The Honest Report

In January 2019,  during a town hall-style meeting in St. Catharines, Ontario, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blasted the BDS (Boycott Divestment Sanctions) movement as antisemitic, and said it ran contrary to "Canadian values." While Canada has been a vocal opponent of antisemitism in general and movements like BDS in particular, having been one of the first countries to adopt the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) working definition of antisemitism, can more be done? To help stop the scourge of Jew-hatred, what other efforts and methods can be used in this fight to protect and advocate for Canada's Jewish population? In this week's podcast, we sit down with Member of Parliament Anthony Housefather, who represents the Montreal riding of Mount Royal, one of the country's most heavily Jewish constituencies. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

In recent years, Israel has celebrated a number of high-profile peace agreements with Arab and Islamic countries in the Middle East and Africa, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Morocco, Sudan, and others. And while these normalization agreements have been widely celebrated in Israel, they don't provide a complete picture of what's happening beneath the surface regarding relations between the Jewish State and countries in the Middle East and beyond. What kind of relations does Israel enjoy with other Islamic countries, and why are some of them holding back from expanding or otherwise formalizing ties? In this week's podcast, we sit down with Joshua Krasna. Joshua is an Israel-based researcher, commentator, and teacher specializing in strategic studies, intelligence studies, and international politics of the Middle East, the Arab World, and Israel. He serves as the Director, of the Center for Emerging Energy Politics in the Middle East; a political and strategic analyst at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

Antisemitism has been called the world's oldest hatred. But that doesn't mean there aren't modern tools available for combatting it. In Canada, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism has been accepted by the federal government, as well as a number of provinces and municipalities as well. But is simply adopting the definition sufficient for combatting antisemitism, or can more be done? In this week's episode, we sit down with Melissa Lantsman. Melissa is the federal Member of Parliament for the riding of Thornhill and the Deputy Leader of The Conservative Party of Canada, and she joins us to discuss the role that elected officials can play in helping to utilize IHRA and other tools in the fight against antisemitism. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

The nefarious activities of Iran's theocratic leadership are well known, from funding Islamist terrorist activity in the Middle East and beyond to brutally suppressing dissent within its own borders. But lesser-known is the details of the Islamic Republic's nuclear ambitions. While global negotiations over Iran's nuclear program are frequently in the news, the details are often less clear, including how much progress Tehran is making, how experts know it is developing weapons, rather than nuclear power, and how long will it take Iran on its current course to develop weapons potentially? In this week's podcast, we sit down with Tzvi Kahn, Research Fellow, and Senior Editor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to help simplify some of the often complex answers around these questions. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. 

Ken Timmerman is an author and former foreign correspondent who was once held captive by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1982 during the First Lebanon War. He's also worked as a journalist in Egypt and Iraq. His newest book, "And the Rest is History, Tales of Hostages, Arms Dealers, Dirty Tricks and Spies", is a biographical account of his experiences as a war correspondent in the Middle East. In this week's episode of The Honest Report, we sit down with Ken to discuss his own experiences, as well as his perspective on how journalism, and in particular war journalism in the Middle East, has changed in the last 40 years. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

While the BDS (Boycott Divestment Sanctions) movement portrays itself as a grassroots campaign using legal means to combat alleged Israeli crimes, at its core, the movement is radically different. In addition to spreading anti-Israel disinformation, BDS campaigners also frequently use tools of discrimination in their attempt to demonize the Jewish State. While these efforts can take place anywhere, college and university campuses, as well as inside the halls of government, are frequent targets for this battleground aimed at delegitimizing Israel. In the face of these campaigns, many pro-Israel efforts have been launched in response, including the use of legal means. In this week's podcast, we sit down with Ron Machol, the Israel-based Chief Operating Officer of Zachor Legal Institute. Ron has a hi-tech background and is responsible for project development and outreach at the organization. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

Antisemitism, often called history's oldest hatred, has a habit of reinventing itself in order to stay a powerful force. In contemporary times, antisemitism has often hidden behind a veneer of anti-Zionism, but its core anti-Jewish nature has not changed. Despite antisemitism's changing face, only with continuing ignorance can it be given oxygen, and that's where an innovative and interactive new exhibit, soon to be launched across Canada, will add a unique voice. In this week's podcast, we sit down with Sam Eskenasi. Sam is the Director of Advocacy for La'ad Canada, a non-profit advocacy organization taking a different approach when it comes to educating the general public about Israel and the Jewish People.

The claim that Israel is an illegal occupier of Palestinian land is arguably the most common allegation made against the Jewish State. This broadside, disseminated by anti-Israel activists, positions Israel as having no legitimate basis in international law. But beyond the rhetoric, does international law back up this statement, or does Israel possess legal rights to the land in question, including Judea & Samaria (often called the West Bank). To help answer this question, HonestReporting Canada is joined by Avi Bell, Professor of Law at Bar Ilan University, who has extensive experience in writing and lecturing on this topic. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

In some respects, the Middle East is changing so quickly for the better, it can be difficult to keep track. Israel’s relationships with a growing number of Muslim-majority countries, for example, is a relatively recent trend, but one where more promise exists. But in other ways, things in the Middle East seem to be staying the same, or getting worse. Incitement from the Palestinian Authority (PA) and attempts to erase Jewish history from the region continue unabated. Criticism from the United States and European Union, focusing on Israel’s security decisions, has become only more pointed recently. Despite Israel’s economic success, why have some Western powers become increasingly emboldened to repeatedly attack Israel’s security decisions, while saying precious little about the Palestinian Authority? Our guest on this week’s podcast is David Weinberg. David is a columnist with the Jerusalem Post who has held a series of public positions, including senior advisor to deputy prime minister Natan Sharansky and coordinator of the Global Forum Against Anti-Semitism in the Prime Minister's Office; spokesman of Bar-Ilan University, and many other roles, who will help shine light on what is spurring on this trend of Western criticism, and how the new Israeli government may respond. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

On the evening of January 14, tens of thousands of Israelis – by some estimates, more than 80,000, or nearly one percent of Israel’s entire population – gathered in Tel Aviv to protest a move by the new government, criticizing what they called an attack on Israeli democracy. Similar protests were held in Haifa and Jerusalem. While news media outlets reported on the attempts by the new government to “overhaul the judiciary,” what are the facts beyond the headlines? To help us make sense out of this complex issue, we are joined in this week’s podcast by Barry Shaw. Barry is the Senior Associate for Public Diplomacy at the Israel Institute for Strategic Studies and hosts a weekly interview program, The View from Israel. Barry joins us to also shine a light on the other strategic challenges facing the Jewish State in 2023, including the Iranian nuclear threat, but also a possible role for Israel in helping to negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

The ongoing issue of Palestinian incitement against Israel and Jews, in general, has long been an obstacle to peace between Israel and the Palestinians. In territories under the Palestinian Authority (PA), to say nothing of Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip, Israel is frequently and widely demonized and delegitimized as a Jewish state, and general and overt antisemitism is used as a means to attack Israel. This messaging, often coming from official Palestinian Authority outlets, is significantly at odds with the public persona put forward by PA President Mahmoud Abbas to global audiences, which is pro-peace. And if you've ever seen an Arabic-language video of a Palestinian representative being candid and less than diplomatic in speaking about Israel or Jews, there's a good chance it was from MEMRI. MEMRI, or the Middle East Media Research Institute, is a nonprofit press monitoring and analysis organization that provides translation of media outlets from a number of languages, including Arabic. MEMRI's deputy director, Elliot Zweig, is our guest on this week's podcast. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

