State of Tel Aviv, Israel Podcast

Jonathan Conricus has returned from a short North American speaking tour and joined me on Sunday evening to take a close look at where things stand with America and Iran. It is challenging to keep up and even more difficult to decode the often-conflicting messages issued by the main protagonists: the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. We get into the possible responses that may come from the parties and the implications for the region and the world. Who is running Iran these days and making decisions? Unclear but we have a pretty good idea. Will Iran act on its threats to impose taxes on all maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz? How about their latest initiative - to tax all data passing through internet cables that are laid at the bottom of the Persian Gulf? Or - maybe they will sever the cables and disrupt global commerce? So many possibilities and we get into them all. Why is Iran attacking the UAE so consistently and hard? And why is the UAE not responding? Oh - and we also spend a bit of time marveling at the tendency of western media to accept the “spin” coming out of Iran, pretty. much unquestioningly.This pod was recorded on Sunday night, but it is current as of 10 am EST on Tuesday. At the end of the episode I include a short clip of Conricus speaking on Monday to media. He addresses America’s rejection of the Iranian response to the most recent U.S. proposal to…..formalize the ceasefire? End the war? This became public after we recorded on Sunday night. It never stops……Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivJonathan Conricus is a senior fellow with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington D.C.-based think tank. He served in the IDF for 24 years, four of them as spokesman during the intense 11 days of the Guardian of the Walls Operation between Israel and Hamas. Now a reserve officer with the rank of Lt. Col., he is a sought-after speaker internationally and is frequently seen on major television news shows. Jonathan was born in Jerusalem to a Swedish father and an Israeli mother and spent his formative years in Sweden.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

Yes. I am generating a lot of material about antisemitism in Canada - and not just because I am Canadian. You will probably have noticed that some popular American podcasters and media have been focusing on Canada recently. Canadian society and the rot pervading it is turning heads in the United States, UK and continental Europe. Not only because the situation is so bad. But perhaps moreso because political and law enforcement leadership in Canada seem unperturbed. They barely notice. In fact, they seem to react only when American media takes note. That - by the way - is a classic Canadian thing. We like to keep things “in the family.” But when American or UK media come out and criticize - well - that is noticed. If a Canadian dares to be critical of the government in foreign media - it is often cast as being disloyal. As we say in Hebrew - very small-minded.In March, shortly after three synagogues were shot up in Toronto in one week, the world took note. Within days of the shootings, I interviewed Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli. He said - and it is in this podcast - that Canada is at the top of a list that no one should want to be on: he regards Canada as being perhaps the most dangerous place in the world to be Jewish these days. His strong concerns are shared by Sharren Haskel, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Both Chikli and Haskel have been paying attention to the grim reality on the ground for Canadian Jews - especially since October 7. They do not hold back. And they also bring to the discussion a global perspective. Their job is to be on top of the status of Jewish communities all over the world - and they are watching like hawks. This is about Canada, yes, but it is about so much more.Their comments and observations are from March and I have provided updated context in the podcast narrative. Almost immediately after the drama in Toronto things got pretty crazy in the UK, especially London. And the war in Iran exploded. Sometimes, events overtake the material I have prepared……and I had to hold these interviews until those crises subsided, temporarily. So - here we are. And in the meantime……the mess, if I can call it that, remains a mess.Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivAmichai Chikli is an Israeli politician who serves as the Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism. In the past he worked as an educator and social entrepreneur.Chikli was born in 1981 in Jerusalem. He served as an officer in the Golani brigade, an elite IDF unit.Following his military service, Chikli earned a bachelor’s degree in security and Middle Eastern studies from Haifa University and a master’s degree in security studies and diplomacy from Tel Aviv University. Minister Chikli is married and has three children.Sharren Haskel is 41 years old, married and the mother of three young children. At 18, she served in the Israel Defense Force, as a combat soldier in the Border Guards during the Second Intifada. Following her military service, Deputy Minister Haskel pursued a career in veterinary medicine. Haskel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and International Relations from The Open University in Israel, where she also was the Israeli national debating champion. She entered the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) in 2015.In November 2024, she was sworn in as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

