Shows
The Honest ReportReflecting On My Visit To Israel With A Group of Canadian Journalists: A First-Hand Account With Robert Walker, HonestReporting Canada's Assistant DirectorHow quickly the world has forgotten October 7. Not just the brutality and bloodthirsty massacres of the Hamas terrorist attacks, but the significance of them: unmasking the Palestinian terrorist group for all to see, not as a party that can be reasoned or negotiated with, but as a party with whom there can be no compromise because it seeks nothing less than the total destruction of Israel.
In early May, I visited Israel alongside a group of Canadian journalists in a weeklong program organized by the Exigent Foundation.
While there, we were able to get a...2024-05-3018 min
The Honest ReportWhy Journalists Need To See The Israeli Communities Massacred By Hamas On October 7: A Fireside Chat With Warren Kinsella, Lawyer, Political Consultant & Toronto Sun ColumnistThis much is clear: in far too many corners of the news media, attention spans are short.
The moral clarity that existed in the immediate aftermath of Hamas' October 7 massacres have dissipated in many places, replaced by a desire to draw a moral equivalence between Israel and Hamas.
But the October 7 terrorist attacks aren't just a singular event; they make clear Hamas' motivations, tactics, inhumanity, and perhaps above all: the fruitlessness of negotiating with a group that will commit such acts.
In this week's podcast, we speak with Warren Kinsella, a lawyer, political...2024-05-1517 min
The Honest ReportMy Campus Newspaper Rejected My Column On Antisemitism Because I’m A Zionist: A Fireside Chat With Claire Frankel, HRC Campus Media Fellow At McGill UniversityThroughout North America, and indeed much of the Western world, college and university campuses are a fulcrum of anti-Israel activism and campaigning. These efforts can manifest through BDS (Boycott Divestment Sanctions) referendums, anti-Israel disinformation being spread in the classroom or by the student government, and also through campus media outlets.
Claire Frankel knows this all too well.
Claire is a Jewish student at McGill University in Montreal, and a Campus Media Fellow with HonestReporting Canada, and in March, she attempted to submit an opinion column, which discussed her views on a student club's attitudes towards...2023-04-2617 min
The Honest ReportWhat International Law Says About Israel's Rights To The Land: A Conversation With Avi Bell, Professor Of Law At Bar Ilan UniversityThe claim that Israel is an illegal occupier of Palestinian land is arguably the most common allegation made against the Jewish State. This broadside, disseminated by anti-Israel activists, positions Israel as having no legitimate basis in international law.
But beyond the rhetoric, does international law back up this statement, or does Israel possess legal rights to the land in question, including Judea & Samaria (often called the West Bank). To help answer this question, HonestReporting Canada is joined by Avi Bell, Professor of Law at Bar Ilan University, who has extensive experience in writing and lecturing on this t...2023-02-0123 min
The Honest ReportHow The Palestinian Authority Is Constructing Illegal Settlements In Judea & Samaria: A Fireside Chat With Naomi Kahn, Director Of International Division, Regavim.For years, news media outlets have covered the topic of small Jewish outposts built in Judea & Samaria (West Bank), which Israeli law considers illegal. But these outposts, despite the media attention paid to them, pale in number compared to Palestinian outposts, built in part due to funds from the Palestinian Authority.
According to Regavim, an Israeli organization which monitors such activity, there have been 80,000 such Palestinian structures built on this land since 2009, but it garners virtually no media attention.
Our guest this week is Naomi Kahn, the Director of Regavim's International Division, who shares with...2022-12-2918 min
The Honest ReportAzerbaijan Is A Muslim Country With A Large Jewish Minority & Strong Ties With Israel; Why Is So Little Attention Paid To It? A Fireside Chat With Dave Gordon, Freelance JournalistThere's more attention than ever before being paid to Israel's diplomatic relations with Arab & Muslim-majority countries. Due to the Abraham Accords, Israel's relations with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have attracted headlines, but also other states like Morocco, Sudan, Kosovo, and others.
But Azerbaijan, for its part, has not garnered as much media coverage, despite 30 years of ties between Azerbaijan and Israel.
Home to as many as 30,000 Jews, Azerbaijan is located in Central Asia and finds itself sandwiched between Russia to the north, Turkey to the west, and Iran to the south. So what...2022-12-2117 min
The Honest ReportWhat Lessons Can Vibrant Tel Aviv Teach Israel About How To Improve Its Image Around the World? A Fireside Chat With Eytan Schwartz, CEO of Tel Aviv GlobalIf Israel is the start-up nation of the world, then Tel Aviv is the beating heart of that start-up nation.
But what is it about Tel Aviv, the cultural and economic capital of Israel, that makes it such a mecca for investment, innovation, and ingenuity? And what lessons can Tel Aviv teach the rest of Israel about what it means to share positive publicity with the rest of the world?
In this week’s podcast, we sit down with Eytan Schwartz. Eytan is perhaps best known in Israel as being the winner of the first se...2022-12-1418 min
The Honest ReportCan Sports Help To Moderate Qatar, Or Will Hosting The World Cup Only Reward Bad Behaviour? A Fireside Chat with Tal Brody, AKA Mr Basketball, Former NBA Draft Pick and Goodwill Ambassador for IsraelGiven Qatar’s support for Hamas terrorism against Israel, its creation of Al Jazeera as a propaganda arm, and its brutal treatment of its foreign workers, critics have questioned how the country was able to secure such a high-profile tournament.
But after the games conclude, the questions will remain: will being awarded the World Cup enable its extremism, or will it help to moderate the oil-rich kingdom?
For his perspective on this, we are joined on this week’s podcast by Tal Brody. Tal is an Israeli former professional basketball player and current goodwill ambassador of I...2022-12-0623 min
The Honest ReportThe Hezbollah Threat to Israel: The Real Story Behind the Headlines - A Fireside Chat with Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Sarit Zehavi, founder and President of Alma Research & Education CenterIn the summer of 2006, Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based Shia Islamist terrorist group, engaged in an armed conflict which lasted 34 days and killed more than 100 Israelis. News reports widely called the conflict a stalemate, with no clear winner.
