Herd
Get App
Call Me Back - with Dan Senor podcast cover art

Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

ByArk Media
350 episodes

Podcast Summary

"Call Me Back - with Dan Senor" invites listeners into the heart of Israel's most pressing challenges and dilemmas, offering a unique lens on the geopolitical landscape that often feels distant yet profoundly relevant. Dan Senor, a seasoned commentator and expert, engages with a diverse lineup of influential guests, including former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and national security expert Brett McGurk. Together, they navigate complex topics such as the intricacies of U.S.-Israel relations, the dynamics of Middle Eastern politics, and the social fabric of Israeli society. Each episode combines insightful analysis with personal anecdotes, creating a rich tapestry of perspectives that bring clarity to often misunderstood issues. With its blend of expert commentary and compelling storytelling, "Call Me Back" provides a vital connection to the realities of life in Israel, making it a must-listen for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of this pivotal region.

#1

Trump: “Don’t!” - with Nadav Eyal and Amit Segal

Upcoming Live Event: Call Me Back – Live Podcast recording with Special Guest Brett McGurk — June 4, 7:30 PM at the Manhattan JCC. REGISTER HERE: Call me Back on YouTube: to Ark Media’s new podcast ‘What’s Your Number?’: lnk.to/HJI2mXFor sponsorship inquiries, please contact: [email protected] contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: Media on Instagram: on X: on Instagram: episode:Terms for a new intermediary hostage-ceasefire deal appear to have been reached through direct negotiations between the US and Hamas, against the backdrop of reports that President Donald Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu it would be ‘very inappropriate’ for Israel to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities militarily. To better understand this rapidly evolving, increasingly complex story, we are joined by Nadav Eyal, senior analyst at Yedioth Achronot and Amit Segal, senior political analyst at Channel 12.Subscribe to Amit Segal’s newsletter here: BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-05-29•50mins
#2

Optimism for (Some) U.S. Universities - with Will Inboden & Eric Cohen

Upcoming Live Event: Call Me Back – Live Podcast recording with Special Guest Brett McGurk — June 4, 7:30 PM at the Manhattan JCC. REGISTER HERE: Call me Back on YouTube: to Ark Media’s new podcast ‘What’s Your Number?’: lnk.to/HJI2mXFor sponsorship inquiries, please contact: [email protected] contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: Media on Instagram: on X: on Instagram: episode:We’ve spent a lot of time on this podcast lamenting what has gone wrong on U.S. college campuses and within higher education overall. But, there are initiatives being launched and new schools and departments being founded that should give students and aspiring students (and their families) a lot of hope.Joining us today to discuss:Will Inboden, professor and director of the Alexander Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education at the University of Florida. He is the author of a terrific book called: “The Peacemaker: Ronald Reagan, the Cold War, and the World on the Brink.” And, announced today, Will Inboden is the finalist to be the next Provost of University of Texas at Austin. Eric Cohen has been the CEO of Tikvah since 2007. He started and serves as the publisher of Mosaic, and founded the journal called The New Atlantis. Tikvah has partnered with the Hamilton School at UF on a unique program that will be explored in this episode. To learn more about the Rosenthal-Levy Scholars Program (4-year scholarship to the Hamilton School) at the University of Florida: The Peacemaker by Will Inboden: New Atlantis: Magazine: BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-05-29•47mins
#3

Shavuot asks - what's the point of it all? - with Rachel Goldberg-Polin

Upcoming Live Event: Call Me Back – Live Podcast recording with Special Guest Brett McGurk — June 4, 7:30 PM at the Manhattan JCC. REGISTER HERE: to our YouTube channel: Subscribe to Ark Media’s new podcast ‘What’s Your Number?’: For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: [email protected] contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: Media on Instagram: on X: on Instagram: episode:In one week, Jews in Israel and around the world will be celebrating the holiday of Shavuot. But, for many Jews, it’s one of the least understood or familiar holidays, and yet it’s among the most important. So today we are providing a Shavuot crash course for the Call Me Back community as well as some inspiration. For all the obvious reasons, it feels like we need it.Rachel Goldberg-Polin returns to Call Me Back to help us prepare for Shavuot after she helped so many of us navigate our Passover Seders. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorMARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional EditingGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-05-26•57mins
#4

EMERGENCY EPISODE: Is this the Global Intifada? - with Mitch Silber

Upcoming Live Event: Call Me Back – Live Podcast recording with Special Guest Brett McGurk — June 4, 7:30 PM at the Manhattan JCC. REGISTER HERE: mmjccm.org/event/call-me-back-dan-senor-podcastSubscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast?sub_confirmation=1 Subscribe to Ark Media’s new podcast ‘What’s Your Number?’: youtube.com/@wyn.podcast?sub_confirmation=1 For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: [email protected] contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.org/Ark Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorgDan on X: x.com/dansenorDan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenorToday’s episode:On Wednesday night, two employees of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, were shot dead by Elias Rodriguez, a radical left-wing activist. “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” he said after being taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder.It’s been almost two years since the chant ‘globalize the Intifada’ has gone mainstream. Is what happened in DC a manifestation of that chant, or is this a lone-wolf incident? If we look around the globe - from Canada, to France, to Germany, Sweden, the UK and Australia - it looks like the US might be joining an already established club, albeit, a bit late. How should the Jewish community in the US, and Jewish communities around the world prepare, if this is indeed a global intifada? With us today to discuss all of this is Mitch Silber, who served as Director of Intelligence Analysis at the NYPD and is one of the foremost experts on counterterrorism and radicalization. Mitch currently leads the Community Security Initiative NY. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorMARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional EditingGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-05-23•38mins
#5

Pressure mounts to end the War - with Amit Segal and Nadav Eyal

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcastSubscribe to Ark Media’s new podcast ‘What’s Your Number?’: lnk.to/HJI2mXFor sponsorship inquiries, please contact: [email protected] contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.org/Ark Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorgDan on X: x.com/dansenorDan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenorToday’s episode:A lot has unfolded in the span of just a few days:Iran’s Supreme Leader has publicly dismissed the potential for nuclear negotiations with the United States. This comes as U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff has doubled down on the zero enrichment condition for any Iran nuclear deal — while the Trump administration appears to be quietly pressuring Israel on the path forward on Gaza, while not demanding that Israel actually end the war. Meanwhile, international pressure continues to build.The UK announced plans to pause trade talks and countries within the European Union are discussing scrapping a cooperation deal with Israel. Finally, Pope Leo XIV appealed for more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, calling the situation there “yet more worrying and saddening.”Where does Israel go from here? How are these dynamics impacting domestic Israeli politics and the options for Israeli decision-makers. With us today to discuss all of this are Nadav Eyal, senior analyst at Yedioth Achronot, and Amit Segal, senior political analyst at Channel 12.Subscribe to Amit Segal’s newsletter here: BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-05-22•48mins
#6

