Israel Uncensored

Mar

2020

Living with Coronavirus while Focusing on the Positives

On today’s Israel Uncensored with Josh Hasten, an interview with educator and lecturer Rabbi Zev Shandalov who says that despite a virtual country-wide quarantine as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak, the focus should not be on what we can’t do, but on what we can do. Namely the Rabbi says that we should use this opportunity to read more, get to know our families better, study more Torah, and other positive activities even while being on lock down.

Also on the show Josh discusses the current political reality as the country’s leaders try to put together a government, with Blue and White head Benny Gantz disappointingly accepting the endorsement of the Arab Balad Party – an extremist element whose goal is to destroy the State of Israel from within.

Photo Credit: Alpha Stock Images – alphastockimages.com/

Mar

2020

Israel Back to the Polls for a Third Time in a Year

On today’s special election edition of Israel Uncensored with Josh Hasten, Josh interviews the “man (and woman) in the street” outside a Gush Etzion polling station, as Israel votes for the 23rd Knesset – the country’s third election within a year. While most voters interviewed in this non-scientific poll said they would vote for Yemina led by Naftali Bennett, others said they would be choosing PM Netanyahu’s Likud. Other voters were undecided going into the polling station. Listen to today’s show to get a sense of the logic used by some Israelis as they cast their ballots.

Feb

2020

Coronavirus Panic Hits Israel

On today’s Israel Uncensored with Josh Hasten, Josh discusses the fears of Coronavirus reaching Israel’s shores as South Korean tourists who tested positive for the virus recently toured the country. Around 200 Israeli students, teachers and border police are under quarantine as they may have come in close contact to the group during their visit. Also on the show, Josh praises the IDF’s decision to create deterrence against terror by refusing to turn over the body of a terrorist who tried to plant an explosive device along the Israel/Gaza border fence.

Feb

2020

ZOA at the WZC

On today’s Israel Uncensored with Josh Hasten an interview with ZOA Chairman Mark Levenson. The ZOA has put together a wide coalition for the current US World Zionist Congress elections. Levenson explains how his slate is running under the banner of “Courageously Defending Israel, Sovereignty, and the Jewish People.” Also on the show, a very special interview with Rochelle Wreschner of “Gift it Well.” Her new and unique company offers specialized gifts and services fitting the needs of people in Israel dealing will illness.

Feb

2020

Can We Achieve Full Sovereignty and Reject a PA State?

On today’s Israel Uncensored with Josh Hasten, Josh gives his take on the Trump Administration’s “Deal of the Century.” He asks, can Israel under the terms of the proposal annex communities in Judea and Samaria while rejecting a potential PA state in Israel’s heartland, which could become an existential threat? But first on the show, an interview with Yehuda HaKohen, one of the leaders of the “Vision” slate in the current World Zionist Congress Elections. HaKohen shares his party’s outlook under the slogan “Empowering the Next Generation” of Jews.

Photo Credit: Flickr by The White House

Jan

2020

Gearing up for Trump’s “Deal of the Century”

On today’s Israel Uncensored with Josh Hasten, an exclusive interview with Ambassador Yoram Ettinger, Israel’s Former Minister for Congressional Affairs in Washington and expert on US/Israel relations. Ettinger is concerned that the authors of the Trump plan might have ignored what he says is the violent nature of the Middle East, particularly in regard to the stability of Israel’s Eastern border, when putting together the proposal (based on expected details of the plan). At the same time while Ettinger praises the unique current US/Israel relationship under the Trump administration, he says that we don’t know what the future will look like come January 21, 2021, if a new US president is sworn into office.

Photo Credit: Flickr / U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv

Jan

2020

PA Daily Calls for Murder During International Holocaust Gathering

As over 40 world leaders are set to arrive in Jerusalem this week to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, a PA columnist has advocated for murder in order to disrupt the ceremonies. On today’s Israel Uncensored with Josh Hasten, Maurice Hirsch Head of Legal Strategies for Palestinian Media Watch discusses how the PA in recent weeks has stepped up it’s anti-Israel incitement, and along with this call for murder, has launched blood libel campaigns accusing Jews of desecrating the Temple Mount – in order to rile up the masses towards terror and violence.

Jan

2020

Israel is Not Alone

On this week’s Israel Uncensored with Josh Hasten, an interview with JNS.org and Jerusalem Post columnist Ruthie Blum. In her latest Jpost column Blum explains how President Trump’s liquidation of Iranian master terrorist Qasem Soleimani shows that despite previous perceptions, Israel is not alone in it’s fight to keep Iran in check and in preventing the mullahs from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Photo Credit: Flickr / David Pacey

Jan

2020

Iran is Scared

On today’s Israel Uncensored with Josh Hasten, an interview with Dr. Harold Rhode, former Adviser on Islamic affairs at the Office of the US Secretary of Defense and renowned scholar on the Islamic world. Dr. Rhode discusses the aftermath of the liquidation of Qassem Suleimani, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, who was a terrorist and mass murderer. While Iran is issuing vast threats against the US and Israel as a result of Suleimani’s demise, Rhode said in reality the Iranian leadership is frightened. Rhode is hopeful that one day soon, the Iranian people will be freed from the tyrannical regime in Tehran.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia

Dec

2019

Why Did the Monsey Stabbing Happen?

On today’s Israel Uncensored with Josh Hasten, Josh tackles the horrible Monsey stabbing, where a machete-wielding hater of the Jews attacked a Hanukkah lighting ceremony in Monsey, NY this past Saturday night. Josh says that those who continue to ask “why” this attack and the many other anti-Semitic attacks are happening, need to wake up to the reality that if you are a Jew you are a target. Josh says that communal Jewish leaders, Rabbis, and others who host public gatherings within the Jewish community are negligent if they don’t provide adequate security in this day and age.

Photo Credit: Flickr / Heather