In the latest episode of The Deep Dive, host Jacob Laznik examines a week dominated by sensitive political developments and international controversy.
In the first segment, Laznik is joined by Michael Starr, The Jerusalem Post’s diaspora and antisemitism correspondent, to unpack the week’s top headlines. These include the emotional return of Dror Or, a hostage previously held in Gaza, leaving just two slain hostages unaccounted for.
Starr also weighs in on criticism leveled at commentator Peter Beinart for his controversial appearance at Tel Aviv University, as well as explosive allegations by US pundit Candace Owens, who accused Israel and France of conspiring to assassinate her.
Defining the Muslim Brotherhood: Terrorist designation or political strategy?
Laznik then shifts to international policy with Dalia Ziada, a coordinator at the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP). The two delve into US President Donald Trump’s push to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. Ziada, who has monitored Islamist movements across the Middle East, offers insights into the implications of such a move, both for regional diplomacy and American foreign policy.
ISGAP's policy recommendations and reports can be found here.
In the final segment, political analyst Sasha Machta joins Laznik to assess the increasing instability on Israel’s northern front. With tensions flaring along the Lebanon border and skirmishes with Hezbollah intensifying, Machta outlines how conflict in the north may escalate and potentially spill over into the ongoing war with Hamas.
Laznik closes the episode by urging policymakers and analysts alike to pay attention to how these parallel fronts are evolving.