Bibi's secret visit, Israeli election timetable - and a veteran mensch

Yonit and Jonathan discuss a week brimming with unresolved questions. Did Benjamin Netanyahu really travel to the UAE during the war with Iran? Why would he leak it now, and what led the UAE to issue such a quick denial? After a trip to China, where is Donald Trump heading on Iran?

And inside Israel, as the political drama intensified with United Torah Judaism threatening to break ranks with the coalition over the draft bill's failure, could elections be held in September? And what role could be played by a possible plea bargain for Netanyahu?

Finally, there’s a crowded field for our mensch award this week – who will come out in front: a 100 year old international treasure or a newborn baby?

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7QkyKrD0Km0?si=LrarQpAPjOBhB2WS

David Attenborough Tribute: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYFyK6boqC2/

⏱ CHAPTERS:

[00:00] Intro — Netanyahu, Trump, and the week in news

[00:43] Yonit's book in Hebrew — "Don't Feed the Lion" lands in Israel

[05:13] Jonathan's Jewish tour of Porto — and the cross that means Jewish house

[09:29] Netanyahu's secret UAE visit — what really happened

[13:10] The UAE denial — implausible deniability explained

[15:10] Iran ceasefire suspended animation — everyone preparing for the next round

[16:01] Trump in China — could Beijing unlock the Iran deal?

[17:20] Lebanon vs. Iran at the UN — the embryo of a new Middle East

[20:13] Israeli elections — United Torah Judaism breaks with Netanyahu

[22:36] Will Netanyahu even run? The plea deal question

[24:10] Western Wall bill — criminalizing non-orthodox practice

[27:15] Gaza: Hamas not disarming, humanitarian aid down 37%

[33:38] Nick Kristof's NYT piece — the controversy explained

[40:40] Chutzpah: Miki Zohar blames October 7th on Bennett-Lapid

[43:02] Mensch: Tom Holland on antisemitism

[44:20] Mensch: David Attenborough turns 100

[46:48] Mensch: Abe Foxman, the last Jewish pope

[47:30] Baby Aviv — Unholy's first baby 🎉

💛 Become a friend of the pod:

Patreon: https://bit.ly/UnholyPatreon

🌐 Our website: https://unholy-podcast.lovable.app/

📺 FOLLOW UNHOLY

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGlvtS7As7WHh7YtmU5SMUQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unholypodcast/

X: https://x.com/unholypod

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/unholypod.bsky.social

🎧 LISTEN TO UNHOLY

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/il/podcast/unholy-two-jews-on-the-news/id1548441108

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2m2UnLfiAyOehtF1bsv98W

🎙️ THE HOSTS

Yonit Levi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yonitleviofficial/

X: https://x.com/LeviYonit

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yonit-levi/

Jonathan Freedland

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathanfreedland/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jonathanfreedland.bsky.social

📩 Contact: unholy@unholy-media.com

🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/unholypod

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.