The war between America and Iran was intended to be swift and decisive, or so we were told. Almost two months since America and Israel first attacked the Islamic Republic of Iran, a peaceful resolution - either through negotiation or defeat - remains elusive. Compounding the tension is the weaponization of the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks; a small channel of water connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and open seas. Unfettered access through the Strait of Hormuz for all merchant ships and vessels is and should be the norm, but Iran has decided that it alone can and must control this international waterway. By doing so, they choke the movement of oil and natural gas supplies, threatening and constraining economic activity everywhere.And America says: “No.” You cannot do this. Not on our watch.As with all things geopolitical - especially in the Middle East - it’s complicated. To help us understand the issues I speak at length in this podcast with (Retired) U.S. Admiral Mark Montgomery, a man who has served extensively at the highest level in the Middle East and around the world. It’s a fascinating discussion.Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivPodcast NotesRear Admiral (Ret.) Mark Montgomery serves as senior director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation (CCTI) and as an FDD senior fellow. Mark served for more than three decades in the U.S. Navy, held senior leadership roles in Congress, and is a recognized expert on cyber and technology policy.At CCTI, Mark leads efforts to advance U.S. national and economic security through technology innovation, counter cyber threats against the United States and its allies, and combat adversary cyber-enabled economic warfare (CEEW) campaigns. He also directs CSC 2.0, an initiative focused on implementing the recommendations of the congressionally mandated Cyberspace Solarium Commission, where he previously served as executive director. Additionally, Mark co-leads FDD’s Air and Missile Defense Program.Prior to joining FDD, Mark was policy director for the Senate Armed Services Committee under Sen. John S. McCain, where he coordinated efforts on national security strategy, force posture, capabilities, and cyber policy. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

Early on Wednesday morning, as a ceasefire was announced between America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, Israelis were stuck in their safe rooms and bomb shelters for hours. Iran teed up missiles to target Israel through the night on a staggered schedule, to make a point, I guess. What that meant in reality is that no one in Israel slept and the government instructed that beginning on Thursday, today, life would go back to “normal.” Schools, universities and workplaces would be open. Meanwhile, Hezbollah continues to hammer northern Israel with rockets, while most Israelis are somewhat shell-shocked. What, exactly, just happened? What gains did America make? Israel? Based on our experience since October 7, and the constant claims of victory, people here are confused. Exhausted. And certainly not clicking their heels.On top of the constant war and dubious outcomes, on the eve of the recent Passover holiday, the Netanyahu government slipped an enormous sum of money to the ultra-orthodox for religious education - in addition to what they have already been allocated. Soldiers? Struggling families? Wounded IDF veterans? Zero for them.And the extreme violence that has continued, unabated, in the West Bank for years now? This government does not seem to be terribly concerned with what can only be described as Jewish terrorism. During the last week, the patience of Israelis was sorely tested. Our regular guest, Ya’akov Katz, is angry, and he does not mince words or thoughts. There is a palpable urgency in Israel to wake up and deal with reality, while it is still possible.Podcast Notes:Op-Ed by Ya’akov Katz, published in The Jerusalem Post, April 3, 2026.Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivYaakov Katz is an Israeli-American author and journalist. Between 2016 and 2023, Yaakov was editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post where he continues to write a popular weekly column.He is the author of three books: “Shadow Strike – Inside Israel’s Secret Mission to Eliminate Syrian Nuclear Power”, “Weapon Wizards—How Israel Became a High-Tech Military Superpower” and “Israel vs. Iran: The Shadow War.”Prior to taking up the role of editor-in-chief, Yaakov served for two years as a senior policy adviser to Naftali Bennett during his tenure as Israel’s Minister of Economy and Minister of Diaspora Affairs.In 2013, Yaakov was one of 12 international fellows to spend a year at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University.Originally from Chicago, Yaakov has a law degree from Bar Ilan University. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife Chaya and their four children.Find Yaakov Katz on X. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