Dan's State of World Jewry Address - Part II

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: to Ark Media’s new podcast ‘What’s Your Number?’: lnk.to/HJI2mXFor sponsorship inquiries, please contact: [email protected] contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: Media on Instagram: on X: on Instagram: have been moved by the reaction to my speech at the annual State of World Jewry Address in the last episode. In Part II of that evening at the 92nd Street Y, I sat down with Rabbi David Ingber, following my address, for a conversation. Rabbi Ingber picked up on some of the ideas in my talk…to probe some more…and push me on several of the issues I raised. Rabbi Ingber is the Senior Director for Jewish Life and Senior Director of the Bronfman Center at 92NY. He also serves as the founding rabbi of Romemu. He serves on the faculty for the Wexner Heritage Program and the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America and Israel. Rabbi Ingber is also the host of the “Detours & Destinations” podcast:

2025-05-19•35mins
#7

Dan Senor’s State of World Jewry Address (@92NY)

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcastSubscribe to Ark Media’s new podcast ‘What’s Your Number?’: lnk.to/HJI2mXFor sponsorship inquiries, please contact: [email protected] contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.orgArk Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorgDan on X: x.com/dansenorDan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenorToday’s episode:Dan Senor’s 2025 State of World Jewry Address at the 92nd Street Y (92NY).Dan’s address expanded upon many of the topics we often discuss on Call Me Back, but it primarily focused on the challenges ahead for Diaspora Jewish communities in a post-10/07 world. Dan also laid out a first draft of an action plan for Jewish Peoplehood that is no longer prominent and weak but one that is instead Jewish and strong. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-05-15•51mins
#8

Will Trump end the war in Gaza? - With Amit Segal and Nadav Eyal

Upcoming Event Notice: Dan Senor will be delivering this year’s State of World Jewry Address at the 92nd Street Y (92NY) on Tuesday May 13 at 7:30 pm. To register: Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcastSubscribe to Ark Media’s new podcast ‘What’s Your Number?’: lnk.to/HJI2mXArk Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorgTo contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.orgDan on X: x.com/dansenorDan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenorToday’s episode:As we mentioned in our brief update this morning, there is a lot happening in Israel and it’s happening fast. Hamas has released hostage Edan Alexander, a US-Israeli citizen, in what Hamas is calling a “gesture of good will” to US President Donald Trump. All of this while the IDF has been preparing a large-scale offensive in Gaza and as the Gulf Summit is about to start in Saudi Arabia where President Trump will be meeting with Arab leaders to discuss further US investment and the future of the Middle East. To discuss all of this and what it means, we are joined by Call Me Back regulars Nadav Eyal, senior analyst at Yedioth Achronot, and Amit Segal, senior political analyst at Channel 12Amit Segal’s newsletter: Segal’s opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal: BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-05-12•53mins

Listen to your favourite podcasts.

Now ad-free.

Download herd and enjoy uninterrupted, high-quality podcasts without the wait.

Download on the
App Store
#9

An update on recent events

It is 9PM on Sunday May 11th here in New York City. It is 4AM on Monday May 12th in Israel.A lot is happening, and it’s happening fast. So instead of taping today, Sunday, and releasing Monday morning as we usually do, we will be taping Nadav Eyal and Amit Segal on Monday morning and releasing the episode later in the day. In the meantime, in case you haven’t caught up yet, here’s a quick update on the events that took place this weekend.CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-05-12•3mins
#10

The Saudi Deal and the Reoccupation of Gaza – with Lahav Harkov

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcastSubscribe to Ark Media’s new podcast ‘What’s Your Number?’: lnk.to/HJI2mXArk Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorgTo contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.orgDan on X: x.com/dansenorDan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenor=============================================It’s been a busy week with a lot of moving pieces - there are new war plans in Gaza, the US-Houthi agreement, and of course, the Gulf Summit and a potential new deal between the US and Saudi Arabia. Here’s what we do know:On Tuesday, during a press availability in the Oval Office of the White House, President Donald Trump told reporters that the total number of living hostages in Gaza dropped from 24 to 21. “As of today, it’s 21. Three have died.”, he said. Israel maintains that officially, the list of living hostages remains 24. Trump also said that the US would stop bombing Yemen’s Houthis after the Iran-backed group had agreed to stop interrupting important shipping lanes in the Middle East. The announcement did not mention the Houthi attacks on Israel, including a missile that hit Ben Gurion international airport on Saturday, to which Israel responded with a crippling attack on Yemen's international airport in Sanaa. Following Trump’s announcement, a spokesman for the Houthis pledged that the strikes on Israel would continue. On Thursday, sources told Reuters that the United States is no longer demanding Saudi Arabia normalize ties with Israel as a condition for developing its nuclear program - a major concession by Washington. Senator Lindsey Graham says he opposes any pact with the Saudis that excludes normalization with Jewish state. Earlier in the week, on Monday, Israel’s security cabinet authorized plans for the widening of the Gaza invasion, which if taken to its logical conclusion, meaning Hamas refuses to surrender and release the hostages – could result in an Israeli reoccupation of Ga...

2025-05-09•49mins
#11

What’s at Stake in Trump’s Upcoming Gulf Summit – with Mike Singh & Nadav Eyal

Ark Media is looking for two college summer interns – one who can support operations and another who can support product design. To apply, please follow the links below:Product: Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcastSubscribe to Ark Media’s new podcast ‘What’s Your Number?’: lnk.to/HJI2mXArk Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorgTo contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.orgDan on X: x.com/dansenorDan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenor Today’s episode:Latest reporting from Times of Israel on wildfires: week, President Trump is heading to Saudi Arabia to convene a summit with leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council—Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. The agenda? Arms deals, AI partnerships, and a substantial Saudi investment pledge. Israel isn't on his itinerary, although Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has just announced that he will be traveling to Israel in advance of President Trump’s Middle East trip, and that Secretary Hegseth will be meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Katz and Israel’s military leadership. He will then travel to Saudi Arabia to accompany President Trump on his travels. The Middle East visit will also take place against the backdrop of an important personnel change on Trump’s national security team – namely, the national security advisor Mike Waltz stepping down and moving to the UN. To unpack what's at stake for Israel and the US, we're joined by Mike Singh, former senior director for Middle East affairs at the National Security Council and now managing director at the Washington Institute, and Call me Back regular, Nadav Eyal, columnist for Yediot Ahronot.CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-05-05•47mins
#12

EMERGENCY EPISODE: Houthi Missile Hits Ben Gurion Airport - with Nadav Eyal

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcastSubscribe to Ark Media’s new podcast ‘What’s Your Number?’: lnk.to/HJI2mXArk Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorgTo contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.orgDan on X: x.com/dansenorDan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenorToday’s episode:The Iran-backed Houthis fired a ballistic missile at Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday morning. The IDF said it tried to intercept the missile using Arrow and THAAD systems, but failed. A number of US and international airlines have since suspended flights in and out of Israel. This was the first time the Houthis had successfully hit Israel’s national airport. To help us understand what happened and possible next steps, we are joined by Call Me Back regular Nadav Eyal for an emergency episode. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-05-04•19mins
#13

