The Israel Connexion

6 Dec 2024, 1pm The Israel Connexion With the Technion celebrating 100 years of innovation, discovery, and changing the world Technion Australia was showcasing Israel's resilience, brilliance and soul at a special event in Melbourne. David M. Weinberg, Senior Managing Fellow at the Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy in Jerusalem, gave the keynote speech.

4 Dec 2024, 8pm The Israel Connexion The Australian Labor government has just voted in the circus called the UN to show its vile anti-Israel animus in its full glory. I have a few words on this. (0:36-9:02) With the Technion celebrating 100 years of innovation, discovery, and changing the world Technion Australia is showcasing Israel's resilience, brilliance and soul with events in Melbourne last night and one in Sydney tonight. Listen to Prof Wayne Kaplan, vice president for External Relations and Resource Development of the Technion and David M. Weinberg, Senior Managing Fellow at the Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy in Jerusalem. (9:02-37:34) Hear from a panel of displaced residents from the northern border region, who are asking themselves whether it is now really the time to go back to their homes.  (37:34-57:26)

29 Nov 2024, 9pm The Israel Connexion Jonathan Cotler, who is originally from Canada, moved to Israel in 2015. He has consulted on projects for private individuals and government agencies in Canada, the United States and Africa, and works with The Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP) as a scholar. We discuss the report titled 'South Africa, Hamas, Iran, And Qatar: The Hijacking of the ANC and the International Court Of Justice'. Note: This is the complete interview with Jonathan Cotler.

28 Nov 2024, 11pm The Israel Connexion Josh Feldman is an Australian writer who focuses primarily on Israeli and Jewish issues. We discuss his article 'Useless UNIFIL' which considers UNIFIL’s failure to fulfil its mandate in Lebanon and how that has put the Middle East on the precipice of a war of unprecedented destruction. Note: This is the complete version of the interview with Josh Feldman.

28 Nov 2024, 2pm The Israel Connexion SmartAID is an international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organisation specialising in delivering innovative technology to the field. I caught up with its executive director and co-founder Shachar Zahavi who is on a short visit to Australia shoring up opportunies and relationships here. This is the full interview.

27 Nov 2024, 5pm The Israel Connexion Jonathan Cotler, who is originally from Canada, moved to Israel in 2015. He has consulted on projects for private individuals and government agencies in Canada, the United States and Africa, and works with The Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP) as a scholar. We discuss the report titled 'South Africa, Hamas, Iran, And Qatar: The Hijacking of the ANC and the International Court Of Justice'. (0:36-25:36) Josh Feldman is an Australian writer who focuses primarily on Israeli and Jewish issues. We discuss his article 'Useless UNIFIL' which considers UNIFIL’s failure to fulfil its mandate in Lebanon and how that has put the Middle East on the precipice of a war of unprecedented destruction. (25:36-42:48) SmartAID is an international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organisation specialising in delivering innovative technology to the field. I caught up with its executive director and co-founder Shachar Zahavi who is on a short visit to Australia shoring up opportunies and relationships here.  (42:48-57:26) Note: Complete unexpurgated versions of the three interviews on this week's show are to be provided as separate podcasts.

21 Nov 2024, 10pm The Israel Connexion I caught up with Professor Kobi Michael, one of the architects of Israel 2.0. We look at how the war in Gaza is progressing and what Israel is doing to set the stage for the reconstruction of Gaza. Kobi also has done some analysis to reveal 'What Can We Learn From the Public Opinion Polls in Palestinian Society?'. This is the complete interview with Professor Kobi Michael.

21 Nov 2024, 3pm The Israel Connexion Very soon after Oct 7th last year Dr Sophie Scamps, the Teal member in Mackellar in NSW, was accusing Israel of war crimes. Her rhetoric on the war in Gaza shows her to be just like the Greens with her anti-Israel animus. I speak with Michael Genchner, the CEO for StandWithUs in Australia, about how Scamps is pushing her anti-Israel agenda and improperly representing the people of Australia.