Sixteen years later, Hezbollah is just as devoted to Israel's destruction as it ever was, but now its capabilities are far greater than ever before. But how much of a threat to Israel's security is Hezbollah? Does the group really possess the ability to attack and invade Israel - and hold Israeli territory, as it's claimed to be able...2022-11-3016 min
The Honest ReportHow the War in Ukraine is Having a Direct Impact on Israel's Security: A Fireside Chat with Brian Hay, President of the Mackenzie Institute Think TankIt's hardly news that Israel is in a tough neighbourhood, with Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon on the Jewish State's doorstep, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, a menacing regime looking to develop nuclear weapons, wields significant influence across the region.
But the Russian-Ukrainian war raging in Europe is also now impacting Israel directly, specifically the country's ability to operate against Iranian threats in Syria. What do all these changing dynamics mean for Israel?
In this week's podcast, we sit down with Brian Hay. Brian is the President of the Mackenzie Institute for the Study...2022-11-2419 min
The Honest ReportLawfare: Who is Using the Law More Effectively? Pro-Israel or Anti-Israel Activists? A Fireside Chat with Aaron Rosenberg, Partner at RE-LAW LLPWhen it comes to combatting anti-Israel and anti-Jewish discrimination, using the law has been an increasingly popular tool used by pro-Israel advocates. But behind the headlines, how has pro-Israel lawfare changed in recent years, and how have anti-Israel activists been using the same laws to push anti-Israel disinformation?
In this week's podcast, we sit down with Aaron Rosenberg for his in-depth analysis.
Aaron is a partner at RE-LAW LLP, a Toronto law firm, where he specializes in employment and human rights law. Aaron has been actively involved in a number of cases in recent years...2022-11-1618 min
The Honest ReportWhat Would Theodore Herzl Think of Today's Israel? A Fireside Chat with Author & Historian, Professor Gil TroyIn 1897, the First Zionist Congress was held in a seaside resort in the city of Basel, Switzerland. Led by journalist Theodore Herzl, the conference helped kick off the Zionist Organization, and the Zionist movement in general.
Now, 125 years later, Herzl's dream has come true. The State of Israel is alive and well, and in fact thriving, though by no means is it without challenges, many of them serious.
So what would Herzl think of today's Israel? Surely he would be proud of the country, but what challenges would still be keeping him up at night...2022-11-0918 min
The Honest ReportUsing Business to Bring Together Jews & Arabs in Judea & Samaria: A Fireside Chat with Avi Zimmerman, President of the Judea Samaria Chamber of Commerce and IndustryRecent years have shown the tremendous economic growth that has blossomed as a result of peace deals between Israel and a number of Arab states, including Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
But what about Israel and the Palestinians?
Despite the absence of a peace deal, millions of Israelis and Palestinians live in very close proximity to one another, and helping them to work together can make everyone's lives better.
That's what Avi Zimmerman is trying to achieve. Zimmerman is an entrepreneur serving as the President of the Judea Samaria Chamber of...2022-11-0217 min
The Honest ReportIsrael Votes - Again: What Concerns Are Top of Mind for Israelis? A Fireside Chat with Ruthie Blum, Columnist for The Jerusalem PostOn Tuesday, November 1, Israelis will be heading to the polls – again. In fact, it will be the fifth election in only three years. How did Israeli politics get to be this state, what does the future hold for Benjamin Netanyahu – called King Bibi for his longevity in Israeli politics – and what are the major issues at play?
In this week’s episode of The Honest Report, we sit down with Ruthie Blum. Ruthie is a Jerusalem-based columnist for the Jerusalem Post, among other publications, and she shares with us her perspectives on what this Israeli election is about, w...2022-10-2620 min
The Honest ReportHow the Qatari Government Helps to Spread Anti-Israel Disinformation on University Campuses: A Fireside Chat with Gregg Roman, Director of The Middle East ForumHamas, the Gaza-based Islamist terrorist group, has been a longtime recipient of funds from the government of Qatar, the oil-rich gulf kingdom.
In fact, Khaled Mashaal, the leader of Hamas, is currently in exile in the kingdom, where he can direct the Islamist group’s actions far away from harm.
But the Qatari government’s focus on Israel does not end with funding Hamas; that’s only the tip of the iceberg. The kingdom also invests in the Middle Eastern departments of Western universities, helping to spread its ideology into the minds of the next genera...2022-10-2015 min
The Honest ReportA Symbol Of The Jewish State: A Fireside Chat With Tamar Shapira, Deputy Executive Director Of Save A Child's HeartIn 1995, an organization was born at the Edith Wolfson Medical Centre near Tel Aviv. It aimed to provide top-tier heart surgery to as many needy children from around the world as possible, all at no cost.
In the 37 years since, Save a Child’s Heart has operated on thousands of children, saving countless lives in the process. But what makes the organization’s work especially noteworthy is that many of the children come from countries and regions with whom Israel has no diplomatic relations, including Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
As such, Save a Child’s Heart...2022-10-1315 min
The Honest ReportThe Diversity of Israelis: Why Anti-Israel Activists Try to Hide This Fact From the World with Social Media Educator, Amy AlbertsonOne of the most widespread anti-Israel claims made is that the Jewish State is nothing more than a Western colonialist implant, forced onto the Palestinians.
This allegation is partially based on the misunderstanding that the majority of Israeli Jews are of white European descent.
And while many Israelis do have ancestry in Europe, Israel is in reality much more diverse – with the majority of Israelis now being of Middle Eastern descent, and showcasing the ethnic diversity of Israelis can be an important step in helping to dispel this falsehood.
Our guest this week ta...2022-10-0616 min
The Honest ReportThe Violent Consequences of Anti-Israel Hatred: A Fireside Chat with Professor Judea Pearl, Father of Journalist Daniel PearlFew people know the consequences of antisemitism and anti-Israel hatred more than Judea Pearl. His son Daniel was a journalist for the Wall Street Journal newspaper, working in Pakistan, when he was kidnapped and murdered by Al Qaeda in 2002.
In his last moments, Daniel was forced by his captors to say on camera "My father is Jewish, my mother is Jewish, I am Jewish," showing the world the brutal face of antisemitism.