Two months after Israelis voted in their fifth election in three years, Israel has a new government - of sorts. Though Benjamin Netanyahu is back as Israel's prime minister, the composition of the new governing coalition is different than what it's been in the past, and some new members of the government, as a result of their right-leaning politics, have attracted a lot of criticism from the news media and elsewhere. But how much of the criticism of Israel's government is accurate, and how much is simply a relic of knee-jerk anti-Israel sentiment? To help separate fact from fiction, our guest on this week's podcast is Lahav Harkov. Lahav is the Senior Contributing Editor and Diplomatic Correspondent of The Jerusalem Post, and is well-connected to the country's top lawmakers and diplomats. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

For years, news media outlets have covered the topic of small Jewish outposts built in Judea & Samaria (West Bank), which Israeli law considers illegal. But these outposts, despite the media attention paid to them, pale in number compared to Palestinian outposts, built in part due to funds from the Palestinian Authority. According to Regavim, an Israeli organization which monitors such activity, there have been 80,000 such Palestinian structures built on this land since 2009, but it garners virtually no media attention. Our guest this week is Naomi Kahn, the Director of Regavim's International Division, who shares with us her organization's work in monitoring this construction, why the Israeli government has permitted such construction to take place for so many years, and how the incoming Knesset may potentially change this pattern. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

There's more attention than ever before being paid to Israel's diplomatic relations with Arab & Muslim-majority countries. Due to the Abraham Accords, Israel's relations with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have attracted headlines, but also other states like Morocco, Sudan, Kosovo, and others. But Azerbaijan, for its part, has not garnered as much media coverage, despite 30 years of ties between Azerbaijan and Israel. Home to as many as 30,000 Jews, Azerbaijan is located in Central Asia and finds itself sandwiched between Russia to the north, Turkey to the west, and Iran to the south. So what does Jewish life - and relations with Israel - mean to this country of 10 million people? In this week's podcast, we sit down with Dave Gordon. Dave is a freelance journalist and editor who recently traveled to Azerbaijan on a Jewish fact-finding mission, and he's joining us today with his findings. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

If Israel is the start-up nation of the world, then Tel Aviv is the beating heart of that start-up nation. But what is it about Tel Aviv, the cultural and economic capital of Israel, that makes it such a mecca for investment, innovation, and ingenuity? And what lessons can Tel Aviv teach the rest of Israel about what it means to share positive publicity with the rest of the world? In this week’s podcast, we sit down with Eytan Schwartz. Eytan is perhaps best known in Israel as being the winner of the first season of "The Ambassador," a popular Israeli reality Television program that focused on improving Israel’s image. He has served as  head of Media & Tourism at the Tel Aviv Municipality, as well as the CEO of Tel Aviv Global – an initiative aimed at promoting Tel Aviv as an international center of innovation Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

Given Qatar’s support for Hamas terrorism against Israel, its creation of Al Jazeera as a propaganda arm, and its brutal treatment of its foreign workers, critics have questioned how the country was able to secure such a high-profile tournament. But after the games conclude, the questions will remain: will being awarded the World Cup enable its extremism, or will it help to moderate the oil-rich kingdom? For his perspective on this, we are joined on this week’s podcast by Tal Brody. Tal is an Israeli former professional basketball player and current goodwill ambassador of Israel. Brody was drafted in the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft but chose to pass up an NBA career, to instead play basketball in Israel. Today, Tal is a sought-after speaker in the world of Israel and sport. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

In the summer of 2006, Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based Shia Islamist terrorist group, engaged in an armed conflict which lasted 34 days and killed more than 100 Israelis. News reports widely called the conflict a stalemate, with no clear winner. Sixteen years later, Hezbollah is just as devoted to Israel's destruction as it ever was, but now its capabilities are far greater than ever before. But how much of a threat to Israel's security is Hezbollah? Does the group really possess the ability to attack and invade Israel - and hold Israeli territory, as it's claimed to be able to do - or is the real danger far less acute? In this week's podcast, we sit down with Sarit Zehavi, the founder & president of the Alma Research & Education Center. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. 

It's hardly news that Israel is in a tough neighbourhood, with Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon on the Jewish State's doorstep, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, a menacing regime looking to develop nuclear weapons, wields significant influence across the region. But the Russian-Ukrainian war raging in Europe is also now impacting Israel directly, specifically the country's ability to operate against Iranian threats in Syria. What do all these changing dynamics mean for Israel? In this week's podcast, we sit down with Brian Hay. Brian is the President of the Mackenzie Institute for the Study of Terror, Propaganda, and Social Instability, an independent and non-partisan think tank in Toronto.

When it comes to combatting anti-Israel and anti-Jewish discrimination, using the law has been an increasingly popular tool used by pro-Israel advocates. But behind the headlines, how has pro-Israel lawfare changed in recent years, and how have anti-Israel activists been using the same laws to push anti-Israel disinformation? In this week's podcast, we sit down with Aaron Rosenberg for his in-depth analysis. Aaron is a partner at RE-LAW LLP, a Toronto law firm, where he specializes in employment and human rights law. Aaron has been actively involved in a number of cases in recent years and offers a very rare insight into both the strategies and tactics used on both sides. Aaron is a civil rights advocate devoted to the defense of civil rights, the pursuit of social justice, and mobilizing communities toward positive change. His advocacy work has inspired changes to legislation and has improved conditions for vulnerable groups in the workplace. Aaron's work has been featured in national media, including the CBC, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, and the National Post. Welcome to The Honest Report.

In 1897, the First Zionist Congress was held in a seaside resort in the city of Basel, Switzerland. Led by journalist Theodore Herzl, the conference helped kick off the Zionist Organization, and the Zionist movement in general. Now, 125 years later, Herzl's dream has come true. The State of Israel is alive and well, and in fact thriving, though by no means is it without challenges, many of them serious. So what would Herzl think of today's Israel? Surely he would be proud of the country, but what challenges would still be keeping him up at night, and what issues would he still be driven to address? In this week's podcast, we sit down with Professor Gil Troy. Professor Troy is an author and noted historian who has written extensively about Theodore Herzl and the Zionist movement, from Herzl until today. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

Recent years have shown the tremendous economic growth that has blossomed as a result of peace deals between Israel and a number of Arab states, including Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). But what about Israel and the Palestinians? Despite the absence of a peace deal, millions of Israelis and Palestinians live in very close proximity to one another, and helping them to work together can make everyone's lives better. That's what Avi Zimmerman is trying to achieve. Zimmerman is an entrepreneur serving as the President of the Judea Samaria Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and is also CEO at Integrated Business Roundtable, which brings together Jews and Arabs who live in Judea & Samaria - often called the West Bank - to work together, invest together, and help improve the quality of living for everyone. And while efforts like Zimmerman's aren't always what the news media takes note of, he's nevertheless making significant changes on the ground. Avi is our guest this week. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

On Tuesday, November 1, Israelis will be heading to the polls – again. In fact, it will be the fifth election in only three years. How did Israeli politics get to be this state, what does the future hold for Benjamin Netanyahu – called King Bibi for his longevity in Israeli politics – and what are the major issues at play? In this week’s episode of The Honest Report, we sit down with Ruthie Blum. Ruthie is a Jerusalem-based columnist for the Jerusalem Post, among other publications, and she shares with us her perspectives on what this Israeli election is about, what Israelis are concerned about, and what she sees as being the likeliest outcome of the vote next week. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

Hamas, the Gaza-based Islamist terrorist group, has been a longtime recipient of funds from the government of Qatar, the oil-rich gulf kingdom. In fact, Khaled Mashaal, the leader of Hamas, is currently in exile in the kingdom, where he can direct the Islamist group’s actions far away from harm. But the Qatari government’s focus on Israel does not end with funding Hamas; that’s only the tip of the iceberg. The kingdom also invests in the Middle Eastern departments of Western universities, helping to spread its ideology into the minds of the next generation on campuses. In this episode of The Honest Report, we sit down with Gregg Roman, Director of the Middle East Forum, for his thoughts on the Qatari investment in universities and its implications, as well as a new initiative called the Israel Victory Project which seeks to convince anti-Israel actors that seeking to destroy the Jewish State is a hopeless endeavour. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

