Talking peace, making war - with Jake Sullivan

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The fourth week of the war with Iran finds both sides insisting—loudly and contradictorily—that peace talks are either underway or nowhere in sight. In the meantime, Iranian missiles continue to hit civilian neighbourhoods across Israel, while rolling news blurs day into night, tracking both the war itself and the political manoeuvres that show little sign of slowing down. And in London, another antisemitic attack raises uncomfortable questions about double standards when it comes to hatred directed at Israel.

This week, Yonit and Jonathan sit down with Jake Sullivan, who puts it bluntly: this war should not have started. Sullivan lays out three reasons why the decision was flawed, argues that Donald Trump’s “appetite grew with the eating” from the 12-day war to the current escalation, and offers an alternative path—a renewed nuclear deal backed by long-term deterrence. He also raises a troubling possibility: could this conflict increase the likelihood of Chinese action against Taiwan?
 

Plus: a rare look behind the scenes of Israel’s most-watched news broadcast, as Yonit reflects on what it means to sit in the anchor’s chair for hours on end—and the personal toll it takes.

 

00:00 Day 27 — Cluster bomb near Yonit's house

 03:00 Life under sirens: sheltering in Tel Aviv 

19:48 The Rubio remark: did Israel drag America into war?

23:28 Yonit on anchoring Israel's news during a war she's living

31:23 Jonathan: global antisemitic attacks since the war began 

42:06 Jake Sullivan: deal or escalation?

1:15:16 Chutzpah & Mensch Awards

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🎙️ THE HOSTS

Yonit Levi

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Jonathan Freedland

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