In this week's podcast, we sit down with Daniel's father Dr. Judea Pearl, a respected computer science professor, for his personal reflections as...2022-09-2920 min
The Honest ReportHow Anti-Israel Propaganda Has Proliferated University Campuses: A Fireside Chat with Richard Cravatts, President Emeritus, Scholars for Peace in the Middle EastAcross North American colleges and universities, anti-Israel activists spread disinformation about the Jewish State. Whether by professors in the classroom or via BDS (Boycott Divestment Sanctions) resolutions, or Israel Apartheid Week programs, Israel is a favourite target at institutions of higher learning.
But why is Israel uniquely targeted, and what can be done to ensure accuracy and truth beats out falsehoods?
In this week's podcast, we sit down with Richard Cravatts, President Emeritus, of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, for his insights and perspective.
Welcome to The Honest Report podcast.2022-09-2217 min
The Honest ReportJerusalem: Living Proof of The Jewish People's 3,000 years of History - A Fireside Chat with Andrew Lawler, Author of Under Jerusalem: The Buried History of the World's Most Contested CityJerusalem is an ancient city, having been founded by King David three thousand years ago as the eternal capital of the Jewish people.
Over the successive centuries and millennia, the city was invaded and occupied by a parade of foreign armies, ranging from the Babylonians to the Greeks, Romans to the Crusaders, Saracen Arabs to the Ottomans, and more.
Today, contemporary Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, the world’s only Jewish State, and peoples of all faiths and backgrounds can enjoy equal rights and freedoms in the holy city.
But in a ci...2022-09-1520 min
The Honest ReportHistory Has Shown Us, When Dictators Threaten The Jewish People, You Should Listen - A Fireside Chat with William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish OrganizationsDespite Israel being stronger and more stable than it has ever been, the Middle East nevertheless presents many threats to the Jewish State.
Perhaps the two biggest challenges facing the country today are the Iranian nuclear threat, and the conflict with the Palestinians.
World powers appear close to an agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran over a new proposed nuclear deal, which, if media reports are accurate, may be no better than the 2015 one as far as Israel is concerned. And as for the peace process, Israel’s peace partner, Mahmoud Abbas of the Pa...2022-09-0821 min
The Honest ReportA Tiny Nation That Dwells Alone: Why Does The World Seem to Pick on Israel? A Fireside Chat with Rabbi Ken Spiro, World-Renowned Israel Educator & GuideBy now, the statistics are widely known. Israel, despite having a population roughly equivalent to Quebec - or about one in 900 of the world - represents a majority of country-specific condemnations in the United Nations. Not Iran, Syria, North Korea, or Saudi Arabia, but tiny Israel seems to always bear the brunt of the world's misplaced ire.
How is this possible? Israel is a vibrant democratic state, and despite its imperfections, it remains a bastion of free expression, particularly in contrast to the rest of the Middle East.
In this week's podcast, we sit down...2022-09-0118 min
The Honest ReportThe True Danger of The BDS Movement, and What It Means for Jews In The Diaspora: A Fireside Chat with Aviva Klompus, Co-Founder, Boundless IsraelThere are only a few topics of conversation which can cause as much divisiveness and disagreement as Israel.
So how and why did Israel become the “boogeyman of polite conversation” in much of global discourse, particularly given the country's relevance in the world of technology and global economics?
Equally importantly, how much of a threat is BDS, the Boycott Divestment Sanctions movement, to Israel? Or, are anti-Israel campaigns like BDS a larger threat to Jewish security in the Diaspora?
In this week’s podcast, we sit down with Aviva Klompas, for her insights and pe...2022-08-2416 min
The Honest ReportThe Real Iron Dome: Israel's Morality in War: A Fireside Chat with Sgt. Benjamin Anthony, Co-Founder & CEO of The MirYam InstituteIn the wake of Israel's recent armed conflict with Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the Gaza-based Islamist terrorist group, the Jewish State has once again faced accusations of excessive force relating to its conduct.
But beyond the often hyperbolic headlines, Israel's practices in conflict are widely seen in military circles as representing among the highest levels of morality seen anywhere in the world.
To help us understand more, in this week's edition of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Sgt. Benjamin Anthony, Co-Founder, and CEO of The MirYam Institute.
Sgt. Anthony is...2022-08-1717 min
The Honest ReportHow Anti-Israel Activists Use And Abuse International Law to Defame Israel: A Fireside Chat with Yifa Segal, International Director of UK Lawyers for Israel.Given the continued failure of the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement to effect grievous economic harm on the Jewish State, anti-Israel activists have pivoted in recent years to using international legal outlets to attack and defame the country.
In addition to using legal forums like The Hague and the International Criminal Court (ICC), these activists have also used rhetoric to help push their advances. By continuing to repeat misinformation such as that Israel is in defiance of international law, the Jewish State's reputational in international fora has been attacked.
Our guest this week, Yifa Segal...2022-08-1016 min
The Honest ReportThe Real Story of Israel's Counter-Terrorism Efforts: A Fireside Chat with Steve Gar, Elite Counter-Terrorism SpecialistUnfortunately, Israel is no stranger to terrorist attacks. Whether suicide bombings, stabbings, or car rammings, for many decades, Israelis have become accustomed to living in an environment of additional sensitivity to their surroundings.
These attacks, whether perpetrated by "lone wolf" attackers or from Islamist groups like Hamas or Islamic Jihad, have killed and injured scores of Israelis, with the additional aim of striking fear into the heart of Israel.
But Israel has found remarkable success in fighting back against Palestinian terrorism, in large part through intelligence, technology, and resourcefulness, even if that story doesn't get...2022-08-0420 min
The Honest ReportWhat The Media Doesn't Tell You About What It's Like to Live In a Jewish Settlement: A Fireside Chat with Joshua Hasten, Spokesperson for Gush EtzionWhen it comes to reporting on Jewish communities in Judea & Samaria, nuance isn’t exactly something often seen in the news media. Whether disdainfully referring to them as illegal Jewish settlements, or claiming that their existence violates international law, or even that they are the single biggest obstacle to peace between Israelis and Palestinians, it can be hard to separate truth from fiction and to try and understand the reality of these communities.