In 1995, an organization was born at the Edith Wolfson Medical Centre near Tel Aviv. It aimed to provide top-tier heart surgery to as many needy children from around the world as possible, all at no cost. In the 37 years since, Save a Child’s Heart has operated on thousands of children, saving countless lives in the process. But what makes the organization’s work especially noteworthy is that many of the children come from countries and regions with whom Israel has no diplomatic relations, including Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. As such, Save a Child’s Heart has become more than a humanitarian organization; it’s become somewhat of a symbol of the Jewish State at large – extending a helping hand around the world. In this week’s episode of The Honest Report, we sit down with Tamar Shapira, Deputy Executive Director of Save a Child’s Heart, for her behind-the-scenes sharing of the remarkable stories from this microcosm of Israel. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

One of the most widespread anti-Israel claims made is that the Jewish State is nothing more than a Western colonialist implant, forced onto the Palestinians. This allegation is partially based on the misunderstanding that the majority of Israeli Jews are of white European descent. And while many Israelis do have ancestry in Europe, Israel is in reality much more diverse – with the majority of Israelis now being of Middle Eastern descent, and showcasing the ethnic diversity of Israelis can be an important step in helping to dispel this falsehood. Our guest this week takes that mission seriously. Amy Albertson is a Chinese Jewish advocate and educator who through online activism, public speaking, and workshops, both empowers young Jews to reclaim their identity and dispel anti-Israel misinformation. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

Few people know the consequences of antisemitism and anti-Israel hatred more than Judea Pearl. His son Daniel was a journalist for the Wall Street Journal newspaper, working in Pakistan, when he was kidnapped and murdered by Al Qaeda in 2002. In his last moments, Daniel was forced by his captors to say on camera "My father is Jewish, my mother is Jewish, I am Jewish," showing the world the brutal face of antisemitism. In this week's podcast, we sit down with Daniel's father Dr. Judea Pearl, a respected computer science professor, for his personal reflections as well as wider perspectives about the state of anti-Israel propaganda and antisemitism in the world today. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast

Across North American colleges and universities, anti-Israel activists spread disinformation about the Jewish State. Whether by professors in the classroom or via BDS (Boycott Divestment Sanctions) resolutions, or Israel Apartheid Week programs, Israel is a favourite target at institutions of higher learning. But why is Israel uniquely targeted, and what can be done to ensure accuracy and truth beats out falsehoods? In this week's podcast, we sit down with Richard Cravatts, President Emeritus, of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, for his insights and perspective. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

Jerusalem is an ancient city, having been founded by King David three thousand years ago as the eternal capital of the Jewish people. Over the successive centuries and millennia, the city was invaded and occupied by a parade of foreign armies, ranging from the Babylonians to the Greeks, Romans to the Crusaders, Saracen Arabs to the Ottomans, and more. Today, contemporary Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, the world’s only Jewish State, and peoples of all faiths and backgrounds can enjoy equal rights and freedoms in the holy city. But in a city like Jerusalem, ancient history is never really that far away. In fact, it’s everywhere – in the walls, and even under the ground. In this week’s podcast, we sit down with Andrew Lawler. Andrew is the author of Under Jerusalem: The Buried History of the World's Most Contested City, and we chat with Andrew about the fascinating hidden history of the holy city. Even though anti-Israel disinformation claiming that Israel has no history in Jerusalem may be rife, the truth hasn’t changed. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

Despite Israel being stronger and more stable than it has ever been, the Middle East nevertheless presents many threats to the Jewish State. Perhaps the two biggest challenges facing the country today are the Iranian nuclear threat, and the conflict with the Palestinians. World powers appear close to an agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran over a new proposed nuclear deal, which, if media reports are accurate, may be no better than the 2015 one as far as Israel is concerned. And as for the peace process, Israel’s peace partner, Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, revealed his true self recently when he refused to condemn the 1972 Munich massacre of Israeli athletes, and instead accused Israel of committing 50 Holocausts. So what does all this mean for Israel – a country of prosperity and stability, but still facing very real threats? In this week’s podcast, we sit down with William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, a Washington, DC-based umbrella organization representing many smaller Jewish groups. Daroff is a widely regarded commentator on Israeli affairs.

By now, the statistics are widely known. Israel, despite having a population roughly equivalent to Quebec - or about one in 900 of the world - represents a majority of country-specific condemnations in the United Nations. Not Iran, Syria, North Korea, or Saudi Arabia, but tiny Israel seems to always bear the brunt of the world's misplaced ire. How is this possible? Israel is a vibrant democratic state, and despite its imperfections, it remains a bastion of free expression, particularly in contrast to the rest of the Middle East. In this week's podcast, we sit down for a fascinating discussion with Rabbi Ken Spiro. Rabbi Spiro is a world-renowned educator and guide for decades, both in Israel and throughout the Diaspora. No matter your views - secular or religious - for a large part of the world, Israel clearly has a target on its back and asking why is a critically important question. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

There are only a few topics of conversation which can cause as much divisiveness and disagreement as Israel. So how and why did Israel become the “boogeyman of polite conversation” in much of global discourse, particularly given the country's relevance in the world of technology and global economics? Equally importantly, how much of a threat is BDS, the Boycott Divestment Sanctions movement, to Israel? Or, are anti-Israel campaigns like BDS a larger threat to Jewish security in the Diaspora? In this week’s podcast, we sit down with Aviva Klompas, for her insights and perspectives. Aviva is Co-Founder of Boundless Israel, a new think-action tank partnering with community leaders to revitalize Israel education and take bold collective action to combat Jew-hatred Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

In the wake of Israel's recent armed conflict with Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the Gaza-based Islamist terrorist group, the Jewish State has once again faced accusations of excessive force relating to its conduct. But beyond the often hyperbolic headlines, Israel's practices in conflict are widely seen in military circles as representing among the highest levels of morality seen anywhere in the world. To help us understand more, in this week's edition of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Sgt. Benjamin Anthony, Co-Founder, and CEO of The MirYam Institute. Sgt. Anthony is a widely sought-after speaker around the world, known for his breadth of knowledge relating to Israel's conduct in wartime. Most notably, Sgt. Anthony is a veteran of the Second Lebanon War in 2006, Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012, and Operation Protective Edge in 2014. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast.

Given the continued failure of the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement to effect grievous economic harm on the Jewish State, anti-Israel activists have pivoted in recent years to using international legal outlets to attack and defame the country. In addition to using legal forums like The Hague and the International Criminal Court (ICC), these activists have also used rhetoric to help push their advances. By continuing to repeat misinformation such as that Israel is in defiance of international law, the Jewish State's reputational in international fora has been attacked. Our guest this week, Yifa Segal, knows all about these efforts by anti-Israel activists and has helped to effectively fight back. As the former Director of the International Legal Forum, and as the current International Director of UK Lawyers for Israel, Yifa has helped to innovate Israel's effective response to these lawfare efforts. Yifa is an internationally renowned speaker and expert on lawfare. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.

Unfortunately, Israel is no stranger to terrorist attacks. Whether suicide bombings, stabbings, or car rammings, for many decades, Israelis have become accustomed to living in an environment of additional sensitivity to their surroundings. These attacks, whether perpetrated by "lone wolf" attackers or from Islamist groups like Hamas or Islamic Jihad, have killed and injured scores of Israelis, with the additional aim of striking fear into the heart of Israel. But Israel has found remarkable success in fighting back against Palestinian terrorism, in large part through intelligence, technology, and resourcefulness, even if that story doesn't get told very much in the news media. Our guest this week, Steve Gar, has been called Israel's Jack Bauer (from the television show 24) and is a first responder to terrorist attacks. Steve is an elite counter-terrorism operative and an internationally renowned speaker. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast.

