Advertise on podcast: The Israel Connexion

Last week Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal AO released her latest report, which has updated priorities aiming to push antisemitism back to the margins The report calls on institutions to adapt codes of conduct, ensure people understand the nature of antisemitism, and recognise the ascension of a new pervasive coded antisemitism identified as modern, ‘progressive’ antisemitism as being rife in Australia today, taking the hostility of Islamic extremism and far-left antisemitism, together with traditional antisemitic tropes, and giving it a respectable face through the language of social justice and human rights.(0:31-30:12) Showing at JIFF 'The Choice' is an extraordinary documentary film that explores trauma, survival, and the radical power of choice through the interconnected lives of three women: Dr. Edith "Edie" Eger: A renowned psychologist, Holocaust survivor, and author of the bestselling memoir The Choice: Embrace the Possible. Iris Haim: An Israeli mother who turned to Dr. Eger’s book as a lifeline after her son, Yotam Haim, was taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 attacks.  Sapir Cohen: A former hostage who independently discovered the same core message of resilience and personal agency even while in captivity I speak with the film's director John David Coles. (30:18-57:29) Support the show: https://www.j-air.com.au/get-involved/membership/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Set in the heart of Hassidic Jerusalem, this comedic, modern-day caper screening at JIFF and starring the famed Israeli film actor, writer, and singer Shuli Rand follows a disgraced badhan (a traditional Jewish wedding emcee) as he fights to reclaim his former glory. I speak with the film's director Gidi Dar who created the film Ushpizin in 2004 which was the first feature film ever made in Israel's ultra-Orthodox Haredi community. One of history’s most consequential and under-recognised Jewish women, Henrietta Szold left an indelible mark on the 20th century with her compassionate leadership founded on equality. Support the show: https://www.j-air.com.au/get-involved/membership/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of history’s most consequential and under-recognised Jewish women, Henrietta Szold left an indelible mark on the 20th century with her compassionate leadership founded on equality. This powerful documentary Labors of Love: The Life and Legacy of Henrietta Szold by Peabody award-winner Abby Ginzberg that is showing at JIFF brings a compassionate new insight to a woman who reshaped history and became mother and mentor to thousands of young Jews with her rare blend of logistical genius, hands-on dedication and an unwavering belief in the power of humanity. Support the show: https://www.j-air.com.au/get-involved/membership/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dina Rovner is the Legal Advisor of United Nations Watch (UN Watch), an independent human rights monitoring organization in Geneva, Switzerland. UN Watch has produced a couple of comprehensive reports, one repudiating UNRWA's claim that it is successfully implementing reforms and the other providing a comprehensive legal analysis of Francesca Albanese’s October 2026 Report to the UN General Assembly.  I deal with both of these issues in my full interview here with Dina Rovner.  Support the show: https://www.j-air.com.au/get-involved/membership/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dina Rovner is the Legal Advisor of United Nations Watch (UN Watch), an independent human rights monitoring organization in Geneva, Switzerland. UN Watch has produced a couple of comprehensive reports, one repudiating UNRWA's claim that it is successfully implementing reforms and the other providing a comprehensive legal analysis of Francesca Albanese’s October 2026 Report to the UN General Assembly.  On today's show I will only have time to deal with the UNRWA issues but a separate podcast will cover my full interview with Dina Rovner.  (0:31-29:46) Set in the heart of Hassidic Jerusalem, this comedic, modern-day caper screening at JIFF and starring the famed Israeli film actor, writer, and singer Shuli Rand follows a disgraced badhan (a traditional Jewish wedding emcee) as he fights to reclaim his former glory. I speak with the film's director Gidi Dar who created the film Ushpizin in 2004 which was the first feature film ever made in Israel's ultra-Orthodox Haredi community. One of history’s most consequential and under-recognised Jewish women, Henrietta Szold left an indelible mark on the 20th century with her compassionate leadership founded on equality. (29:51-46:00) This powerful documentary Labors of Love: The Life and Legacy of Henrietta Szold by Peabody award-winner Abby Ginzberg that is showing at JIFF brings a compassionate new insight to a woman who reshaped history and became mother and mentor to thousands of young Jews with her rare blend of logistical genius, hands-on dedication and an unwavering belief in the power of humanity. (46:05-57:53) Support the show: https://www.j-air.com.au/get-involved/membership/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I spoke wirh Duki Dror, the director of Unraveling UNRWA a probing and scrupulous documentary that dives into the history of the relief agency founded to aid Palestinian refugees in the wake of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and how it evolved