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Japan faces growing threats from China, Russia and North Korea yet it remains reluctant to embrace one of the world's most battle-tested security partners: Israel. Ruthie Blum and Mark Regev explore the surprising history of Japan-Israel relations, from Tokyo’s rapid recognition of the Jewish state after World War II to decades of diplomatic distance driven by dependence on Arab oil. Broadcasting from Japan, Regev reveals how economic interests, Japanese pacifism and the legacy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki continue to shape Tokyo’s attitude toward Israel, even as Japan faces growing threats from China, Russia and nuclear-armed North Korea. The hosts also examine Japan’s criticism of Israel following October 7 and the possibility of a major diplomatic breakthrough under its new leadership. With Israel proving its military and technological capabilities against Iran and its proxies, could Japan finally recognize that a stronger alliance with the Jewish state is essential to its own security?

A terrorist pilot nearly turned a passenger jet into a weapon, but the security failures that put him in the cockpit may be the most disturbing part of the story.  In this episode of "Israel Undiplomatic", Mark Regev and Ruthie Blum unpack the extraordinary FlyDubai attack and the growing questions over how an allegedly radicalized pilot who had previously faced problems elsewhere was allowed to fly a plane bound for Israel. Three years after October 7, they ask whether Israel has truly learned the lessons of that devastating security failure and examine how dramatically the battlefield has changed since then. From Hamas fighting for survival to Israelis returning in growing numbers to communities along the Gaza border, Regev and Blum argue that the story of the past three years is not only one of tragedy, but also of a country that has fundamentally changed the balance against its enemies.

Europe is turning up the pressure on Israel, but are Ireland and the Netherlands applying standards they wouldn’t use anywhere else? Mark Regev and Ruthie Blum expose the contradictions and growing tensions behind Europe’s increasingly hostile approach to the Jewish state. From Ireland’s protests against Israel in international sports to Dutch restrictions on Israeli products, the two examine how relations have deteriorated, and why Israel may no longer be willing to simply absorb the criticism. They also dig into Europe’s complicated history with the Jewish people and ask what’s really driving this dramatic shift against Israel.

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s UN speech wasn’t just aimed at the diplomats sitting in the room...Mark Regev and Ruthie Blum argue some of its most important messages were meant for President Trump, Iran and Israelis watching back home. In this special episode of "Israel Undiplomatic", the hosts break down Netanyahu’s arguments about Judea and Samaria, Gaza and the history behind Israel’s territorial disputes, before examining what those arguments could mean for Israeli policy going forward. They also unpack Netanyahu’s praise for Trump over the war with Iran and the theatrical Starlink stunt aimed directly at the Iranian delegation, before tackling his response to accusations of genocide in Gaza. Finally, they explain why Netanyahu’s call for Jews around the world to “raise your head high” may have been one of the most consequential messages of the entire speech.

World leaders took aim at Israel from the UN stage, but Mark Regev and Ruthie Bloom say their arguments ignore the security reality Israel faces on the ground. In this episode of "Israel Undiplomatic", the hosts take on Emmanuel Macron’s claims about Judea and Samaria, including his assertion that Hamas was not operating there and examine what they see as a growing disconnect between European rhetoric and Israel’s experience with terrorism. They also dissect King Abdullah’s fresh accusations against Israel, while debating a complicated question: Why should Israel tolerate harsh public criticism from Jordan when the two countries maintain vital security cooperation behind the scenes? From France’s deteriorating relationship with Israel to the widening gap between what Arab governments say publicly and privately, this episode exposes the diplomatic battle unfolding around Israel at the UN.

An Israeli-made film accusing the IDF of war crimes just received a staggering 25-minute standing ovation in Europe, and the reaction inside Israel couldn’t be more different. Former Israeli ambassador to the UK Mark Regev and senior contributing editor at JNS Ruthie Blum take apart the controversy surrounding Naza, a film alleging that Israeli forces used AI to target Palestinians in Gaza while disregarding civilian casualties. They challenge the film’s anonymous military sources and ask why some of Israel’s harshest domestic critics receive such enthusiastic receptions overseas. The bigger question: does the applause in Venice reveal something far more troubling about how attitudes toward Israel have changed across the West?

Britain and Israel are suddenly facing what may be their worst diplomatic crisis yet, and Jerusalem has decided it’s done playing nice. After Britain accused Israel of unlawful occupation, announced an import ban and new sanctions, Israel fired back by closing the British Consulate in Jerusalem, restricting British involvement in Palestinian affairs and barring British figures from entering the country. Former Israeli ambassador to the UK Mark Regev and senior contributing editor at JNS Ruthie Blum unpack what’s really driving Britain’s dramatic shift and why London’s actions could destroy its ability to ever play peacemaker again. You’ll learn why this clash goes far beyond settlements and what it reveals about a much bigger transformation underway in Britain’s relationship with Israel.

