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

Behind the scenes in Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard’s new efforts to ease his parole conditions so he can take care of his cancer-stricken wife Esther. She fought for his life for so many years, and now he is fighting for hers.
Gil Hoffman also talks about whether politicians should all hide behind a rock between now and the September 17 election.

Gil Hoffman takes listeners through the story line of the hit movie The Lion King and explains why it has much in common with the story of the Jewish people and the Land of Israel. Earlier in the show, he takes listeners behind the scenes through the last-minute rebranding efforts of our new political parties in Israel and talks about their chances of success.

Who put a picture of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a bikini on highway billboards and why? Which politicians are harming their own cause by exposing their naked ego? Gil Hoffman answers these questions and more with the help of Israel Victory Project Israel director Daniel Seaman.