Unholy: Two Jews on the News

Israel is once again at war on multiple fronts – and yet, the domestic political drama shows no sign of slowing. As the government barrels ahead with its judicial overhaul, Prime Minister Netanyahu has now shown the door to both the head of Shin Bet and the attorney general, prompting yet more questions about the independence of Israel’s key institutions. Yonit and Jonathan unpack the growing turm...

In the space of a week, Israel is once again at war in Gaza, Ben Gvir is back in government, and Netanyahu is moving to oust the head of Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, the Shin Bet. Meanwhile, the U.S. strikes the Houthis, the Houthis strike Israel, and rockets from Gaza target central Israel. With tensions escalating on multiple fronts, Yonit and Jonathan turn to Haaretz military analyst...

Yonit and Jonathan break down today's major news: the ceasefire is over. As Israeli airstrikes resume in Gaza leaving hundreds dead and fears grow for the remaining hostages, this short update tackles the most urgent question—what explains what just happened?   Join our Patreon community to get access to bonus episodes (like Saturday Night Live), live zoom calls with Yonit and Jonathan, and more:...

Yonit and Jonathan unpack the latest drama in Israel which many are calling a moment of truth for the country’s democracy: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to remove Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet. What’s behind the move, what does it mean for Israel’s security, and how do the US and Qatar fit into the picture?   Join our Patreon community (promo code for Purim weekend: PURIM25) to get a...

As tensions rise between Israel’s prime minister and his intelligence chiefs over the scandal known as Qatargate, a former head of the Shin Bet breaks his silence on Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. Meanwhile, the UN levels a grave accusation against Israel, sparking outrage and debate. And since it’s Purim, who better to turn to than one of the sharpest comedic voices of his generation? Ale...

This week – New Yorker editor David Remnick partners up with Yonit as guest co-host. As Trump reshapes the global order—strengthening ties with Putin, unsettling NATO, and proposing a radical reimagining of Gaza—Hamas expert Michael Milshtein joins us to break down the latest developments in the region. Meanwhile, the Israeli government officially launches the plan to oust the attorney general , w...

As Israel mourns the return of four hostage bodies, pressure mounts ahead of negotiations for the next stage of the deal. Meanwhile, Donald Trump lays out his vision for Gaza in a bizarre, AI-generated video. At the same time, new IDF investigations into October 7th reveal years of misreading Hamas, leaving southern Israel dangerously exposed. Yonit and Jonathan speak with Ahmed Fouad Al-Khatib, a...

One of Israel’s darkest days since October 7th, as four hostages return home in coffins—two of them children. Yonit and Jonathan reflect on the profound impact of this moment on the nation and what it means for the fragile negotiations over a second stage of the hostage deal. Meanwhile, as Germany heads to the polls this Sunday, the far-right AfD party is on the rise. With the help of Israeli-Germ...

As Israelis wait for noon on Saturday, and the promised release by Hamas of three more living hostages, Yonit and Jonathan talk through a nerve-wracking few days in which the deal teetered on the brink of collapse. They discuss a turbulent week and the ever-complicated Trump-Netanyahu relationship as the fate of Gaza hangs in the balance. Meanwhile, scandal as a close adviser to Netanyahu is repor...

As Israel waits for three more hostages to be released from Gaza, Donald Trump calls for the takeover and emptying out of the Strip—provoking both outrage and debate. This week, Yonit and Jonathan talk about that and much else with a towering figure of American politics: former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who served as ambassador to Japan until last month, joins Unholy. Plus: our Chut...

As Keith Siegel, 65, returns home after 484 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza—having been abducted from his home on October 7th—Yonit speaks with his wife, Aviva, who was also held hostage and released after 51 days. The episode includes depictions of abuse and violence.    ----  You can find our social links here:  https://linktr.ee/unholypod Join our Patreon community as a Friend of the Pod, Famil...

This week, Yonit is joined by CNN anchor and global affairs analyst Bianna Golodryga, as scenes of joy and relief unfold with the return of seven more hostages. With another three set to be released on Saturday, they discuss the week’s key developments and speak with Dr. Einat Yehene, Head of the Rehabilitation Division at the Hostages Families Forum. Together, they examine the short  and long-ter...

