Unholy: Two Jews on the News

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 never was.Join our Patreon community - a special Christmas bonus episode coming up this Tuesday!Find us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, Linkedin, YouTube, X)

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 never was. Join our Patreon community - a special Christmas bonus episode coming up this Tuesday! Find us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, Linkedin, YouTube, X)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 flavour to both of this week’s chutzpah and mensch awards. Join our Patreon community - The first bonus episode drops this Tuesday for our premium members! Find us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, Linkedin, YouTube, X)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 this week shown alive in a video released by Hamas. There's a bulging list of chutzpah nominees, stretching from Rumania to New Jersey, and big news about Unholy itself - with a chance for listeners to join the Unholy family.  Subscribe to our new Patreon community Social media links (Instagram, X, Bluesky, Youtube and Facebook) available here Our membership tiers: $8/month (Friend of the Pod): Get 2 bonus episodes a month, early access to event tickets, discounts on merch, and access to a members-only chat room.$25/month (Family Member): Enjoy everything in the Friend tier, plus a live Zoom call with us once a quarter and a limited-edition tote bag at no extra cost. Special Holiday Promotion: Sign up for the Family Member tier now and get 80% off your first month!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 ICC arrest warrants - and why Israel may have to learn to live with a nuclear Iran. Plus: a Latin American mensch and a serial winner bags the chutzpah award -- You can watch this episode on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/SKqZ6Ms2xBM Subscribe to our Substack: https://unholypodcast.substack.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/ X: https://x.com/2jewsonthenews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/unholypod.bsky.social Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150578065793142See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 admired journalists: Thomas L. Friedman of The New York Times, who says the second Trump presidency could spell either opportunity or disaster for Israel, and Ilana Dayan of Israel's Channel 12, who gives an exclusive, English-language reading of a landmark speech she delivered last week at the Weizmann Institute to huge acclaim. Plus: this week’s mensch award nominee is brave - and the chutzpah award is fruity. -- You can watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/POZkVIhTwHM Subscribe to our Substack: https://unholypodcast.substack.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/ X: https://x.com/2jewsonthenews Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150578065793142See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Radiohead and their connection to Israel.   You can watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4PxvsoPWGjI  Subscribe to our Substack: https://unholypodcast.substack.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/ X: https://x.com/2jewsonthenews Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150578065793142See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

***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 the ongoing investigations into the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office. Plus: a mensch award for the man who took to - then left - the stage, quite literally. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/d-wXSihp4y4 Subscribe to our Substack: https://unholypodcast.substack.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/ X: https://x.com/2jewsonthenews Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150578065793142See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just four days out from the U.S. election, we turn to one of the most influential voices in liberal America, Rachel Maddow. Yonit and Jonathan discuss her new book, "Prequel: An American Fight against Fascism", and what shadows the past casts on today’s America. Meanwhile, the Middle East raises new, urgent questions for the President-elect: Will Iran retaliate after Israel’s recent strike? Could Israel and Hezbollah reach a truce—or even Israel and Hamas? And—a few writers who receive a thumbs down review this week. You can watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6Rgd-ERyVgo Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/X: https://x.com/2jewsonthenews Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150578065793142 Subscribe to our blog: https://unholypodcast.substack.com/ Listen to Unholy's "Great Jewish Debate" with Dan Senor and Jeremy BashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With less than a week to go till America decides, who will the country’s Jews be backing - Kamala Harris or Donald Trump? And who deserves their support most? For this special episode, Yonit and Jonathan bring together two seasoned foreign policy players - longtime Republican and podcaster Dan Senor and veteran Democrat and analyst Jeremy Bash to thrash out which of the two presidential candidates would be best for those US Jews increasingly anxious about the future of Israel and the rise in antisemitism. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/X: https://x.com/2jewsonthenews Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150578065793142 Subscribe to our blog: https://unholypodcast.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.