Podcast Summary: Unholy: Two Jews on the News

Episode: Welcome to 2026: From Mar-a-Lago to Qatargate

Date: January 1, 2026

Hosts: Yonit Levi (B), Tel Aviv | Jonathan Freedland (A), London

Main Theme

In this New Year's episode, Yonit Levi and Jonathan Freedland reflect on both the personal and political transitions into 2026. They discuss shifting Israeli and Jewish attitudes around the Gregorian New Year, provide analysis of the evolving Netanyahu–Trump relationship, dissect recent Israeli political controversies—including the so-called Qatargate scandal—and offer their predictions for the tumultuous year ahead in Israel and beyond. The episode combines personal anecdotes with sharp analysis, all delivered in a candid, witty, and sometimes acerbic tone.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. New Year’s in Israel—Before and After October 7th

• The hosts compare their subdued New Year’s rituals (“book parties” and “When Harry Met Sally” screenings) to Israel’s changing public mood post-October 7th.
• Yonit (01:42): “I would separate our lives before October 7th and after October 7th. January 1st used to be a thing... this year, on the cusp of 2026, I think that's back a little bit.”
• Both highlight how recent traumas have reshaped what were previously more celebratory customs, with recent years marked by somberness, though some normalcy is now returning.

2. Reflections & Milestones for the Podcast

• They celebrate their “podversary” (fifth anniversary of "Unholy") and tease an upcoming special with therapist Orna Goralnik, inviting listeners to share strained relationships for on-air advice.
  • Jonathan (06:59): “Podversery is perfect. It’s our fifth podversary. You're absolutely right.”

3. Netanyahu–Trump: The Mar-a-Lago Axis

• Analysis of the remarkably close, performative relationship between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump, culminating in Trump receiving Israel’s highest civilian honor, the Israel Prize, and suggestions that “Israel wouldn’t exist without you.”
  • Yonit (09:11): “Effusive praise from the American president… an attempt to show there is not only no daylight between them, they are so close you can’t even put an A4 copy paper between them.”
  • Jonathan (09:53, repeated theme): “You would not bet the house on this relationship. There is instability built into it… should I name the country after you? Maybe it shouldn’t be called Israel, it should be called Trumpistan.”
• Discussion of Trump’s unpredictability: support for Israel on Iran/Gaza punctuated by abrupt reversals.
• Speculation on real policy substance beneath the pageantry, particularly regarding Israeli operations against Iran and the demilitarization of Hamas.

4. Israeli Domestic Political Turmoil

a) Upcoming Elections

• Election Date: Scheduled for Oct 27, 2026, but early elections possible—linked to success/failure on budget and government stability.
  • Yonit (15:13): “Pause on that… the fact that the government has arrived at this, after the calamity of October 7th, is jaw-dropping.”

b) The October 7th Inquiry Controversy

• Discussion of the coalition’s attempt to control the inquiry commission’s membership and scope, widely derided as a whitewash.
  • Yonit (17:00): “The opposition says we're not taking any part in this whitewashing committee.”
  • Jonathan (18:02): “It's like asking the icebergs to investigate who sank the Titanic.”

c) Media Crackdown and Judicial Attacks

• The government’s blitz of contentious legislation includes closing Army Radio (Galaytzahel)—long considered an incubator for Israeli journalism—pending a Supreme Court review.
• Escalating rhetorical attacks on the judiciary.
  • Yonit (19:45): “A minister in the Israeli government saying we need to trample the Chief Justice—I mean, this is where we are. And it's frightening.”

d) The Qatargate Scandal

• Allegations that Netanyahu’s close advisors took payments from Qatari interests to push pro-Qatar messages during wartime. Central players (Jonathan Ulrich, Elie Feldstein, Israel Einhorn) now under investigation.
  • Feldstein’s bombshell interview confirms the extent of Qatar’s influence within the Prime Minister’s office.
  • Jonathan (26:00): “As serious, if not more serious, are these Qatar-related charges...the idea that...people in the Israeli Prime Minister's office are doing PR for an enemy state…it is extraordinary to think this is a survivable scandal.”
  • Naftali Bennett seizes on this as the “biggest betrayal in Israel’s history,” making it a major opposition campaign issue.

5. Foreign Policy: Somaliland Surprise

• Israel’s out-of-the-blue recognition of Somaliland is noted as a strategic move—possibly in alignment with the UAE—for regional security and Red Sea access.
  • Jonathan (28:31): “A useful place for Israel...in terms of its conflict with the Houthis...the UAE...operate their own military port in Somaliland.”

