Behind the polite smiles and diplomatic clichés, something far more dangerous is unfolding. As Israel weighs its next move against Iran’s ballistic missile threat, serious cracks are emerging between Jerusalem and Washington. In this episode of "Israel Undiplomatic", Mark Regev and Ruthie Blum cut through the speculation to ask the questions no one else will: Is the U.S. truly aligned with Israel’s security needs or drifting toward strategic illusions? And what, really, might be brewing behind closed doors ahead of a possible Trump-Netanyahu meeting?
Israel is on edge again as three political shockwaves collide: Itamar Ben‑Gvir ignites global outrage by wearing a yellow noose pin in the Knesset debate over the death penalty for terrorists; Hamas kingpin Khaled Mashaal resurfaces in Istanbul with a chilling vow to eliminate Israel and reject any Trump‑brokered plan; and President Trump prepares to host Prime Minister Netanyahu at Mar‑a‑Lago to force momentum on “Phase 2” of his Gaza blueprint.
Israel’s political earthquake is shaking the very foundations of its democracy. President Herzog is weighing a potential pardon for Prime Minister Netanyahu just as President Trump dramatically invites Bibi to the White House. Is this a presidential favor or a veiled ultimatum? Ruthie Blum and Mark Regev expose the legal chess match, deep-state power grabs and the media circus surrounding the most polarizing figure in Israeli politics. Will Netanyahu beat the system...or is the system too broken to fix? This episode of "Israel Undiplomatic" pulls no punches.
Hezbollah’s top military commander is dead and the clock is ticking. As the IDF braces for an inevitable retaliation, Israel drills, strikes and reshapes the northern front. But just as war brews in Lebanon, a shadow negotiation unfolds in Cairo, where Hamas still refuses to disarm and the second phase of Trump’s 20-point peace plan hangs in the balance. Meanwhile, UN peacekeepers sit idle, international mediators fumble and the same terror networks rise again. Mark Regev and Ruthie Blum break down why this is not the end, but possibly the beginning of something far more dangerous. The Middle East is shifting, and the next war could explode from any direction.
President Trump just dropped a geopolitical bombshell approving the sale of the stealth F-35 to Saudi Arabia, potentially shattering Israel's decades-long aerial supremacy. As Riyadh inches toward the Abraham Accords on the condition of Palestinian statehood, the stakes skyrocket. Mark Regev and Ruthie Blum dissect the consequences for Israel, the U.S. and the broader Middle East...questioning everything from Saudi trustworthiness to the future of peace and war in the region. Is normalization a strategic masterstroke or a mirage in the desert?
Mark Regev and Ruthie Blum unpack the explosive political, moral and strategic debate over Israel’s proposed death penalty for terrorists, a bill passed in its first reading just as Hadar Goldin’s body was returned after 11 years in Gaza. With Prime Minister Netanyahu’s backing and public support surging post-October 7th, the law may seem inevitable. But is it truly a deterrent, or just symbolic? The hosts wrestle with questions of justice vs. revenge, deterrence vs. diplomacy and whether executing terrorists prevents future kidnappings or fuels them. Alongside this, they explore the chilling dilemma of 200 Hamas terrorists reportedly trapped in a tunnel, the risks of a renewed regional war and the limits of peace in a Middle East still riddled with jihadist threats.*TO ENTER The Dream Raffle* Win a 1.2-million-dollar apartment in the heart of Jerusalem: https://shorturl.at/ujCk5
In this special episode of Israel Undiplomatic, Mark Regev and Ruthie Blum sit down with John Podhoretz, editor-in-chief of Commentary, to unpack what Zohran Mamdani’s election as New York City mayor signals for American Jewry, Israel and U.S. politics. They explore the “Corbynization” of the Democratic Party, the normalization of anti-Zionism in America’s most Jewish city and how bipartisan support for Israel is fraying, while warning that rising populist currents on both left and right could reshape U.S.–Israel relations. A timely, urgent conversation on what comes next for New York, American Jews and Israel.
