Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally asked President Isaac Herzog for a pardon, a move that could reshape the legal and political landscape ahead of an election year.

In this episode of The Jerusalem Dispatch, Calev Ben David and Elliot Jager break down what the request means, why it happened now, and how the White House’s involvement fits into the picture. The conversation also covers Thanksgiving, exploring why many American Israelis still mark the holiday, its themes of religious freedom and coexistence, and how those ideas resonate in today’s Israel.

From May 26, 2025

On the eve of Jerusalem Day, Elliot delivers a state-of-the-city report: a young, divided, and surprisingly poor capital where Haredi and Arab students now outnumber Zionist-curriculum pupils. The hosts react to the terror attack on a DC synagogue and the leak of US plans to strike Iran. The episode closes with a birthday tribute to Bob Dylan, exploring his Jewish journey from "Neighborhood Bully" to "Forever Young"—with insights from Dylan's childhood friend Louis Kemp, now living in Jerusalem.

From May 12, 2025

A new pope is elected—and Elliot examines the troubling antisemitic legacy of his namesake, Leo XIII. The hosts then turn to the Pulitzer Prize awarded to Gazan poet Mosab Abu Toha, whose social media posts denied Emily Damari's status as a hostage. They also credit Columbia University's new president for finally calling in police on masked protesters and debate whether Trump administration pressure deserves credit for the shift.

From April 15, 2025

Recording during Passover, Elliot and Kalev reflect on seders shadowed by the hostage crisis and mark the 82nd anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. They explore Passover's historical roots and examine historian Richard Elliott Friedman's theory of Levite origins in the Exodus. The episode also tackles the Joe Rogan-Dave Smith interview on Israel, defends historian Tom Segev against accusations of anti-Zionism, and asks: has Zionism delivered on its promise of Jewish security?

From March 31, 2025

The hosts unpack the bombshell Signal chat leak that exposed divisions within the Trump administration between isolationists and interventionists—and what it means for Israel. They examine the heated debate over Haredi military exemptions following a Supreme Court ruling, break down Israel's controversial new budget with its patronage spending and tax hikes, and pay tribute to industrialist and Zionist visionary Stef Wertheimer.

From March 18, 2025

Elliot Jaeger and Kalev Ben-David launch The Jerusalem Dispatch from Jerusalem during Shushan Purim, exploring the tension between celebration and grief while hostages remain in Gaza. They discuss the sacred history behind the holiday, the dialectic of remembering and forgetting Amalek, and dive into the World Zionist Congress elections—including a controversial anti-liberal Haredi slate. The episode closes with praise for Gal Gadot's dignified response to antisemitic attacks amid the Snow White controversy.

In this episode, Calev Ben-David and Elliot Jager delve into some key current and historical events. Elliot takes us back 20 years to the Israeli disengagement, sharing insights on its motivations, outcomes, and lasting impact. Calev offers his own personal reflections on that pivotal time. The conversation then shifts to Day 674 of the October 7 War.

Calev and Elliot discuss Prime Minister Netanyahu’s intentions, the role of the IDF’s Chief of Staff, and the ongoing humanitarian impact of the war, especially concerning captives held by Hamas. The discussion also touches on Israel's global standing, the situation for Palestinian non-combatants, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The episode draws parallels to the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Japan.

Finally, Elliot reviews the End of Year Bezalel Exhibition, providing insight into Israel’s cultural scene. Time permitting, the episode concludes with a touching reflection by Billy Joel on his family’s tragic history in Auschwitz.

Edited and produced by Yuval Barnea, Shifra Jacobs, and Maayan Alon.