When it comes to reporting on Jewish communities in Judea & Samaria, nuance isn’t exactly something often seen in the news media. Whether disdainfully referring to them as illegal Jewish settlements, or claiming that their existence violates international law, or even that they are the single biggest obstacle to peace between Israelis and Palestinians, it can be hard to separate truth from fiction and to try and understand the reality of these communities. Our guest this week will be sharing a unique viewpoint not often seen in the news media: that these Jewish communities are not only not obstacles to peace, but in fact may be very much the opposite. Since arriving on Aliyah from the United States in 2002, Josh Hasten has been at the forefront of Israel’s public diplomacy efforts. Josh is currently the International Spokesperson for Gush Etzion. He is also the host of the weekly radio program “Israel Uncensored." Josh is also a well-known award-winning freelance journalist. He is also a sought-after guest for television interviews on current events in Israel, having appeared on CNN, BBC, Sky News, and more. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast.

On June 11, 2003, Sarri Singer was heading to a restaurant in Jerusalem to meet friends for dinner. In her 20s, she was an American volunteering in Israel. But while taking the bus to the restaurant, a Palestinian suicide bomber exploded his vest, killing himself and 17 other innocent civilians. Sarri was injured, but she survived. Tragically, all those around her on the bus did not survive. After her recovery, Sarri turned her experience into an opportunity to help other victims of terrorism and founded Strength to Strength, an organization dedicated to assisting survivors of terrorism, who are often overlooked. In this week's episode of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Sarri to discuss her experience as a victim of a suicide bombing, and how lives continue to be impacted by senseless terrorism.

Israel may not often get a fair shake in the news media, but what's the cause - and the solution? Is the problem inherent bias on the part of journalists, is it a more sophisticated messaging on the part of anti-Israel activists, or is the complexity of the conflict that makes Israel inevitably have a more challenging time? Few individuals know the truth better than Avi Mayer. Mayer has served as the Senior Spokesperson for the American Jewish Committee, the international spokesman of The Jewish Agency for Israel, as well as a foreign media liaison for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). In this week's episode of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Avi Mayer to discuss the reality of today's journalists in Israel, why coverage of the Jewish State looks like it does, and what can be done to ensure the truth about Israel gets more airtime and coverage in the future.

If you were told the word "Italy," what words come to mind? Pasta, beautiful, or cobblestones perhaps? If you were told the word China, perhaps you'd think of The Great Wall, The Yangtze River, or Chinese food. But when people think of Israel, what words come to mind? Even among Jews, Israel is often associated with anti-Israel disinformation. How did anti-Israel groups brand Israel so successfully, and what should be Israel's brand in return? Hi-tech, cherry tomatoes, or something else? In this week's episode of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Itzik Yarkoni, founder of BOMAH (Brand of Milk & Honey) for his take on what branding means, and how Israel's opponents have been successful, and how he thinks Israel should brand itself.

Perhaps you've heard the point made before that Jews, far from being illegal occupiers in the land of Israel, are in fact indigenous to the region. But what exactly does indigenous mean, and can the Jewish claim to Israel really hold up to that kind of claim? Ryan Bellerose certainly knows. As a Metis from Alberta, he has become one of the world's pre-eminent activists on behalf of Israel and Jewish claims to Israel and has lectured widely on Jewish indigenous rights. In this week’s episode of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Ryan for a refresher on how to understand the concept of indigeneity, and why it's so critical for the next generation of Jews and non-Jews alike to understand how the Jewish People's history in Israel can't be understood without it.

Day in and day out, anti-Israel activists, whether on campus, on social media, or on the pages of daily newspapers, seek to defame Israel. And it seems that despite the herculean efforts of the Jewish and pro-Israel world to fight back, there’s still an important voice missing: personal stories. Hananya Naftali is one of the world’s most recognized personal stories. A young Israeli, formerly having worked for former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Naftali is a powerhouse on social media, with nearly two million followers on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, where he calls himself “that Israeli who talks to the camera about peace in the Middle East.” In this week’s episode of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Hananya for his thoughts on how anti-Israel activists have been successful at marshaling storytelling for their cause, and why telling the truth about Israel can’t just be about rattling off facts, but about making it personal.

Every day Israel is hailed as a colonialist and apartheid state by its opponents. However, nothing could be further from the truth; and yet this reality of Israel being defamed as a colonialist state persist. Why is it so dangerous and problematic? In this week's episode of The Honest Report Podcast, we sit down with Ysabella Hazan, a Montrealer and law student at the University of Ottawa, who is also the founder of Decolonized Judean. She shares her thoughts about why the insidious lie of Israel being a colonialist state is so dangerous, particularly as it relates to the next generation of young Jewish leaders on campus.

Before the advent of social media, getting your message out to the wider public was not always an easy task, but since the explosion of social media in the last 15 years, anyone with internet access can spread their message to the world. This democratization was supposed to be a good thing, but things haven't turned out that way. Anti-Israel activists have used social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and many others as springboards to share their anti-Israel disinformation, and social media has served to disseminate more hate than previous platforms ever could. In this episode of The Honest Report, we sit down with David Olesker, Founder & Director of the Jerusalem Center for Communication and Advocacy Training (JCCAT) for his thoughts on how the anti-Israel movement has managed to spread its insidious message so well, and what can be done to help spread truth instead.

Around the world, Holocaust denial continues to spread its ugly and hateful message, claiming that the Nazi Holocaust either didn't happen, or that the numbers are greatly exaggerated. But the challenge to truth isn't just hate; it also comes from ignorance and apathy. In recent surveys, significant numbers of respondents, especially younger people, claim little knowledge of the Holocaust. But the cause is not hopeless. At the end of May, after a two-year hiatus, The Living Legacy Experience brought dozens of Canadians to Poland, alongside a Holocaust survivor, for a powerful week on the ground, helping to create seeds of inspiration for participants. In this week's episode of The Honest Report, we sit down with Isaac Osiel, a Toronto businessman and founder of The Living Legacy Experience, for his thoughts on why the program needed to be created, and the dangers of not educating the future generations about the Holocaust. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show.

Anti-Israel activists are busy spreading propaganda about the Jewish State, and often it can seem like the challenge is insurmountable. After all, the anti-Israel movement is so large and well-funded, how can its false claims be effectively challenged? While it may not be possible to directly reach everyone, when promising young university students spend time studying in Israel, this can be one of the most powerful tools in helping to create informed leaders. In this week's episode of The Honest Report, we sit down with Momo Lifshitz, CEO, Lirom Global Education. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. 

Israel is known around the world as Start-Up Nation, and as a fast-rising technological hub. But Israel's technological innovations have meant more than just a growing Israeli economy; Israeli innovations have also helped to improve living conditions for people around the world, including in Africa. In this week's edition of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Aryeh Green, Chief Strategy Officer with Gigawatt Global for his reflections on how Israeli innovations have not only helped improve living standards in Africa but how they've also opened the doors to closer relationships between the State of Israel and various states in Africa. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, click here.