20 Nov 2024, 11pm The Israel Connexion Very soon after Oct 7th last year Dr Sophie Scamps, the Teal member in Mackellar in NSW, was accusing Israel of war crimes. Her rhetoric on the war in Gaza shows her to be just like the Greens with her anti-Israel animus. I speak with Michael Genchner, the CEO for StandWithUs in Australia, about how Scamps is pushing her anti-Israel agenda and misrepresenting the people of Australia. The full interview is available as a separate podcast.(0:37-24:17) I catch up with Professor Kobi Michael, one of the architects of Israel 2.0. We look at how the war in Gaza is progressing and what Israel is doing to set the stage for the reconstruction of Gaza. Kobi also has done some analysis to reveal 'What Can We Learn From the Public Opinion Polls in Palestinian Society?'. The full interview is available as a separate podcast. (24:17-50:01) Ray Hadley (2GB) explains why the Labor government is endorsing this notion of Palestinian sovereignty that is being 'ordained' by the United Nations.(50:01-57:22)

13 Nov 2024, 6pm The Israel Connexion A major incident occurred in Jerusalem involving Israeli security forces entering a French-administered property. Two French security officials with diplomatic status were briefly detained last week after France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot was due to visit the compound of The Church of the Pater Noster on the Mount of Olives in occupied East Jerusalem. A French court reversed a government ban on Israeli firms participating in the Euronaval arms show. Macron is proving to be no friend of Israel. (0:34-10:14) Brian Hook served as a top official during the first Trump administration as the US envoy to Iran. He joined CNN's Becky Anderson to discuss what Trump's foreign policy, particularly in regard to the Middle East, will look like. (10:14-21:41) Dr Mordechai Kedar is an Israeli scholar of Arab culture and a lecturer at Bar-Ilan University who doesn’t mince his words. We spoke about the Saudi summit on the crisis in Lebanon and Gaza, that has just taken place inRiyadh, where Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince was backing Iran and accusing Israel of genocide. (21:41-38:11) The Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations hosted “Stand Together: An Event of Unity, Strength and Resilience,” (38:11-43:36) Jews of Melbourne met in Caulfield Park in Melbourne to be part of a special installation marking a painful milestone: 400 days in captivity for a considerable nuimber of Israeli hostages still in the clutches of Hamas. (43:36-55:09)

11 Nov 2024, 9am The Israel Connexion Last Friday November 1st was Palestine National Day and the Australian Palestinian Advocacy Network (APAN), the main organization lobbying for the Palestinian cause in Melbourne had received a $25K grant from the Victorian government  to honour Palestinian culture and heritage in what they said would be a profound act of resilience and resistance. Their supporters were exhorted to come to Federation Square in Melbourne to honour the rich history of Palestine and the unbreakable spirit of the Palestinian people. I had chosen to visit Federation Square to see if APAN were adhering to the requirement that their event not be political.  Aside from one of the participants proclaiming over a loudspeaker the antisemitic catch-cry ‘Palestine will be free from the river to the sea’ the atmosphere was quite different from what one sees at the weekly protest rallies that have been taking place ever since the atrocities of Oct 7th last year. I decided to approach some of the attendees to see what they could tell me about the significance of Palestine National Day. Audio 1 Audio 2 I spoke with a man named Bruce who was manning one of the stalls who said it referred to a day proclaimed in the 1960s and he concurred that the date is supposed to be Nov 15th, but Federation Square had apparently been booked out on that day.  Undaunted I continued my quest to see if anyone attending Palestine National Day could tell me what the day signified. Audio 3 I pressed on and next spoke with a young man who was clearly incensed by what he has been seeing and experiencing. Audio 4 With the next person I spoke to I hit the jackpot. As you just heard I hit the jackpot with the last person with whom I spoke. My point is that pro-Palestinian supporters are largely ignorant of any history that pertains to the Palestinian cause. This has already been made evident in other situations where pro-Palestine supporters have been questioned about their mantra ‘Palestine will be free from the river to the sea’, inquiring as to what river and sea is alluded to there. It is patently obvious that pro-Palestine supporters have been fed a diet of propaganda and know very little about the narrative they espouse. I ask myself – what hope have we as Jews to turn things around and counter Jew-hatred if this is the level of ignorance with which we have to deal?

