Notes from Substack Clarity.December 14,2025.
Words escape me. As someone who has interacted with and long admired the Australian Jewish community, visiting it frequently and hosting its members in Israel, the massacre at the Bondi Beach Hanukkah party has left me speechless.
Of course, I could condemn the Australian government whose shameless support for Palestinian terror has fueled antisemitism and dog whistled violence against Jews. I could mourn the passing of a nation that, since its founding, had always welcomed Jews, and offered new homes and hope to many hundreds of Holocaust survivors.
But now, I can only express profound sadness for the bereaved families, wish a complete recovery to the wounded, and remind Australian Jews we are always with you and you always have a home in Israel.
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Episode Description October 7 didn’t just change Israel. It exposed the end of an era. In this episode of Echoes of Jewish History, I sit down with Ambassador Michael Oren—historian, former Israeli ambassador to the United States, IDF veteran, and one of Israel’s most consequential strategic thinkers—to map the world that is emerging in the…
Tensions between Iran and the US following Trump’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Key Points: Nuclear Concerns: The discussion centers on Iranian nuclear capabilities. While the US intelligence has not confirmed Iran’s missile or nuclear facility rebuilding, Israeli intelligence has suspected such activity—which is not unusual, as Israeli intelligence often detects developments before US intelligence.…
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Michael Oren (former Israeli diplomat) discusses on BBC World News a world leaders’ summit in Egypt during the Trump administration. He explains Trump’s “20-point plan” backed by Israel, which includes: ceasefire in Gaza, hostage restoration, regional stability, and Israeli-Palestinian peace aligned with the Abraham Accords. Oren emphasizes that addressing Islamic extremism and various types of…
This MSNBC interview segment from October 15, 2025, features Ana Cabrera interviewing Michael Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, about the fragile Middle East peace plan and recent developments regarding Israel and Hamas. Key Discussion Points: Peace Plan Status: Cabrera and Oren discuss “Israel, Hamas Accuse Each Other of Violating Peace Plan,” with the interview…
This Fox News “America Reports” segment from October 14, 2025, features an interview with Michael Oren, former Israeli Ambassador to the United States, discussing recent hostage releases and the Middle East situation. Key Topics Covered: Hostage Recovery: The interview focuses on “Freed Hostages Recovering in Tel Aviv Hospital,” noting that the first phase of a peace…
The video features Michael Oren, a former Israeli ambassador to the United States and historian, appearing on NewsNation’s “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” on October 23, 2025. Hosted by Elizabeth Vargas, the 11-minute interview discusses ongoing Middle East tensions, focusing on Israel’s perspectives amid regional conflicts. Oren addresses international reactions to recent Israeli actions, emphasizing the challenges…
This CNN segment from October 13, 2025, titled “Michael Oren Appears on CNN’s ‘The Source'” features Michael Oren, former Israeli Ambassador to the United States, discussing President Trump’s declaration that “the war in Gaza is over” and the peace agreement’s progress. Trump’s Announcement and Peace Plan: The interview opens with breaking news of Trump declaring…
Michael Oren Appears on NBC News’ ‘Meet the Press Now’ (10.9.25) https://vimeo.com/1126000723/
Growing up as the only Jewish kid in an Irish and Italian neighborhood, and then later as an Israeli soldier and diplomat, I experienced many different forms of antisemitism. I’ve gone from being labeled a Christ-killer to a money grubber to a child murderer. But I’ve never in my many years encountered anything like today’s…
Michael Oren Appears on CNN Newsroom (7.19.25)
Israel Strikes Iran June 13, 2025 Bari Weiss 51M Naftali Bennett and Michael Oren break down Israel’s attack on multiple sites across Iran. View all episodes In the early Friday morning hours, Israel launched a series of strikes on Iran, targeting nuclear facilities, defense operations, and the leadership of the Revolutionary Guard. Hours later, I…
This article was published on ynetnews.com. May 5,2025. The state created in 1948 to ensure that the Jewish people would never again have to rely on anybody else for our security has repeatedly outsourced its security to others. The results have always been disastrous. In the 1950s, we outsourced our security to UN peacekeepers in…
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Years of U.S. appeasement have failed. It’s time for a dramatic change of course.
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FBI Director’s warning that Hamas could inspire an attack in the US is a “very real threat”, says former Israeli ambassador to the US Michael Oren.
On Nov. 2, I had a wide-ranging conversation with former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Oren. We talked about his lifelong service to Israel, what he’s learned over the years, and how he is communicating about the current war against Hamas. The interview has been edited for clarity and length. — M.G.
Former Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren details ground operations expanding from the IDF
Hatred of Israel cannot be distinguished from hatred of the Jewish people. Incontestably now, anti-Zionism is antisemitism.
“We have removed with our own hand our most powerful weapon—the enemy’s fear of us. We have the power…but if we give in…we have opened the door to Israel’s destruction.”
The Lavon Affair remains a stain on Israel’s intelligence record and a lesson for Israeli leaders today. The end of this month, January 31, will mark seventy-one years since Egypt’s execution of Israeli agent Moshe Marzouk and six decades since his death resulted in an Israeli prime minister’s resignation. Why do both anniversaries remain acutely…
With Israel’s main enemies significantly downgraded, the failure to assert our sovereignty poses the greatest threat to Israel’s long term survival. At first glance, the tragic death of the Haredi teenager Yosef Eisenthal during an anti-government demonstration in Jerusalem last week seemed totally unconnected to the shooting, by Israel police, of a Bedouin man, Muhammad…
Maduro’s capture is outstanding news for the democratic world. President Trump’s audacious action in capturing Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in downtown Caracas and airlifting him to prison in America is outstanding news for the democratic world and especially for Israel. The operation follows many years that the United States turned its back on South America.…
2025 was a year of war–in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. It was a year of loss and trauma but also of victory and, for the hostages, redemption. 2026 promises to be a pivotal year of breakthroughs in relations with several of Israel’s long-term foes. Beyond that, 2026 for Israel could be a year of recovery,…
Rather than a departure from standard practice, recent actions by the United States continue its longstanding commitment to protect vulnerable religious communities abroad. President Trump’s decision to intervene militarily to defend Christians from ISIS attacks in Nigeria has been criticized by left and the right-wing commentators alike. Progressives denounced the operation as the product of…
Netanyahu and Trump’s pivotal meeting in a critical moment. Though it will take place in better circumstances than his previous five visits to the White House this year, Netanyahu’s forthcoming meeting at Mar-a-Lago with President Trump might well be the most crucial. On the agenda are issues that are likely to prove pivotal to Israel’s…
Mein Kulturkampf Clarity with Michael Oren, February 5, 2024 “I have only one passion, that of light, in the name of humanity which has suffered so much and which has the right to happiness.” So concluded J’Accuse, Emile Zola’s 1898 attack on the French judicial, military, and political establishment. His purpose was to expose the…
For many years—decades, even—of terrorist strikes and wars, Israel had been the most dangerous place for Jews. But is it still? Reflecting on the Bondi Beach massacre made me remember—perhaps strangely—a remark once made by my son, Noam, in his Bar Mitzvah speech. The year was 2003, the height of the Second Intifada, with hundreds…