Is President Trump tightening the noose around Iran, or could the latest escalation ignite another major round of war? Ruthie Blum and Mark Regev unpack Trump’s renewed pressure on Tehran, from economic and military measures to his provocative call for the Iranian people to “rise up and fight.” They examine whether mounting economic distress could finally weaken the regime’s security forces, why Iran has so far avoided directly attacking Israel and whether the coming Jewish holidays could bring renewed escalation. Then they turn to the bigger strategic picture: Iran’s battered nuclear program, its weakened network of proxies and its continued use of terrorism and assassination plots abroad. Finally, with Israel heading toward elections, Regev and Blum debate claims that replacing Benjamin Netanyahu would transform Israel’s standing in the world and whether Netanyahu’s experience dealing with Trump could become a decisive issue for Israeli voters. Viewers will learn why Iran may be closer to a breaking point than it appears, what could trigger another major Israeli-American offensive and how elections in both Israel and the United States could shape what happens next.

Israel and the United States may be allies, but when it comes to Syria and Turkey, a potentially dangerous divide is opening up. Mark Regev and Ruthie Blum unpack Washington’s decision to remove Syria from its state-sponsor-of-terrorism list despite its new president’s jihadist past before addressing the controversy surrounding U.S. envoy Tom Barrack’s comments on the Golan Heights. Then they turn to an even bigger potential flashpoint: Turkey’s expanding influence in Syria and Israel’s determination to prevent Turkish military forces from establishing themselves closer to its borders. Viewers will learn why Jerusalem and Washington increasingly see Syria and Erdogan through very different lenses, why Israel has already demonstrated that Turkish military expansion could cross a red line and how Prime Minister Netanyahu must navigate those disagreements without jeopardizing Israel’s crucial relationship with President Trump.

Is Israel turning military victories into diplomatic defeats? In this episode of Israel Undiplomatic, Mark Regev and Ruthie Blum tackle one of the biggest strategic questions facing Israel today: Is the government snatching defeat from the jaws of victory? From the war in Gaza to the evolving situation in Lebanon, Iran's regional ambitions and the latest developments in Israeli politics, they examine whether Israel is capitalizing on its battlefield successes, or allowing political hesitation and international pressure to undermine them.

Is President Trump’s strategy slowly breaking Iran’s regime, or giving Tehran time to recover? Ruthie Blum and Mark Regev examine the growing debate over Trump’s approach to Iran, including economic pressure, the blockade of Iranian ports, the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, rising oil prices, and the possibility of renewed military action. Could a prolonged war of attrition weaken the Islamic Republic, or was stopping short of decisive victory a dangerous mistake? Then, the conversation turns to Gaza: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of a proposed 15-point plan, reports of restraint by the IDF, Hamas’s refusal to disarm, and the possibility of private understandings between Trump and Netanyahu. Is Trump playing the long game, or allowing a dangerous regime to survive? Let us know what you think in the comments!

Can Hamas really be trusted to disarm or is the latest peace plan setting Israel up for the same mistake all over again? This week on Israel Undiplomatic, Mark Regev and Ruthie Blum dissect President Trump's announcement of a landmark Hamas disarmament agreement and explain why Israeli officials remain deeply skeptical. They explore the conditions behind the proposed deal, the debate over Israel's military presence in Gaza, the role of international mediators and whether any future Palestinian governing authority can truly prevent terrorism from returning. The conversation also examines the long-term challenge of deradicalization and the competing narratives surrounding Israel's legitimacy and the conflict itself.

Why was there no press conference after Prime Minister Netanyahu's White House meeting with President Trump, and what happened behind those closed doors? This week on Israel Undiplomatic, Mark Regev and Ruthie Blum unpack the growing speculation surrounding the Trump-Netanyahu meeting and why the real battle over Tehran's nuclear program may be entering a decisive new phase. They also examine the prospects for expanding the Abraham Accords, the strategic calculations involving Lebanon, Syria and Saudi Arabia and why Israel's recent military victories could reshape the Middle East for years to come. Plus, they pay tribute to Boy George after his powerful public stand against antisemitism and his moving new song honoring the victims of the Nova massacre.

Can New York's mayor really arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or is something much bigger happening beneath the headlines? Mark Regev and Ruthie Blum unpack Zohran Mamdani's latest call for the federal government to arrest Israel's prime minister before explaining why the ICC controversy extends far beyond Israel, and then examine what this battle reveals about the future of U.S.-Israel relations. You'll learn why the hosts argue that anti-Israel sentiment has become a defining issue in parts of Western politics, why they believe replacing Netanyahu would not change the global campaign against Israel and why they see today's challenges as part of a much broader shift affecting Jews around the world.

President Trump's bold claims about Iran are colliding with a very different reality, and what happened at Ali Khamenei's funeral may reveal who's really winning the information war. Mark Regev and Ruthie Blum unpack why the regime's massive displays of mourning may be carefully orchestrated propaganda, what the absence of Iran's new supreme leader could mean, why foreign delegations at the funeral matter more than they appear and whether the West is making a dangerous mistake by negotiating with Tehran. Learn how to separate political theater from genuine geopolitical shifts and what these latest developments could mean for the next phase of the Iran-Israel confrontation.