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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econd issue. Was this about the President of the United States believing he needed to do this for his own and his country’s 00:00 interests, or was he talked into it by his buddy Bibi? Somebody who knows the answer to both, former Israeli 00:07 ambassador to the US, Mr. Michael Oren. I spent a…
Khamenei’s death can be traced back to Yahya Sinwar’s decision to launch the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, writes Michael Oren. (Illustration by The Free Press) Officially, at least, the war against Iran began on Saturday, February 28, at 1:15 a.m., Eastern Standard Time. In reality, though, Operation Epic Fury of the United States…
With new developments breaking on that front, we take you live to Tel Aviv and former Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Michael Oren. Ambassador, thank you for joining us. According to Iran’s state media, the senior Iranian cleric Javadi Amoli says that shedding the blood of Israelis and Trump is what is required of, quote,…
Michael Oren, speaking live from Tel Aviv, is interrupted by an active missile attack siren and confirms that missiles are incoming while his family shelters in a safe room, but he chooses to continue the interview. The host notes simultaneous reports of loud blasts in Dubai and mentions ongoing interceptions of Iranian missiles and drones…
Michael Oren, former Israeli ambassador to the United States, joins CNN’s Kaitlan Collins for special coverage on Israel’s latest strikes against Iranian targets and the escalating regional conflict. He discusses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stated intention to intensify military operations, the reported casualties from an Iranian missile near Jerusalem, and the broader strategic goal of…
Michael Oren, former Israeli ambassador to the U.S., tells ABC News that the current strikes on Iran are, in his view, crucial for Israel’s security and also positive for the United States. He argues that Israel faces an existential threat from the Iranian regime, which has been in power since 1979 and, he says, openly calls for…
https://vimeo.com/1169187748/343118fc6b?share=copy n this clip, former Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren discusses U.S. military pressure on Iran, Israel’s recent military gains, and whether current diplomacy can lock in a lasting new order in the Middle East. Key points Oren explains that a single U.S. aircraft carrier with about 90 warplanes and accompanying destroyers is still limited against…
Friday, February 13, 2026 “Explaining the challenges of the war to the world has been difficult”: Michel Oren, former Israeli ambassador to the United States. The diplomat spoke with SEMANA and said his country is going through a complex crisis, yet at the same time its military and civil strength has never been clearer. By…
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…
https://vimeo.com/1150451003/844cc8ef4c?fl=ip&fe=ec 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…
Israeli Intelligence Alert: Michael Oren on Australia Security Warnings https://vimeo.com/1147078340/8423bdeacb?fl=ip&fe=ec Israeli intelligence warnings to Australia about security threats Guest: Michael Oren, Former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Segment Focus: The interview discusses Israeli intelligence’s warning to Australia regarding potential threats to the country. During the segment, Oren is discussing communications between governments, with references to the Canadian…
Munk Debate: “Face Off on a Two-State Resolution” Event: Munk Debate on the Two-State Solution Date: December 3, 2025 Location: Meridian Hall, Toronto, Canada Format: One of the most consequential mainstage debates in the 17-year history of the Munk Debates series Debate Motion: “Be it Resolved, it is in Israel’s national interest to support a two-state solution” Debaters: In…
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…
https://vimeo.com/1127550310/53e0685335?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci 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…
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…
This article was published on ynetnews.com. Opinion: As tensions rise between the Israeli Air Force and Southern Command over Gaza operations, deeper societal divides—ethnic, economic, and political—threaten national unity at a time when it’s needed most. In the midst of a desperate war and on the eve of Memorial Day, a deep schism…
Our delegation of northern Israel residents met with senior White House officials who reassured us that the administration is doing everything in its power to achieve a cessation of hostilities that would enable displaced Israelis to return to their homes. Senator @SenRickScott has been steadfast in his support for the State of Israel. Since October 7th,…
The announcement Friday night that IDF troops had shot and killed three Israelis who had managed to escape Hamas captivity, pitched the nation into a despondency it had not known since October 7.
This war doesn’t end with an iconic photo of desert fighters gathered around a makeshift flagpole in Eilat and hoisting a hand-painted Israeli pennant.
Years of U.S. appeasement have failed. It’s time for a dramatic change of course.
It is clear beyond any doubt that Israel cannot agree to a ceasefire. A ceasefire means a victory for Hamas, which will immediately begin planning its next terrorist attack.
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.”
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Critics think the war with Iran is like Afghanistan. It’s much more like the Cold War. Everybody knows how wars begin but nobody knows how they end. In the last couple of weeks, the question of how the United States and Israel can conclude their war with Iran has become the most frequently asked…
About Iran, in particular, there was no shortage of the stories we told ourselves. There is a great expression in colloquial Hebrew that defies translation into other languages. It goes like this: “These are bedtime stories that we tell ourselves.” Though the image comes to mind of parents putting their children to bed and reading…
Voices on both the right and left are accusing Israel of once again dragging America into an unnecessary, endless war. Last week, in Washington D.C., Brian McGinnis, a veteran of the U.S. Marines, burst into a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee and started screaming, “America does not want to send its sons and…
Yossi Klein Halevi and I write about the clear and extreme dangers facing Israel from the Islamic Republic of Iran and the historical duty of defending our state from annihilation. Nearly twenty years ago, when we both served as contributing editors of The New Republic, we wrote an article about the existential threat to Israel…
The commercial and spiritual ties between India and Israel pale beside our shared strategic interests. One cannot overestimate the importance of the second visit to Israel of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The fact that the democratically elected leader of the most populous nation on earth and one of its most powerful economies chose to…
Today, after countless anti-war demonstrations, Israelis are again poised to protest in favor of war. Contrary to what much of the world today believes, Israelis hate war. In our entire history, we have only wanted to go to war twice and both times when there was literally no choice. The first instance took place fifty-nine…
When it comes to Iran, today’s meeting between Netanyahu and Trump could prove fateful. In my media interviews, I am always being asked what Trump is thinking and what he is going to do about Iran. The questions are more pressing today, as Prime Minister Netanyahu holds his seventh meeting with President Trump in the…
Now that the remains of our final hostage have been repatriated, the country’s eyes are fixed on either Iran or Gaza. It’s easy to forget one of the most fateful issues still facing us: the north. During the war, as many as 100,000 residents of the north were either evacuated from their homes by the…