6 Nov 2024, 7pm The Israel Connexion UNRWA is to be banned from operating in Israel and I speak with MK Sharren Haskel about this move.

6 Nov 2024, 7pm The Israel Connexion I interview Uri Marantz, who directed the film King Khat which is screening at JIFF. This is the complete interview.

6 Nov 2024, 5pm The Israel Connexion Through innovative, virtual reality technology, the 'Galeed' exhibition invites you to explore and remember the events of October 7, 2023, in Israel, capturing the essence of that pivotal day. These memories are collectively experienced in an interactive and meaningful manner, bridging the past, present, and future. This unique experience provides a special opportunity to share memories, foster connections, and preserve them as part of the collective and personal narrative. I speak with Oren Ben-Yosef about this unique installation, which is being deployed and made accessible to communities worldwide. (0:33-19:11) UNRWA is to be banned from operating in Israel and I speak with MK Sharren Haskel about this move. (19:11-35:44) I interview Uri Marantz, who directed the film King Khat which is screening at JIFF. (35:45-47:19) On Friday Nov 1st I visit Federation Square in Melbourne to find out about Palestine National Day.(47:19-57:25)

3 Nov 2024, 2pm The Israel Connexion The full interview with Yael Schlichting, who was born in 1965 in Munich and wasn't brought up Jewish. Her political conscience was kick started in September 1972 following the massacre of the Israeli Olympic team in her home town and after the Yom Kippur war it grew stronger. For a short period she was a member of the Free Democratic Party in Germany, but quit frustrated with its equivocations about freedom. She has left Germany because she doesn't feel safe there, suggesting that freedom is something the vast majority of the Germans don't value. She doesn't vote any more in Germany, as she is profoundly unhappy with every single political party there. We discuss the rise of Alternative for Germany (AfD) and its support for Israel.

30 Oct 2024, 6pm The Israel Connexion I spoke with Yael Schlichting, who was born in 1965 in Munich and wasn't brought up Jewish. Her political conscience was kick started in September 1972 following the massacre of the Israeli Olympic team in her home town and after the Yom Kippur war it grew stronger. For a short period she was a member of the Free Democratic Party in Germany, but quit frustrated with its equivocations about freedom. She has left Germany because she doesn't feel safe there, suggesting that freedom is something the vast majority of the Germans don't value. She doesn't vote any more in Germany, as she is profoundly unhappy with every single political party there. We discuss the rise of Alternative for Germany (AfD) and its support for Israel. (0:36-26:05) I interview Ofer Pinchasov, the director, producer, editor and writer of the film King of the Sephardim, which is about Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, osef who was an Iraqi-born Talmudic scholar, a posek, the SephardiChief Rabbi of Israel from 1973 to 1983, and a founder and long-time spiritual leader of Israel's ultra-Orthodox Shas party, which is screening at JIFF. (26:12-41:30) Miles Spencer, who co-wrote A Line in the Sand, which captures the essence of the Middle East with a richly detailed historical fiction of two lifelong friends – Magnus and Finn – thrown into a sleuthing adventure, where mysteries of the Middle East and its people are revealed. (41:32-57:12)

23 Oct 2024, 9pm The Israel Connexion The full interview with Shahar Burla, the producer of Pita with Vegemite: An Israeli Australia Story.

23 Oct 2024, 8pm The Israel Connexion The full interview with Alon Daniel the director of 6:30

23 Oct 2024, 5pm The Israel Connexion I started off interviewing Shai Abramson, the chief chazzan of Israel, heralding his coming visit to Australia to participate in the 'We Sing As One' concerts in Melbourne and Sydney. (0:36-18:19) Michelle Blum, the CEO of the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce in NSW and Qld tells us what to expect from the 5th Annual Australia-Israel Innovation Summit on Oct 30th. (18:19-30:53) As JIFF approaches I talk about a couple of films, 6:30 by director Alon Daniel (30:59-44:23) and Pita with Vegemite: An Israeli Australia Story with producer Shahar Burla (44:23-56:48)