IDF strikes in Gaza, Hamas ceasefire violations, hostage-remains scandal, and U.S.–Israel strategy—what’s next? On this week’s Israel undiplomatic, senior contributing editor at JNS Ruthie Blum and former Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom Mark Regev—both former advisers in the Prime Minister’s Office— unpack Israel’s retaliatory strikes after renewed Hamas attacks, staged “searches” before the Red Cross and the new calculus now that no live Israeli hostages remain in Gaza. They weigh whether the ceasefire is sliding into a war of attrition or setting the stage for Phase Two of the Trump plan—Hamas disarmament and an end to its rule—while assessing U.S. backing from President Trump and Vice President JD Vance, Washington’s leverage over Qatar and Turkey, and the balance between deterrence, limited incursions and diplomatic pressure to force the return of remains and prevent Hamas rearmament.
Senior contributing editor at JNS Ruthie Blum and former Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom Mark Regev—both former advisers in the Prime Minister’s Office—take on the most pressing geopolitical questions surrounding the Trump-brokered ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages, and whether a renewed war with Hamas is inevitable.
What makes the new Gaza peace plan different from all previous peace plans? In this week’s episode of “Israel Undiplomatic,” senior contributing editor at JNS Ruthie Blum and former Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom Mark Regev—both former advisers in the Prime Minister’s Office—analyze President Donald Trump’s bold new peace initiative, the release of the final Israeli hostages and the reactions across Israel’s political spectrum. Most importantly, they reveal what makes the peace plan that freed the last remaining living hostages in Gaza this past Monday fundamentally different from all previous Middle East peace efforts. Blum and Regev then explore how Trump’s coordination with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israeli envoy Ron Dermer shaped the plan from the inside, and how Trump’s unconventional pressure tactics on Qatar, Turkey and other Arab states made compliance possible. Finally, this episode wouldn’t be complete without covering the most talked-about moment of the week: Trump’s monumental Knesset address. They examine his powerful message of “peace through strength,” his open defense of Israel’s right to finish the war and his stunning declaration that the Oct. 7 attacks would never have happened if he were still president.
As Hamas plays games and President Trump’s 72-hour ultimatum expires, what happens next? On this episode of “Israel Undiplomatic,” senior contributing editor at JNS Ruthie Blum and former Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom Mark Regev—both former advisers in the Prime Minister’s Office—unpack the uncertainty surrounding hostage negotiations and the implications of Trump's latest Gaza peace plan.
President Donald Trump has unveiled a sweeping 21-point plan to finally end the Gaza war, free Israeli hostages and dismantle Hamas once and for all, but as he prepares to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, serious questions loom over the hidden costs and dangerous concessions this deal may demand. In this week’s episode of Israel Undiplomatic, former Israeli Ambassador to the U.K. Mark Regev and JNS senior contributing editor Ruthie Blum break down the details, risks and possible rewards of Trump’s bold diplomatic move.
In this episode of “Israel Undiplomatic,” former Israeli Ambassador to the UK Mark Regev and senior JNS editor Ruthie Blum—both former advisers at the Prime Minister’s Office— break down Israel’s dramatic ground incursion into Gaza City, Hamas’s last stronghold. With Israeli forces advancing, civilians fleeing and Hamas reportedly firing on its own people to keep them in place, the war enters a deadly and decisive phase. At the same time, the diplomatic front is just as volatile. Following controversy over Israel’s covert strike on Hamas leaders in Doha, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio arrives in Israel to signal strong American support. His visit includes a symbolic moment at the Western Wall with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Ambassador Mike Huckabee, and a sharp rebuke of Hamas’ hostage tactics. Regev and Blum dig into the geopolitical fallout: Is the U.S.-Israel alliance as strong as ever or are cracks beginning to show? What message did the Qatar strike send to terrorist sponsors worldwide? And is the West, especially leftist governments and media, fueling extremism through appeasement? This episode also explores the ideological battle raging in Western universities and media, the manipulation of Palestinian victimhood and the global spread of Islamist propaganda bankrolled by Qatar. From Gaza to DC to Doha, this is a war of weapons and narratives, and Regev and Blum expose both. With hostages still in peril, Hamas on the brink and world powers watching, the only question that remains is: Will Israel finish the job?