Our guest this week will be sharing a unique viewpoint not often seen in the news media: that these Jewish communities are not only no...2022-07-2720 min
The Honest ReportHow I survived a Palestinian Suicide Bombing on a Jerusalem Bus & The Lessons for Other Terrorist Victims: A Fireside Chat with Sarri Singer, Founder and Director of Strength to StrengthOn June 11, 2003, Sarri Singer was heading to a restaurant in Jerusalem to meet friends for dinner. In her 20s, she was an American volunteering in Israel. But while taking the bus to the restaurant, a Palestinian suicide bomber exploded his vest, killing himself and 17 other innocent civilians. Sarri was injured, but she survived. Tragically, all those around her on the bus did not survive.
After her recovery, Sarri turned her experience into an opportunity to help other victims of terrorism and founded Strength to Strength, an organization dedicated to assisting survivors of terrorism, who are often overlooked.2022-07-2119 min
The Honest ReportAn Inside Look at How The Media Covers Israel: A Fireside Chat with Avi Mayer, Jerusalem-Based Media Relations LiaisonIsrael may not often get a fair shake in the news media, but what's the cause - and the solution? Is the problem inherent bias on the part of journalists, is it a more sophisticated messaging on the part of anti-Israel activists, or is the complexity of the conflict that makes Israel inevitably have a more challenging time?
Few individuals know the truth better than Avi Mayer. Mayer has served as the Senior Spokesperson for the American Jewish Committee, the international spokesman of The Jewish Agency for Israel, as well as a foreign media liaison for the...2022-07-1416 min
The Honest ReportBattle of The Brands: How The BDS Movement Has Been Able To Define Israel So Successfully: A Fireside Chat With Itzik Yarkoni, Founder of BOMAH: The Brand of Milk & HoneyIf you were told the word "Italy," what words come to mind? Pasta, beautiful, or cobblestones perhaps? If you were told the word China, perhaps you'd think of The Great Wall, The Yangtze River, or Chinese food.
But when people think of Israel, what words come to mind? Even among Jews, Israel is often associated with anti-Israel disinformation.
How did anti-Israel groups brand Israel so successfully, and what should be Israel's brand in return? Hi-tech, cherry tomatoes, or something else?
In this week's episode of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with I...2022-07-0718 min
The Honest ReportWhy It's So Important To Understand That Jews Are Indigenous To The Land of Israel - A Fireside Chat with Ryan Bellerose, Human Rights AdvocatePerhaps you've heard the point made before that Jews, far from being illegal occupiers in the land of Israel, are in fact indigenous to the region.
But what exactly does indigenous mean, and can the Jewish claim to Israel really hold up to that kind of claim?
Ryan Bellerose certainly knows. As a Metis from Alberta, he has become one of the world's pre-eminent activists on behalf of Israel and Jewish claims to Israel and has lectured widely on Jewish indigenous rights.
In this week’s episode of The Honest Report podcast, we si...2022-06-3019 min
The Honest ReportWhy We Need to Tell More Personal Stories About Israel in The Face of Anti-Israel Propaganda: A Fireside Chat with Hananya Naftali, Social Media InfluencerDay in and day out, anti-Israel activists, whether on campus, on social media, or on the pages of daily newspapers, seek to defame Israel.
And it seems that despite the herculean efforts of the Jewish and pro-Israel world to fight back, there’s still an important voice missing: personal stories.
Hananya Naftali is one of the world’s most recognized personal stories. A young Israeli, formerly having worked for former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Naftali is a powerhouse on social media, with nearly two million followers on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, where he calls himself “that I...2022-06-2317 min
The Honest ReportHow The Lie of a Colonialist Israel Is So Dangerous To The Next Generation of Jews: A Fireside Chat with Ysabella Hazan, Founder of Decolonized JudeanEvery day Israel is hailed as a colonialist and apartheid state by its opponents. However, nothing could be further from the truth; and yet this reality of Israel being defamed as a colonialist state persist. Why is it so dangerous and problematic?
In this week's episode of The Honest Report Podcast, we sit down with Ysabella Hazan, a Montrealer and law student at the University of Ottawa, who is also the founder of Decolonized Judean. She shares her thoughts about why the insidious lie of Israel being a colonialist state is so dangerous, particularly as it relates...2022-06-1614 min
The Honest ReportSocial Media Was Supposed to Democratize Free Expression. How the Anti-Israel Movement Turned That Idea Upside Down; A Fireside Chat with David Olesker, Founder & Director of JCCATBefore the advent of social media, getting your message out to the wider public was not always an easy task, but since the explosion of social media in the last 15 years, anyone with internet access can spread their message to the world. This democratization was supposed to be a good thing, but things haven't turned out that way.
Anti-Israel activists have used social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and many others as springboards to share their anti-Israel disinformation, and social media has served to disseminate more hate than previous platforms ever could.
In this...2022-06-0920 min
The Honest ReportHow Visiting Poland with a Holocaust Survivor Can Fight Ignorance: A Fireside Chat with Isaac Osiel, founder of The Living Legacy ExperienceAround the world, Holocaust denial continues to spread its ugly and hateful message, claiming that the Nazi Holocaust either didn't happen, or that the numbers are greatly exaggerated.
But the challenge to truth isn't just hate; it also comes from ignorance and apathy. In recent surveys, significant numbers of respondents, especially younger people, claim little knowledge of the Holocaust.
But the cause is not hopeless. At the end of May, after a two-year hiatus, The Living Legacy Experience brought dozens of Canadians to Poland, alongside a Holocaust survivor, for a powerful week on the ground...2022-06-0214 min
The Honest ReportHow Bringing Foreign Students to Israel Can Fight Anti-Israel Propaganda: A Fireside Chat with Momo Lifshitz, CEO, Lirom Global EducationAnti-Israel activists are busy spreading propaganda about the Jewish State, and often it can seem like the challenge is insurmountable. After all, the anti-Israel movement is so large and well-funded, how can its false claims be effectively challenged?
While it may not be possible to directly reach everyone, when promising young university students spend time studying in Israel, this can be one of the most powerful tools in helping to create informed leaders.
In this week's episode of The Honest Report, we sit down with Momo Lifshitz, CEO, Lirom Global Education.
Welcome to...2022-05-2614 min
The Honest ReportHow Israeli Technology is Helping Improve Living Conditions in Africa: A Fireside Chat with Aryeh Green, Chief Strategy Officer, Gigawatt GlobalIsrael is known around the world as Start-Up Nation, and as a fast-rising technological hub. But Israel's technological innovations have meant more than just a growing Israeli economy; Israeli innovations have also helped to improve living conditions for people around the world, including in Africa.
