Nuclear deadlock, desert bases, and rising fear

Summary

Ark News Daily

Episode: Nuclear Deadlock, Desert Bases, and Rising Fear
Host: Deborah Pardes
Date: May 11, 2026
Podcast by Ark Media

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise but powerful update on the ongoing war in Iran and its ripple effects across the Middle East and Jewish communities worldwide. It spotlights the diplomatic deadlock between Iran and the U.S. over nuclear negotiations, unveils secret military maneuvers in Iraq, and provides a sobering look at the normalization of antisemitism in Australia, as heard through testimony at the Royal Commission.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Iran-Nuclear Negotiations at a Standstill

• Summary:
  Iran has responded to the latest U.S. peace initiative by insisting that hostilities end before any broader talks, especially on nuclear issues, can proceed. The U.S., in contrast, demands Iran’s nuclear program be addressed immediately, including a cessation of uranium enrichment and handing over its stockpile.
• Details:
  • Iran’s message via Pakistani mediation: "End the war first, everything else comes later." (00:13)
  • Iranian spokesperson: No nuclear negotiations at this stage.
  • President Trump on Truth Social called the response "totally unacceptable" and accused Iran of “playing games.” He warned, “they would be laughing no longer.” (00:40)
  • U.S. offering sanctions relief and gradual lifting of its naval blockade in exchange for nuclear compliance.

“The US Position is almost the exact opposite of Iran’s... the gaps remain unchanged.” — Deborah Pardes (01:24)

2. Israel’s Skepticism and Security Stance

• Summary:
  Israel remains deeply wary of a phased agreement, fearing it would echo the perceived failures of the Obama-era deal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists security must come first.
• Details:
  • Israel concerned economic relief for Iran would precede dismantling of its nuclear capabilities.
  • Netanyahu, on “60 Minutes,” reiterates: “War would not be over until Iran’s uranium is removed and its enrichment facilities are dismantled." (02:00)
• Notable Quotes:
  • Netanyahu:

    “President Trump has said to me, I want to go in there and I think it can be done physically. That’s not the problem. If you have an agreement and you go in and you take it out, why not? That’s the best way.” (02:24)

  • When asked if removal could happen by force:

    “I’m going to dodge them because I’m not going to talk about our military possibilities, plans, or anything of the kind.” (02:37)

3. Revelation of Secret Israeli Base in Iraq

• Summary:
  A covert Israeli military base has been uncovered in Iraq, highlighting Israel’s regional operational reach and further complicating regional dynamics.
• Details:
  • Incident began when a shepherd in Iraq spotted helicopters in a forbidden zone; led to fatal air attack on Iraqi soldiers. (03:10)
  • The Wall Street Journal revealed the outpost was set up on an old Saddam-era airstrip to provide logistics for Israeli operations and possible rescue of downed airmen. Built with U.S. knowledge before the war began.
  • Iraqi government expresses outrage; parliament summons ministers for explanation.
  • Analysts suggest timing of this revelation may be a signal — demonstrating Israel’s regional reach precisely as peace talks deadlines pass.
• Insight:
  • “Israel’s ability to operate covertly across the region, not just from the air, but on the ground deep inside hostile territory.” — Deborah Pardes (04:25)

4. Australia’s Royal Commission on Antisemitism: A New Normal

• Summary:
  The first full week of the Royal Commission has revealed not just failures in policy, but the emotional and psychological cost for Jewish families as antisemitism becomes normalized in daily life.

• Highlights from Testimony:

  • Dean Cherney:

    “If Israel’s not safe and we’re not safe in Australia, like where are we going to go?... it broke my heart that this is something that’s playing in my 10 year old daughter’s mind...” (05:41)

  • Jeremy Liebler (Zionist Federation of Australia):
    Told a story of his son noticing that only Jewish schools have fortified security:

    “He caught himself and said, oh, I forgot. It’s not a Jewish school, so they don’t need the fences and the guard... that is normal. That isn’t something he learned from me... It’s not how I grew up.” (06:12)

  • Covey Penneth:
    Testified about verbal attack on a train:

    “What struck me wasn’t necessarily the abuse itself, but... nobody else on the train said anything in support of me... This was normal now, this is how things occur.” (07:23)

• Pardes’s Reflection:
  The testimony reveals a generational shift in what it means to be Jewish in Australia, where “guards and fences and escape plans are just part of being Jewish.” (07:41)

5. Global Context

• Similar trends and silences around antisemitism are echoing across the UK, France, and Canada. Australia’s inquiry stands out for its scale and candor.