An American president is sworn in, an IDF chief of staff quits and Israel waits for a second group of hostages to be freed. Yonit and Jonathan take a deep dive into a dramatic week – and have no trouble at all in identifying what Elon Musk was doing with his arm.   Join our Patreon community as a Friend of the Pod, Family Member, or just get access to specific bonus episodes (like When Harry met S...

As the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal unfolds, bringing home three women held by Hamas for 471 days, Yonit and Jonathan talk about the profound joy felt in Israel at seeing their return, and the politics - and trepidation - that surround the next moves.   Join our Patreon community as a Friend of the Pod, Family Member, or just get access to specific bonus episodes: https://patreon.com/Un...

After 15 long and terrible months, a deal is agreed that should bring the hostages home and end the fighting in Gaza. How did it come about, who and what made it possible and how will it play out - Yonit and Jonathan get into it all, and explore the background and the implications of a breakthrough moment with military analyst Amos Harel. Plus: those who emerge from this extraordinary week with gr...

In an in-depth interview, Yonit and Jonathan talk to Gen David Petraeus, the former Director of the CIA and onetime head of US Central Command about both his admiration for Israel's military successes against Iran and Hizbollah - and his concerns about its war in Gaza. Plus: the wait for a hostage deal goes on and on, the region braces for the second coming of Donald Trump - and a very specific re...

The resignation of former defense minister Yoav gallant and the death of an American president -- Yonit and Jonathan discuss the fallout of Yoav Gallant's exit from the Knesset and the passing of Jimmy Carter, who stayed engaged with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for more than five decades. Plus: they speak with Suzanne Maloney, one of the world's foremost analysts of Iran and the Middle East o...

As the hostages held by Gaza spend their second Chanukah as captives of Hamas, Israel’s attorney general delivers a political bombshell — opening an investigation into Sara Netanyahu following revelations of her role in the attacks by Israel’s first family against its enemies. Yonit and Jonathan discuss all that and mark the start of Chanukah by looking for some light in the gloom, seeking out som...

Increased speculation on a hostage/ceasefire deal, a disturbing account of alleged IDF misconduct in Gaza and the fallout of two shocking attacks on synagogues in Montreal and Melbourne. Plus: a conversation that ranges from Damascus to Limerick and all points in between with historian Simon Sebag Montefiore. Finally Yonit and Jonathan salute a French heroine - and decry the Syrian prisoner who ne...

Yonit and Jonathan take stock of a momentous week in the Middle East, breaking down the fall of the Assad regime with US foreign policy veteran Richard Haass - and taking a deep dive into the court appearance of Benjamin Netanyahu with Alexis Bloom, director of The Bibi Files, an acclaimed documentary which lifts the lid on the corruption charges facing the prime minister. Plus - a sporting flavou...

As a veteran of Israel's security establishment, a former defence minister with roots on the Israeli right, says Israel is engaged in "ethnic cleansing" in Gaza, there's renewed talk of a deal to secure a hostage release and ceasefire before Donald Trump takes office in January. Yonit and Jonathan discuss all that - and they speak with Yael Alexander, whose son Edan is still held captive and was t...

As a ceasefire with Hizbollah brings an anxious quiet to the north of Israel, Yonit speaks with the US diplomat who brokered the deal, Amos Hochstein. Plus, a conversation with the man who ordered an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon a quarter century ago: former prime minister Ehud Barak. In a wide-ranging discussion, Barak shares with Yonit and Jonathan his views on how to end the war in Gaza, the...

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israel’s current Prime Minister and a former Defence Minister, adding yet another layer of complexity to an already fraught geopolitical landscape. Meanwhile, speculation grows about a potential ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, aimed at bringing a fragile quiet to the north. Yonit and Jonathan are also joined by two widely admi...

As Donald Trump appoints key figures for his incoming administration, Yonit and Jonathan speak with Alyssa Farah Griffin about the likely impact of his choices on Israel and the Middle East. Military affairs analyst Amos Harel joins to update us on the latest situation in Gaza. Plus: a look at the rising anti-Israel riots in Amsterdam. And for those who insisted – yes, there’s a follow-up on Radio...

***This episode was recorded before the assault against Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam*** Donald Trump is on his way back to the White House, having dispatched Kamala Harris, while Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is sacked in Tel Aviv—a week of seismic shifts on both sides of the Atlantic. Yonit and Jonathan take a deep dive into the implications of both dramatic developments - as well as...