IsraelCast

In this episode of IsraelCast, Steven Shalowitz welcomes back Hussain Abdul-Hussain to discuss his new book, The Arab Case for Israel. Drawing on history, geopolitics, and his own personal journey from Iraq and Lebanon to Washington, D.C., Hussain argues that normalization with Israel is not only possible, but in the strategic interest of Arab states and societies. He explores how Iran's aggression has reshaped Gulf thinking, why Egypt and Jordan's "cold peace" has fallen short of its potential, and how the Abraham Accords offer a far more promising people-to-people model. The conversation also examines Lebanon's future, Saudi Arabia's calculations, Qatar's double game, and the roots of anti-Israel narratives in both Arab nationalism and political Islam. Along the way, Hussain reflects on culture, identity, and what it means to challenge deeply entrenched orthodoxies from within the Arab world. This is a candid, provocative, and deeply informed conversation about peace, modernity, and the changing Middle East.

IsraelCast host Steven Shalowitz speaks with Elie Klein, North American Director of Advancement and JNF-USA liaison for ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran, a groundbreaking rehabilitation village in Israel's South. Located near the Gaza border, this one-of-a-kind community provides residential care, education, and advanced medical rehabilitation for individuals with severe disabilities while fostering a model of true inclusion. Klein shares the powerful story behind the village's founding by Israeli hero Doron Almog, inspired by his son Eran, and how that vision became a 40-acre oasis dedicated to dignity, opportunity, and human potential. The conversation explores ADI's innovative programs, from inclusive education and employment to cutting-edge therapies and its state-of-the-art rehabilitation hospital serving the entire region. They also discuss the aftermath of October 7 and how ADI Negev has become a critical center for healing, supporting wounded soldiers, trauma survivors, and families while addressing Israel's growing rehabilitation needs. At its core, ADI Negev represents a powerful idea that no one is left behind and that a more compassionate, inclusive society is possible.

In this episode of IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz sits down with journalist and commentator Rolene Marks for a wide-ranging and timely conversation on Israel, South Africa, media, and modern antisemitism. Drawing on her background as a South African-born Israeli journalist, Marks offers sharp insight into the deteriorating relationship between South Africa and Israel, the political motivations behind Pretoria's hostility, and the broader international forces shaping anti-Israel narratives.

In this timely episode of IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz speaks with Iran expert Beni Sabti for a timely and deeply personal conversation recorded from near Tel Aviv in the midst of missile sirens and shelter runs. Sabti, born in Iran and now a leading researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, brings a rare lens shaped by lived experience under the Islamic Revolution and decades of work analyzing Iranian culture, propaganda, and regime behavior.

IsraelCast host Steven Shalowitz welcomes Amit Meir, CEO & Founder of Adam V'Adama, a Jewish National Fund-USA high school network launched with Hashomer HaChadash, another of the organization's affiliates, to strengthen Israeli agriculture and deepen young Israelis' connection to the land. Speaking from one of their campuses in Israel's South, Meir traces his journey from a farming family and an elite Israel Defense Forces Search & Rescue unit to building a bold alternative to traditional schooling—one rooted in responsibility, leadership, and Zionist purpose.

IsraelCast host Steven Shalowitz speaks with Jonathan Schanzer, executive director of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, about what FDD calls the "axis of aggressors" — China, Russia, and Iran — and how Iran's internal turmoil could reshape the Middle East. Schanzer describes Iran's long-running protest cycle, severe economic collapse, and the regime's vulnerability after major Israeli and U.S. strikes, then outlines three possible U.S. paths: renewed diplomacy, degrading Iran's military capabilities, or pursuing full regime decapitation. They discuss whether Iran's military will fire on its own people, and the regime's reliance on proxy forces. Schanzer explains Iran's global networks, including links through Venezuela and Hezbollah's illicit finance routes, and argues Iran's "axis of resistance" is unusually weakened. The conversation also covers shifting regional power dynamics, Saudi Arabia and the Abraham Accords (including Indonesia), concerns about Egypt and Jordan, and confusion over President Trump's "Board of Peace." They close on the value of history, anti-Semitism's recurring patterns, and Schanzer's book on Gaza as a warning sign.