6. Predictions for 2026

• Israeli Elections:

  • The 2026 elections will be the sixth consecutive referendum on Netanyahu.
  • Key voter blocs: Can 10 Knesset seats be peeled from the Bibi camp?
  • Possible “breakout” parties: Focus on anti-draft-exemption (“Reservists”) parties, as well as a potential resurgent Labor (“Democrats”) under Yair Golan.
    • Jonathan (34:30): “There is usually one breakout success story...Could Yair Golan and Israel’s Labour Party poll better than previously anticipated?”
    • Yonit (36:21): “I would look at the sort of [Reservists Party]...because the anger towards this exemption from draft bill is cutting across many different groups.”

• International:

  • Recurring international condemnation of Israel’s policies on humanitarian aid access to Gaza expected.
  • Iran’s internal unrest and regional implications continue to loom large.

• US Politics:

  • Zoran Mamdani’s rise to Mayor of New York is posited as indicative of shifting American Jewish and Democratic Party attitudes towards Israel.

7. Chutzpah and Mensch Awards

Chutzpah Nominees

• Likud MK: Suggesting the inquiry should investigate Rabin before Netanyahu.

• Tourism Minister: Suggesting Israelis avoid overpriced hotels and “just stay home.”

• Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich: Claiming Israel’s military is at fault for failing to draft ultra-orthodox citizens.

  • Yonit (40:21): “It seems to be a government that is running away from any kind of accountability… it’s everybody else’s fault, but not the fault of the people who actually are in charge.”

Mensch Award

• Maurice Kahn (obituary): Celebrated as an indefatigable philanthropist and innovator, from supporting space exploration to pediatric heart surgeries.
  • Jonathan (41:26): “He gave so much of his life to various philanthropic projects...makes a good case to be this week’s [mensch].”
  • Yonit (43:25): “He said he will leave most of his money to philanthropy, [and not] be the richest man in the city cemetery. That is, I think, such a beautiful thing.”

Memorable Quotes

• Yonit (09:11): “Effusive praise...so close you can’t even put an A4 copy paper between them.”
• Jonathan (10:59): “Should I name the country after you? Maybe it shouldn’t be called Israel, it should be called Trumpistan.”
• Yonit (15:13): “Pause on that… the fact that the government…after the calamity of October 7th…is jaw-dropping.”
• Jonathan (18:02): “It's like asking the icebergs to investigate who sank the Titanic.”
• Yonit (19:45): “How did we go… to three years later a minister…saying we need to trample the Chief Justice?”
• Jonathan (26:00): “To think that...the people in the Israeli Prime Minister's office are doing PR for an enemy state… is extraordinary…”
• Yonit (41:14): “A tourism minister telling people, don't stay in hotels, stay at home, it's cheaper.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic/Quote | |-----------|-------------| | 00:31 | Opening banter, New Year’s in Israel | | 05:24 | Podcast 5th anniversary reflection | | 08:39 | Netanyahu–Trump meeting at Mar-a-Lago | | 15:13 | Predictions for Israeli election timing | | 17:00 | October 7th Inquiry Commission controversy | | 19:45 | Legislative “blitz”: media/judiciary crackdown | | 23:18 | Qatargate scandal explained | | 26:00 | Analysis: Why Qatargate is so serious | | 28:31 | Somaliland recognition—regional geopolitics | | 30:57 | Predictions for the Israeli election—block dynamics | | 34:30 | Potential breakout party (“Democrats”/Yair Golan) | | 36:21 | Reservists/anti-draft parties—emerging trend | | 38:57 | International condemnation, Gaza humanitarian aid controversy | | 39:39 | US: Zoran Mamdani’s “mayoralty” and Democratic trends | | 40:21 | Chutzpah award contenders, government accountability | | 41:26 | Mensch award: Maurice Kahn obituary | | 43:25 | Kahn’s philanthropic legacy remembered |

Summary Takeaway

This episode paints a vivid, at times darkly comedic picture of Israeli politics at the dawn of 2026: a government battered by war and scandal yet astonishingly durable, a society struggling to return to normal, an opposition gearing up for make-or-break elections, and a US-Israel relationship now equal parts spectacle and instability. The hosts’ conversational warmth and wryness never eclipse their hard-nosed analysis, offering listeners context that’s both richly informed and deeply personal.

“Happy 2026,” indeed.