In this week's edition of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Aryeh Green, Chief Strategy Officer with Gigawatt Global for his reflections on how Israeli innovations have not only helped improve living standards in Africa but how they've also opened the doors to closer relationships between the State of Israel...2022-05-1819 min
The Honest ReportHow Israel Helped Thousands of Syrian Refugees: The Story of Operation Good Neighbour - A Fireside Chat with Lt. Colonel (Res) Eyal DrorWhen the Syrian Civil War erupted in 2011, a human rights catastrophe soon followed. Syrian civilians, seeking safety and often treatment for injuries. Neighbouring Israel, as it often does, opened its borders to Syrian refugees, and offered them medical treatment in a safe and secure setting.
In this week's edition of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Lt. Colonel (Res) Eyal Dror, who led Israel's 'Operation Good Neighbour,' which provided urgent medical care to thousands of Syrian civilians, saving countless lives.
Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave...2022-05-1213 min
The Honest ReportThe Latent Racism in Anti-Israel Activism: My Experiences as a Zionist Jew of Colour - A Fireside Chat with Tyler Samuels, Educator & Social Media InfluencerThe anti-Israel movement characterizes itself as a moral beacon calling out the alleged crimes committed by the Jewish State. But their allegations are frequently characterized by ignorance, malice, and quite often, racism.
In this week's episode of The Honest Report, we sit down with Tyler Samuels, a Toronto-based Jew of Colour and social media influencer, for his take on how the supposedly progressive anti-Israel cause has often become intertwined with racism.
Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring...2022-05-0515 min
The Honest ReportThe View of Israel From the Far East: How The Jewish State is Viewed From China - A Fireside Chat With Alexander Pevzner, Senior Researcher at Strategy Risks & China Affairs ExpertChina is the world's most populous country, and depending on how one measures it, either the largest economy in the world, or the second, and likely to become the first in a decade.
As China continues its ascent, how does the Chinese media represent Israel, and how is the Jewish State portrayed by the news media in the world's most populous country?
In this episode of The Honest Report, we sit down with Alexander Pevnzer, noted Chinese media expert, for his take and perspective.
Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to...2022-04-2822 min
The Honest ReportWhat The Media Doesn't Tell You About Christian Israeli Arabs Like Me: A Fireside Chat With Jonathan Elkhoury, Speaker, Columnist, Diplomatic AdvisorWhen it comes to Israel, the news media tends to oversimplify the realities on the ground. And that means for Canadians reading, watching or listening to the news, they aren't getting a full picture about Israel, notably about the 25% of the population which is non-Jewish, and the full civil and democratic rights they enjoy as Israeli citizens.
In this week's edition of The Honest Report, we sit down with Jonathan Elkhoury, an international speaker, columnist and diplomatic advisor, who is also a Christian Arab in Israel, for his thoughts on how his life is as an Arab...2022-04-2114 min
The Honest ReportIsrael in the Shadow of a Rising Iran & How the Jewish State Can Counter the Islamic Republic's Growing Influence: A Fireside Chat with Professor Mordechai Kedar, Middle East ScholarWith a growing Iranian presence throughout the Middle East, what tools does Israel have at its disposal to counter the Iranian regime's efforts, and how are these complexities reported in the international news media?
In this week's edition of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Professor Mordechai Kedar, an internationally-renowned speaker, lecturer and scholar on the Middle East and Arab affairs.
Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the HonestReporting Canada website.2022-04-1323 min
The Honest ReportHow I helped make the University of Toronto Hold The BDS Movement Accountable: A Fireside Chat With Chaim Katz, former U of T Graduate StudentSince its inception, the BDS movement against Israel has not only sought to demonize the Jewish State, but to intimidate Jewish students and anyone connected with Israel.
At the University of Toronto, the anti-Israel campaign of intimidation has continued for years, but recently, a Jewish student secured a major victory on campus, with the university administration withholding more than $10,000 in fees for the student union allocated for anti-Israel activities.
In this week's podcast, we sit down with Chaim Katz, a former graduate student at the University of Toronto, and discuss his involvement in getting the...2022-04-0713 min
The Honest ReportHow Anti-Israel Governments Stifle Free Expression & Persecute Jewish Communities: A Fireside Chat With Annika Hernroth-Rothstein, journalist, author & political consultantWhy are the populations of some countries more supportive of Israel, while in other countries, the population holds a generally more hostile view of Israel? In no small measure, this is a testament to how supportive of Israel the local government is, and the level of free press the country enjoys.
In this week's edition of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Annika Hernroth-Rothstein, a Swedish Jewish journalist who has worked around the world, including in Venezuela, Iran and Ghana, and shares with us her perspectives about how impactful a free press is when it...2022-03-3115 min
The Honest ReportHow Your Tax Dollars Help Fund Anti-Israel Groups: A Fireside Chat With Prof. Gerald Steinberg, Founder & President of NGO MonitorIn a number of Western democratic countries, taxpayers are helping to fund NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) which are demonizing Israel and helping to advocate for the BDS (Boycott Divestment Sanctions) movement against the Jewish State.
In this episode of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Professor Gerald Steinberg, founder and president of NGO Monitor, which tracks this nefarious movement, who helps explain how taxpayers in Western countries, including Canada, are helping to fund these anti-Israel organizations, and what can be done about it.
Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our...2022-03-2417 min
The Honest ReportThe battle for Jerusalem - How anti-Israel activists are fighting to de-Judaize the Holy City: A Fireside chat with Arieh King, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem & member City CouncilJerusalem is not just a holy city, but a contested city. And anti-Israel activists are working hard in an attempt to de-Judaize the city and in turn, harm Israel's character as a Jewish and democratic state with Jerusalem as its capital.
In this week's edition of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Arieh King, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, member of the city council, and founder of the Israel Land Fund (ILF), who explains how state actors and activists alike are working to dismantle the Jewish presence in Israel's capital city.
Welcome to The...2022-03-1619 min
The Honest ReportHow the West enables Palestinian rejectionism: A fireside chat with Einat Wilf, Israeli author & former Member of the KnessetIn the words of legendary Israeli diplomat Abba Eban: the Palestinians have never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity. But have the Palestinians simply missed opportunities, or have their rejections been more strategic? Is it incompetence or malice?