Author Izabella Tabarovsky—a scholar of Soviet antizionism and contemporary antisemitism, writer, journalist, and the author of Be a Refusenik: A Jewish Student's Survival Guide—joins host Steven Shalowitz from her home in Jerusalem to explore the Soviet origins of modern anti-Zionism and why those ideas echo so loudly on campuses today. Born in 1970 and raised in the USSR, Tabarovsky recounts what it meant to live with state-sponsored "anti-Zionism" that functioned as a sophisticated system of discrimination against Jews, from schoolyard humiliation to university and career barriers.

In this episode of IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz sits down with acclaimed author and historian Uri Kaufman to unpack the ideas behind his powerful new book, American Intifada: Israel, the Gaza War and the New Antisemitism. Kaufman, whose previous work on the Yom Kippur War was named one of the Financial Times' best history books of the year, offers a sharp and thought-provoking analysis of why so much mainstream discourse about Israel has become detached from historical fact.

In this must listen episode of IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz sits down with Pastor Dumisani Washington—founder of the Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel—for a wide-ranging and deeply thoughtful conversation about faith, history, and moral clarity in turbulent times. Drawing on his personal journey, scholarship, and leadership, Pastor Washington explores the enduring bonds between the Black and Jewish communities, rooted in shared biblical narratives, lived struggle, and a profound connection to the land and people of Israel.

In this powerful episode of IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz sits down with Dr. Naya Lecht, a leading scholar, educator, and writer who is reshaping how we understand Zionism, Jewish identity, and today's wave of antizionism. Drawing on her background as a Soviet-born Jew and her PhD research on how the USSR erased Holocaust memory and reshaped Jewish identity, Naya explains why antizionism is not "just politics" but the newest form of Jew hatred—and how the slogans shouted on campuses and streets today were carefully engineered in Moscow decades ago. Naya and Steven explore why Zionism is not a political accessory but a core pillar of Jewish identity, alongside Torah and peoplehood, and how Jewish education has too often reduced it to a partisan issue instead of a birthright. Naya introduces her groundbreaking initiative, Stop Anti-Zionism, and its historic declaration naming anti-Zionism as today's antisemitism, as well as her podcast, Don't Know Much About, which unpacks history, geopolitics, and contemporary movements through an unapologetically pro-Israel lens.

In this powerful IsraelCast episode, host Steven Shalowitz speaks with Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi live from the Jewish National Fund-USA Conference in Hollywood, Florida. Davidi paints a vivid picture of Sderot—a resilient, diverse community just 700 meters from the Gaza border, long celebrated for its music and warmth but also burdened by decades of rocket fire. He shares the personal toll of life under constant threat, recalling how his own seven children have sprinted to shelters thousands of times with only seconds to spare.

At the Jewish National Fund-USA 2025 Global Conference, IsraelCast host Steven Shalowitz interviewed Australian journalist Erin Molan, who shared her transformation from sports anchor to global advocate for Israel and Western values. Deeply influenced by her late father, Major General Andrew Molan, Erin described how the reaction to Hamas's October 7 attacks compelled her to speak out against terrorism, despite severe backlash and death threats. She warned that the conflict extends beyond Israel, reflecting a broader struggle for democracy and moral clarity across the West. Molan condemned biased media coverage and rising antisemitism in Australia, calling for everyday people to speak truth and challenge misinformation. Reflecting on her visits to Israel, she praised Israelis' resilience and compassion, sharing moving encounters that reaffirmed her mission. Now hosting The Erin Molan Show on the Salem Network, she continues to champion Israel and the values her father taught her: "Even if it's hard, always do what's right."

Host Steven Shalowitz sits down with journalist and author Yaakov Katz to unpack While Israel Slept: How Hamas Surprised the Most Powerful Military in the Middle East. Katz argues that October 7 wasn't a "mystery failure," but the result of a long-running "policy of containment" (the concepcia): believing Hamas could be deterred, managed economically, and fenced in with tech like Iron Dome and border sensors. He walks us through the tense night of Oct. 6–7—alarms, contradictory intel, and warnings from female surveillance soldiers that were brushed aside—and explains why a visible show of force might have changed the next morning.