The Echoes of Israel’s Founding Fathers - with Yossi Klein Halevi

To help struggling Israeli combat veterans find their way back, please visit the American Friends of Israel Navy SEALs’ (AFINS): afins.us/warriorcareUpcoming Event Notice: Dan Senor will be delivering this year’s State of World Jewry Address at the 92nd Street Y (92NY) on Tuesday May 13 at 7:30 pm. To register: 92ny.org/event/the-state-of-world-jewry-addressWatch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcastSubscribe to Ark Media’s new podcast ‘What’s Your Number?’: lnk.to/HJI2mXArk Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorgTo contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.orgDan on X: x.com/dansenorDan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenorToday’s episode:Flames that engulfed more than 5,000 acres around Jerusalem as Israel marked its 77th Independence Day. Dozens of Independence Day ceremonies were canceled, and according to many Israelis — the feelings of national solidarity that normally characterize this day were scarce. For the families of hostages in Gaza, this was their second Yom Haatzmaut without their loved ones. And yet, Israelis are nothing if not resilient. The country’s population has now surpassed 10 million people. Forty-five percent of all Jews on Earth today call Israel home. So, while there are reasons for concern, there are also reasons for hope. Reflecting on how far Israel has come, and where it may go from here, we are joined by bestselling author and senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute, Yossi Klein Halevi, to discuss the debt we have to Israel’s founders, and to the soldiers who have fallen in its defense. For Yossi Klein Halevi’s books: tinyurl.com/ycfcn72uCREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-05-02•45mins
#14

Israel’s Third Founding Moment - with Yonatan Adiri & Michal Lev-Ram

Subscribe here to Ark Media’s new podcast 'What’s Your Number? - Call me Back on YouTube: Media on Instagram: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: we have a special announcement: Ark Media, which we created as a home for Call Me Back, is launching its second podcast: What’s Your Number? - a weekly show focusing on Israel’s economy through a global lens.Hosted by Michal Lev-Ram, an Israeli-born Silicon Valley-based tech journalist and contributing editor at Fortune, and Yonatan Adiri, an Israeli entrepreneur and former adviser to Shimon Peres, What’s Your Number? unpacks the latest developments in the Israeli economy. The podcast debuts this Thursday, May 1. Watch the trailer and subscribe here: episode of Call Me Back is something of a hybrid between our show and a preview for What’s Your Number? It was our pleasure to sit down with our new hosts, Yonatan Adiri & Michal Lev-Ram, to discuss the historic transformation Israel has been undergoing since October 7th, 2023. Follow Michal on X: Yonatan on X: BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-04-28•53mins
#15

Is Israeli Society Descending into Madness? - with Ari Shavit

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: Notice:THE CHILDREN OF OCTOBER 7 — a new documentary film — reminds us all that Jewish children were slaughtered or taken hostage or made to watch the slaughtering of their parents in a systematic way not only in 1943, but in 2023. There’s a reason why antisemitism is called “the oldest hatred.” It’s also the most persistent. This is a difficult film to watch, but we are thankful to Montana Tucker and Eytan Schwartz for making it, and to Shari Redstone for finding it a home. That home is Paramount Plus. To watch the film, go to: watch the trailer: Event Notice: Dan Senor will be delivering this year’s State of World Jewry Address at the 92nd Street Y (92NY) on Tuesday May 13 at 7:30 pm. To register: Media on Instagram: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: Conversation: On Tuesday, ​Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar submitted a newsmaking affidavit to Israel’s Supreme Court, claiming he was dismissed by Prime Minister Netanyahu for refusing to carry out politically motivated orders. Bar also provided a 31-page affidavit to the court which is classified. Prime Minister Netanyhau has responded in the press to Bar’s charges and has until Thursday to submit his own affidavit to the high court.In this episode, we discuss a number of the charges, explanations, and counter-charges. But the stakes here go well beyond politics. To understand the forces shaping this highly divisive debate, we are joined by journalist and author Ari Shavit, whose work has long examined the fault lines of Israeli society—most recently in his book, The Third Temple.CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorYARDENA SCHWARTZ - Executive Editor, Ark MediaGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-04-24•58mins
#16

Between Gaza and Tehran - with Amit Segal & Nadav Eyal

PLEASE FILL OUT OUR SURVEY: Event Notice: Dan Senor will be delivering this year’s State of World Jewry Address at the 92nd Street Y (92NY) on Tuesday May 13 at 7:30 pm. To register: Call me Back on YouTube: Media on Instagram: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: Saturday night, in an attempt to address two of Israel’s most critical concerns - the hostage crisis in Gaza and the US-Iran nuclear negotiations - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a pre-recorded statement, in which he said that Hamas has formally rejected Israel's offer for a new deal. And, against the backdrop of a report in the New York Times that President Trump had headed off Israeli plans for a military operation against Iran’s nuclear program, Netanyahu emphasized: "We are committed to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons." With both Tehran and Gaza in mind, we turn to two of Israel’s leading journalists: Nadav Eyal, senior analyst at Yediot Achronot, and Amit Segal, senior political analyst at Channel 12 - to understand Israel’s standing on these two critical fronts. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorYARDENA SCHWARTZ - Executive Editor, Ark MediaGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-04-21•58mins
#17

The US-Iran Deal Israel Fears - with Jonathan Schanzer

PLEASE FILL OUT OUR SURVEY: Event Notice: Dan Senor will be delivering this year’s State of World Jewry Address at the 92nd Street Y (92NY) on Tuesday May 13 at 7:30 pm. To register: Call me Back on YouTube: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: Media on Instagram: years after President Trump scrapped the Iranian nuclear deal, the U.S. is now engaged in direct negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran to try to reach a new deal. Yet the talks in Oman have so far raised more questions than answers, especially as Steve Witkoff has just clarified the administration's objective with regard to Iran’s nuclear program, and as new reporting emerges of possible U.S.-Israel deliberations over military options. Joining us is Jonathan Schanzer, Executive Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Jonathan has been closely monitoring the negotiations and been in contact with relevant U.S. and Israeli officials.CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorYARDENA SCHWARTZ - Executive Editor, Ark MediaGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-04-17•40mins
#18

A message from Dan

LINK TO SURVEY: Event Notice: Dan Senor will be delivering this year’s “State of World Jewry Address” at the 92nd Street Y (92NY) on Tuesday May 13 at 7:30 pm: Call me Back on YouTube: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.orgArk Media on Instagram: on X: on Instagram: growing CallMeBack community has evolved into something that we are still trying to fully understand. But we are developing a vision and a plan to sustain it, which will include some new podcasts and new podcasts hosts that we hope you’ll add to your feed of regular listens. That's why we've created Ark Media, which will be the home for Call Me Back as well as some other podcasts. As we step into this next chapter, we want to get to know you better so here is a link to a 2 minute survey – we’d be grateful if you could fill it out and send our way. This is a separate survey from the one we provided almost a year ago, so please, even if you’ve filled out that survey, we ask that you spend 2 minutes on this one as well. From all of us at Ark Media, we wish you a meaningful Pesach.