16 Oct 2024, 7pm The Israel Connexion Senator Sarah Henderson is the Shadow Minister for Education and has said that the Albanese government should have had the moral courage to back the Coalition’s judicial inquiry into campus antisemitism. University vice-chancellors and key Jewish groups appeared at the recent senate inquiry into Senator Henderson’s private senator’s bill to establish a judicial inquiry into antisemitism at Australian universities. Here is the report that was produced whereby the Labor government decided not to proceed with an inquiry along the lines that has been advocated by Senator Henderson. Social activist and storyteller, writer and community leader, Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie is the co-founding spiritual leader of the Lab/Shul community in NYC and creator of the ritual theater company Storahtelling, Inc. Amichai received his rabbinical ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 2016, the 39th generation of rabbis in his family — the first one to be openly queer. (0:36-30:38) Rabbi Amichai is the subject of Sabbath Queen, a documentary film directed by Sandi DuBowski, that was 21 years in the making. (30:44-57:16)

9 Oct 2024, 5pm The Israel Connexion A distinguished scholar in North American History at McGill University, currently living in Jerusalem, ProfessorGil Troy is an award-winning American presidential historian and a leading Zionist activist. He is, the editor of the new three-volume set, “Theodor Herzl: Zionist Writings", the inaugural publication of The Library of the Jewish People. He was recently designated one of Algemeiner's J-100, one of the top 100 people "positively influencing Jewish life". His new publication ‘The Essential Guide to October 7th and its Aftermath’ is a 64-page guidebook produced in conjunction with The Jewish People Policy Institute providing facts, figures and some history on the tragedy that befell the Jewish people on that fateful day one year ago. (0:36-33:56) Listeners can also hear some expressions of solidarity and support for our Australian Jewish community that I solicited: the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (formerly the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) led by Dan Diker, its president who was accompanied by Khaled Abu Toameh, an Israeli Arab journalist, lecturer and documentary filmmaker. Abu Toameh writes for The Jerusalem Post and for the New York–based Gatestone Institute, where he is a senior distinguished fellow. (34:26-41:30) Daniel "Danny" Seaman is an Israeli media professional and former civil servant, mainly active in the fields of foreign service and public diplomacy. Danny worked in the Israeli civil service for 31 years (1983-2014). Between 2000-2010, Seaman served as the director of the Israeli Government Press Office (GPO), part of the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem responsible for the foreign media contingent in Israel. His last public position was Deputy Director General for Information at the Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs, where his outspoken views were frequently seen as being controversial. (41:30-43:37) Catherine Perez is the Executive Director of We Believe in Israel which is BICOM's pro-Israel advocacy organization in the United Kingdom where BICOM is the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (43:38-44:42) Yifat Zailer is acousin of Shiri Bibas, one of her relatives Yarden, Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, a young and happy family from Kibbutz Nir Oz, that was kidnapped in its entirety on October 7.(44:42-52:53) Lastly I provide an update on Nine Network's failure to screen the award-winning documentary 'We Will Dance Again' that was expected to air on Oct 7th. (52:53-56:10)

2 Oct 2024, 5pm The Israel Connexion Friendship, love, and freedom—these ideals drew young hearts from around the globe to Nova’s EDM music festival in south Israel. But as the sun rose on October 7th, the fantasy was shattered. Rockets sliced through the sky, and the music cut off. Confusion morphed into terror as gunfire erupted amidst the chaos. Hamas terrorists breached the border fence and unleashed barbarity in its rawest form.  The film is a stark portrayal of the experiences of those who survived and those who didn’t. I interview the director by Yariv Mozer whose film meticulously reconstructs the horrifying events, capturing the raw emotions and heroism that emerged amidst the senseless violence. (0:36-27:17) The Hostages and Missing Families Forum is a civil, volunteer-based organization focused on the safe return of all Israeli citizens held hostage by the terrorist organization Hamas.  Formed less than 24 hours after the horrific Hamas attack on Israeli villages and towns on October 7th, 2023. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has no political affiliation and is focused on bringing loved ones back home by any means necessary through all available channels. The forum includes thousands of volunteers, from the families themselves to senior figures in the security, judicial, communication, advertising, creative, and diplomatic sectors. I will speak with Or Moshe, a representative of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. (27:24-53:42)

