Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

Can Israel break the paralysis over the Palestinian question without risking its own security?

Israelis and Palestinians have been stuck for years, with no practical or diplomatic progress and little confidence that anything can change. Tal Becker argues that while the obstacles are real, accepting paralysis carries its own costs for Israel's security, regional relationships, international standing, and  national moral identity. He lays out what he believes the next Israeli government can realistically do to start moving forward without ignoring the lessons and trauma of October 7.

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In this episode:

- Why Israelis and Palestinians are stuck in a cycle of paralysis

- What a Palestinian state is supposed to solve

- The urgent imperatives of why change must happen soon

- Can regional normalization still move forward?

- Five priorities for Israel's next government

- The role of Arab states regarding the Palestinians

- What concrete step should Israeli leaders take next?

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

What will it take to save the U.S.-Israel alliance? 

Dan is joined by Rahm Emanuel, a Democratic party powerhouse who was a former Chicago mayor, White House Chief of Staff, and U.S. Ambassador to Japan. Dan challenges Emanuel on ideas from the speech he delivered in Tel Aviv that ignited debate across Israel and the United States. Emanuel argues that Israel's current course is putting the U.S.-Israel alliance at risk, while Dan presses him on whether October 7 fundamentally changed the assumptions behind his vision for Israel's future. They discuss Israel’s security, Palestinian statehood, the future of a more hostile Democratic Party, and whether Emanuel's message is ultimately an act of tough love or tough luck for Israel.

Watch Rahm Emanuel’s Tel Aviv speech HERE.

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Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers. If these conversations are where you turn to understand Israel and the Jewish world, consider joining them. It's what keeps this show going.

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In this episode:

- Rahm Emanuel remembers Senator Lindsey Graham

- How October 7 changed Israel’s security doctrine

- Rahm Emanuel’s 23-state solution for Israel and the Arab states

- Is its isolation becoming a security threat for Israel?

- How Emanuel would reshape the U.S.-Israel alliance

- Are calls for “From the River to the Sea” and Greater Israel equivalent?

- Emanuel’s response to fears antisemitism reshaping the Democratic Party

- Is Emanuel really advocating tough love or tough luck for Israel?

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

This is a sneak peek from the members-only edition of Inside Call Me Back. Dan and Tal Becker discuss Rahm Emanuel's speech in Israel, why support for Israel has become increasingly tied to America's culture wars, and whether that shift can still be reversed.

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Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers. If these conversations are where you turn to understand Israel and the Jewish world, consider joining them. It's what keeps this show going.

For the full episode, subscribe here to - Inside Call me Back

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You can access the full episode here, where Dan and Tal answer listener questions about:

- Is the potential for Arab-Israeli alliances slipping away?

- Is the Jewish diaspora becoming irreparably divided?

- Should American Jews have an elected leadership body?

- How do we make antisemitism taboo again?

- What role should Israelis abroad play?

- Could the far left and far right turn on each other?

- How is Hamas still functioning in Gaza?

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Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

Is the collapse of the U.S.-Iran deal the start of another war, or something messier in between?

Dan is joined by Ark Media contributor and senior analyst for Yedioth Ahronoth, Nadav Eyal, as Iran and the U.S. launch missile and verbal attacks. They discuss the apparent end to the ceasefire, why Israel believes the MoU was destined to fail and how Tehran is calculating its next move. They also explore why Turkey's growing military and political influence could be Israel's next strategic challenge.

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Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers. If these conversations are where you turn to understand Israel and the Jewish world, consider joining them. It's what keeps this show going.

Become a Subscriber - Inside Call me Back

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In this episode:

- Why the U.S.-Iran deal collapsed

- Iran's power play in Hormuz

- Who is really in charge in Iran?

- Israel's "we told you so" moment

- Why Turkey is becoming Israel's next big concern

- Netanyahu's public fight against the U.S. selling F-35s to Turkey

- Israel's long-term strategy toward Turkey

- Are we heading toward round three of war with Iran?

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Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo

As Americans mark Independence Day, we're revisiting one of the most popular episodes of What's Your Number?, a conversation that feels even more relevant today. Yonatan Adiri and Yael Wissner Levy are joined by Dan Senor, host of Call Me Back and co-author of Start-Up Nation which revolutionized the world’s respect for Israel and its entrepreneurial spirit and successes. Nearly two decades after the book's publication, Israel's tech sector is stronger than ever, yet the country's global brand faces unprecedented challenges. What does this mean for Israel’s reputation, innovation and its place in the world?

Dan also remembers his young friend, the late Israeli entrepreneur and investor Zaki Djemal, whose final essay on Israel's future and memorial service are linked below.

Read a tribute to Zaki Djemal  and his white paper here.

Watch Zaki Djemal’s memorial service here. 

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Call Me Back is made possible by our subscribers. If these conversations are where you turn to understand Israel and the Jewish world, consider joining them. It's what keeps this show going.

Become a Subscriber - Inside Call me Back

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In this episode:

08:00 – How Start-Up Nation changed Israel's image

14:35 – Israel's brand crisis after October 7

19:10 – Why global investors keep doubling down on Israel

25:55 – Does Israel need a new audience?

32:15 – The rise of defense tech

37:35 – AI, brain drain, and Israel's next challenge

44:30 – Does the "Start-Up Nation" reputation still apply?

46:55 – How would Dan characterize Israel's brand now?

More Ark Media:

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Explore Israel Votes

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Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal

Instagram | Ark Media | Dan

X | Dan

Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel

Get in touch

Credits: Ilan Benatar, Beth Pearlman, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Yuval Semo