I caught up with Ya’akov Katz on Thursday afternoon, and we got into some very sticky issues that are being talked about in Israel. We are one month into this war with Iran and it is not exactly going as we’d thought it might. Then again, political leadership has been anything but clear in communicating with the Israeli people about war goals, how things are going and where they are going. There’s a lot of talk about numbers. Numbers of missile launchers hit, missiles intercepted, targets hit. But the weird part is - the numbers don’t add up. And we had a very similar experience with the war on Hamas. Israelis are famously resilient, yes, but they are also worn out after almost three years of constant war. And there is no letup in sight. The population overwhelmingly supports war with Iran if it will degrade the country militarily and, ideally, lead to regime change. But people are beginning to wonder if we will be “back at it” in another six months or a year. Following the June attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, we were led to believe that we had diminished the nuclear and general military threat substantially. Now? There are many questions. This past week there has been a lot of buzz about the U.S. negotiating with Iran…..President Trump says the talks are going very well. Iran denies that there are any talks. The missiles keep coming at us from Iran. The sirens keep wailing. The intercept rate is high but there are always cluster bombs that break up and score direct hits. And we have a terrible shortage of troops in the IDF - but we don’t get into that today. I do write about it in the Weekend Wrap - which we drop tomorrow.In this podcast, we just try to sort out what’s real and what’s, well, not.Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivYaakov Katz is an Israeli-American author and journalist. Between 2016 and 2023, Yaakov was editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post where he continues to write a popular weekly column.He is the author of three books: “Shadow Strike – Inside Israel’s Secret Mission to Eliminate Syrian Nuclear Power”, “Weapon Wizards—How Israel Became a High-Tech Military Superpower” and “Israel vs. Iran: The Shadow War.”Prior to taking up the role of editor-in-chief, Yaakov served for two years as a senior policy adviser to Naftali Bennett during his tenure as Israel’s Minister of Economy and Minister of Diaspora Affairs.In 2013, Yaakov was one of 12 international fellows to spend a year at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University.Originally from Chicago, Yaakov has a law degree from Bar Ilan University. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife Chaya and their four children.Find Yaakov Katz on X.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

Andrew Fox, combat veteran and one of the most prolific writers these days on the war with Iran, returns to State of Tel Aviv and Beyond to share his assessment of what has gone well in this war so far…..and what has gone less well. Having been on the battlefield and someone who is very familiar with the Middle East, Fox offers sharp insights as to how the Iranian chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz - through which much of the global supply of oil and natural gas passes - can be alleviated. We discuss several scenarios as well as the risks associated with each. We then move geographically to the United Kingdom, Fox’s home. Early Monday morning, there was a serious arson incident in a Jewish suburb of London. Four community ambulances were torched and in the middle of the night the neighborhood was rocked with explosions and massive fires. The IRGC took responsibility for the attack, but Fox doesn’t buy that. As always, time spent with Andrew is enlightening and challenging.He also wrote a great piece on the London arson attack, which you can read hereAndrew Fox is a former British Army Major and frontline conflict researcher specialising in modern warfare. A former senior lecturer at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, he is now a senior associate fellow at several international think tanks and a regular media commentator on global conflicts.He writes the Fox on War Substack and co-hosts The Brink podcast, bringing field reporting and strategic analysis from conflicts including Gaza and Ukraine.