Subscribe to Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org

Gift a subscription of Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org/gifts

Subscribe to Amit Segal’s newsletter ‘It’s Noon in Israel’: arkmedia.org/amitsegal/

Europe’s far-right rise: axios.com/2025/08/22/europe-far-right-afd-germany-france-uk

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast

Check out Ark Media’s other podcasts:

• For Heaven's Sake: lnk.to/rfGlrA
• ‘What’s Your Number?’: lnk.to/rbGlvM

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: callmeback@arkmedia.org

To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.org/

Ark Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorg

Dan on X: x.com/dansenor

Dan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenor

To order Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel: tinyurl.com/bdeyjsdn

Today’s Episode:

On Friday, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) — an internationally recognized set of standards established by a group of NGOs for determining food insecurity — was applied to Gaza to declare for the first time that famine has struck North Gaza. It was a charge Israel quickly denied. This comes after many countries – including Britain, France, Canada, and Australia – have announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state.

On today’s episode, we ask how Israelis are reacting to the world’s ire. Do they recognize the severity of the situation, or are they insulated from global opinion? Is Israel’s plummeting global standing cause for serious concern? Ark Media contributor Amit Segal joined us to discuss.

CREDITS:

ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor

ADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY - Executive Producer

MARTIN HUERGO - Sound Editor

MARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional Editing

MAYA RACKOFF - Operations Director

GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research

YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

Check out ‘What’s Your Number?’: lnk.to/rbGlvM

Subscribe to Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org

Gift a subscription of Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org/gifts

Ark Media is looking to add a Production Manager to the team: https://tinyurl.com/ark-prod-mgr

Subscribe to Amit Segal’s newsletter ‘It’s Noon in Israel’: arkmedia.org/amitsegal/

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: callmeback@arkmedia.org

To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.org/

Ark Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorg

Dan on X: x.com/dansenor

Dan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenor

To order Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel: tinyurl.com/bdeyjsdn

Today’s Episode:

Last week, Michal Lev-Ram and Yonatan Adiri – co-hosts of Ark Media’s second original podcast, What’s Your Number? – conducted a fascinating interview with Josh Wolfe that I wanted to bring to your attention. They discussed the boom in defense tech and Israel’s outsized role in the sector.

Josh Wolfe is the co-founder of Luxe Capital, a venture firm with $5 billion under management focused on deep-tech and science-driven investments. Josh has also been particularly outspoken on issues related to Israel and antisemitism since October 7.

In this episode, Josh talks with Michal and Yonatan about how and why he was early to the defense tech sector, when and why he began investing in Israeli defense tech, the reactions he got from his own investors, and what this sector means for Israel’s postwar geopolitical position.

If you enjoy this interview, you can follow What’s Your Number? on all podcast players, or subscribe on our website, Arkmedia.org.

CREDITS:

ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor

ADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY - Executive Producer

MARTIN HUERGO - Sound Editor

MARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional Editing

MAYA RACKOFF - Operations Director

GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research

YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

Subscribe to Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org

Gift a subscription of Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org/gifts

Ark Media is looking to add a Production Manager to the team: https://tinyurl.com/ark-prod-mgr

Subscribe to Amit Segal’s newsletter ‘It’s Noon in Israel’: arkmedia.org/amitsegal/

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast

Check out Ark Media’s other podcasts:

• For Heaven's Sake: lnk.to/rfGlrA
• ‘What’s Your Number?’: lnk.to/rbGlvM

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: callmeback@arkmedia.org

To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.org/

Ark Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorg

Dan on X: x.com/dansenor

Dan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenor

To order Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel: tinyurl.com/bdeyjsdn

Today’s Episode:

On Sunday, Hamas announced that it agreed to a hostage-ceasefire proposal, which Israel officials are now reviewing. This comes after Sunday’s massive protests against the government’s plans to expand the war and conquer Gaza City. In preparation for the Gaza City operation, the IDF has called up another 60,000 reservists.

On Tuesday, the Hostage and Missing Families Forum announced they are postponing another big protest originally scheduled for next Sunday in order not to disrupt the ongoing negotiations.

On today's episode, we are joined by Miri Eisin to discuss Israel’s strategic position as it weighs whether to go for a deal or continue the war. Miri is a retired Col. in the IDF, who spent her career focused on military intelligence, and who served alongside current IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. She currently serves as a fellow at Reichmann University’s International Institute for Counter-terrorism and is the Chair of the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel.