25 Sep 2024, 5pm The Israel Connexion Last weekQueensland Senator Paul Scarr participatedon the senate’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee that is conducting a Commission of Inquiry into Antisemitism at Australian Universities.  We discuss in detail some of the major outcomes so far with the Jewish community preferring to see a judicial inquiry be established.  The report is scheduled to be tabled in the senate on October 4th. (0:36-31:22) Mike Wagenheim is a politic​al reporter, currently serving as senior U.S. Correspondent for the i24NEWS television network, covering American government, diplomacy, religion, business and culture, all through the lens of the Middle East. ​ Mike is also a correspondent for the Jewish News Syndicate, his work appearing in the JPost, Ynet, Israel Hayom and The Jewish Press, among others.   Mike is currently in New York covering the 79th session of the UN.(31:28-58:06)

25 Sep 2024, 3pm The Israel Connexion Supporter of the pariahs at the Jewish Council of Australia.  A despicable traitor to the Jewish Community.

18 Sep 2024, 5pm The Israel Connexion Michael Hirsh was the former national editor for the magazine Politico and a former foreign editor, chief diplomatic correspondent, and national economic correspondent for Newsweek. He is a lecturer and has appeared numerous times as a commentator on Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, National Public Radio, and is a frequent guest of The Young Turks, a streaming internet political talk show. He is the author of two books: Capital Offense: How Washington’s Wise Men Turned America’s Future Over to Wall Street and At War With Ourselves: Why America Is Squandering Its Chance to Build a Better World. These days he is a regular columnist for Foreign Policy. I caught up with Michael Hirsch to discuss an article he put together for Politico earlier this year titled ‘Arab States Are Giving Palestinians the Cold Shoulder. Here’s Why’ in an interview with the former U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker. (0:37-32:49) A historic, one night only concert in Melbourne, direct from Israel, starring 'The Chayalim Band and Singers' will be conducted by Israeli maestro Rafi Greidi and will bring together local singers Shimon and Dov Farkas and some local surprises. I speak with the musical director Rafi Greidi in anticipation of a very moving performance. (32:56-54:58)

12 Sep 2024, 3pm The Israel Connexion I catch up once again with Gidi Grinstein, an Israeli societal entrepreneur. He is the founder of the Reut Group, a non-partisan not-for-profit research, strategy and leadership group. We spoke on the eve of "Peace Week", the anniversary of major milestones in Israel's modern history – Oslo, the Abraham Accords and Camp David. My previous extensive interview with Gidi Grinstein can be heard here. This is the full interview with Gidi Grinstein.

12 Sep 2024, 10am The Israel Connexion The new drive to introduce “Anti-Palestinian Racism” to “equity and inclusivity strategies” throughout a number of Western countries must be a wake-up call. I speak with Shauna Small, a principal of an elementary school in Canada, who has written an article for the ‘Future of Jewish’ newsletter. in which she says that, “Codifying so-called "Anti-Palestinian Racism" in Canada is harming Jewish Canadians and infringing on our rights, liberties, and safety.”

11 Sep 2024, 5pm The Israel Connexion The new drive to introduce “Anti-Palestinian Racism” to “equity and inclusivity strategies” throughout a number of Western countries must be a wake-up call. I speak with Shauna Small, a principal of an elementary school in Canada, who has written an article for the ‘Future of Jewish’ newsletter. in which she says that, “Codifying so-called "Anti-Palestinian Racism" in Canada is harming Jewish Canadians and infringing on our rights, liberties, and safety.”(0:36-32:16) I catch up once again with Gidi Grinstein, an Israeli societal entrepreneur. He is the founder of the Reut Group, a non-partisan not-for-profit research, strategy and leadership group. We spoke on the eve of "Peace Week", the anniversary of major milestones in Israel's modern history – Oslo, the Abraham Accords and Camp David. My previous extensive interview with Gidi Grinstein can be heard here. (32:22-57:25)