2025-04-14•4mins
#19

What is Trump’s Iran strategy? - with Nadav Eyal

Upcoming Event Notice: Dan Senor will be delivering this year’s “State of World Jewry Address” at the 92nd Street Y (92NY) on Tuesday May 13 at 7:30 pm: Call me Back on YouTube: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: Media on Instagram: response to escalating tensions with Iran, the US, over the past month, has been quietly — and not so quietly — ramping up its military presence in the region, signaling it’s preparing for the possibility of direct confrontation with Iran. Six B-2 stealth bombers, capable of carrying bunker busting weapons, have been deployed to Diego Garcia, a remote base in the Indian Ocean that's well within striking distance of Iran. At the same time, while missile defense systems have been repositioned to guard against Iranian retaliation, the US Navy has extended the deployment of the Harry Truman carrier strike group and has sent in the USS Carl Vinson, adding serious firepower to the region.So, to many Israelis, it came as a surprise when President Trump, with Mr. Netanyahu sitting beside him, announced on Monday that the United States would engage in “direct” negotiations with Iran on Saturday, in a last-ditch effort to rein in the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. So we’re looking at a very volatile situation, with military might being deployed on the one hand, and a diplomacy track underway on the other. How are Israeli decision-makers assessing the situation?With us today is Call me Back regular Nadav Eyal, senior analyst for Yediot Achronot, to help us unpack how we got here, and what Israelis expect to happen next. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorYARDENA SCHWARTZ - Executive Editor, Ark MediaGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-04-10•40mins
#20

The Paradox of Passover 2025 - with Rachel Goldberg Polin

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: Media on Instagram: Event Notice: Dan Senor will be delivering this year’s State of World Jewry Address at the 92nd Street Y (92NY) on Tuesday May 13 at 7:30 pm: episode: Jews began celebrating Passover during the actual exodus from Egypt, sometime in the 13th–15th century BCE, and the tradition has continued—evolving but unbroken—ever since. To honor this tradition, we will be doing something different on this Call me Back episode - we will be talking about Passover, and about what this tradition can teach us about this paradoxical moment.With us today is Rachel Goldberg, who – for most of her career – was a professional Jewish educator. We wanted to speak with her as we prepare for our seders. Items discussed in this episode:BOOK: A Cold War Exodus: How American Activists Mobilized to Free Soviet Jews, by Shaul KelnerPODCAST: Listening to "Call Me Back" On Motzaei Shabbos CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorYARDENA SCHWARTZ - Executive Editor, Ark MediaGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-04-07•1hr 15mins
#21

Gazans Rise Up Against Hamas — with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib

Please follow this link to subscribe to SAPIR, a quarterly publication edited by Bret Stephens: sapirjournal.org/dansenorWatch Call me Back on YouTube: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: Media on Instagram: Event Notice: Dan Senor will be delivering this year’s State of World Jewry Address at the 92nd Street Y (92NY) on Tuesday May 13 at 7:30 pm. To register: was a historic week in Gaza, as tens of thousands of Palestinians protested against Hamas in the largest demonstrations against Hamas in Gaza’s history. While the protests seem to have dissipated amidst a violent crackdown by Hamas and the killing of several protest leaders, these demonstrations could have a meaningful impact on Gaza’s future. To discuss the context behind these protests and where they might lead, we sat down with a native of Gaza who has been one of the most outspoken voices against Hamas in the Palestinian diaspora. Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib is a Gazan-American writer and analyst whose work has been published in The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. Ahmed grew up in Gaza and left in 2005 as an exchange student in the United States, where he later received asylum and citizenship. Ahmed is a Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, where he directs the Realign for Palestine project: Ahmed on X: Times of Israel article referenced in this episode: BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorYARDENA SCHWARTZ - Executive Editor, Ark MediaGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-03-31•1hr 4mins
#22

Bonus Episode: Senator Dave McCormick & Dina Powell McCormick on Mentoring

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: Media on Instagram: this special episode of Call Me Back, we sat down with two long-time friends, Dina Powell McCormick and Senator Dave McCormick, to speak about their new book, Who Believed in You: How Purposeful Mentorship Changes the World. We also discussed Senator McCormick’s work on Israel/Middle East foreign policy. Dina Powell McCormick is a partner at BDT & MSD Partners and was formerly a partner and member of the management committee at Goldman Sachs. She has served in various roles in government, including Deputy National Security Advisor in the first Trump administration, and in a number of senior positions in the White House and State Department under the George W. Bush Administration. David McCormick is a US Senator of Pennsylvania and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, Counterterrorism. He is the former CEO of Bridgewater Associates and also served in high-ranking positions in the George W. Bush administration. Dina & David McCormick’s new book, Who Believed in You: How Purposeful Mentorship Changes the World: BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorYARDENA SCHWARTZ - Executive Editor, Ark MediaGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music ComposerZIV GEDZELMAN - Additional Research

2025-03-29•41mins
#23

The Politics of the Shin Bet: A History – with Amichai Cohen

Upcoming Event Notice: Dan Senor will be delivering this year’s State of World Jewry Address at the 92nd Street Y (92NY) on Tuesday May 13 at 7:30 pm. To register: Call me Back on YouTube: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: Media on Instagram: are bracing for a crisis between the Government and the Judiciary, after the Government took the unprecedented step of firing the head of the Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, prompting Israel’s Supreme Court to freeze his suspension. Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government have made clear their intent to move forward with Bar’s dismissal, and have already started the search for his replacement. While much of this is historic, tensions between the Shin Bet and Israel’s elected leaders are nothing new. In fact, this friction goes back to the founding of the State. Our guest is Amichai Cohen, who joins us from Israel. Amichai is an expert on Israel’s internal security agency, and the laws concerning Israel’s national security. He is a Senior Fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute, where he leads the program on national security. Amichai is also the author of four books, and a professor of law at Ono Academic College. His latest article, about the firing of Ronen Bar, is available here: BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorYARDENA SCHWARTZ - Executive Editor, Ark MediaGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-03-27•55mins

Listen to your favourite podcasts.

Now ad-free.

Download herd and enjoy uninterrupted, high-quality podcasts without the wait.

Download on the
App Store
#24

WAR AND STRIFE - with Seth Frantzman

Upcoming Event Notice: Dan Senor will be delivering this year’s State of World Jewry Address at the 92nd Street Y (92NY) on Tuesday May 13 at 7:30 pm. To register: Call me Back on YouTube: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: Media on Instagram: pre-October 7th and post-October 7th worlds are colliding, as the war in Gaza resumes, along with the internal strife that preceded it. Today we discuss Israel’s new and expanding military campaign in Gaza, its objectives, the difference in war-fighting strategy between the IDF’s former chief-of-staff and new chief-of-staff, and the kind of enemy the IDF is facing now in Gaza compared to what the IDF was facing before the ceasefire. All of this is against the backdrop of domestic political tensions reaching a boiling point over the Government’s efforts to remove the head of the Shin Bet and the Attorney General. Our guest is Seth Frantzman, who joins us from Jerusalem. Seth is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post. He is also an adjunct fellow at the Foundation For Defense of Democracies, and the author of three books. He received his PhD from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Seth has served as a research associate at the IDC in Herzliya and a lecturer at Al-Quds University. His latest book is The October 7 War: Israel’s Battle for Security in Gaza: BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorYARDENA SCHWARTZ - Executive Editor, Ark MediaGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-03-24•42mins
#25