When the Syrian Civil War erupted in 2011, a human rights catastrophe soon followed. Syrian civilians, seeking safety and often treatment for injuries. Neighbouring Israel, as it often does, opened its borders to Syrian refugees, and offered them medical treatment in a safe and secure setting. In this week's edition of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Lt. Colonel (Res) Eyal Dror, who led Israel's 'Operation Good Neighbour,' which provided urgent medical care to thousands of Syrian civilians, saving countless lives. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

The anti-Israel movement characterizes itself as a moral beacon calling out the alleged crimes committed by the Jewish State. But their allegations are frequently characterized by ignorance, malice, and quite often, racism. In this week's episode of The Honest Report, we sit down with Tyler Samuels, a Toronto-based Jew of Colour and social media influencer, for his take on how the supposedly progressive anti-Israel cause has often become intertwined with racism. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

China is the world's most populous country, and depending on how one measures it, either the largest economy in the world, or the second, and likely to become the first in a decade. As China continues its ascent, how does the Chinese media represent Israel, and how is the Jewish State portrayed by the news media in the world's most populous country? In this episode of The Honest Report, we sit down with Alexander Pevnzer, noted Chinese media expert, for his take and perspective. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

When it comes to Israel, the news media tends to oversimplify the realities on the ground. And that means for Canadians reading, watching or listening to the news, they aren't getting a full picture about Israel, notably about the 25% of the population which is non-Jewish, and the full civil and democratic rights they enjoy as Israeli citizens. In this week's edition of The Honest Report, we sit down with Jonathan Elkhoury, an international speaker, columnist and diplomatic advisor, who is also a Christian Arab in Israel, for his thoughts on how his life is as an Arab in Israel, and what the world needs to understand about freedoms in the Jewish State. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

With a growing Iranian presence throughout the Middle East, what tools does Israel have at its disposal to counter the Iranian regime's efforts, and how are these complexities reported in the international news media? In this week's edition of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Professor Mordechai Kedar, an internationally-renowned speaker, lecturer and scholar on the Middle East and Arab affairs. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

Since its inception, the BDS movement against Israel has not only sought to demonize the Jewish State, but to intimidate Jewish students and anyone connected with Israel. At the University of Toronto, the anti-Israel campaign of intimidation has continued for years, but recently, a Jewish student secured a major victory on campus, with the university administration withholding more than $10,000 in fees for the student union allocated for anti-Israel activities. In this week's podcast, we sit down with Chaim Katz, a former graduate student at the University of Toronto, and discuss his involvement in getting the university to hold the anti-Israel groups on campus accountable. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

Why are the populations of some countries more supportive of Israel, while in other countries, the population holds a generally more hostile view of Israel? In no small measure, this is a testament to how supportive of Israel the local government is, and the level of free press the country enjoys. In this week's edition of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Annika Hernroth-Rothstein, a Swedish Jewish journalist who has worked around the world, including in Venezuela, Iran and Ghana, and shares with us her perspectives about how impactful a free press is when it comes to shaping a population's views on Israel. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

In a number of Western democratic countries, taxpayers are helping to fund NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) which are demonizing Israel and helping to advocate for the BDS (Boycott Divestment Sanctions) movement against the Jewish State. In this episode of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Professor Gerald Steinberg, founder and president of NGO Monitor, which tracks this nefarious movement, who helps explain how taxpayers in Western countries, including Canada, are helping to fund these anti-Israel organizations, and what can be done about it. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

Jerusalem is not just a holy city, but a contested city. And anti-Israel activists are working hard in an attempt to de-Judaize the city and in turn, harm Israel's character as a Jewish and democratic state with Jerusalem as its capital. In this week's edition of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Arieh King, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, member of the city council, and founder of the Israel Land Fund (ILF), who explains how state actors and activists alike are working to dismantle the Jewish presence in Israel's capital city. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

In the words of legendary Israeli diplomat Abba Eban: the Palestinians have never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity. But have the Palestinians simply missed opportunities, or have their rejections been more strategic? Is it incompetence or malice? In this edition of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Dr. Einat Wilf, former Member of Knesset and co-author of the book "The War of Return. How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace." Dr. Wilf shares with us her argument that Palestinian rejectionism has been facilitated and enabled by decades of Western diplomacy, but that a change is in the air from a most unexpected source. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

In recent weeks, there have been two separate incidents of students performing the Nazi salute in Toronto public schools, specifically directed at teachers. These incidents have been widely reported by the news media, but despite the widespread outrage and condemnation, there is a major element of the story being missed in reporting. To help understand the real story, in this episode of The Honest Report, we sat down with Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, Director of Policy at the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre in Toronto. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

It's a truism that Israel rarely gets a fair shake in the news media. Whether by omission or outright misinformation, the truth often takes a back seat to cliches and oversimplification. But what about book publishing? Does the truth about Israel have a better chance in books, or is the truth just as often sacrificed as it is in the news media? In this edition of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Hesh Kestin, author and former foreign correspondent for his perspective on the interplay between truth, reporting about Israel, and book publishing. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

Antisemitism has been called the world's oldest hatred, and even in modern times, it manifests throughout society: on social media, on campuses, and even in the news media. But how can antisemitism be distinguished from legitimate criticism of Israel, and when overt antisemitism rears its head in the news media, what can be done about it? In this edition of The Honest Report, we are joined by Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, who shares his thoughts on how the law can be used to combat antisemitism in the news media. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

In early February, Amnesty International published a 280 page report, accusing Israel of Apartheid. Despite Amnesty's longstanding anti-Israel obsession, the report was pounced on as authoritative by news media outlets around the world. But what is wrong with Amnesty's report, and what will it take for the news media to tell an accurate story about Israel? In this edition of The Honest Report, we are joined by Arsen Ostrovsky, Chair & CEO of the International Legal Forum, who peels back the facade and shares Amnesty's true agenda. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

As the old adage goes, where there's Jews, there's news. Israel is frequently a target of misinformation and propaganda, including accusations of Apartheid and ethnic cleansing. Not only are these allegations false, they purposely ignore the rampant human rights violations committed by the Palestinian Authority (PA).  Why does the news media largely ignore these human rights violations, and what can be done to educate the world about the realities of the Palestinian Authority's abuse of its own people? In this edition of The Honest Report, we are joined by Bassem Eid, a noted Palestinian human rights advocate, who shares his frustrations at the news media's tunnel vision when it comes to human rights. Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

Few people know the ins and outs of the Canadian media landscape like Barbara Kay. A longtime columnist and reporter, she has been a voice of moral clarity for decades. In an era of fake news, anti-Israel misinformation and propaganda, are Canadians closer to getting more factual coverage about Israel, or is the situation getting worse? In this episode of The Honest Report, we sit down with Barbara to discuss the media landscape, where it's going, and if coverage of Israel & the Middle East is getting better or worse. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

Last spring, when the 11 day Hamas war against Israel ended with a ceasefire, eyes were already looking to the future, and asking: what else does Hamas have up its sleeve, and what plans does it have for a future war? In this week's edition of The Honest Report, we welcome Col (ret) Grisha Yakubovich, former head of the civil department for the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) for his thoughts and suggestions for how Israel can handle a future Hamas war. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

Last May's Gaza war, launched by Hamas against Israel, made headlines around the world. But while news stories typically portrayed the conflict as merely the latest episode in the longstanding conflict between Hamas and Israel, the reality is that Hamas launched the war with specific strategic goals in mind. That's the assertion of Dr. Jonathan Schanzer, Senior Vice President for Research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, in his latest book, "Gaza Conflict 2021: Hamas, Israel and Eleven Days of War." Dr. Schanzer joined us as our guest on this edition of The Honest Report podcast. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

Israel's growing relationships with the Arab world are making headlines every day. But for every story published, there are many more which take place away from the media's focus, but which nonetheless are a microcosm of a changing Middle East.  David Ha'Ivri, a Councilman on the Shomrom Regional Council, is active building relationships between Arabs and Jews, not only in Judea & Samaria, but across the Middle East. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

Jerusalem is probably the most famous city in the world, but much of it is for the wrong reasons. This past May, when Hamas launched a terror war against Israel, Jerusalem was at centre stage, thanks to anti-Israel propaganda which was being spread around the world.  But Jerusalem is more than a city under the siege of misinformation; it is also the 3,000 year old home of the Jewish People, and is undergoing a historic revitalization.  One of the people most responsible for Jerusalem's revitalization is Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, the city's deputy mayor, who joined The Honest Report as our guest. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