In this edition of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Dr. Einat Wilf, former Member of Knesset and co-author of the book "The War of Return. How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace."
Dr. Wilf shares with us her argument that Palestinian rejectionism has been facilitated and enabled...2022-03-1016 min
The Honest ReportAntisemitism in public schools: How the media is getting the story wrong - A fireside chat with Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, Director of Policy, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal CentreIn recent weeks, there have been two separate incidents of students performing the Nazi salute in Toronto public schools, specifically directed at teachers. These incidents have been widely reported by the news media, but despite the widespread outrage and condemnation, there is a major element of the story being missed in reporting.
To help understand the real story, in this episode of The Honest Report, we sat down with Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, Director of Policy at the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre in Toronto.
Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave...2022-03-0316 min
The Honest ReportThe toxic marriage of antisemitism & anti-Israel propaganda: A fireside chat with Hesh Kestin, author & former foreign correspondentIt's a truism that Israel rarely gets a fair shake in the news media. Whether by omission or outright misinformation, the truth often takes a back seat to cliches and oversimplification.
But what about book publishing? Does the truth about Israel have a better chance in books, or is the truth just as often sacrificed as it is in the news media?
In this edition of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Hesh Kestin, author and former foreign correspondent for his perspective on the interplay between truth, reporting about Israel, and book publishing.2022-02-2422 min
The Honest ReportUsing the law to combat antisemitism in the media: A fireside chat with Gideon Falter, Chief Executive, Campaign Against AntisemitismAntisemitism has been called the world's oldest hatred, and even in modern times, it manifests throughout society: on social media, on campuses, and even in the news media.
But how can antisemitism be distinguished from legitimate criticism of Israel, and when overt antisemitism rears its head in the news media, what can be done about it?
In this edition of The Honest Report, we are joined by Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, who shares his thoughts on how the law can be used to combat antisemitism in the news media.
...2022-02-1712 min
The Honest ReportLies, more lies, and Apartheid Lies: Unpacking the recent Amnesty International report on Israel - A fireside chat with Arsen Ostrovsky, Chair & CEO, The International Legal ForumIn early February, Amnesty International published a 280 page report, accusing Israel of Apartheid. Despite Amnesty's longstanding anti-Israel obsession, the report was pounced on as authoritative by news media outlets around the world.
But what is wrong with Amnesty's report, and what will it take for the news media to tell an accurate story about Israel?
In this edition of The Honest Report, we are joined by Arsen Ostrovsky, Chair & CEO of the International Legal Forum, who peels back the facade and shares Amnesty's true agenda.
Welcome to The Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe...2022-02-1014 min
The Honest ReportCorruption and human rights abuses in the Palestinian Authority: Why won't the world media take notice? A fireside chat with Bassem Eid, Palestinian human rights activistAs the old adage goes, where there's Jews, there's news. Israel is frequently a target of misinformation and propaganda, including accusations of Apartheid and ethnic cleansing. Not only are these allegations false, they purposely ignore the rampant human rights violations committed by the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Why does the news media largely ignore these human rights violations, and what can be done to educate the world about the realities of the Palestinian Authority's abuse of its own people?
In this edition of The Honest Report, we are joined by Bassem Eid, a noted Palestinian human r...2022-02-0317 min
The Honest ReportThe Canadian media reporting on Israel: the good, the bad & the ugly - A fireside chat with Barbara Kay, longtime Canadian columnist & journalistFew people know the ins and outs of the Canadian media landscape like Barbara Kay. A longtime columnist and reporter, she has been a voice of moral clarity for decades.
In an era of fake news, anti-Israel misinformation and propaganda, are Canadians closer to getting more factual coverage about Israel, or is the situation getting worse?
In this episode of The Honest Report, we sit down with Barbara to discuss the media landscape, where it's going, and if coverage of Israel & the Middle East is getting better or worse.
Welcome to the Honest...2022-01-2727 min
Keeping It IsraelPutting NEVER AGAIN Into Practice: An Interview with Mike Fegelman of HonestReporting CanadaIn honour of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27th, Pastor Jeff Futers,( Executive Director of First Century Foundations) and Mike Fegelman, (Executive Director of HonestReporting Canada) remember their visits to Auschwitz-Birkenau and talk about how to ensure the Holocaust never happens again.To learn more about the Holocaust: The Azrieli FoundationYad Vashem, The World Holocaust Remembrance CenterTo learn more about HonestReporting CLICK HERE.First Century Foundations is a Charity that supports ministries in Jerusalem and many other parts of the country of Israel. Our mission is to turn hearts...2022-01-2638 min
The Honest ReportLooking into the crystal ball: Hamas' future plans for war with Israel -A fireside chat with Col. (ret) Grisha Yakubovich, former head of COGATLast spring, when the 11 day Hamas war against Israel ended with a ceasefire, eyes were already looking to the future, and asking: what else does Hamas have up its sleeve, and what plans does it have for a future war?
In this week's edition of The Honest Report, we welcome Col (ret) Grisha Yakubovich, former head of the civil department for the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) for his thoughts and suggestions for how Israel can handle a future Hamas war.
Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast...2022-01-2020 min
The Honest ReportWar of Words: How Hamas manipulated the news media during the last Gaza conflict: A fireside chat with Jonathan Schanzer, Senior VP for Research at the Foundation for Defense of DemocraciesLast May's Gaza war, launched by Hamas against Israel, made headlines around the world. But while news stories typically portrayed the conflict as merely the latest episode in the longstanding conflict between Hamas and Israel, the reality is that Hamas launched the war with specific strategic goals in mind.
That's the assertion of Dr. Jonathan Schanzer, Senior Vice President for Research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, in his latest book, "Gaza Conflict 2021: Hamas, Israel and Eleven Days of War." Dr. Schanzer joined us as our guest on this edition of The Honest Report podcast.
2022-01-1315 min
The Honest ReportThe real story of Israel's relations with the Arab world: A fireside chat with David Ha'Ivri, Councilman on the Shomron Regional CouncilIsrael's growing relationships with the Arab world are making headlines every day. But for every story published, there are many more which take place away from the media's focus, but which nonetheless are a microcosm of a changing Middle East.