EMERGENCY EPISODE - with Amit Segal & Nadav Eyal

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: Media on Instagram: We recorded an emergency episode as fighting resumes against Hamas in Gaza, ending a cease-fire that lasted 57 days; as military operations escalate between the U.S. and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen; and as Prime Minister Netanyahu moves to fire Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet security agency. To discuss this rapidly-evolving escalation of events we are joined by two of Israel’s leading journalists and mainstays of this podcast. Amit Segal is a columnist for Yediot Ahronot, and chief political analyst for Israel’s Channel 12. Nadav Eyal is also a columnist at Yediot, and the recipient of Israel’s equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize. He is also an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Nadav’s article about Netanyahu’s decision to fire Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar: CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorYARDENA SCHWARTZ - Executive Editor of Ark MediaGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-03-19•1hr 3mins
#26

The Zionist Opposition - with Yair Lapid

Watch the conversation on YouTube: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: Media on Instagram: In the immediate aftermath of October 7, 2023, many Israelis expected a political reckoning. Yet, no clear alternative to Netanyahu has emerged. While there is no shortage of politicians who oppose him, the power of those on the center and the left seems stymied at best. We invited the leader of the official opposition in Israel’s Knesset to the podcast to discuss what he and his party stand for, whether the center of gravity of Israel’s politics has shifted, and why Israel’s political opposition does not appear to be a major force today. Yair Lapid is a former journalist and the founder and leader of Israel’s centrist Yesh Atid party. Since entering politics in 2013, Lapid has served as Israel’s Finance Minister, Foreign Minister, and for a brief time, Prime Minister. He is now Leader of the Opposition. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorYARDENA SCHWARTZ - Executive Editor, Ark MediaGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-03-17•48mins
#27

Why did Hollywood ghost a movie about antisemitism? - with Wendy Sachs & Lorenzo Vidino

Watch the conversation on YouTube: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: Media on Instagram: To sponsor Call me Back episodes: [email protected] Over the last 17 months, we have watched in shock as Ivy League campuses became hotbeds of support for terrorists and their ideology. A powerful new documentary that the Academy Awards refused to consider illuminates how - and more importantly why - college campuses became a pivotal front in the war against Israel. “October 8” opens in theaters on Friday, March 14th, featuring a number of Call Me Back guests. The film is riveting, and revealing, examining the forces that enabled Islamist extremists to shape the minds of millions of well-meaning Americans. We sat down with the filmmaker and one of the experts in her film, to discuss Hamas’s infiltration of academia, the entertainment industry, and other progressive spaces. Wendy Sachs is an author, documentary filmmaker and Director and Executive Producer of October 8. Lorenzo Vidino is Director of the Program on Extremism at George Washington University. More about “October 8” here: See if the film is playing in a theater near you: CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorYARDENA SCHWARTZ - Executive Editor, Ark MediaGABE SILVERSTEIN - Research YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-03-13•50mins
#28

Former Defense Minister YOAV GALLANT (Part 2) - The Hostage Dilemma

Watch the conversation on YouTube: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: follow this link to subscribe to SAPIR, a quarterly publication edited by Bret Stephens: sapirjournal.org/CallMeBack------------------------------------------------------>>Link to our previous interview with Yoav Gallant: month we published the first in a series of interviews with former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, telling the story of the October 7th War from his unique vantage point. Our first interview, “Four Days in October,” focused on the intense deliberations that took place behind closed doors regarding the possibility of Israel responding to its stronger adversary first, Hezbollah in Lebanon, rather than Hamas in the Gaza Strip. If you have not heard or seen that interview, you can find it here. For the second interview in our series with General Gallant, we focused on the most difficult aspect of this war - the hostages in Gaza and the efforts to bring them home.Yoav Gallant served as Israel’s Defense Minister from 2022 until 2024. He was fired by Benjamin Netanyahu twice in those two years, first in 2023, when massive protests in Israel led Netanyahu to reverse his decision, then again in November of 2024. Gallant is a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party. His military career spans five decades, beginning in 1977 as a naval commando in Shayetet 13, and serving as chief of the IDF’s Southern Command during Operation Cast Lead, an early war with Hamas that lasted from late 2008 to early 2009. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorYARDENA SCHWARTZ - Executive Editor of Ark MediaGABE SILVERSTEIN - Research Intern YUVAL SEMO - Music ComposerAMIEL SHAPIRO - Voice Actor

2025-03-10•1hr 10mins
#29

Bonus Episode: Are ANY colleges confronting the madness? - With Andrew Martin & Santa Ono

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: week, three federal agencies — including the Department of Education — announced a comprehensive review of the funding relationships between the federal government and Columbia University in regards to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Like most universities, Columbia receives a great deal of federal funding. The Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, created by the Trump Administration, announced that it will visit 10 university campuses that have seen a shocking rise in antisemitism since October 7, 2023.According to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, “Americans have watched in horror for more than a year now, as Jewish students have been assaulted and harassed on elite university campuses. Unlawful encampments and demonstrations have completely paralyzed day-to-day campus operations, depriving Jewish students of learning opportunities to which they are entitled. Institutions that receive federal funds have a responsibility to protect all students from discrimination. Columbia’s apparent failure to uphold their end of this basic agreement raises very serious questions about the institution’s fitness to continue doing business with the United States government.”According to Maya Sulkin in the Free Press, “even though Columbia formed a Task Force on Antisemitism weeks after Hamas’s invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023, and issued two reports that revealed shocking instances of Jew hate on campus—not just among students but professors and administrators—the college has done little to root out the problem.”As a result, on Friday the Trump Administration announced the cancellation of $400 million in federal grants to and contracts with Columbia. Following these developments, one could be left with the impression that higher education is doomed. Yetwe were struck by the reaction from the Call Me Back community to a conversation we had with the Chan...

2025-03-09•32mins
#30

Is the Two-State Solution Really Dead? - With Yair Golan

Watch the conversation on YouTube: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: The Two-State Solution had been on life support long before October 7. While Hamas’s massacre shattered Israelis from all walks of life, those from the kibbutzim near the Gaza border — many of whom lifelong advocates for a Palestinian State — were among the hardest hit. Though stark divisions in Israeli society remain, there now seems to be a broad consensus among the people of Israel and their political parties on one conclusion: the two-state solution is all but dead. Yet one Israeli leader - one of the very few who battled terrorists in Southern Israel and rescued Israelis on October 7 - continues to hold out hope. Yair Golan is a decorated general, former IDF Deputy Chief of Staff and head of the The Israeli Democrats Party. We sat down with General Golan to discuss Israel’s future, the misconceptions that led to October 7, and the unique role he played on that darkest of days. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - EditorYARDENA SCHWARTZ - Executive Editor of Ark MediaGABE SILVERSTEIN - Research Intern YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-03-06•1hr 1mins
#31

The IDF’s 10/7 Probe - with Amos Harel & Nadav Eyal

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: Thursday, the IDF released the scathing findings of its probe into the military failures that led up to and accompanied the massacre of October 7, 2023. According to those findings, the military vastly underestimated Hamas’s capabilities, misread its intentions, and failed to mount an effective response to the mass invasion of Israel’s borders. The IDF’s probe into its own failures reveals both the extent to which warnings went ignored, and the extent to which so many communities in Southern Israel were forced to fend for themselves. While some of these findings come as no surprise, they are still shocking and devastating to process. We spoke with two of Israel’s leading national security journalists to walk through the key points of the findings. Amos Harel is the Defense Analyst at Haaretz, and Nadav Eyal is a Senior Political Analyst at Yediot Achronot. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Additional EditingYARDENA SCHWARTZ - Executive Editor of Ark MediaGABE SILVERSTEIN - Research YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-03-03•1hr 17mins
#32

