The Jewish People's Podcast

Tomorrow, 20 hostages are set to return home – a moment that marks the end of the war and the start of a new chapter of uncertainty. Shmuel Rosner and Gil Troy talk about what comes next: the Egypt summit, Trump’s visit to Israel, the political fallout for Netanyahu, and Israel’s search for direction in the post-war reality.

This week Dennis Ross joins Yaakov Katz for all the latest developments coming out of Israel and Washington. We also break down the Trump proposal and whether or not it will be successful. 

At a time when Israel is torn over Haredi draft exemptions, Rabbi Shmuel Chaim Naiman chose a different path: he enlisted in the IDF. He joins Yaakov to discuss faith, responsibility, and why serving is not just a duty but a statement about the future of Israeli society.

Jews in Israel face physical attack, Jews in the Diaspora face metaphysical attack – but it’s the same war. Yaakov speaks with Amb. Marina Rosenberg of ADL about a new survey showing most Jewish students hide their identity, and what Israel must do to support Jewish life worldwide, from Vienna to Chile.

In today’s episode, Yaakov Katz speaks with Col. (Ret.) David Hacham, a former IDF intelligence officer who spent years in Gaza and took part in the Oslo process. They discuss Hamas, Arafat, and how it all connects to Yaakov’s new book, While Israel Slept.

Yaakov and Shmuel Rosner unpack the latest turns in the war, weighing Netanyahu’s next move: will he strike a deal, or push to expand the fighting?

As Israel weighs its next moves, the battlefield is only part of the story. With talk of expanding the war, questions swirl over what Prime Minister Netanyahu is really aiming for – and whether his strategy can survive the growing diplomatic tsunami crashing over Jerusalem. Veteran analysts Shmuel Rosner and Gil Troy join Yaakov to unpack the military, political, and international dimensions of th...

As Europe moves to recognize a Palestinian state, Ambassador Jeremy Issacharoff joins Yaakov to unpack what it means for Israel’s global standing, the fallout with Germany, and the impact on efforts to contain Iran.

Rabbi David Stav, Chief Rabbi of Shoham and co-founder of Tzohar, joins us to reflect on Tisha B’Av. With Israel still at war and families grieving, how do we mark a day of mourning and unity? Rabbi Stav shares what this moment demands of us.

With mounting public pressure, fissures inside the war cabinet, a NYT report on Netanyahu dragging out the war, and growing tensions between the military and political leadership, we unpack what’s happening behind the scenes – and what it means for Israel’s future.

What is it like to spend hundreds of days inside Gaza since October 7? In this gripping episode, we speak with Dr. Tuvia Book—IDF reservist, educator, and author—who has served continuously on the front lines throughout Israel’s war with Hamas. From the chaos of combat to the quiet moments between missions, Book shares what daily life is really like for soldiers operating in Gaza amid ongoing ceas...

What are Iranians saying about the recent war and what do Gazans think about the continued battle against Hamas? Michael Milshtein, a former IDF intelligence officer and one of Israel’s top scholars on Palestinian society, joins us to unpack the shifting public sentiment inside two of the region’s most volatile arenas.

Will the ceasefire hold? After nearly two weeks of intense fighting, tensions remain high between Israel and Iran. On this episode, we ask the big questions: Can the truce survive? Will Donald Trump continue to stand by Israel? Is regime change in Iran still a realistic objective? And perhaps most critically—does Netanyahu know how to navigate a volatile president who woke up this morning fuming t...

Andrea Stricker, a Senior Fellow at FDD and one of the foremost experts on Iran’s nuclear program, joins Yaakov to break down the recent U.S. strikes on Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan  –  what was likely targeted, the extent of the damage, and how significantly Iran’s nuclear timeline may have been set back.

Sima Shine—former head of research at Mossad and one of Israel’s top Iran experts—joins Yaakov Katz to break down the current war against Iran’s nuclear program. In this gripping episode, Shine analyzes the strategic logic behind Israel’s strikes, the significance of nuclear sites like Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow, and what it would take to stop Iran from rebuilding. She warns against talk of regim...

In this episode of The Jewish People’s Podcast, Yaakov Katz hosts a wide-ranging conversation on the evolving dynamics of U.S.-Israel cooperation during the war with Iran. With sharp commentary on Donald Trump’s strategic pivot, tensions within the MAGA camp, and the nuanced role of American isolationism, the discussion dives into the diplomatic and military stakes of this moment. The episode expl...

Retired Israeli Navy Commander Admiral Eliezer "Chiney" Marom joins Yaakov Katz for an unflinching analysis of Israel’s unprecedented achievements in the ongoing war with Iran. From establishing total air superiority over Tehran to decimating Iran’s missile launch capabilities and military leadership, Marom explains how Israel has dismantled key pillars of Iran’s deterrence strategy. He...

In this special episode of The Jewish People’s Podcast, host Yaakov Katz speaks with Dr. Eyal Hulata, Israel’s former National Security Adviser and a 23-year veteran of the Mossad. A key architect of Israel’s Iran policy, Hulata offers an insider’s view of the intelligence, strategy, and political calculations that brought Israel to this moment.

Amb. Michael Herzog joins Yaakov to discuss this critical moment in Middle East history. Herzog completed his stint as Israel’s Ambassador to the United States in January. Before that, he spent decades serving in intelligence and national security roles in the IDF and the Defense Ministry and has long focused on ways to thwart Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon.

Why did Israel attack Iran now? Did Trump support the operation and what can be expected next? Join Yaakov Katz for a conversation with Elliott Abrams, Former US Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela and JPPI Board Member.

Former Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office Eli Groner outlines the challenges within Israel’s democratic structure, explains why looking at everything through the Netanyahu prism is a mistake, and how Israel can overcome its current crises.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel fights back against claims that Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza and explains that the Jewish state still has friends across the globe.

Victoria Coates of The Heritage Foundation joins Yaakov to discuss her new book on the October 7 Hamas attack, the stakes for Israel and the U.S., and why she believes the war is a battle over the future of the West. Victoria Curtin Gardner Coates is an American political consultant. She served as Senior Advisor to Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette in 2020 and later was appointed to run the Middle...

Israel’s war is escalating, hostage talks have collapsed, and key allies like the UK, France, and Canada are threatening action. Even Trump is showing signs of distance. Lahav Harkov of Jewish Insider joins us to break down what it all means.

President Trump is skipping Israel on his current Middle East visit. He has also been negotiating deals in the region without Jerusalem at the table. Has U.S. foreign policy shifted — and what should Israel make of it?