CREDITS:

ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor

ADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY - Executive Producer

MARTIN HUERGO - Sound Editor

MARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional Editing

MAYA RACKOFF - Operations Director

GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research

YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

Subscribe to Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org

Gift a subscription of Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org/gifts

Ark Media is looking to add a Production Manager to the team: https://tinyurl.com/ark-prod-mgr

Subscribe to Amit Segal’s newsletter ‘It’s Noon in Israel’: arkmedia.org/amitsegal/

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast

Check out Ark Media’s other podcasts:

• For Heaven's Sake: lnk.to/rfGlrA
• ‘What’s Your Number?’: lnk.to/rbGlvM

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: callmeback@arkmedia.org

To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.org/

Ark Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorg

Dan on X: x.com/dansenor

Dan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenor

To order Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel: tinyurl.com/bdeyjsdn

Today’s Episode:

On Sunday, hundreds of thousands of Israelis joined in mass protests and strikes to pressure the Netanyahu government to end the Gaza war.

Meanwhile, the IDF is preparing to execute the government’s plan to conquer Gaza City, which would entail the evacuation of the roughly one million Palestinians residing there. This offensive is in the works while there is renewed interest by Hamas in some kind of negotiation (which is likely a result of IDF plans for a new offensive).

On today’s episode, Dan is joined by Ark Media contributor Nadav Eyal to discuss (and debate) the cost and benefits of continuing the war in Gaza.

00:00 Introduction

02:48 Commemorating Hersch Goldberg-Polin

04:54 Hostage protests in Israel

05:48 China’s plan to rebuilt Iran’s missile capabilities

10:54 Iranian emissary humiliated in Lebanon

12:38 Putin’s position on Iranian uranium enrichment

13:25 IDF plans to conquer Gaza City

21:35 Trump’s position on the Gaza City plan

23:30 What will happen to the hostages?

24:35 The toll on IDF reservists

26:15 International criticism

28:58 Was there starvation in Gaza?

32:15 Israel’s decision to stop aid in March

35:32 International coverage of the humanitarian situation

42:05 Military pressure on Hamas

43:43 Public opinion on ending the war

51:31 The problem with ending the war

57:19 Netanyahu’s position on a hostage-ceasefire deal

CREDITS:

ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor

ADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY - Executive Producer

MARTIN HUERGO - Sound Editor

MARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional Editing

MAYA RACKOFF - Operations Director

GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research

YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

Subscribe to Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org

Gift a subscription of Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org/gifts

Ark Media is looking to add a Production Manager to the team: https://tinyurl.com/ark-prod-mgr

Subscribe to Amit Segal's newsletter 'It’s Noon in Israel': arkmedia.org/amitsegal/

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast

Check out Ark Media’s other podcasts:

• For Heaven's Sake: lnk.to/rfGlrA
• ‘What’s Your Number?’: lnk.to/rbGlvM

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: callmeback@arkmedia.org

To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.org/

Ark Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorg

Dan on X: x.com/dansenor

Dan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenor

To order Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel: tinyurl.com/bdeyjsdn

Today’s Episode:

On Friday, August 15th, Israel marks the 20th anniversary of its 2005 disengagement from Gaza, a watershed moment in Israeli history. It’s the date when, 20 years ago, the IDF began executing the Knesset’s decision to unilaterally withdraw from all Jewish settlements in the Gaza strip, uprooting the 8,000 Israelis living there.

The plan was spearheaded by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who was head of the right-wing Likud party and had been a lifelong supporter of expanding settlements. Sharon ultimately got his government, including the future Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to support the withdrawal.

On today’s episode, we are joined by Ark Media contributor Amit Segal and Asi Shariv, who served as senior advisor to Prime Minister Sharon during those dramatic days. With the benefit of hindsight, we discuss the long term impact of the Gaza withdrawal and whether or not it was a mistake.

CREDITS:

ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor

ADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY - Executive Producer

MARTIN HUERGO - Sound Editor

MARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional Editing

MAYA RACKOFF - Operations Director

GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research

YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

Subscribe to Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org

Gift a subscription of Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org/gifts

Ark Media is looking to add a Production Manager to the team: https://tinyurl.com/ark-prod-mgr

Subscribe to Amit Segal's newsletter 'It’s Noon in Israel': arkmedia.org/amitsegal/

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast

Check out Ark Media’s other podcasts:

• For Heaven's Sake: lnk.to/rfGlrA
• ‘What’s Your Number?’: lnk.to/rbGlvM

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: callmeback@arkmedia.org

To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.org/

Ark Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorg

Dan on X: x.com/dansenor

Dan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenor

To order Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel: tinyurl.com/bdeyjsdn

Today’s Episode:

On Friday, August 15th, Israel marks the 20th anniversary of its 2005 disengagement from Gaza, a watershed moment in Israeli history. It’s the date when, 20 years ago, the IDF began executing the Knesset’s decision to unilaterally withdraw from all Jewish settlements in the Gaza strip, uprooting the 8,000 Israelis living there.

The plan was spearheaded by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who was head of the right-wing Likud party and had been a lifelong supporter of expanding settlements. Sharon ultimately got his government, including the future Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to support the withdrawal.