In this episode, we break down the shocking assassination of Hamas leadership in Qatar and what it means for the future of the war in Gaza. Hamas believed they were untouchable in Doha, but this strike proves otherwise—sending shockwaves through the region and raising serious questions about what comes next. Could this killing trigger Hamas to retaliate, disrupt hostage negotiations, or accelerate Israel’s plans for the final phase of the war? We explore how this operation exposes Hamas’s growing vulnerability and why it could mark a decisive turning point in the conflict.
The U.S. just blocked Mahmoud Abbas from the global stage. What does this mean for Israel, Hamas, and the global PR war? In this episode of “Israel Undiplomatic,” senior contributing editor at JNS Ruthie Blum and former Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom Mark Regev, both former advisers in the Prime Minister’s Office, break down the high-stakes developments shaking international diplomacy. Just days before the UN General Assembly, the U.S. State Department revoked visas for Mahmoud Abbas and the entire Palestinian Authority delegation, denying them the chance to be celebrated on the world stage. At the same time, former President Donald Trump warned that while Israel is winning the war militarily, it is losing the information war. He urged the country to finish the job quickly. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu has mobilized thousands of IDF reservists for what could be the final offensive to dismantle Hamas’s last stronghold in Gaza City. Are these events unrelated, or part of a coordinated shift in global messaging? From virtue signaling at the UN to how the terms settler and occupation are manipulated to undermine Israel, Blum and Regev dissect the narratives shaping public perception. They expose international double standards, European hypocrisy and the dangerous myths being pushed by both foreign powers and domestic critics.
In this episode, we expose the lies surrounding journalists in Gaza and how the media twists the truth while covering for Hamas. Meanwhile, Netanyahu faces growing pressure from hostage families and nationwide protests demanding action to bring their loved ones home. At the same time, Trump signals the war may soon be over and prepares plans to end it—raising the question: will Israel emerge stronger, or will the pressure from within and abroad break its resolve? This episode is sponsored by the American Technion Society: https://ats.org/impact/israels-security/
Will Israel achieve total victory in Gaza and bring every hostage home, or will another shaky deal derail the war? This episode it sponsored by the American Technion Society: https://ats.org/impact/israels-security/ This episode explores the growing divide inside Israel’s leadership: Prime Minister Netanyahu insists on a full takeover of Gaza City and total victory over Hamas, but opposition voices are pushing for a deal that risks leaving Hamas in power. Senior contributing editor at JNS Ruthie Blum and former Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom Mark Regev—both former advisers in the Prime Minister’s Office— examine President Donald Trump’s latest declaration that Netanyahu is a “war hero” and his insistence that only Hamas’s defeat can secure the hostages’ release. The discussion also turns to international tensions. Europe and Australia are fueling Hamas’s defiance with premature calls for Palestinian statehood and recognition. The shocking decision by Australia to ban Israeli MK Simcha Rothman sparks a diplomatic firestorm as antisemitic attacks spike against Australia’s Jewish community. Regev and Blum also analyze how global actors, from Egypt and Qatar to European governments, are undermining Israel while claiming to act as mediators.
In this episode, we cut through the noise and expose one of the biggest lies being pushed about the war in Gaza—that Israel is deliberately starving Palestinians. The truth is far different. The evidence is clear: Hamas is hijacking humanitarian aid, controlling distribution, and using food as a weapon against its own people. Yet global media outlets, along with their “useful idiots,” rush to amplify the false narrative before Israel even has a chance to respond. This isn’t just misinformation—it’s deliberate manipulation designed to turn world opinion against Israel. We break down how this narrative war is being waged, why it’s so effective, and what Israel must do to take control of the conversation. The battle on the ground is only half the fight; the war for truth is just as critical. From media bias to strategic messaging, we reveal the steps Israel needs to win not just in Gaza, but in the court of global opinion.
In this episode, we dive into the growing rumors that Israel may move to annex Gaza after Hamas is dismantled—and what that could mean for the region. With Hamas rejecting yet another hostage deal, it’s becoming increasingly clear that they’re not interested in peace, only prolonging the conflict. Meanwhile, inside Israel, the conversation is shifting from short-term war tactics to long-term strategy. Is Gaza about to be reshaped forever? We unpack the latest developments, the political implications, and the silence in the media surrounding what could be a historic turning point.