to become an organisation at the centre of global scrutiny. In the wake of October 7 massacre and explosive allegations implicating UNRWA staff in kidnappings, Israel severed legislative ties with the agency amid Gaza’s deepening humanitarian crisis. Drawing on historical and political perspectives, insider’s testimony, and archival footage, this documentary traces UNRWA’s 75-year evolution bringing its organisational dysfunction into focus and asking urgent questions about its legacy and future. [Full interview] Support the show: https://www.j-air.com.au/get-involved/membership/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gideon Rahat is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, a Senior Fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute and an International Fellow at the Center for the Study of Democracy at the University of California, Irvine.  His research fields are comparative politics and Israeli politics. His interests include political parties, electoral reform, the personalization of politics and candidate selection methods.  He is a co-editor (together with Shlomit Barnea, Chen Friedberg, and Ofer Kenig) of the book Reforming Israel’s Political System. With Israeli elections less than a week away we look at the candidates, discuss the state of play with the possible result being suggested by the polls and consider the main issues that are influencing Israelis. [Full interview] Support the show: https://www.j-air.com.au/get-involved/membership/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I spoke wirh Duki Dror, the director of Unraveling UNRWA a probing and scrupulous documentary that dives into the history of the relief agency founded to aid Palestinian refugees in the wake of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and how it evolved to become an organisation at the centre of global scrutiny. In the wake of October 7 massacre and explosive allegations implicating UNRWA staff in kidnappings, Israel severed legislative ties with the agency amid Gaza’s deepening humanitarian crisis. Drawing on historical and political perspectives, insider’s testimony, and archival footage, this documentary traces UNRWA’s 75-year evolution bringing its organisational dysfunction into focus and asking urgent questions about its legacy and future. (0:31-29:52) Gideon Rahat is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, a Senior Fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute and an International Fellow at the Center for the Study of Democracy at the University of California, Irvine.  His research fields are comparative politics and Israeli politics. His interests include political parties, electoral reform, the personalization of politics and candidate selection methods.  He is a co-editor (together with Shlomit Barnea, Chen Friedberg, and Ofer Kenig) of the book Reforming Israel’s Political System. With Israeli elections less than a week away we look at the candidates, discuss the state of play with the possible result being suggested by the polls and consider the main issues that are influencing Israelis. (29:57-57:40) Support the show: https://www.j-air.com.au/get-involved/membership/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Friends of Sheba locally represents the Sheba Medical Centre, the 8th top hospital in the world according to Newsweek magazine. Embodying the ethos of “hope without boundaries”, Sheba compassionate care extends across the globe. The vision at Australian Friends of Sheba is to forge a bridge connecting the outstanding capabilities of Sheba with Australia’s world-renowned research and innovation prowess.  I speak with its CEO Idan Goldberger. Support the show: https://www.j-air.com.au/get-involved/membership/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week a large crowd gathered at Caulfield Shule to hear Chris Sidoti, member of the UN Commission of Inquiry into Israel and the so-called Occupied Palestinian Territories going head-to-head with Dr Brian Cox, military law expert and Dr Glenn Kolomeitz moderating. There has been a huge reaction internationally to what transpired and to those who registered to watch it online. Unfortunately the livestream of the event was attacked by an inordinate number of spurious service requests; since then a recording has been shared with everyone who had registered. Anne Herzberg, legal advisor for NGO Monitor, joins me in doing an analysis of what was said. Support the show: https://www.j-air.com.au/get-involved/membership/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week a large crowd gathered at Caulfield Shule to hear Chris Sidoti, member of the UN Commission of Inquiry into Israel and the so-called Occupied Palestinian Territories going head-to-head with Dr Brian Cox, military law expert and Dr Glenn Kolomeitz moderating. There has been a huge reaction internationally to what transpired and to those who registered to watch it online. Unfortunately the livestream of the event was attacked by an inordinate number of spurious service requests; since then a recording has been shared with everyone who had registered. Anne Herzberg, legal advisor for NGO Monitor, joins me in doing an analysis of what was said. (0:31-31:29) Australian Friends of Sheba locally represents the Sheba Medical Centre, the 8th top hospital in the world according to Newsweek magazine. Embodying the ethos of “hope without boundaries”, Sheba compassionate care extends across the globe. The vision at Australian Friends of Sheba is to forge a bridge connecting the outstanding capabilities of Sheba with Australia’s world-renowned research and innovation prowess.  