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Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Highlight | |-----------|-------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:40 | Donald Trump (via Pardes)| “Totally unacceptable... playing games... they would be laughing no longer.” | | 01:24 | Deborah Pardes | “The gaps remain unchanged.” | | 02:24 | Benjamin Netanyahu | “If you have an agreement and you go in and you take it out, why not? That’s the best way.” | | 02:37 | Benjamin Netanyahu | “I’m going to dodge them because I’m not going to talk about our military possibilities...” | | 05:41 | Dean Cherney | “If Israel’s not safe and we’re not safe in Australia, like where are we going to go? … it broke my heart...” | | 06:12 | Jeremy Liebler | “...I forgot. It’s not a Jewish school, so they don’t need the fences and the guard...” | | 07:23 | Covey Penneth | “What struck me wasn’t necessarily the abuse itself, but... nobody else on the train said anything in support of me...” |

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Timeline of Major Segments

• 00:04 — Opening, today’s context & Iran/U.S. positions
• 02:24 — Netanyahu on possible removal of Iran’s uranium
• 03:10 — Discovery of secret Israeli base in Iraq
• 05:41 — Testimony at Australia’s Royal Commission on Antisemitism (Dean Cherney)
• 06:12 — Jeremy Liebler and normalization of security fears for Jewish children
• 07:23 — Covey Penneth on public indifference to antisemitic attacks
• 07:41 — Australia’s reckoning and wider implications

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Conclusion

This episode weaves together geopolitical deadlock, covert military developments, and the stark realities of contemporary antisemitism, offering listeners both critical updates and a sobering human perspective. The tone is brisk, journalistic, and deeply concerned — revealing the pressures facing both nations and individuals as stakes escalate across multiple fronts.

Transcript

[Deborah Pardes]

You are listening to an art media podcast. It's Monday, may 11th. This episode was recorded at 8pm new york time on Sunday. I'm deborah pardes and this is arc news daily. Yesterday, Iran responded to the latest U.S. peace proposal, delivered as usual through a mediator, Pakistan. Their message was, in short, end the war first, everything else comes later. According to Iranian state media, Iran's response focused the first stage of any negotiations on ending hostilities and ensuring Iranian control of the strait. On the nuclear question, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson was explicit. At this stage, we do not have nuclear negotiations, trump commented on Truth Social. He called the response totally unacceptable. He also accused Iran of playing games and warned they would be laughing no longer. The US Position is almost the exact opposite of Iran's. Washington wants the nuclear program on the table from the start, including a complete stop to uranium enrichment and a handover of its stockpile to the United States. In exchange, the US has offered some sanctions relief and a gradual lifting of its naval block blockade. While US Officials have relayed optimism about a deal, Israel remains skeptical. One source told the Jerusalem Post, the real question is whether there's actual movement toward closing the gaps. According to our estimates, the gaps remain unchanged. Israel's fear is a phased deal, one that gives Iran economic relief now while leaving the harder nuclear question to sort out later. Israeli officials draw a direct parallel to the Obama era nuclear agreement, which they believe believe gave Iran money and time without actually dismantling its capabilities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed those concerns in an interview on 60 Minutes. He said war would not be over until Iran's uranium is removed and its enrichment facilities are dismantled. As to how that would be done, here's how he responded.

[Benjamin Netanyahu]

President Trump has said to me, I want to go in there and I think it can be done physically. That's not the problem. If you have an agreement and you go in and you take it out, why not? That's the best way.

[Jeremy Liebler]

What if there isn't an agreement?

[Benjamin Netanyahu]

Can it be taken out by force? Well, you're going to ask me these questions, I'm going to dodge them because I'm not going to talk about our military possibilities, plans, or anything of the kind.

