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What happens when one of the world's most turbulent democracies heads into an election in the middle of its longest war in history?
On the latest episode of The Deep Dive, host Jacob sits down with Yisrael Klitsner, a fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute and former diaspora affairs advisor to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and ex-director of strategic engagement at AIPAC, to unpack what is shaping up to be one of Israel's most consequential political moments.
The discussion digs into how security, not the economy, remains the defining issue in every Israeli election cycle and why October 7 has fundamentally reordered the political landscape. From the growing role of hostage families and October 7 survivors entering politics, to Netanyahu's bid to frame his war record as a success story, to the opposition's push for a formal national inquiry, the episode maps out the strategic fault lines ahead of the vote.
Perhaps the most urgent part of the conversation centers on the fraying relationship between Israel and Diaspora Jews, particularly American Jews. From Ben-Gvir's inflammatory actions on the world stage to Israeli politicians playing to their domestic base at the expense of Jewish communities abroad, the guest pulls no punches about the damage being done.
He argues that the call from US Jewish community leaders is simple: first, do no harm. Whether Israel's next government will heed that message is very much an open question, and one that makes this episode essential viewing.