I speak with its CEO Idan Goldberger. (31:35-57:50) Support the show: https://www.j-air.com.au/get-involved/membership/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's episode of 'The Israel Connexion' is dedicated to the victims of the Hamas massacre that was committed on Oct 7th, 2023. You will hear from a number of people, who have previously been guests on this show, expressing their thoughts and feelings about the significance of the third anniversary of this tragedy that has traumatised Jews around the world. Recap of interview with the CEO of the Road To Recovery Yael Noy days after Oct 7th, 2023. (0:31-11:56) Nissan Ratzlav-Katz is an experienced marketing communications professional and a published columnist. The views that he regularly expresses on his substack publication Letters from the Homeland are his own; the facts he shares are for everyone's benefit. (11:56-17:02) David Lange is the creator of Israellycool, one of Israel's largest English-language blogs that ranks as one of the largest English-language blogs focused on Israel, aiming to counter online bias, critique mainstream media narratives, and support pro-Israel activism. (17:02-23:33) Nachum Kaplan is a journalist and commentator who lives in Singapore who publishes the substack Moral Clarity. He has 25 years media experience and held senior international roles at Reuters and IFR. He holds a B.A. in Politics and Indonesian from Monash University and is also a practising psychotherapist. (23:33-34:26) Professor Kobi Michael is a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and the Misgav Institute and a visiting professor at the International Centre for Policing and Security University of South Wales UK. (34:26-50:42) Dr Brian L. Cox is a Cornell Law School lecturer, visiting scholar at the University of Ottawa, and retired U.S. Army officer with 22 years' service — including seven as a military lawyer and deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. (50:42-57:35) Brian will be in debate with UN Commissioner Chris Sidoti on Thursday night Oct 8th at 7:45 pm. Tickets to attend the event are available here while those who wish to watch the livestream can register to do so here. Support the show: https://www.j-air.com.au/get-involved/membership/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A media professional with over 20 years of experience in international news, Leslie Kajomovitz brings a global perspective shaped by being born in the U.S., raised in Latin America, currently living in both Israel and Europe. Her background has provided her with a deep understanding of how media shapes narratives across diverse cultural and geopolitical landscapes. Leslie examines propaganda narratives and via her substack Global Disconnect she tells the story of a world where the media world leaders, and international institutions seem increasingly out of touch with the realities we face. In my interview with her we look at some examples of exposés she has written on propaganda narratives. [Full interview] Support the show: https://www.j-air.com.au/get-involved/membership/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Tony Klug has written extensively about Israeli-Palestinian issues since the early 1970s. His doctoral thesis was on the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. He is a former senior advisor on the Middle East to the Oxford Research Group and has been a consultant to the Palestine Strategy Group and the Israeli Strategic Forum. He was one of the first advocates of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel in the wake of the 1967 war. I will be discussing his latest article published in the Palestine-Journal titled It’s Still the Occupation, Stupid! [Full interview] Support the show: https://www.j-air.com.au/get-involved/membership/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A media professional with over 20 years of experience in international news, Leslie Kajomovitz brings a global perspective shaped by being born in the U.S., raised in Latin America, currently living in both Israel and Europe. Her background has provided her with a deep understanding of how media shapes narratives across diverse cultural and geopolitical landscapes. Leslie examines propaganda narratives and via her substack Global Disconnect she tells the story of a world where the media world leaders, and international institutions seem increasingly out of touch with the realities we face. In my interview with her we look at some examples of exposés she has written on propaganda narratives. (0:31-30:26) Dr Tony Klug has written extensively about Israeli-Palestinian issues since the early 1970s. His doctoral thesis was on the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. He is a former senior advisor on the Middle East to the Oxford Research Group and has been a consultant to the Palestine Strategy Group and the Israeli Strategic Forum. He was one of the first advocates of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel in the wake of the 1967 war. I will be discussing his latest article published in the Palestine-Journal titled It’s Still the Occupation, Stupid!  (30:31-56:25) Support the show: https://www.j-air.com.au/get-involved/membership/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.