[Deborah Pardes]

That deliberate vagueness in itself is a message. Israel seems to be keeping its options open and making sure Iran knows it. In early March, a shepherd in Iraq's western desert saw something he wasn't supposed to helicopters. There shouldn't have been any in the area, he told the Iraqi army. They sent in soldiers and those soldiers came under fire from the air one was killed. We now know that what the Shepherds stumbled upon was a secret Israeli military base. The Wall Street Journal broke the story this weekend. The base sat deep in the desert on an old airstrip Saddam Hussein had buil abandoned. Israel built it just before the war started, with US Knowledge. It served as a logistical hub for the Israeli Air Force and as a staging post for search and rescue teams in case any Israeli pilot was downed over Iran. Following the news, Iraq was furious. Its parliament summoned their defense and interior ministers to explain what a foreign military force was doing on Iraqi soil. But the larger point is this. Analysts have noted that setting up secret bases is what world powers do. In early April, the Americans set up a makeshift post inside Iran itself to recover two airmen whose jet had gone down. Now we know Israel built its own version in Iraq. The Mossad also reportedly had drone bases inside Iran ahead of the war. What the story reveals is Israel's ability to operate covertly across the region, not just from the air, but on the ground deep inside hostile territory. At this point, the Iraq base may already be obsolete. Iraqi sources say it's empty. But some analysts are asking whether the timing of this story was itself deliberate. The US had set yesterday as its deadline for Iran to respond to the latest peace proposal the same day we learned of this secret base. In other words, it could be a signal that even during a pause, Israel can project force anywhere in the region anytime it chooses. The first full week of Australia's Royal Commission on Anti Semitism wrapped up on Friday. We've covered the institutional landscape before the ignored warnings, the funding cuts, the lack of police presence on Bondi Beach. But the testimony this week revealed something beyond policy failure. It's put on the record what normalization actually looks like. Many witnesses described how antisemitism has become part of the background of daily life, so much so that even their children are absorbing it. Resident Dean Cherney described the disturbing revelation he had While putting his 10 year old daughter to sleep.

[Dean Cherney]

And we're lying in bed and she says to me, if Israel's not safe and we're not safe in Australia, like where are we going to go? And I didn't have an answer. I don't have an answer. And it broke my heart that this is something that's playing in my 10 year old daughter's mind about where we will live and what we will do if the scourge of anti Semitism continues to rise in this country.

[Deborah Pardes]

Jeremy Liebler, president of the Zionist Federation of Australia, described a similar dynamic with his teenage son.

[Jeremy Liebler]

We live close to Caulfield Junior College, a state school in the area. And we were walking past, and this is an area they walk past all the time. And he sort of suddenly like, you know, turned to his dad. It's like he got confused for a minute and he's like, dad, I understand. Why are the fences so low? Where are the guards? And it's like he'd forgotten where he was. And then he caught himself and he said, oh, oh, I forgot. It's not a Jewish school, so they don't need the fences and the guard. I think hearing him make that observation that Jewish schools, Jewish children need high fences and guards and security and to be protected, but other children don't and other schools don't, and that is normal. That isn't something he learned from me. He didn't learn that at home. It's not how I grew up.

[Deborah Pardes]

Other parents and students have described the fear they feel as. Well, they've been called dirty Jews or spies for Israel and have been confronted with Nazi salutes. And then there's the silence around it. Resident Covey Penneth testified about being confronted on the train. A man yelled at him, calling him an effing Jew, and asked him how many babies he would need to kill, kill in Gaza before he would be happy.

[Covey Penneth]

What struck me wasn't necessarily the abuse itself, but it was more about the normalization of the situation whereby nobody else on the train with me commented, nobody else on the train said anything in support of me. And it just felt to me that it was. This was normal. Now this is how things occur.

[Deborah Pardes]

Australia is not alone in this. Similar commissions, similar testimony, similar silences have played out in the uk, France and Canada. What makes Australia's moment distinctive is the scale of the reckoning. A royal commission is the highest level of public investigation in the country. But the testimony this week pointed to something harder to legislate. A generation of Jewish children in Australia is growing up with a set of assumptions their parents never had, where guards and fences and escape plans are just part of being Jewish. The commission can address the conditions, but it may not be able to undo what's already been learned. I'm Deborah Pardes and this is ARC News Daily. See you tomorrow.