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Canadian Conservative Party and the Official Parliamentary Opposition, popped into Austin, Texas and had the Joe Rogan experience. I cannot wait to hear that episode and reliable sources say that it will be out before the weekend. In the meantime, I thought I’d whet your appetite with this classic Poilievre moment - when he spoke with State of Tel Aviv and Beyond on Thursday March 12, just days after three Toronto area synagogues had been shot up with gunfire in middle-of-the-night attacks. The day before Pierre and I spoke, the U.S. Consulate in Toronto was also shot up. Again, in the middle of the night. Canada has become a lawless country, generally.But for Jews? It’s surreal. Antisemitism is violent and rampant and neither the federal, provincial, or municipal governments seem terribly concerned about it - with very few exceptions. Law enforcement? Nowhere to be seen. They do nothing. This has been going on since October 7. And it is getting worse by the day. Pierre Poilievre has always been clear, consistent and fearless in articulating his strong support for Israel and he has stood by the Jewish community in Canada unfailingly. In this conversation he does what he does best: speaks the truth and calls out those in power for forsaking the Canadian Jewish community. We discuss these issues and more - including the surreal fact that IRGC operatives live and conduct “business” in Canada openly. As I often post on my “X” account, Canada has become an Islamist’s paradise. Meaning - it has also become somewhat hellish for Jews. Pierre and I had a really informative and meaningful discussion. And if you watch to the end I serve up a real treat……the famous “apple video” that went viral in October 2023. Remember? When Pierre was asked questions by a very befuddled reporter. And as he casually munched on his apple in the orchard, well, it’s classic Pierre Poilievre.Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivPodcast Notes: Pierre Poilievre grew up in Alberta as the adopted son of two schoolteachers. He lives in Ottawa with his wife Anaida and their children, Valentina and Cruz.As a Member of Parliament and former Minister, he helped the previous Conservative government cut taxes, balance budgets, deliver affordable homes and crack down on crime and corruption.He shepherded the Accountability Act through the House of Commons to protect taxpayers from waste, fraud and corruption. When he was Housing Minister, the average home cost $450,000 and the average one-bedroom rent was just $970. People could afford homes in safe neighbourhoods and good food on their table.As Vice-Chair of the Commons Finance Committee, he was the first major voice in Parliament to warn that massive money-printing deficits would lead to inflation, while Mark Carney wrongly predicted prices would go down. Pierre also led the charge against the carbon tax, toughening laws to fight crime, banning drugs and unlocking resources. Liberals who demonized him for these principled stands have now all agreed he was right and claim to agree with him.In the most recent election, he got more votes than any Conservative leader in our history, the largest share of votes since 1988, adding 2.5 million more votes and 25 more seats than the prior election, all with major gains among youth and working people.But he has only begun. After Liberals doubled housing costs, inflated food prices and unleashed crime on our streets, Pierre is fighting back. His purpose is a Canada with strong take-home pay, safe streets and secure borders in a self-reliant country.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

Perhaps the biggest surprise of this war with Iran is how viciously the country is attacking its Arab neighbors. The UAE has been hammered, actually targeted with more missiles than were directed at Israel. Senior FDD fellow and regular State of Tel Aviv and Beyond guest, Lt. Col. (Res.) Jonathan Conricus gets into this bizarre development that no one anticipated. Initially, some pundits were assuming there was a brilliant Iranian plan behind these attacks. But as we discuss in this episode, it is now clear that Iran lashing out at its neighbors is the result of chaos in the government and military. We also zoom out to look at the broad waves of attacks on Iran by America and Israel and what they have accomplished; what remains to be done. If the murderous regime in Iran falls the geopolitical fallout will be huge; the most extensive and far reaching since WWII. We also take a hard look at the conduct of unprincipled western leadership - like that of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Great video clips in this episode and some awesome retro photos from the 70s. Who remembers the OPEC oil embargo after the 1973 Arab Israeli war, also known as the Yom Kippur War? And, of course - we discuss the very real possibility of boots on the ground in Iran. Whose boots?Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivPodcast Notes:* Link to FDD report on Iran’s Ballistic Missile Program, referred to in the podcast by Jonathan Conricus.* IDF video released on International Women’s Day highlighting the extraordinary contribution of women in the Israeli Air Force, referred to in the podcast by Jonathan Conricus.Jonathan Conricus is a senior fellow with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington D.C.-based think tank. He served in the IDF for 24 years, four of them as spokesman during the intense 11 days of the Guardian of the Walls Operation between Israel and Hamas. Now a reserve officer with the rank of Lt. Col., he is a sought-after speaker internationally and is frequently seen on major television news shows. Jonathan was born in Jerusalem to a Swedish father and an Israeli mother and spent his formative years in Sweden.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

