Democrats have won Congress. Now they have to show they can govern. They should limit investigations to the most serious abuses, work with Trump wherever he cooperates, and serve the whole nation rather than their party. With a new generation of leaders rising, how they use these two years will shape 2028 The Democrats’ sweep…
Trump cannot bomb Iran into a lasting peace. The real test of American strength is not the power to destroy, but the wisdom to negotiate. The choice is compromise—or a catastrophe that neither side can contain There is no durable military solution to the American-Israeli conflict with Iran. Bombs can destroy installations, but they cannot…
The election has opened a path away from Netanyahu’s disastrous rule. Israel’s opposition must now choose: build a Jewish-Arab governing partnership or risk surrendering the country’s future to the forces tearing it apart Israel stands at a historic crossroads. The government that emerges from this election will determine whether the country begins to repair its…
Israel’s next election will decide far more than who governs. It will help determine whether the country can reclaim its democratic foundations, restore its international standing, and fulfill its founding promise—or continue down a path that endangers the very future its leaders claim to defend Hardly any election in Israel’s history has carried such profound…
Among the most promising outcomes of the midterms is the emergence of young, qualified, energetic leaders. Their rise signals an opportunity for renewal: fresh ideas and a vision suited to a new generation’s challenges. These leaders must now turn promise into service that rebuilds trust and expands opportunity.
Today’s podcast guest is Hillel Schenker, co-editor of the Palestine-Israel Journal, a Jerusalem-based independent English-language quarterly that aims to shed light on, and analyze freely and critically, the complex issues dividing Israelis and Palestinians. He has written for The Nation, Los Angeles Times, L.A. Weekly, Tikkun, Israel Horizons, In These Times, the Israeli-Hebrew-language press and many other print and electronic outlets. He was an activist and co-founder of the Peace Now movement and has served for many years as spokesperson for the Israeli branch of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.
In this episode, we discuss the results of the recent Israeli elections—how Netanyahu’s coalition lost the elections, what the various options are for Eisenkot to form a new government, with either the support of the Arab or Haredi parties, and what actions a change government can make in regards toward Israeli-Palestinian peace and broader regional peace.
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Full bio
Hillel Schenker is co-editor of the Palestine-Israel Journal, a Jerusalem-based independent English-language quarterly, initiated and maintained by a group of prominent Israeli and Palestinian academics and journalists. It aims to shed light on, and analyze freely and critically, the complex issues dividing Israelis and Palestinians. Schenker served for 13 years as editor of New Outlook, the Israeli peace monthly founded in the spirit of Martin Buber’s philosophy of dialogue, that served as a vehicle for understanding Israeli-Arab affairs and as a catalyst for dialogue and initiatives for peace. He has written for The Nation, Los Angeles Times, L.A. Weekly, Tikkun, Israel Horizons, In These Times, the Israeli-Hebrew-language press and many other print and electronic outlets. He was an activist and co-founder of the Peace Now movement and has served for many years as spokesperson for the Israeli branch of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. He is an International Advisory Board member of the Global Majority center for non-violent conflict resolution based at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.
Of all the Trump administration’s cruelties, few are more appalling than detaining children—even one-year-olds—without their parents, then bringing them before judges without attorneys. Children too young to understand the proceedings are asked whether they will leave “voluntarily.” This is not immigration enforcement; it is cruelty inflicted on the defenseless.
Asked when the war with Iran would end, Trump answered, “When I decide to end it.” Imagine: a war disrupting the global economy and devastating lives across the Gulf and Israel rests on one president’s whim. When will Americans demand an immediate end to this war?
Poverty continues to deny millions of people their most basic rights. According to UN estimates, approximately 808 million people lived in extreme poverty in 2025, surviving on less than $3 a day. The UN Development Program’s 2026 report reveals that 1.2 billion people across 108 countries experience multidimensional poverty, lacking essential necessities such as adequate housing, sanitation, education, and healthcare. Among them are 617 million children. These figures expose a profound failure to protect human dignity. Governments cannot speak of progress while millions struggle simply to survive. Economic growth means little when its benefits fail to reach the most vulnerable. Ending poverty is not an act of charity. It is a fundamental human rights obligation.
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More than 1,000 people were killed in Haiti between July and September 2026, according to a new United Nations report. Armed gangs continue to terrorize communities, spreading violence far beyond Port-au-Prince and leaving civilians exposed to unimaginable suffering. These killings are not merely statistics. They represent families destroyed, communities displaced, and a population abandoned to relentless insecurity. The Haitian authorities, with sustained international support, must confront armed violence, protect civilians, and restore the rule of law. Military operations alone cannot resolve a crisis rooted in institutional collapse and impunity. Haiti cannot be allowed to become a country where violence replaces the rule of law and human life loses its value.
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Israel’s decision to ban Shawan Jabarin, director of Al-Haq, from international travel is another attempt to obstruct scrutiny of its human rights violations. The objective appears clear: intimidate those documenting abuses and prevent them from seeking international accountability. Rather than address allegations of violations of international law, the Israeli government is targeting those working to expose them. This is not about security; it is about suppressing criticism and avoiding accountability. Israel cannot claim to uphold democratic values while restricting fundamental freedoms. Silencing human rights defenders will not erase documented abuses. It will only deepen injustice and further undermine prospects for peace.
President Trump’s declaration that America no longer needs a deal with Iran, while ordering Vice President Vance to abandon his diplomatic efforts, is a dangerous miscalculation. After eight months of war, Trump appears to believe that military superiority and economic pressure can substitute for a political settlement.
But Iran remains defiant, regional security is fragile, and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Declaring that the US no longer needs an Iran deal does not ensure lasting peace. Trump must understand that economic pressure will not force Iran’s hand and it cannot deliver what diplomacy alone can achieve: a negotiated settlement that prevents another catastrophic regional war.
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Wise Trump is
Really? What diplomacy won WWII?
Uh, it isn't Iran... It is the IRGC... the ruling religious/political faction... And, yes, military force can be used to further diplomatic goals... Apply pressure until your adversary decides it wants to negotiate... See? That's how this works... If you have an ignorant hardheaded opponent, it'll take some time and pressure.