David Ha'Ivri, a Councilman on the Shomrom Regional Council, is active building relationships between Arabs and Jews, not only in Judea & Samaria, but across the Middle East.
Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the H...2022-01-0618 min
The Honest ReportWhy the Media Keeps Getting the Jerusalem Story Wrong: A fireside chat with Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Deputy Mayor of JerusalemJerusalem is probably the most famous city in the world, but much of it is for the wrong reasons. This past May, when Hamas launched a terror war against Israel, Jerusalem was at centre stage, thanks to anti-Israel propaganda which was being spread around the world.
But Jerusalem is more than a city under the siege of misinformation; it is also the 3,000 year old home of the Jewish People, and is undergoing a historic revitalization.
One of the people most responsible for Jerusalem's revitalization is Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, the city's deputy mayor, who joined The Honest Re...2021-12-3011 min
The Honest ReportWater diplomacy: How Israel is using the Dead Sea to build relationships across the Arab world: A fireside chat with Noam Bedein, founder & director, The Dead Sea Revival ProjectThe Dead Sea is more than just the lowest point on Earth; it represents one of Israel's best chances to build relationships with the wider Arab world.
That's the view of Noam Bedein, founder & director, The Dead Sea Revival Project, who has spent the better part of the last two years educating the world about the Dead Sea & how Israel's efforts to protect the body of water can reap benefits for Israel, both diplomatically & economically.
Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you...2021-12-2317 min
The Honest ReportWhy the world keeps ignoring hatred in the Palestinian media: A fireside chat with Itamar Marcus, founder of Palestinian Media Watch (PMW)It's a common trope in the western news media: Hamas is the extremist arm of the Palestinian leadership, while the Palestinian Authority (PA) is the preferred, moderate peace partner. But that simplification ignores a deep-seated problem with the PA: despite their promises, it continues to foster hatred against not just Israel, but Jews in general.
In this episode of The Honest Report podcast, we sit down with Itamar Marcus, founder and director of Palestinian Media Watch (PMW), which studies Palestinian society by monitoring and analyzing the (PA) through its media and schoolbooks.
Welcome to the...2021-12-1616 min
The Honest ReportMy life as a pro-Israel Bedouin - A fireside chat with Mohammad Kabiya: Episode 38Mohammad Kabiya has become one of the most outspoken pro-Israel voices in the world today. He is a young Israeli Bedouin from northern Israel who enlisted in the IDF voluntarily in order to give back to his country.
But Mohammad wasn't satisfied yet. He became an international lecturer, speaking to groups around the world, helping to dispel the most common anti-Israel claims, and with his first-hand experience, he has become a valuable asset to the pro-Israel cause.
We are pleased to welcome Mohammad as our guest this week.
Welcome to the Honest Report...2021-12-0921 min
The Honest ReportMy recent visit to Dubai on a Jewish leaders mission: A fireside chat with Adam Hummel, member of Jewish Diplomatic Corps of WJC - Episode 37The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a burgeoning regional powerhouse in the Middle East, and it has found significant strategic value in partnerships with Israel. But what exactly does that mean for the Middle East, and what can we expect in the future?
This week, we sit down with Adam Hummel, a member of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) Jewish Diplomatic Corps, who recently returned from a WJC mission to the United Arab Emirates, for his reflections and thoughts.
Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share...2021-12-0219 min
The Honest ReportWhat the media doesn't tell you about the Jews of Hebron: A fireside chat with Yishai Fleisher, spokesperson for the Hebron Jewish community (Episode 36)Hebron is one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world, if not the oldest, but to see much of the news media describe things, Israelis who live in this ancient city are little more than extremist settlers living in a land not their own.
If it's frustrating to read and hear news media which misrepresents things in Hebron, imagine being the spokesperson for the Jewish community there, and seeing it first-hand every day.
That's what Yishai Fleisher does - representing the small number of Jews in Hebron to the world media. In this week's...2021-11-2518 min
The Honest ReportWhat the world gets wrong about Israeli politics: A fireside chat with Gil Hoffman, chief political correspondent for the Jerusalem Post - episode 35Israeli politics are famously unstable, with Prime Ministers and coalitions coming and going regularly. But while Israelis know the instability is the price of democracy, far too often, world media outlets characterize Israel's vibrant democracy as a liability. Additionally, Israel's new Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, is frequently described as an extremist by world media. But is it accurate?
In this episode, we sit down with Gil Hoffman, chief political correspondent for the Jerusalem Post, and he helps us unpack Israeli politics as they are - not necessarily how the world sees things.
Welcome to the...2021-11-1717 min
The Honest ReportThree years after the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, will social media giants ever be held to account? A fireside chat with Mark Oppenheimer, author & historian - episode 34Three years ago, on October 27, 2018, a gunman entered the Eitz Chaim synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and murdered 11 Jews at prayer, in the worst attack on Jews in the United States ever. The next year, a man brandishing a machete had attacked a Chanukkah celebration in New York, murdering a rabbi, and in April 2019, a worshipper was murdered at a Chabad synagogue near San Diego.
In the attack in Pittsburgh, the shooting suspect had posted antisemitic hate online in advance of the shooting, but it went unnoticed. As antisemitism threatens Jews around the world, are social media giants...2021-11-1119 min
The Honest ReportA Journey From Being a Bedouin Shepherd to an Israeli Diplomat: A fireside chat with Ishmael Khaldi, Israel's first Bedouin diplomat - Episode 33Around the world, BDS activists try and portray Israel as a villainous abuser of human rights, and paint the country in as simple terms as possible.
Many arguments are used to combat their misinformation, but one man knows the shallowness of the BDS arguments first-hand: Ishmael Khaldi. He is Israel's first Bedouin diplomat, and is an advocate not just for Israel on the international stage, but for his Bedouin community within Israel.
Recognizing that Israel may have imperfections, but that it is not guilty of the horrific crimes it is accused of committing, Ishmael Khaldi...2021-11-0318 min
The Honest ReportDemographically Speaking, Is Israel Going to Lose its Jewish Majority? A fireside chat with former Israeli Ambassador Yoram Ettinger - Episode 32If one judged Israel's trajectory just by news media coverage, they would assume Israel is on the cusp of losing its Jewish majority forever.