We had hoped to drop this yesterday but wartime exigencies got in the way. The message is just as relevant today - the holiday of Purim was on Tuesday, March 3. It commemorates a miracle - when the Jews in ancient Persia were ordered by a King’s decree to be murdered. Every last one. And yet, by a series of coincidences, they were spared. That was thousands of years ago. Since that time Jews have faced many tyrants who were determined to end their existence. The most recent and current one was Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He led a regime obsessed with destroying Israel and Jews. The historical arc is fascinating. And real. The decree in ancient Persia was real. Hitler was real. And Khamenei - until a few days ago - was real.I thought we’d take a breather from missiles and bomb shelters and reflect on the historical arc into which this wild war fits. Neatly.I spoke with two fabulous rabbis: my old friend from London, Ontario, Ephraim Shore.....and a new friend from Boston, Mass., Rabbi Bill Hamilton. An interesting and very pertinent podcast.Tomorrow we will be back with more hardcore straight up war-talk.We are going flat out. If you have not done so already please consider supporting us with a paid subscription - either on our website or at Buy me a Coffee. It makes a huge difference….allowing us to continue our work and, even more so, knowing that you appreciate what we do. State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Our guests today:Rabbi Ephraim Shore/Tour Guide Extraordinaire:Insta: @ephraimshore Rabbi William G. Hamilton has led Kehillath Israel since 1995. He strives to activate Torah in the service of meaningful living – nourishing growth, solacing grief, and deepening joy.Empowering learners is at the heart of his leadership approach. Lay-leaders, Jews-by-choice, and rabbinic interns, all take responsibility for creating community and celebrating Judaism. A commitment to inclusion is also central to Rabbi Hamilton. His deep involvement with the Ruderman Foundation’s work for disability inclusion alongside his Board leadership with New England Yachad, complements a principled commitment to gender, ideological, and diversified practice inclusion at KI.Rabbi Hamilton’s vision for partnership practice now shapes a new century at Kehillath Israel. Establishing a campus that hosts five prayer-communities and several other agencies under his leadership has made KI the subject of a Harvard Business School Case-Study. His impact and influence are strengthened by exceptionally strong engagement with Israel. As a founder of The David Project (Campus advocacy) and the New England Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces, Rabbi Hamilton regularly brings groups on specialized tours of Israel. He sees resourcing Israel as essential to deepening Jewish commitments and furnishing richer inner-lives.His leadership in civic settings also distinguishes his voice throughout our region. For twenty years he has served as Chaplain of the Massachusetts State Police, on the Board of ADL, and on Harvard University’s Board of Ministry.He enjoys playing sports and rooting for local teams. His wife, Debbie Block, an accomplished historian and educator, gathered, produced and edited Kehillath Israel: The First 100 Years. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

Lightly edited video recording from an hour ago with Jonathan Conricus on developments in Israel and the Middle East. Have a listen. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

I’d like to begin by thanking Andrea Marcus, a dear friend and long-time supporter of State of Tel Aviv and Beyond, for sponsoring this episode. Andrea is a Toronto resident, proud Jewish woman and spectacularly talented artist. She is deeply troubled by what has been happening in Toronto and Canada since October 7, 2023.This episode was to have been published on Sunday December 14, 2025. And then the Bondi Beach Chanukah massacre happened. Hours later, a Chanukah candle lighting began in Toronto, Canada. What ensued was appalling. As Toronto police watched.....Part I of this mini-series dropped in early December and focused on the violent attack on an IDF reserve soldier on November 5 in downtown Toronto. Jonathan Karten. Nothing about that attack was surprising. Since October 7, Toronto has become one of the most hostile cities in the western world for Jewish life. All things Jewish are targeted regularly. And the response of the police? Well, that’s what we take a hard look at in today’s podcast. Why is Toronto such a cesspit of antisemitic violence? Incitement. Hatred. Why is it tolerated? I have lived and studied this disturbing situation since October 7, carefully, and the reality of Toronto - Canada - and beyond - must be seen. And seen clearly. I have sifted through many hours of video, photographs and media coverage in order to document the broad and specific observations