On today’s episode, we discuss the Gaza withdrawal and its implications with Ark Media contributor Amit Segal and Asi Shariv, who served as senior advisor to Prime Minister Sharon during those dramatic days.

00:00 Introduction

04:12 How Asi Shariv became an advisor to Ariel Sharon

07:41 The political landscape during Sharon’s premiership

11:59 What Israelis wanted after the Second Intifada

14:09 The relationship between Ariel Sharon and Benjamin Netanyahu

17:51 Sharon’s political strategy

19:00 Netanyahu’s position on withdrawal at the time

22:45 The Likud referendum on withdrawal

24:48 The Knesset vote on withdrawal

CREDITS:

ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor

ADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY - Executive Producer

MARTIN HUERGO - Sound Editor

MARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional Editing

MAYA RACKOFF - Operations Director

GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research

YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

Ark Media is looking to add a Production Manager to the team: https://tinyurl.com/ark-prod-mgr

Subscribe to INSIDE Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org

Gift a subscription of INSIDE Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org/gifts

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast

Check out Ark Media’s other podcasts:

• For Heaven's Sake: lnk.to/rfGlrA
• ‘What’s Your Number?’: lnk.to/rbGlvM

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: callmeback@arkmedia.org

To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.org/

Ark Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorg

Dan on X: x.com/dansenor

Dan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenor

To order Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel: tinyurl.com/bdeyjsdn

Today’s Episode:

Late last week, the Israeli security cabinet approved a proposal by Prime Minister Netanyahu to conquer Gaza City, where roughly half the Gazan population resides, and which has been largely untouched by the IDF thus far.

This decision has prompted widespread international backlash, which was already mounting from concerns over a possible food crisis in Gaza. It also comes as more countries move to recognize a Palestinian state, forcing us to grapple with the high price Israel is paying on the global stage for the ongoing Gaza war.

With this in mind, on today’s episode, Dan speaks with Dr. Micah Goodman about whether there’s a difference between winning the war in Gaza and winning the wider, regional war. Is it possible that Israel will need to modify its definition of victory in Gaza in order to emerge victorious in the larger re-shaping of the geopolitics of the Middle East?

Micah Goodman co-hosts, along with Efrat Shapira Rosenberg, the popular Israeli podcast Mifleget Hamachshavot produced by Beit Avi Chai.

00:00 Introduction

05:17 The outcome of war with Iran

08:46 Public opinion on Iran war

13:22 Saudi normalization will split the Israeli right

18:02 The price of normalization

23:10 Who can lead normalization?

24:50 The next Israeli elections

26:53 How does Israel end the war in Gaza?

30:20 Losing the battle to win the war

31:34 Returning the hostages

32:25 Victory in the future versus victory now

34:52 Hamas anticipating Israel’s strategy

CREDITS:

ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor

ADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY - Executive Producer

MARTIN HUERGO - Sound Editor

MARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional Editing

MAYA RACKOFF - Operations Director

GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research

YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

If you’re already subscribed to INSIDE Call me Back, listen to the extended version of this episode – on the INSIDE Call me Back feed.

To subscribe to Inside Call me Back please go to: inside.arkmedia.org

Sign up to Amit Segal's newsletter: https://arkmedia.org/amitsegal/

Gift a subscription of Inside Call me Back: inside.arkmedia.org/gifts

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast

Check out Ark Media’s other podcasts:

• For Heaven's Sake: lnk.to/rfGlrA
• ‘What’s Your Number?’: lnk.to/rbGlvM

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: callmeback@arkmedia.org

To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.org/

Ark Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorg

Dan on X: x.com/dansenor

Dan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenor

To order Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel: tinyurl.com/bdeyjsdn

Today’s Episode:

Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to present the cabinet with a plan for the full military occupation of Gaza today. According to reports, the plan’s first phase entails the evacuation of Gaza City and an expansion of humanitarian aid, in coordination with the United States. The second phase would see an IDF takeover of Gaza City with an even bigger expansion of aid, backed by $1 billion from the U.S. and other countries.

This comes despite pushback from IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and other security officials, who — according to reports — have serious concerns about the risks of this military expansion.

To discuss this breaking news, Dan is joined by Ark Media contributors Amit Segal and Nadav Eyal. You can hear more of Dan’s thoughts on the subject at the beginning of today’s INSIDE Call me Back episode.

00:00 Introduction

03:20 The plan to occupy Gaza

05:15 The significance of Gaza City

06:57 Concerns about the plan

12:02 Where does Hamas lie?

17:47 Israeli public opinion on the plan

CREDITS:

ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor

ADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY - Executive Producer

MARTIN HUERGO - Sound Editor

MARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional Editing

MAYA RACKOFF - Operations Director

GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research

YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer