Israel, American Jewry, and the Future of U.S. Support — A Conversation with Owen Alterman

Israel, American Jewry, and the Future of U.S. Support — A Conversation with Owen Alterman

In this wide-ranging episode of Tel Aviv Diary, Marc Schulman sits down with veteran journalist, analyst, and i24NEWS broadcaster Owen Alterman for an in-depth discussion of one of the most important questions facing Israel today: the changing relationship between Israel and the United States. Drawing on his years of research and writing on American Jewry, demographics, and public opinion, Alterman examines how support for Israel has evolved over the last two decades and why many of the trends now worrying Israeli leaders were visible years ago. The conversation explores the origins and evolution of the BDS movement, the demographic transformation of the American Jewish community, and the growing influence of Americans who identify as having no religious affiliation. Schulman and Alterman delve into the dramatic shifts taking place among younger Americans, particularly on college campuses, and discuss the role of social media, academia, and changing demographics in shaping attitudes toward Israel. They debate whether Israel’s declining standing among younger generations is primarily the result of Israeli policies, broader societal changes within the United States, or forces beyond Israel’s control. The discussion also examines the growth of the Muslim population in the United States, the decline of evangelical influence, and the challenges facing traditional pro-Israel advocacy efforts. Throughout the conversation, both men wrestle with a difficult question: can Israel reverse these trends, or is it confronting a long-term structural shift in American society? The conversation then turns to current events, including the ongoing conflict in Lebanon, Hezbollah’s increasingly sophisticated drone attacks, and the mounting casualties suffered by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. Schulman expresses concern that Israel is becoming trapped in another prolonged conflict without a clear strategy for victory, while Alterman argues that Israel’s growing dependence on Washington is limiting its freedom of action. The two discuss President Trump’s handling of Iran negotiations, the possibility of a new agreement with Tehran, and the extent to which Israel’s leadership can influence American policy at a time when public support for Israel appears to be weakening. Despite the sobering subject matter, the episode concludes with a thoughtful reflection on Israel’s resilience and identity. Borrowing from the historical contrast between Athens and Sparta, Schulman and Alterman debate what kind of society Israel seeks to be and whether the country can preserve its democratic and civilian character while confronting mounting security threats. It is a candid, intellectually rich conversation about demographics, diplomacy, war, public opinion, and the strategic challenges that may define Israel’s future for decades to come. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcschulman.substack.com/subscribe [https://marcschulman.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Israel After the Iran War: Strategic Failure, Hezbollah’s Drone Threat, and the Search for Competence

In this solo episode of the Tel Aviv Diary Podcast, Marc Schulman looks back at six turbulent weeks since the ceasefire between the United States, Iran, and Israel was announced. What was supposed to be a temporary pause has turned into a dangerous diplomatic limbo, with President Trump moving between threats of renewed war and hints of a possible agreement with Tehran. Marc argues that Israel may have emerged from the war in a weaker strategic position: Iran remains in power, its nuclear program is unlikely to disappear, sanctions may be eased, and the Strait of Hormuz has become a powerful Iranian bargaining chip. The episode also turns to Lebanon, where Hezbollah’s use of fiber-optic drones has exposed a serious Israeli vulnerability and raised difficult questions about the IDF’s readiness, manpower, and post–October 7 security doctrine. Marc argues that Israel cannot fight forever wars or try to destroy every possible threat in advance; instead, it must rebuild its ability to defend against threats quickly and effectively when they arise. Marc then examines Israel’s shrinking support in the United States, the dangers of losing bipartisan backing, and the approaching Israeli election campaign, where questions of leadership, competence, and Netanyahu’s political future loom large. He also briefly surveys American politics ahead of the midterms, Trump’s continued grip on the Republican Party, and the possible consequences if Democrats regain control of Congress. Finally, Marc turns to AI: an update on his own experience using Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini for programming and writing; Google I/O’s casual announcement about the approach of the “singularity”; and the troubling lack of serious political oversight as artificial intelligence advances at an extraordinary pace. The episode closes on an uneasy note: Israel faces deep strategic challenges, while humanity itself may be racing toward an AI future it has barely begun to debate. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcschulman.substack.com/subscribe [https://marcschulman.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

MAY 19, 2026: Startup Nation Under Pressure — Yaniv Rivlin on Israeli Entrepreneurship, War, Tel Aviv, and the Future of the Periphery

In today’s episode of Tel Aviv Diary, Marc sits down with Israeli entrepreneur, investor, and author Yaniv Rivlin for a wide-ranging conversation on the state of Israel’s economy, society, and startup culture after years of political turmoil, war, and uncertainty. Rivlin recounts his journey from growing up in Katzrin in the Golan Heights to studying at Harvard, working in philanthropy and social impact, launching Bird’s shared scooter operations in Tel Aviv during the height of the mobility revolution, and later founding an investment company focused on small and medium-sized businesses in Israel’s geographic periphery. Along the way, he reflects on why Israeli entrepreneurship continues to thrive under pressure, the role of the military and close-knit social networks in building the country’s tech ecosystem, and the “chutzpah” that continues to define Israeli business culture. The discussion then turns to the deeper strains facing Israeli society after years of COVID, political division, and the post–October 7 reality. Marc and Rivlin examine the widening gap between Israel’s highly successful private sector and what they describe as a struggling and often paralyzed public sector. They discuss the challenges facing small businesses, the collapse of tourism in parts of the country, delayed government compensation, demographic and economic shifts toward Tel Aviv, and whether Israel’s north and south can truly emerge as new centers of growth. The episode closes with a candid exchange about Israeli politics, resilience, and cautious optimism about where the country may stand five years from now. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcschulman.substack.com/subscribe [https://marcschulman.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