John Fetterman's Israel

Watch the conversation on YouTube: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: entire nation mourned yesterday as Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas were laid to rest, following a procession through streets of Israel that were lined with thousands of Israelis. As Yarden Bibas delivered eulogies for his wife and children who were murdered by terrorists in Gaza, we were all reminded of the millions of people around the world who celebrated or justified the attacks that shattered their lives and so many others. While much of that moral confusion has emanated from the Left of the political spectrum, the courage and moral conviction of one leader on the Left has stood out. Over the past 16 months, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has been one of the staunchest supporters of Israel’s war against Hamas. Fetterman, a Democrat who is not Jewish, has been more outspoken in his support for Israel than most of his Jewish colleagues. As a result, Fetterman has gone from being a hero of the Left to becoming a lightning rod for many progressives. And yet, he has not backed down from the fight he perceives as a decisive turning point for his party, and a test for whether or not it will continue to stand for true liberal values. John Fetterman, Senator and former Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, joined us to discuss his controversial stance on an issue that has divided the Democratic party, and what the future holds for his party. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Additional EditingSTAV SLAMA - Director of Operations GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-02-27•52mins
#33

The likelihood of Phase Two - with Amit Segal

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: Dan on X: Dan on Instagram: As phase 1 of the ceasefire and hostage deal enters its final week, the fate of phase 2 of the deal remains uncertain. While hostages’ families are urging for a continuation of the deal to bring all the remaining hostages home, parts of the Israeli government are pressing for a return to the war. With Mideast Envoy Steve Witkoff traveling to the region this week to push for an extension of the deal, we turned to a Call Me Back regular and leading Israeli journalist to make sense of the mixed signals we are seeing from every direction. Amit Segal is a columnist for Yediot Ahronot, and a senior political analyst for Israel’s Channel 12. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Additional EditingSTAV SLAMA - Director of Operations GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-02-24•37mins
#34

History’s Case for Trump’s Gaza Plan - with Andrew Roberts

Housekeeping note:Ark Media, the humble home of this podcast, is looking for a purpose-driven Chief Operating Officer, to help facilitate its ambitious plans for the future. If you are interested in applying for the position, please follow this link: Watch Call me Back on YouTube: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: Following a gut-wrenching 48 hours for the Bibas family and for all of us, six living hostages were released from Gaza today, including two who had been held there not for a year, but a decade. Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, and Tal Shoham were abducted on October 7, 2023. Avera Mengistu, an Ethiopian-Israeli, and Hisham al-Sayed, an Israeli Arab, had crossed into Gaza in 2014 and 2015, and were then taken hostage by Hamas.Hamas’s decision to release more living hostages than originally planned today is believed – according to our Israeli sources – to be a response to a sustained American pressure campaign. Part of that pressure includes President Trump’s proposal for the U.S. to take control of Gaza and relocate its entire population.Two weeks since its unveiling, Trump’s Gaza proposal has continued to drive headlines and debate around the world. Though that proposal is already impacting the policy decisions of various stakeholders in Gaza, it is still largely perceived as a shocking, unprecedented idea. For this episode of Call Me Back, we sat down with a historian who argues that Trump’s plan is in fact aligned with the outcome of many modern wars. Andrew Roberts is a British historian, member of the House of Lords, and the author of 24 books, including the New York Times bestseller, Churchill: Walking with Destiny. In a recent article for the Washington Free Beacon, Roberts writes, “peoples who unleash unprovoked aggressive wars against their neighbors and are then defeated…lose either their government or their sovereignty, or both.”To read more by Andrew Roberts on this topic, go to the W...

2025-02-22•37mins
#35

The Tragic End of the Bibas Story - with Matti Friedman

This morning in Gaza, in a ceremony that was even more twisted than those that came before it, Hamas paraded four coffins, containing the dead bodies of four hostages who were killed in captivity, before handing them over to the Red Cross. Israel then received the remains of Oded Lifshitz, an 83-year-old peace activist abducted from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz; and the bodies of the iconic young mother Shiri Bibas, and her boys, Kfir and Ariel, who were respectively 9 months old and 4 years old at the time of their abduction, also from Nir Oz, which lost a quarter of its residents on October 7, 2023. Shiri, Kfir and Ariel came to symbolize Hamas’s brutality and the helplessness of the victims of October 7. Oded was also a symbol of the many men and women who had dedicated their lives to seeking peace with the Palestinians, and whose lives were brutally ended by Palestinians on that darkest of days. In a year of somber days, today is one of the more difficult ones we have experienced - here at Call Me Back, and as a nation. We are joined today to process this wrenching moment by a Call Me Back favorite: Matti Friedman, to help us understand what this day means for Israel, and how it will change us and the stories we tell ourselves about Israel and our hopes for peace. Matt Friedman is an award-winning journalist and author of four books. He is based in Jerusalem, and writes a column for The Free Press. Read his latest, “The Family That Never Came Home,” here: books: to Seth Mandel’s article in Commentary Magazine, mentioned by Dan in this episode: would like to take this opportunity to thank Rebecca Strom, who has been running Ark Media’s operations almost since the beginning of the war, and is now moving on to the next chapter in her career. Rebecca was our first hire, and in hindsight, having her run our operations allowed Ilan and Dan to develop a larger vision. More on that in the near future. In the meantime, on behalf of the Ark Media team, we want to share o...

2025-02-20•40mins
#36

Resuming the Gaza War? - with Nadav Eyal

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: Dan on X: Dan on Instagram: As we mark the 500th day of the war in Gaza, and 500 days of captivity for the Israeli hostages who remain there, the future of this fragile ceasefire-hostage deal is looking increasingly less stable. With every day bringing new twists and turns, we turned to a “Call Me Back” regular to help us make sense of where the war stands and where it may be going. Nadav Eyal of Yediot Ahronot is one of Israel’s leading journalists. Eyal has been covering Middle Eastern and international politics for the last two decades for Israeli radio, print and television news.Link to the Bret Stephens article mentioned in this episode: BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - EditorREBECCA STROM - Director of OperationsSTAV SLAMA - Researcher GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research Intern YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-02-17•43mins
#37

FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER YOAV GALLANT: Part 1 - Four Days In October