The Dead Sea is more than just the lowest point on Earth; it represents one of Israel's best chances to build relationships with the wider Arab world. That's the view of Noam Bedein, founder & director, The Dead Sea Revival Project, who has spent the better part of the last two years educating the world about the Dead Sea & how Israel's efforts to protect the body of water can reap benefits for Israel, both diplomatically & economically. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

It's a common trope in the western news media: Hamas is the extremist arm of the Palestinian leadership, while the Palestinian Authority (PA) is the preferred, moderate peace partner. But that simplification ignores a deep-seated problem with the PA: despite their promises, it continues to foster hatred against not just Israel, but Jews in general. In this episode of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Itamar Marcus, founder and director of Palestinian Media Watch (PMW), which studies Palestinian society by monitoring and analyzing the (PA) through its media and schoolbooks. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

Mohammad Kabiya has become one of the most outspoken pro-Israel voices in the world today. He is a young Israeli Bedouin from northern Israel who enlisted in the IDF voluntarily in order to give back to his country. But Mohammad wasn't satisfied yet. He became an international lecturer, speaking to groups around the world, helping to dispel the most common anti-Israel claims, and with his first-hand experience, he has become a valuable asset to the pro-Israel cause. We are pleased to welcome Mohammad as our guest this week. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a burgeoning regional powerhouse in the Middle East, and it has found significant strategic value in partnerships with Israel. But what exactly does that mean for the Middle East, and what can we expect in the future? This week, we sit down with Adam Hummel, a member of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) Jewish Diplomatic Corps, who recently returned from a WJC mission to the United Arab Emirates, for his reflections and thoughts. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

Hebron is one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world, if not the oldest, but to see much of the news media describe things, Israelis who live in this ancient city are little more than extremist settlers living in a land not their own. If it's frustrating to read and hear news media which misrepresents things in Hebron, imagine being the spokesperson for the Jewish community there, and seeing it first-hand every day. That's what Yishai Fleisher does - representing the small number of Jews in Hebron to the world media. In this week's edition of the Honest Report podcast, we chat with Yishai about what life is like in Hebron, what the world doesn't understand, and why he chooses to live in such a delicate and often difficult place. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

Israeli politics are famously unstable, with Prime Ministers and coalitions coming and going regularly. But while Israelis know the instability is the price of democracy, far too often, world media outlets characterize Israel's vibrant democracy as a liability. Additionally, Israel's new Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, is frequently described as an extremist by world media. But is it accurate? In this episode, we sit down with Gil Hoffman, chief political correspondent for the Jerusalem Post, and he helps us unpack Israeli politics as they are - not necessarily how the world sees things. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

Three years ago, on October 27, 2018, a gunman entered the Eitz Chaim synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and murdered 11 Jews at prayer, in the worst attack on Jews in the United States ever. The next year, a man brandishing a machete had attacked a Chanukkah celebration in New York, murdering a rabbi, and in April 2019, a worshipper was murdered at a Chabad synagogue near San Diego. In the attack in Pittsburgh, the shooting suspect had posted antisemitic hate online in advance of the shooting, but it went unnoticed. As antisemitism threatens Jews around the world, are social media giants doing enough to stamp out the hate, and if not, how can they be held to account? In this week's episode of The Honest Report podcast, we are joined by Mark Oppenheimer, historian and journalist, who recently released a book on the shooting aftermath and the Jewish community in the Pittsburgh neighbourhood where the attack took place. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

Around the world, BDS activists try and portray Israel as a villainous abuser of human rights, and paint the country in as simple terms as possible. Many arguments are used to combat their misinformation, but one man knows the shallowness of the BDS arguments first-hand: Ishmael Khaldi. He is Israel's first Bedouin diplomat, and is an advocate not just for Israel on the international stage, but for his Bedouin community within Israel. Recognizing that Israel may have imperfections, but that it is not guilty of the horrific crimes it is accused of committing, Ishmael Khaldi has been widely recognized for his diplomatic efforts on behalf of Israel. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

If one judged Israel's trajectory just by news media coverage, they would assume Israel is on the cusp of losing its Jewish majority forever. But in reality, Israel is both a democracy and a Jewish-majority state, and in no risk of losing either title. In this week's edition of the Honest Report podcast, we are joined by Yoram Ettinger, an Israeli researcher, diplomat, writer, lecturer and consultant to legislators around the world. He previously served as an Israeli diplomat in the United States.  Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

Israel has been called the Start-Up Nation, a country which has taken technological innovation to the next level. But Israel's technological boom has meant more than just a growing economy for Israel; it has helped pave the way for peace between Israel and a growing number of its Arab neighbours. To help understand how technology has break down barriers, we are joined by Hillel Fuld, Israel's foremost high-tech ambassador. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

By a large margin, Facebook is the world's largest social media platform, with about two billion users around the world - that's one in four human beings alive today. Unfortunately, Facebook is also home to an enormous amount of hatred and disinformation. And while governments around the world have struggled with how to manage Facebook, Israel - as always - is at the forefront. In recent days, Israel has reportedly launched a task force aimed at identifying how Facebook can be made legally liable for hatred which is disseminated on its platform.  In this episode of the Honest Report podcast, we discuss this ground-breaking Israeli effort, and just how bad hatred is on Facebook. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

Whether it's the LGBTQ cause, Black Lives Matter, or more recently, the indigenous and native rights causes, anti-Israel activists are somehow always there, pushing their own narrow agenda. How have these groups had the success that they have, and is there any hope at all for a return to a time when liberals and conservatives alike could look to Israel as a reflection of their values - and not as a wedge issue? In this week's edition of the Honest Report podcast, we are joined by Blake Flayton, co-founder of the New Zionist Congress. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

It's a well-known trope: the Palestinians are the world's largest refugee population, numbering in the millions, and more than 70 years stateless. And while the facts don't back up those extravagant claims, why are they still being repeated? The biggest reason is because of the voices and organizations pushing and promoting this refugee claim, including UNRWA. In this week's edition of the Honest Report podcast, we are joined by Asaf Romirowsky, the executive director of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME).  Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

The 2021 Canadian federal election has come and gone, and the results are virtually identical to the 2019 election results. But that doesn't mean the issues aren't new. Antisemitism on the campaign trail and against Green Party leader Annamie Paul, the case of Jenica Atwin, the Green-turned-Liberal MP who changed parties due to her views on Israel, all made the news. But what were other issues related to Israel and antisemitism which the media missed? In this edition of The Honest Report podcast, we sat down with Noah Shack, a Vice President at CIJA to discuss what this election means for Israel and Jewish issues in Canada. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

This summer, Iran installed a new president, Ebrahim Raisi. What does Iran's new president mean for the Iranian nuclear deal, Israel and wider prospects for peace and stability in the Middle East? And is the news media covering this incredibly important issue with a critical eye? In this week's edition of the Honest Report podcast, we were joined by Meir Javedanfar, a world-renowned expert in Iranian affairs, and now teaching at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya (IDC). Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

Less than two weeks ago, 13 Afghan civilians were accidentally killed in a US air strike in the capital city of Kabul. The dead - half of whom were children - were killed by a US drone, likely mistaking them for a target related to the Islamic State. Despite the tragedy, media coverage of the incident was limited. Meanwhile, during Israel's most recent conflict with Hamas, the Jewish State faced incessant condemnations when civilian casualties occurred, and widespread media coverage. Why the difference? In this week's edition of the Honest Report podcast, we explore the world of media double standards, and seek to understand why Israel's self-defense is held to a different standard than every other country. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

