Haaretz Podcast

With just hours to go before voting begins in one of the closest, bitterest and most contentious elections in recent Israeli history, host Simon Spungin is joined by Haaretz editor-in-chief Aluf Benn and columnist Anshel Pfeffer...

Host Simon Spungin is joined by senior Haaretz columnist Bradley Burtson and social media editor Alex Griffing, to discuss the immediate aftermath of Tuesday's Israeli election. With 97 percent of the votes counted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears poised to secure a record-breaking fifth term of office – despite his Likud party gaining the same number of seats at his closest rival...

Host Simon Spungin is joined by Haaretz diplomatic correspondent Noa Landau and author and editor Larry Derfner, to discuss the aftermath of Israel's general election. Will the New Right party squeeze into the Knesset after all - and what will become of its two leaders, Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked...

As Jews in Israel and across the world celebrate the Passover holiday – also known in Hebrew as the festival of freedom – we discuss the controversial ban on bringing food into public hospitals during the eight-day holiday...

Host Simon Spungin is joined by recently retired Haaretz columnist Bradley Burston to discuss the shooting attack at a synagogue in San Diego, an anti-Semitic cartoon in the New York Times International Edition and hopes for a better future in Israel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Simon Spungin and Haaretz columnist Allison Kaplan Sommer discuss the latest escalation between Israel and the Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip, which comes on the eve of Ramadan and just days before Israel celebrates Independence Day...

As Israel welcomes the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest, host Simon Spungin and Haaretz culture correspondent Avi Pitchon meet with ambassadors from two of the 41 countries taking part in the competition: Ambassador Thessalia Salina Shambos of Cyprus and Ambassador Magnus Hellgren of Sweden. We discuss the unifying character of Eurovision, the unique challenges of hosting the event in Tel Aviv, whether protests during the competition are legitimate – and much more.   See omnystudio...

Six weeks after Benjamin Netanyahu was tasked with forming the next Israeli government, the prime minister is being led a merry dance by Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman, who is refusing to join the coalition unless Netanyahu agrees to pass a law ending the draft exemption for yeshiva students...

Host Simon Spungin talks to Haaretz's Anshel Pfeffer about the fallout from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu'sfailure to form a new coalition and a second Knesset election in the space of five months...

Host Simon Spungin talks to Ravit Hecht, Avshalom Halutz and Larry Derfner about Pride Week in Israel – just days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed a gay Likudnik as his justice minister. We also discuss allegations of 'pinkwashing' against Israel, government foot-dragging on legislation to grant LGBT parents equal rights and the undercurrent of anti-gay sentiment among a small but powerful ultra-Orthodox minority. Follow Haaretz Weekly on iTunes, Spotify and Google Podcasts...