Gil Hoffman and Rabbi Stewart Weiss talk about miracles and Hanukkah and the challenge of forming a government in Israel. Rabbi Weiss says one of the messages of the Hanukkah story is that it is up to the Jewish people in Israel to end their internal fighting, in order to face the many external challenges plaguing the Jewish state. Gil says he believes with complete faith that a messiah will still come and prevent a third election, even though it currently looks detached from reality, and that the Jewish people never lose hope.

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Gil Hoffman and Jerusalem Post legal correspondent Yonah Jeremy Bob explain the legal and political quagmire that is preventing the formation of a government and could lead to a third election in under a year.

Back from his North American speaking tour, Gil Hoffman explains why he does not believe Israel will be initiating an election for the third time in under a year. He reveals why he still thinks there is a chance for a unity government or a right-wing coalition to be formed by the December 11 deadline or a minority government backed by Arab legislators by Wednesday night’s deadline. He goes into the different loopholes that remain that can help prevent another election.

Looking back on his tour around America and Canada, Gil explains why the people he met gave him hope for the future of the US-Israel relationship.

Photo Credit: Yiftach T / commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Isra…ot_Divider.JPG

After enjoying Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah, it’s time to get back to work. Gil Hoffman looks back at what’s been happening when you have been fasting and feasting and forward at what can happen next in the political mess. Why after all these festive days, could the next holiday that gets embroiled in politics be Purim?

Gil Hoffman explains why he is Israel’s happiest person as Israelis go to the polls for a second time in 5 months in a celebration of Israeli democracy. He gives listeners an insider’s look at what lies ahead after the election and even reveals how it might be possible for the next government to last until November 2024. Hoffman than contrasts two very different articles written about him in the Electronic Intifada and Breaking Israel News websites and declares one of them the real winner on Election Day.

Gil Hoffman interviews Stav Shaffir, who is second on the left-wing Democratic Union list and Yair Lapid, who is second on the centrist Blue and White list. They both tell him why it is important that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lose the September 17 election. They both warn that if Netanyahu will be re-eelected, Israeli democracy will be in danger. Gil asks Shaffir if she regrets leaving Labor now that her current party is only getting six seats in the polls, and he speculates with Lapid about what would happen if neither Netanyahu’s Likud, nor Lapid’s Blue and White can form a government.

Photo Credit: Hebrew Wikipedia / Stephan Röhl & Wikipedia Commons / מטה יש עתיד

Gil Hoffman explains why there have been not two but seven elections so far over the past year, and why there might end up being as many as 12 before a new government is finally formed. Gil then goes into the impact of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waging a political battle against the media. He concludes with a message to Zehut Party voters following their leader Moshe Feiglin’s deal with Netanyahu in which Zehut quit the race.

Gil Hoffman speaks to veteran Israeli journalist Nachum Barnea about his 50 years in journalism and his historic interview last week with Joint List leader Ayman Odeh.
Odeh became the first leader of an Arab party to agree to join a governing coalition. Find out why and what are the chance of it happening.

Photo Credit: Hebrew Wikipedia / Anan Maalouf

Gil Hoffman interviews former MK Dov Lipman, the founder of Our Time is Now, an organization that aims to get immigrants to Israel from English speaking countries to be more politically active in parties that have primaries. Lipman says the initiative is getting a very impressive response. Volunteers across the country will respond to those who express interest at ILourtimeisnow@gmail.com.

Gil then speaks about the latest gaffes by Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, who last week forgot the name of murdered soldier Dvir Sorek on live TV and has retracted statements about seeking a government with Benjamin Netanyahu twice over the past two weeks.

Photo Credit: OTRS Wikimedia