Across the Arab world on a daily basis, media outlets, including both state media and social media, blast out anti-Israel and antisemitic propaganda demonizing Israel and the Jewish People in general. In recent months, as Arab countries like Morocco, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates deepen their ties with Israel, the anti-Israel misinformation being spoonfed to hundreds of millions of citizens of Arab countries on a daily basis becomes all the more disjointed from reality. In this week's edition of the Honest Report podcast, we welcome Mark Halawa, who grew up as a Muslim in Kuwait before discovering his Jewish identity and becoming a pro-Israel activist. Today, he lives in Jerusalem and is a sought after speaker around the world. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our show, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

In recent weeks, there has been a rash in antisemitic graffiti targeting bus stop advertisements, a synagogue, and even election signs. The vandalism was condemned by politicians, reported to police, and covered in the news media. And while antisemitism, and antisemitic graffiti, is nothing new, some of the vandalism reflects a new and changing technique of antisemitism, and how it seeks to change to hide behind a veneer of anti-Zionism. In this week's edition of the Honest Report podcast, we discuss the recent graffiti incidents, and while they may look like other similar incidents, in reality they reflect a significant change in tactics on the part of antisemites. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

This week, the Taliban retook Afghanistan in a whirlwind blitz, shocking observers with their speed and ferocity. But while the international news media (correctly) identifies the Taliban as a regressive, misogynistic and brutal regime, other terrorist groups seem to avoid that same label. Hamas and Hezbollah, for example, both Islamist terrorist groups in the Middle East, are often seen by the mainstream news media as actors in specific circumstances, and not as part of the same hateful ideology as the Taliban. But why? In this week's edition of the Honest Report podcast, we welcome Terry Glavin, journalist, author and columnist, for his thoughts on the future of Afghanistan under the Taliban and how Gaza's experience under Hamas can serve as a template for understanding the Taliban. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website. 

The concept of Zionism, and even the word itself, is being increasingly stolen away from the Jewish People. Rather than defining it as the quest for self determination in their historic homeland, Zionism is being defined as a hateful and racist concept, often bolstered by social media and the news media alike. In this week's edition of the Honest Report podcast, we welcome Ben Freeman, an international speaker and author, for his thoughts on how pro-Israel voices can take back the concept of Zionism from those who seek to demonize it. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip suffer from one of the highest levels of poverty and unemployment in the world. It is a human rights tragedy for the 1.8 million residents of the coastal enclave. But while international nongovernmental organizations and media outlets frequently point the finger at Israel, in reality, it is Hamas, the terrorist group which runs Gaza, which is wholly responsible. Hamas actively steals hundreds of millions of dollars each year from its own people, and enriches its senior leadership as a result. But Hamas continues to get a free pass from much of the world, despite its open thievery. In this episode of the Honest Report podcast, we discuss how Hamas learned the best practices of stealing from its own people, and how it continues to rake in so much money every single year as a result of its malfeasance. Its own leader, Ismail Haniyeh, is the epitome of the corruption that Hamas practices on a daily basis. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

After a yearlong delay, the 2020 Olympic Games have kicked off in Tokyo, Japan. And while the games strive for goals like international cooperation and striving for excellence, once again, they have been marred by the refusal of some athletes to compete against Israelis. But despite these disgraceful acts on the part of some athletes, there have been shimmers of hope, too: athletes who are rejecting their country's official hatred of Israel, and are instead taking a moral stand, and bringing peace just a little bit closer. In this episode of the Honest Report podcast, we explore how Israel continues to face opposition in international sports competitions, all while the successors of the Munich massacre in 1972 continue to enjoy widespread international recognition, in sports and beyond. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

On July 19, ice cream manufacturer Ben & Jerry's announced a boycott of Israeli communities in Judea & Samaria, commonly called the West Bank. Almost immediately, it ignited a firestorm around the world, including from Israel's current and former prime ministers. In this episode of The Honest Report podcast, we explore why this boycott is so significant, and why its potential consequences are so large, stretching far beyond ice cream. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

This past Saturday, Amnesty International Canada sent out an anti-Israel e-mail missive, featuring some of the most egregious anti-Israel misinformation one could imagine, which included accusing Israel of murdering Palestinian civilians. While shocking, this latest e-mail is far from the first time that Amnesty International, a powerful NGO (non governmental organization) has targeted Israel. In fact, it is not the only NGO to do so, and groups like Amnesty International are often shielded from criticism when their anti-Israel obsession is pointed out. In this episode of the Honest Report podcast, we explore the toxic anti-Israel focus of groups like Amnesty International. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

In the last armed conflict between Israel & Hamas, as with previous violent escalations, anti-Israel misinformation was rife in the news media. But this time, perhaps more than ever before, social media influencers took on a major role in spreading anti-Israel bias.  To help us unpack this phenomenon, and to explore the path to combatting it through telling the story of Israel beyond the conflict, we were joined by Shai DeLuca, internationally renowned social media influencer, public speaker, and pro-Israel advocate. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you're interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website. 

Last week, prominent critic of the Palestinian Authority (PA), Nizar Banat, was arrested at his home in Hebron by Palestinian security services. Hours later, he was dead. What looks like a shocking incident tragically is part of a larger trend by the Palestinian Authority to exercise repression against its own people, whether by silencing dissent, cancelling elections, or by inciting hate against Israel. But despite this shocking authoritarianism, the news media may sometime describe the PA as the moderate arm of the Palestinian leadership. Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you're interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

The news media reported this week that a number of Iranian websites hosted on US servers were shut down by the US government, citing Iranian disinformation. And for the first time in a long time, Iran's longstanding campaign of propaganda and disinformation has finally made the news. In this week's podcast, we discuss the depth and intensity of Iran's propaganda war against Israel, and how it's more complex than most people realize - and why it's critical to report. I'm Robert Walker, and welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you're interested in sponsoring a podcast, please visit the HonestReporting Canada website.

Each year since 1968, Israel has celebrated Jerusalem Day, commemorating the liberation of the city from Jordanian occupation. And each year, a march with flags is a highlight of the day. And like clockwork, Israelis waving flags is called a provocation by the news media, arguing that Jews waving flags needlessly provokes Hamas into killing Jews. This is untrue, is a form of victim blaming, and the news media must do better. I'm Robert Walker, and welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you're interested in sponsoring a podcast, please go to the HonestReporting Canada website.

The defamatory lie that Israel is an apartheid state is hardly new, but with each passing day, it becomes more ludicrous. With Israel's new government, this claim becomes outright comical.  Israel's new governing coalition, slated to be sworn in on June 13, will include, for the first time ever, an Arab Islamist party, Ra'am, as well as a dizzying array of diverse voices, opinions and backgrounds, reflecting the true reality of Israel. This is a true repudiation to the apartheid claim, and Canadian news media should report on this critical fact. I'm Robert Walker, and welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you're interested in sponsoring a podcast, please go to the HonestReporting Canada website.

Misinformation about Israel in the news media isn't new, nor is it unfortunately rare. But the problems are often much deeper than one recognizes. The headlines, photos, slant and angles used in articles and broadcasts all contribute to further misinformation about Israel in the media, but the real issue is the very themes which the news media uses to understand and classify Israel and the Palestinians alike. I'm Robert Walker, and welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you're interested in sponsoring a podcast, please go to the HonestReporting Canada website.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad aren't just terrorist groups; they are masters of disinformation. And that means Israel isn't just fighting a war against rockets and bombs; it is fighting a war of persuasion, against opponents who will tell any lie to get their way. In this most recent armed engagement between Israel and these Islamist terrorist groups, images of Jews dancing at the alleged burning of the Al Aqsa mosque went viral, before becoming unmasked as utterly untrue. But once the image goes viral, the damage is done. I'm Robert Walker, and welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review and share our show, If you're interested in sponsoring a podcast, please go to the HonestReporting Canada website.