made. Toronto Chief of Police Myron Demkiw declined an opportunity to be interviewed to discuss these rather pressing issues.And the political leadership in Canada? With very few exceptions, they are complicit. Municipally. Provincially. Federally.This episode has shifted shape since December 14. We do address aspects of the Karten assault on November 5, in particular the arrest of six individuals connected with that incident. But we spend more time zooming out to look at the bigger picture, to try to understand why Toronto has become such fertile ground for Jew hatred. Many of the incidents we discuss took place after the assault on Jonathan Karten on November 5. And after Bondi. In the podcast notes we include links to Episode I of this series, as well as two-part series on antisemitism in Toronto that I put out a year ago. Extreme antisemitism in Toronto? It’s neither new nor going to miraculously resolve. In th podcast notes, we set out other podcasts we have produced that are directly relevant to the issues raised in this episode, including Part 1 of this 2-part series.Certain archive material may be available to premium subcribers only. No time like the present to join the State of Tel Aviv and Beyond club!If you would like to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact me directly. vivian@stateoftelaviv.comShow your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivPodcast NotesState of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscrib This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

In this special podcast we go deep into the darkness that has descended upon the Kurdish ethnic minority in northern Syria. The massacre of civilians and brutality is reminiscent of ISIS. In fact, the Syrian state army is comprised of many former jihadists - some still openly wearing ISIS patches on their uniforms. The Kurds, of course, led the military force that led the assault on ISIS and its eventual retreat and defeat. But with the anointment of former al Qaeda man, Ahmed al Sharaa, as President of Syria…..violent Islamism has enjoyed something of a resurgence.Absolute hell has been visited upon the Syrian Kurds while the west and the world are distracted by chaos in the Islamic Republic of Iran. But the massacre of Syrian Kurds has barely been noticed. We feature interviews with four experts on the Syrian Kurds. (Their photos and bios are set out below in the Podcast Notes.) Each one brings a very deep understanding of the complexity of this situation. In order to assist as you work your way through this we have provided time stamps so that you may skip to particular bits that interest you more.In addition to the experts featured here we spoke to many others. I am grateful to all for their time and generosity in sharing their expertise and insight. I would like to draw particular attention to Noor Dahri, a devout Muslim living in the UK and originally from Pakistan. I learned so much from Noor and hope to share part of our interview in the near future. Editing such rich material is not easy. So thanks, Noor, for helping me to better understand the forces that are driving fanatical Islamism in the Middle East and the west.And to our loyal listeners, this episode is being made available to all subscribers in full. Consider it our contribution to doing whatever is possible to amplify awareness of the Kurdish plight.There are some graphic videos included in this podcast. If you prefer not to view them we provide advance notice so that you may skip over them.Timestamps:Introduction with video clips: 00:00Interview with Dr. Qanta A. Ahmed: 05:53Al Jazeera report on the release of ISIS prisoners in Al Hol Detention Camp in northern Syria: 36:41Interview with Ateret Shmuel: 39:22Interview with Dr. Jan Ilhan Kizilhan: 51:54Interview with Ahmad Sharawi: 01:02:15Conclusion: 1:19:08Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivPodcast Notes:* Maps referred to and shown in the podcast introduction:* X post of U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, on January 20, 2026:Full text of this post: The greatest opportunity for the Kurds in Syria right now lies in the post-Assad transition under the new government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa. This moment offers a pathway to full integration into a unified Syrian state with citizenship rights, cultural protections, and political participation— long denied under Bashar al-Assad’s regime, where many Kurds faced statelessness, language restrictions, and systemic discrimination.Historically, the US military presence in northeastern Syria was justified primarily as a counter-ISIS partnership. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by Kurds, proved the most effective ground partner in defeating ISIS’s territorial caliphate by 2019, detaining thousands of ISIS fighters and family members in prisons and camps like al-Hol and al-Shaddadi. At that time, there was no functioning central Syrian state to partner with—the Assad regime was weakened, contested, and not a viable partner against ISIS due to its alliances with Iran and Russia.Today, the situation has fundamentally changed. Syria now has an acknowledged central government that has joined the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (as its 90th member in late 2025), signaling a westward pivot and cooperation with the US on counterterrorism. This shifts the rationale for the US-SDF partnership: the original purpose of the SDF as the primary anti-ISIS force on the ground has largely expired, as Damascus is now both willing and positioned to take over security responsibilities, including control of ISIS detention facilities and camps.Recent developments show the US actively facilitating this transition, rather than prolonging a separate SDF role:• We have engaged extensively with the Syrian Government and SDF leadership to secure an integration agreement, signed on January 18, and to set a clear pathway for timely and peaceful implementation.• The deal integrates SDF fighters into the national military (as individuals, which remains among the most contentious issues), hand over key infrastructure (oil fields, dams, border crossings), and cede control of ISIS prisons and camps to Damascus.• The US has no interest in long-term military presence; it prioritizes defeating ISIS remnants, supporting reconciliation, and advancing national unity without endorsing separatism or federalism.This creates a unique window for the Kurds: integration into the new Syrian state offers full citizenship rights (including for those previously stateless), recognition as an integral part of Syria, constitutional protections for Kurdish language and culture (e.g., teaching in Kurdish, celebrating Nawruz as a national holiday), and participation in governance—far beyond the semi-autonomy the SDF held amid civil war chaos.While risks remain (e.g., fragile ceasefires, occasional clashes, concerns over hardliners, or the desire of some actors to relitigate past grievances), the United States is pushing for safeguards on Kurdish rights and counter-ISIS cooperation. The alternative—prolonged separation—could invite instability or ISIS resurgence. This integration, backed by US diplomacy, represents the strongest chance yet for Kurds to secure enduring rights and security within a recognized Syrian nation-state.In Syria, the United States is focused on: 1) ensuring the security of prison facilities holding ISIS prisoners, currently guarded by the SDF; and 2) facilitating talks between the SDF and the Syrian Government to allow for the peaceful integration of the SDF and the political inclusion of Syria’s Kurdish population into a historic full Syrian citizenship.* Dr. Qanta A. AhmedDr. Ahmed is a physician, non-fiction author and broadcast media commentator. Her first book, In the Land of Invisible Women (Sourcebooks 2008) details her experience of living and working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and has been published internationally in 14 countries. She is also a prolific opinion journalist and contributor to the American, British, Australian, Pakistani and Israeli media. Dr.Ahmad has been recognized for her work as a physician, researcher, journalist and advocate. She lives and works in New York City.* Ateret Shmuel Ateret Shmuel lives with her two children in Jerusalem and is the founder of the not-for profit organization Indigenous Bridges and has worked with Kurdish communities and organizations in the Middle East for more than 20 years. https://www.indigenousbridges.com/* Jan Ilhan KizilhanDr. Jan Ilhan Kizilhan is a psychologist, psychotherapist, trauma expert, orientalist, author and publisher. He is also the Director of the Institute for Health Science the State University in Baden-Württemberg, Germany and the chief psychologist of the Special-Quota Project, a programme funded by the State Government of Baden Württemberg. The project brought 1,100 women and children who were in IS captivity to Germany for medical treatment. He is the Founding Dean of the Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychotraumatology at the University of Duhok/Northern Iraq.* Ahmad SharawiAhmad Sharawi is a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, focusing on Middle East affairs, specifically the Levant, Iraq, and Iranian intervention in Arab affairs, as well as U.S. foreign policy toward the region. Previously, Sharawi worked at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, where he focused mainly on Hezbollah. He created a map visualizing the border clashes on the Israeli-Lebanese frontier and authored articles on Jordan and Morocco. Ahmad previously worked at the International Finance Corporation and S&P Global. He holds a B.A. in international relations from King’s College London and an M.A. from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. 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This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.stateoftelaviv.comAmbassador Michael Oren brings decades of deep experience as an historian, diplomat, and politician to bear on this critical moment in Mid-East volatility. Asked at the outset of our discussion what’s at stake, he did not hesitate for a second. “Everything.” We discuss the always wobbly status quo in the region and the sweeping change that has gone down…