII. The hosts then turn to the Pulitzer Prize awarded to Gazan poet Mosab Abu Toha, whose social media posts denied Emily Damari's status as a hostage. They also credit Columbia University's new president for finally calling in police on masked protesters and debate whether Trump adm...

From April 28, 2025 On the heels of Holocaust Remembrance Day and ahead of Yom HaZikaron and Independence Day, the hosts examine the painful overlap of national mourning and celebration during wartime. They offer a nuanced assessment of Pope Francis's complicated record on Israel and Jews—from denouncing antisemitism to criticizing the IDF without naming Hamas. The episode explores whether Cardina...

From April 15, 2025 Recording during Passover, Elliot and Kalev reflect on seders shadowed by the hostage crisis and mark the 82nd anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. They explore Passover's historical roots and examine historian Richard Elliott Friedman's theory of Levite origins in the Exodus. The episode also tackles the Joe Rogan-Dave Smith interview on Israel, defends historian Tom Seg...

From March 31, 2025 The hosts unpack the bombshell Signal chat leak that exposed divisions within the Trump administration between isolationists and interventionists—and what it means for Israel. They examine the heated debate over Haredi military exemptions following a Supreme Court ruling, break down Israel's controversial new budget with its patronage spending and tax hikes, and pay tribute to...

From March 18, 2025 Elliot Jaeger and Kalev Ben-David launch The Jerusalem Dispatch from Jerusalem during Shushan Purim, exploring the tension between celebration and grief while hostages remain in Gaza. They discuss the sacred history behind the holiday, the dialectic of remembering and forgetting Amalek, and dive into the World Zionist Congress elections—including a controversial anti-liberal Ha...

In this episode, Calev Ben-David and Elliot Jager delve into some key current and historical events. Elliot takes us back 20 years to the Israeli disengagement, sharing insights on its motivations, outcomes, and lasting impact. Calev offers his own personal reflections on that pivotal time. The conversation then shifts to Day 674 of the October 7 War. Calev and Elliot discuss Prime Minister Netany...