There is a threat that Israelis continue to regularly face which does not attract the media attention that it used to: terrorism. Just in the last week, there were two separate terror attacks targeting Israelis in Judea & Samaria, commonly called the "West Bank." The first attack was an attempted suicide stabbing attack by a 60-year-old Palestinian woman. The second attack was a shooting attack by a 44-year-old Palestinian terrorist who killed a 19-year-old Israeli and wounded two other yeshiva (Jewish seminary) students. The media dictum that "if it bleeds it leads" should be at play here, but regrettably, our media for the most part ignored these attacks and that's not okay. I’m Mike Fegelman and welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please  subscribe to our podcast, leave a review and share our show. If you're   interested in sponsoring a podcast, please go to the HonestReporting Canada website.

It's not "Semitic Semantics"! In recent weeks, a growing list of US news media outlets have announced they are removing the hyphen from the word antisemitism,  and turning the two words into one. Here in Canada, CBC and the Globe and Mail have also updated their style guides to refer to just "antisemitism" or "antisemitic". Of course, removing the hyphen won't remove antisemitism from the world, but it will provide a greater understanding of this age-old hatred targeting the Jewish people. I’m Mike Fegelman and welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review and share our show. If you're  interested in sponsoring a podcast, please go to the HonestReporting Canada website.

The term "greenwashing" accuses Israel of using its environmental bona fides in order to hide its alleged human rights abuses against the Palestinians. The greenwashing libel against Israel also accuses the Jewish state of being, contrary to all established evidence and reality on the ground, of actually not being environmentally friendly at all, and, using selective cherry-picked information, advocates of the greenwashing lie claim Israel is a harmful contributor to the world. It goes without saying that no country, Israel very much included, has a perfect track record when it comes to any topic, including the environment. But to accuse Israel of environmental abuse when it’s clearly false, and then to refuse to give Israel any benefit whatsoever for its impressive accomplishments, is an exercise in propaganda, not truth. I’m Mike Fegelman and welcome to the Honest Report podcast on Earth Day 2021. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review and share our show. If you're interested in sponsoring a podcast, please go to the HonestReporting Canada website.

When Israelis celebrate their independence on Yom Ha’atzmaut, they find joy in the responsibility and freedoms of self-determination in their historic homeland - as well they should. Israel has, in a short 73 years, proven what can be possible when there is little more but determination and chutzpah. But the long and arduous arc of Jewish history has taught a powerful lesson that Israel does not only exist for moral, ethical, legal or historic reasons. Rather, it exists for a very practical reason as well. Israel’s independence celebrations always follow the commemoration for the Holocaust to show the steep cost when there is no Jewish State in the world. Without the existence of Israel, antisemites around the world would feel emboldened to do what they want to the Jews, knowing that ultimately, this small, stateless people would be extremely vulnerable. And that is precisely a major motivator behind those who seek to destroy, demonize or de-legitimize Israel today. While there are certainly many legitimate criticisms to be made about Israel, none of these can justify denying Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. To do that would be to once again render the Jewish people vulnerable to the worst murderers in history. Fortunately, every single year, Israel reminds its people, and the world, not only that is has a right to exist, but of the potential consequences should it disappear. When the news media reports on Israel, that is a narrative often forgotten. I’m Mike Fegelman and welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review and share our show. If you're interested in sponsoring a podcast, please go to the HonestReporting Canada website.

You probably didn’t hear this update in the news yet, but it’s absolutely true: Israel and Iran are at war. Now, before you go to Google and start feverishly checking for a headline about Israeli warplanes over the skies of Tehran, let me be more specific. Israel and Iran are in a state of war, but not quite in the sense that most of us think. Israel and Iran are at war, with real weapons, real rockets, real guns and real casualties. In other words; this is not a cold war, but very much a hot one. So why aren’t we reading headlines about fighter jet battles in the skies? Because unlike most armed conflicts, this one is taking place just below the surface, between proxies and allies, terrorist groups and spies, and much of what is taking place, even if reported by the media, gets just a minor mention. Today is April 11 and news swirled about a cyber attack by the Israeli Mossad against Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility which caused extensive damage to Iran’s main uranium enrichment facility. Iran first said an “accident” occurred but later blamed the attck on “terrorism”. This is the shadow war taking place between Israel and Iran. I’m Mike Fegelman and welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review and share our show. If you're interested in sponsoring a podcast, please go to the HonestReporting Canada website.

Beyond the headlines and contrary to the dominant media narrative of a dysfunctional Israel, the Jewish state's electoral challenges actually showcase a remarkable resiliency and commitment to democracy. While Israel’s regular elections are a running joke, and for good reasons: Four trips to the polls in two years is a sign that there is a real need for reform in Israel’s democratic system. But with that said, this minor flaw also demonstrates four incredible strengths of Israel - the fact that it holds elections at all, the smooth transition after elections, the ability of Arab parties to run for office and be elected, and how Israel does not hold its elected officials above the law, but on par with everyone else. Find out more in episode 5 of The Honest Report with Mike Fegelman. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review and share our show. If you're interested in sponsoring a podcast, please go to the HonestReporting Canada website.

Even in diversions like sports and entertainment, there is a pernicious hatred that never seems to die. Antisemitism has been called the world’s oldest hatred for its remarkable agility and ability to morph, depending on the circumstances. And it has been around for a long time, and like a cockroach, antisemitism never seems to die. In some situations, Jews are assailed as crooked and greedy capitalists, while simultaneously being a fifth column of communists. In other situations, Jews are godless atheists, or people without any morals at all, while sometimes they are religious extremists, following the archaic strictures of Jewish law. So, then, it is without much surprise that even in sports and entertainment, antisemitism continues to be given a massive platform, amplified and shared around the world. Find out more in episode 4 of The Honest Report with Mike Fegelman. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review and share our show.  If you're interested in sponsoring a podcast, please go to the HonestReporting Canada website.

Critics of Israel claim the Jewish state deserves little credit for vaccinating the Palestinian population, because it was Israel’s responsibility and obligation all along to do so. Despite the fact that this is emphatically not the case, but this entire argument really misses the biggest problem. And that is that while the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have always been happy to paint Israel as the biggest human rights abuser in the region, the question that the Canadian news media really ought to be asking is: how do regimes which receive billions of dollars annually in foreign aid manage to, in the midst of a global health crisis, suddenly appear to be completely unable to purchase vaccines for their population? Spokespeople for Hamas and the Palestinian Authority and Hamas would love to say that these are cash-strapped regimes because Israel has choked off their revenue, but it turns out that this is not quite true. In fact, when it comes to lining the pockets of Palestinian leaders and paying Palestinian terrorists salaries, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas seems to have no problem doling out cash - and a lot of it. Find out more in episode 3 of The Honest Report with Mike Fegelman. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review and share our show. If you're interested in sponsoring a podcast, please email mike@honestreporting.ca.

As we mark International Women's Day this week, we look at how women living under Hamas control in the Gaza Strip have become effectively rendered as prisoners by their own government, treated as chattel and banned from traveling without a male relative's permission. Here in Canada, particularly with a self-avowed feminist prime minister at the helm of our country, we should collectively be outraged at the state-sponsored misogyny taking place under Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip and our media must condemn Hamas' thuggish dictatorship. Find out more on The Honest Report with Mike Fegelman. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review and share our show. If you're interested in sponsoring a podcast, please email mike@honestreporting.ca.

In the wake of Canada's recently listing 13 groups as terror organizations, it's concerning that the world's most dangerous terror organization, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) remains unlisted. Regrettably, this has gone out of sight and out of mind by our news media. Find out more on The Honest Report with Mike Fegelman.