War, Politics, and the Future of Mobility: Israel at a Crossroads

This edition of Tel Aviv Diary combines Marc Schulman’s weekly reflections on Israel’s political and security situation with an in-depth interview on one of Israel’s most important emerging technology sectors: autonomous mobility. Marc opens the episode with a candid assessment of the war on Israel’s northern border, as Hezbollah drone attacks continue and another Israeli soldier is killed in South Lebanon. Drawing on historical parallels from earlier Israeli operations in Lebanon, he discusses the danger of becoming trapped in an endless low-intensity conflict and questions whether Israel’s current security doctrine — the idea that every threat must be eliminated militarily — can realistically provide long-term stability. The conversation then turns to Iran, the uncertain role of President Donald Trump, and the growing concern in Israel that too much of the country’s strategic future has been tied to a single American political figure and a single high-risk policy gamble. Marc also reflects on the approaching Israeli elections and explains why he has decided, for the first time, to move beyond commentary and actively support former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and his new political movement. He describes spending the day campaigning in Tel Aviv’s Carmel Market, the reactions he encountered from voters, and why he believes Eisenkot may represent a rare figure capable of reducing some of Israel’s political and social polarization after the trauma of October 7. The second half of the episode shifts from politics and war to technology and the future of transportation. Marc interviews Elad Hofstetter, Chief Business Officer of Innoviz, one of Israel’s leading LiDAR and autonomous driving companies. The discussion explores how LiDAR technology works, why many in the automotive industry believe cameras alone are insufficient for safe autonomous vehicles, and why companies such as BMW, Volkswagen, Mobileye, and others are investing heavily in sensor fusion systems that combine LiDAR, radar, and cameras. The interview also examines the changing economics of autonomous driving technology, the growing role of artificial intelligence in mobility systems, and the broader evolution of the autonomous vehicle market after years of hype and delayed expectations. Hofstetter explains how Innoviz manufactures its systems, how the company survived the difficult consolidation of the LiDAR industry, and why the field may finally be reaching a real commercial turning point. The conversation concludes with a discussion of how technologies originally developed for autonomous vehicles may increasingly find applications in defense and drone detection — subjects now impossible to separate from daily life in Israel. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcschulman.substack.com/subscribe [https://marcschulman.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

MAY 8, 2026: Iran, Hormuz, and Israel’s Strategic Drift — A Conversation with Ehud Haik

In today’s edition of Tel Aviv Diary, Marc Schulman is joined once again by geopolitical and intelligence analyst Ehud Haik for an in-depth discussion on one of the most uncertain moments of the current war. As conflicting signals emerge from Washington and Tehran, Marc and Ehud examine whether the United States and Iran are moving toward another round of fighting or toward an unstable diplomatic arrangement that neither side fully trusts. They discuss the strange events of the previous night, the ongoing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, and why both the Americans and Iranians appear to be calibrating escalation carefully while still preparing for the possibility of a much larger confrontation. The conversation explores Iran’s internal power structure, the growing role of the Revolutionary Guards, and the belief in Tehran that time may be working in Iran’s favor as President Trump’s political leverage gradually weakens heading toward the American midterm elections. Marc and Ehud analyze whether the Iranian strategy of prolonging negotiations could succeed, how China and the Gulf states fit into the broader picture, and why the United States may ultimately feel it cannot allow Iran to dominate the Strait of Hormuz or continue advancing toward a nuclear capability. They also discuss the dangerous reality that neither side appears to be observing a true ceasefire, creating the constant risk that a limited exchange could spiral into a much larger war. The second half of the podcast turns inward toward Israel itself and the growing debate over the country’s long-term strategic direction. Marc and Ehud argue that Israel may now be in a worse strategic position than before the latest round of fighting, particularly in Lebanon. They discuss Hezbollah’s recovery, missed diplomatic opportunities with Lebanon and Syria, and what they describe as an increasingly dangerous belief inside the Israeli government that military force alone can solve every strategic challenge. Ehud warns that Israel is drifting toward what he calls a “Sparta model” — a society permanently mobilized for endless war — and explains why he believes that vision is economically, socially, and politically unsustainable. The discussion also addresses the deeper crisis inside Israeli society: the erosion of democratic norms, growing political violence, tensions surrounding the judiciary and security services, and the widening divide between competing visions of Israel’s future. Marc and Ehud examine how the trauma of October 7 reshaped Israeli politics, why many former political rivals are now finding common ground, and whether a future election could produce a broad coalition focused less on left versus right and more on preserving democratic institutions, restoring competence, and preventing further fragmentation of Israeli society. A wide-ranging and candid conversation on war, strategy, diplomacy, and the future direction of Israel and the Middle East. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcschulman.substack.com/subscribe [https://marcschulman.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]