Escape from Tel Aviv

About this episode

Jacob discusses the personal experiences of his friend Avi Swerdlow during the Gulf War in Israel.

Jacob sets down the grand strategy for a gripping personal story, catching up with his high school friend Avi Swerdlow, who landed in Israel the day before the new Gulf War erupted. Avi recounts waking to sirens, sheltering with his mother, and navigating a closed airspace in a circuitous scramble to get home - a reminder that geopolitics is always personal. Note: If you know anyone in a Gulf or Middle Eastern state who has had to scramble in a similar way, or is experiencing the war on the ground, please connect us! We would love to feature their story. -- Timestamps: (00:00) - Hello (01:10) - Meet Avi Swerdlow (01:58) - Siren Wake Up Call (02:57) - Did You See It Coming (05:53) - Flights Canceled Fast (07:57) - Airbnb Safe Room Help (10:29) - Embassy Alerts and STEP (12:29) - Planning Land Escape (14:07) - State Dept Evac Call (16:30) - Airport Chaos and Shelter (22:12) - Boarding DHS Evac Flight (24:08) - Arrival in Athens (24:17) - Athens to Rome Reset (25:25) - Historic Moment Reflections (26:28) - Evacuation Costs and Embassies (27:30) - Inside the DHS Plane (31:26) - Landing in Athens and Relief (34:00) - Fellow Passengers Georgia Detour (35:04) - Would You Go Back (36:27)…

People in this episode

Host: Jacob Shapiro

Guest: Avi Swerdlow

Topics covered

• geopolitics
• personal stories
• evacuation
• Middle East
• war experiences

Keywords

• Gulf War
• evacuation
• Israel
• Avi Swerdlow
• geopolitics
• personal story
• air travel
• war

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Israel, Athens, Rome

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