Host Steven Shalowitz speaks with veteran Israeli diplomat Shahar Azani in a special IsraelCast episode recorded on October 13, 2025—just hours after the final 20 hostages were released from Hamas captivity. Framing the moment as a “miracle” and the start of a long national healing, Azani underscores the medical, emotional, and spiritual recovery ahead for the freed hostages and for Israelis still processing the trauma of October 7. Azani credits the release to relentless IDF pressure combined with President Trump’s hard-edged diplomacy, which he says aligned the U.S., Israel, and key Arab states to isolate Hamas and weaken Iran. Looking forward, he argues that Gaza must be demilitarized and undergo sustained deradicalization, with reform of incitement-laden curricula—particularly in UNRWA schools—placed at the top of the diplomatic agenda. He and Steven also survey the resilience of the Abraham Accords, citing durable ties through the war and hinting at future breakthroughs with countries like Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and even Lebanon.

Host Steven Shalowitz speaks with former hostage Tal Shoham, who was abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7 and held in Gaza for 505 days. Tal recalls the terrifying moments of barricading with his family and ultimately surrendering to prevent a deadly attack—an instinct he later learned likely saved their lives. After an initial period of solitary confinement and transfers between apartments, he was moved underground, where he spent over eight months in tunnels.

Host Steven Shalowitz welcomes multi-hyphenate entertainer and podcaster Jonah Platt for a candid conversation about Jewish representation, advocacy, and dialogue in a polarized era. Platt argues that contemporary Jews are often flattened on screen—either as Holocaust victims, ultra-Orthodox stereotypes, or casual cultural references. He points to Shtisel and Fauda as refreshing because they tell compelling stories first, with characters who happen to be Jewish, which humanizes modern Jewish life.

Episode 233: In this eye-opening episode of IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz welcomes Shabbos Kestenbaum—student activist, writer, and lead plaintiff in a landmark lawsuit against Harvard University over pervasive antisemitism. Raised in an Orthodox Jewish family and having studied at Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem, Shabbos entered Harvard Divinity School expecting intellectual exchange but instead encountered systemic bias against Jews and Israel. From professors who excluded Israeli voices in the classroom to student groups blaming Israel after October 7th, his experiences exposed a troubling double standard in higher education.

Episode 232: In this insightful episode of IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz welcomes Dr. Asaf Romirowsky, Executive Director of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, to explore the challenging landscape of university campuses today. Dr. Romirowsky sheds light on how “cancel culture” has begun to restrict open debate—particularly around Israel—making it increasingly difficult for students and faculty to engage in nuanced discourse on Israel and the Middle East.

In this high-octane episode of IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz welcomes Alon Day, Israel’s trailblazing professional race car driver and four-time NASCAR Whelen Euro Series champion. Speaking from North Carolina, Day shares his dramatic journey from Israel to the American racetrack—literally sailing from Ashdod to Cyprus to escape closed airspace following Iranian attacks on Israel, all in pursuit of his dream to race in the U.S.

In this inspiring episode of IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz welcomes back Dr. Tsvi Sheleg, Deputy Director of the Galilee Medical Center (GMC), to discuss the groundbreaking innovations and unwavering resilience of Israel’s northernmost hospital. Broadcasting from just five miles south of the Lebanese border, Dr. Sheleg reveals how GMC transformed wartime challenges into opportunities for technological and humanitarian leadership. Dr. Sheleg—an accomplished ophthalmologist, medical administrator, and decorated Israel Defense Forces officer—shares how GMC’s underground, missile-proof facilities enabled continuous care during recent conflicts. He also spotlights the hospital’s innovation hub, “GMC Playground,” which has launched dozens of health-tech collaborations and startups, with support from Microsoft and Viz.ai. A vocal champion of diversity, Dr. Sheleg describes how Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze, and Circassians work side-by-side at GMC, treating soldiers and civilians alike—including over 3,000 wounded Syrians during their civil war. His call to action is clear: support Israel’s Galilee, where health-tech meets heart, and where healing transcends borders. Dr. Tsvi Sheleg, MD, MBA, serves as Deputy Director of the Galilee Medical Center, overseeing emergency preparedness and founding the hospital’s renowned Innovation Program. An ophthalmologist by training, he continues to perform cataract surgeries and was recognized for his leadership as COVID-19 project manager. A decorated IDF officer, Dr. Sheleg serves as medical director of the IDF Field Hospital and has led humanitarian missions to Haiti, Nepal, and Turkey. He earned his medical degree from Ben-Gurion University and an executive MBA from Tel Aviv University. Born in Tel Aviv, he lives in Mitzpe Hila with his wife and two children.