Watch the conversation here: To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: Dan on X: Dan on Instagram: In the 16 months since October 7th, the leader who knows more than almost anyone about the inner workings of this war has barely been heard from – until now. In this episode of ”Call Me Back”, we hear the behind the scenes story of the war with Hamas and Hezbollah from Yoav Gallant, who served as Israel’s Defense Minister for the first 13 months of this 16-month war. In his first English-language interview since the war began, the former Defense Minister offers an intimate account of the war’s initial hours and days, with an emphasis on one date that could have changed it all: October 11th, 2023. This episode is the first in a series of interviews we will be posting with General Gallant, chronicling the historic and unprecedented events of the last 16 months. Yoav Gallant served as Israel’s Defense Minister from 2022 until 2024. He was fired by Benjamin Netanyahu twice in those two years, first in 2023, when massive protests in Israel led Netanyahu to reverse his decision, then again in November of 2024. Gallant is a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party. His military career spans five decades, beginning in 1977 as a naval commando in Shayetet 13, and serving as chief of the IDF’s Southern Command during Operation Cast Lead, an early war with Hamas that lasted from late 2008 to early 2009. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - EditorREBECCA STROM - Director of OperationsSTAV SLAMA - Researcher GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research Intern YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-02-13•1hr 29mins
#38

Could Trump’s Vision for Gaza Be Real? - with Amit Segal & Nadav Eyal

Watch the conversation on YouTube: To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: Dan on X: Dan on Instagram: President Trump’s dramatic and unprecedented press conference on Gaza, suggesting U.S. control and some form of relocation of its residents, has immediately shifted the conversation beyond the default two-state framework. In this episode, we break down how the Israeli public is reacting to Trump’s proposal, what it means for Netanyahu’s political standing, and the implications for the ceasefire and the hostage deal negotiations. Joining us to unpack these developments are Amit Segal and Nadav Eyal, two Call Me Back regulars. Nadav Eyal is a columnist for Yediot Aharonot and one of Israel’s leading journalists. He has been covering Middle Eastern and international politics for over two decades across Israeli radio, print, and television news. Amit Segal is the chief political correspondent and analyst for Channel 12 News and Yediot Aharonot, Israel’s largest-circulation newspaper. CREDITS: ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor MARTIN HUERGO - Editor REBECCA STROM - Director of Operations STAV SLAMA - Researcher GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research Intern YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-02-10•1hr 7mins
#39

EMERGENCY EPISODE: TRUMP & THE FUTURE OF GAZA - with Rich Goldberg

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: Dan on X: Dan on Instagram: Yesterday, in a dramatic and unexpected press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump called for a U.S. takeover of Gaza, and to relocate its two million Palestinian residents to alternative countries. President Trump also issued a series of executive orders impacting Israel and the Middle East, including one imposing maximum pressure on Iran. To discuss these fast-moving developments, Rich Goldberg returns to the podcast. Rich is a senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). From 2019-2020, he served as Director for Countering Iranian Weapons of Mass Destruction for the Trump White House National Security Council (NSC). He previously served as a national security staffer in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House and is an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve with military experience on the Joint Staff and in Afghanistan. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - EditorREBECCA STROM - Director of OperationsSTAV SLAMA - ResearcherGABE SILVERSTEIN - Research InternYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-02-05•57mins
#40

The Road to Riyadh - with Nadav Eyal

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: Dan on X: Dan on Instagram: As Israelis welcome home more hostages after 15 months in Hamas captivity, we sat down with Nadav Eyal to discuss what their stories reveal about their captivity, their role in Israel’s national healing process, and the broader implications for Israeli society. We also discuss the ongoing negotiations for the next phase of hostage releases, the political stakes surrounding Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, and how these developments could shape Israel and the region. Nadav Eyal is a columnist for Yediiot. He is one of Israel’s leading journalists. Eyal has been covering Middle-Eastern and international politics for the last two decades for Israeli radio, print and television news. CREDITS: ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor MARTIN HUERGO - Editor REBECCA STROM - Director of Operations STAV SLAMA - Researcher GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research Intern YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-02-03•58mins
#41

Decoding Trump’s Foreign Policy - with Walter Russell Mead

Watch the conversation on YouTube: To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: Dan on X: Dan on Instagram: As Israelis continue to observe the implementation of the hostage deal, we sat down with Walter Russell Mead for a conversation about U.S. foreign policy under the new Trump administration. How do we make sense of the president’s approach as he enters his new administration? What are the implications - both for the Middle East and other geopolitical hotspots? And, where does the hostage/ceasefire deal fit in this new and larger geopolitical context? Walter Russell Mead is the “Global View” columnist at the Wall Street Journal. He is the Ravenel B. Curry III Distinguished Fellow in Strategy and Statesmanship at Hudson Institute, the Alexander Hamilton Professor of Strategy and Statecraft with the Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education at the University of Florida. He was previously the Henry Kissinger fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He is also a prolific author. His most recent book is -- The Arc of a Covenant: The United States, Israel, and the Fate of the Jewish People, which you order here – CREDITS: ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor MARTIN HUERGO - Editor REBECCA STROM - Director of Operations STAV SLAMA - Researcher GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research Intern

2025-01-30•48mins
#42

The Deal and its Political Fallout - with Amit Segal

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: Over the past couple of weeks, our focus on “Call Me Back” has been on the hostage deal and its implications. Today Amit Segal returns to the podcast to discuss the perspective of those inside Israel opposed to this deal. Amit Segal is the chief political correspondent and analyst for Channel 12 News, and for Yediot Ahronot, the country’s largest circulation newspaper. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - EditorREBECCA STROM - Director of OperationsSTAV SLAMA - Researcher GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research Intern YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-01-28•51mins
#43

A new U.S. president and the Middle East - with Tal Becker

Watch the conversation on YouTube: To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: Dan on X: Dan on Instagram: Today, we are taking a step back to discuss many of the new opportunities across the landscape for the U.S. and Israel, as a new president takes office. Our guest is Dr. Tal Becker, who serves as Vice President and Senior Faculty of the Kogod Research Center at Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. Tal was the former Legal Adviser of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is a veteran member of successive Israeli peace negotiation teams and, most recently, represented Israel before the International Court of Justice and played an instrumental role in negotiating and drafting the historic peace and normalization agreements (the "Abraham Accords"). Tal earned his doctorate from Columbia University in New York City, and is the recipient of numerous scholarly awards, including the Rabin Peace Prize, and the Guggenheim Prize for best international law book for his book "Terrorism and the State". CREDITS: ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor MARTIN HUERGO - Editor REBECCA STROM - Director of Operations STAV SLAMA - Researcher GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research Intern YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

2025-01-24•43mins
#44

COMING HOME - with Yossi Klein Halevi & Wendy Singer

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: Dan on X: Dan on Instagram: On Sunday evening in Israel, after 471 days in captivity, three hostages — Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher — were released from Gaza and returned home to Israel, as a ceasefire in Gaza went into effect. There has been speculation as to why this deal was agreed upon now, and about whether January 19th effectively marked the end of the Gaza war. And more than anything, there is palpable anxiety about the fate of the remaining hostages. To take in this moment and unpack these questions about what comes next, we are joined by Yossi Klein Halevi and Wendy Singer. Yossi Klein Halevi is a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. Yossi has written a number of books, including his latest, "Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor," which was a New York Times bestseller. He has written for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Times of Israel. He is co-host of "For Heaven's Sake" podcast: Yossi Klein Halevi's books: Wendy Singer was the professional founder of Start-Up Nation Central (SNC), where she served as Executive Director for nine years. Wendy currently serves as a strategic advisor to select Israeli start-ups and NGOs, including the National Library of Israel. Before joining Israel’s tech scene, she spent sixteen years as Head of AIPAC’s Israel office. Wendy is a board member of the Shalom Hartman Institute; and a Trustee of the Russell Berrie Foundation.

2025-01-20•59mins
#45

THE HOSTAGE DEAL - with Nadav Eyal

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: Dan on X: Dan on Instagram: After fifteen months of war, and months of on-again, off-again negotiations, Israel and Hamas have reached a hostage deal, which is set to take effect this upcoming Sunday. What are the key points of the deal? What should we expect - or brace for - as hostages return home to Israel? And - will this deal mean the end of the war? To take in this historic development, and to help us understand all the above questions, we welcome back Nadav Eyal to the podcast. Nadav Eyal is a columnist for Yediiot. He is one of Israel’s leading journalists. Eyal has been covering Middle-Eastern and international politics for the last two decades for Israeli radio, print and television news.

2025-01-16•56mins
#46

Trump’s National Security Adviser Mike Waltz

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: Dan on X: Dan on Instagram: As we wait in anticipation of a hostage deal, we welcome President Trump’s incoming National Security Adviser, Rep. Mike Waltz, to the podcast, to discuss the possible hostage deal, and his thoughts on the U.S.-Israel relationship. Congressman Mike Waltz is a Colonel (Ret.) in the National Guard, and the first Green Beret to be elected to Congress. He worked on counter-terrorism in the Bush White House and was a policy advisor at the Pentagon, serving under Secretaries Rumsfeld and Gates, and a Congressman from Florida. As President Trump is sworn in as president - this upcoming Monday, January 20th, inauguration day - so will Mike Waltz, as the president’s National Security Advisor. Mike graduated from the Virginia Military Institute with Honors and served 27 years in the U.S. Army and National Guard. After being commissioned as an Army lieutenant, Mike graduated Ranger School and was selected for the elite Green Berets, serving worldwide as a Special Forces officer with multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa. For his actions in combat, Mike was awarded four Bronze Stars, including two for Valor. Mike is the author of the books, “Warrior Diplomat: A Green Beret’s Battles from Washington to Afghanistan”: , and “Hard Truths: Think and Lead Like a Green Beret”:

2025-01-15•28mins
#47

We need to talk about Turkey - with Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak & Nadav Eyal

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: Dan on X: Dan on Instagram: The collapse of Assad’s regime in Syria has created a new geopolitical reality, in which Turkey has emerged as a dominant regional power, both militarily and diplomatically. For Israel, this new reality entails certain risks, but also opportunities for cooperation? What is Turkey’s next move - and what are Erdogan’s ambitions? And how is Israel preparing for this new order? To help us understand, our guests are Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak and Call me Back regular Nadav Eyal. Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak, who moved to Israel from Turkey, is a researcher at the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies at Tel Aviv University, and an expert on contemporary Turkish politics and society. Yanarocak is the editor of Turkeyscope, and a member of the Middle East Network Analysis Desk. He is a frequent guest on Israeli media, where he regularly appears to discuss contemporary Turkish issues. Nadav Eyal is a columnist for Yediiot. He is one of Israel’s leading journalists. Eyal has been covering Middle-Eastern and international politics for the last two decades for Israeli radio, print and television news.

2025-01-13•56mins
#48

What Happened to Jimmy Carter? - with Ken Stein

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: Yesterday in Washington D.C., former U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s funeral service was held at the National Cathedral. The former president’s post-presidential legacy has had a lasting impact on today’s Middle East. President Carter was known for brokering the Egypt-Israel peace treaty between Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin, which has lasted over four decades. However, he was also the first national leader of his stature to openly embrace Hamas, to accuse Israel of “apartheid”, and to legitimize Hamas’s slaughtering of Jews through suicide bombings and other forms of terrorism, during and following the Second Intifada. How did President Carter go from an engaged diplomat working for peace between Israel and Egypt to championing Hamas and its narrative of Israeli “apartheid”? To discuss the paradox of President Carter when it comes to Israel, and his impact on current day events in the Middle East, our guest is Ken Stein. Dr. Kenneth W. Stein is Emeritus Emory Professor of Middle Eastern History and Israel studies where he taught from 1977-2024. Early in the 1980s, he led the Middle East Program of the Carter Center, which included multiple trips to the region with the Carters, writing a book with him, and providing monthly analyses to the former president. In 1998, Ken established the first Israel Studies Center in North America and founded the Center for Israel Education in 2008. Pertinent to this interview, are his 1999 publication, Heroic Diplomacy: Sadat, Kissinger, Carter, Begin and the Quest for Arab-0Israeli Peace and a personal collection of the hundreds of hours of conversations he had with Carter over a twenty year span. He is also the author with Ambassador Samuel Lewis, “Making Peace Among Arabs and Israelis: Lessons from Fifty Years of Negotiating Experience”, [amazon.com] Book discussed in this episode: Recent article by Ken Stein:

2025-01-10•57mins
#49

The IDF's top secret commando operation in Syria - with Nadav Eyal

Watch the episode on YouTube: contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: on X: on Instagram: A few days ago, we all learned of new details and viewed footage from one of Israel's most high-risk and complex commando operations. The operation was a covert mission conducted by the IDF on September 8, 2024, targeting an underground missile production facility near Masyaf, Syria. The facility, associated with Syria's Scientific Studies and Research Center, was reportedly on the verge of producing precision-guided missiles with ranges of up to 300 kilometers, intended to be supplied to Hezbollah for use against Israel. To unpack what exactly happened in this operation to neutralize this Iranian/Syrian facility — and the implications for Israel’s broader war with Iran — we are joined by Nadav Eyal. Nadav Eyal is a columnist for Yediiot. He is one of Israel’s leading journalists. Eyal has been covering Middle-Eastern and international politics for the last two decades for Israeli radio, print and television news.

2025-01-06•49mins
#50

How Israel’s Spies Penetrated Hezbollah - with Ronen Bergman

🔗 Watch video episodes of Call me Back on YouTube: Visit our website to sign up for updates, access transcripts and more: Dan on X: Dan on Instagram: string of Israeli successes against Hezbollah — culminating in the killing of Hassan Nasrallah — last September was partly the work of Israeli military and intelligence agencies infiltrating Hezbollah’s networks, planting booby-trapped communication devices, and tracking the leaders’ movements to dismantle the group's military capabilities. This campaign crippled Hezbollah by also destroying thousands of missiles and disrupting its leadership, delivering a blow to Iran’s regional strategy. An investigative report recently published by the New York Times delves into how deeply Israeli intelligence had penetrated Hezbollah ranks. Our guest today is one of the report’s authors: Ronen Bergman. Ronen Bergman is a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine and Senior Correspondent for Military and Intelligence Affairs for Yedioth Ahronoth, an Israeli daily. Ronen has won a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on the Israel-Hamas war and the pre-war intelligence failures. The New York Times’ investigative report, co-authored by Ronen: “Behind the Dismantling of Hezbollah: Decades of Israeli Intelligence” -

2025-01-02•58mins

Listen to your favourite podcasts.

Now ad-free.

Download herd and enjoy uninterrupted, high-quality podcasts without the wait.

Download on the
App Store