But in reality, Israel is both a democracy and a Jewish-majority state, and in no risk of losing either title.
In this week's edition of the Honest Report podcast, we are joined by Yoram Ettinger, an Israeli researcher, diplomat, writer, lecturer and consultant to legislators around the world. He previously served as an Israeli diplomat in the United States.
Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our p...2021-10-2815 min
The Honest ReportHow Israel's high-tech sector is paving the road to peace in the Middle East, with guest Hillel Fuld - episode 31Israel has been called the Start-Up Nation, a country which has taken technological innovation to the next level.
But Israel's technological boom has meant more than just a growing economy for Israel; it has helped pave the way for peace between Israel and a growing number of its Arab neighbours.
To help understand how technology has break down barriers, we are joined by Hillel Fuld, Israel's foremost high-tech ambassador.
Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring...2021-10-2018 min
The Honest ReportStemming the Tidal Wave of Hate: Israeli government eyes making Facebook legally liable for user incitement on its platform - episode 30By a large margin, Facebook is the world's largest social media platform, with about two billion users around the world - that's one in four human beings alive today.
Unfortunately, Facebook is also home to an enormous amount of hatred and disinformation. And while governments around the world have struggled with how to manage Facebook, Israel - as always - is at the forefront.
In recent days, Israel has reportedly launched a task force aimed at identifying how Facebook can be made legally liable for hatred which is disseminated on its platform.
In t...2021-10-1409 min
The Honest ReportHow anti-Israel groups are hijacking progressive causes, with guest Blake Flayton - episode 29Whether it's the LGBTQ cause, Black Lives Matter, or more recently, the indigenous and native rights causes, anti-Israel activists are somehow always there, pushing their own narrow agenda.
How have these groups had the success that they have, and is there any hope at all for a return to a time when liberals and conservatives alike could look to Israel as a reflection of their values - and not as a wedge issue?
In this week's edition of the Honest Report podcast, we are joined by Blake Flayton, co-founder of the New Zionist Congress.
2021-10-0722 min
The Honest ReportExposing the Palestinian Refugee Industry, with guest Asaf Romirowsky - Episode 28It's a well-known trope: the Palestinians are the world's largest refugee population, numbering in the millions, and more than 70 years stateless. And while the facts don't back up those extravagant claims, why are they still being repeated?
The biggest reason is because of the voices and organizations pushing and promoting this refugee claim, including UNRWA. In this week's edition of the Honest Report podcast, we are joined by Asaf Romirowsky, the executive director of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME).
Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a r...2021-09-3021 min
The Honest ReportWhat the media missed in its coverage of antisemitism & Israel issues in the Canadian election - The Honest Report podcast, episode 27 with Noah ShackThe 2021 Canadian federal election has come and gone, and the results are virtually identical to the 2019 election results. But that doesn't mean the issues aren't new. Antisemitism on the campaign trail and against Green Party leader Annamie Paul, the case of Jenica Atwin, the Green-turned-Liberal MP who changed parties due to her views on Israel, all made the news.
But what were other issues related to Israel and antisemitism which the media missed?
In this edition of The Honest Report podcast, we sat down with Noah Shack, a Vice President at CIJA to discuss what...2021-09-2320 minKeeping It IsraelMike Fegelman, Executive Director of HonestReporting Canada Talks About Being a "Watchman" for Israel, Monitoring Canada's Media Day and NightIn this episode of Keeping it Israel, Jeff Futers, Executive Director of First Century Foundations talks to Mike Fegelman, Executive Director of HonestReporting Canada about the last 19 years of his career, working to thwart media bias against Israel in Canada.First Century Foundations is a Charity that supports ministries in Jerusalem and many other parts of the country of Israel. Our mission is to turn hearts around the world toward the land, people and God of Israel. PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW HERE.To learn more about HonestReporting Canada, CLICK HERE.Support the show2021-09-2241 min
The Honest ReportUnmasking Iran's Global Ambitions with Guest Meir Javedanfar - Episode 26This summer, Iran installed a new president, Ebrahim Raisi.
What does Iran's new president mean for the Iranian nuclear deal, Israel and wider prospects for peace and stability in the Middle East? And is the news media covering this incredibly important issue with a critical eye?
In this week's edition of the Honest Report podcast, we were joined by Meir Javedanfar, a world-renowned expert in Iranian affairs, and now teaching at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya (IDC).
Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our...2021-09-1518 min
The Honest ReportThe Media's Double Standards in Covering Palestinian Casualties - Episode 25Less than two weeks ago, 13 Afghan civilians were accidentally killed in a US air strike in the capital city of Kabul. The dead - half of whom were children - were killed by a US drone, likely mistaking them for a target related to the Islamic State.
Despite the tragedy, media coverage of the incident was limited. Meanwhile, during Israel's most recent conflict with Hamas, the Jewish State faced incessant condemnations when civilian casualties occurred, and widespread media coverage. Why the difference?
In this week's edition of the Honest Report podcast, we explore the world...2021-09-0909 min
The Honest ReportReflections of a Kuwaiti Muslim who Became a Pro-Israel Activist - The Honest Report Podcast, Episode 24Across the Arab world on a daily basis, media outlets, including both state media and social media, blast out anti-Israel and antisemitic propaganda demonizing Israel and the Jewish People in general.
In recent months, as Arab countries like Morocco, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates deepen their ties with Israel, the anti-Israel misinformation being spoonfed to hundreds of millions of citizens of Arab countries on a daily basis becomes all the more disjointed from reality.
In this week's edition of the Honest Report podcast, we welcome Mark Halawa, who grew up as a Muslim in...2021-09-0223 min
The Honest ReportThe Hidden Messages in Antisemitic Graffiti - Episode 23In recent weeks, there has been a rash in antisemitic graffiti targeting bus stop advertisements, a synagogue, and even election signs. The vandalism was condemned by politicians, reported to police, and covered in the news media. And while antisemitism, and antisemitic graffiti, is nothing new, some of the vandalism reflects a new and changing technique of antisemitism, and how it seeks to change to hide behind a veneer of anti-Zionism.
In this week's edition of the Honest Report podcast, we discuss the recent graffiti incidents, and while they may look like other similar incidents, in reality they...2021-08-2609 min
The Honest ReportWhat the Media Misunderstands about Israel & Afghanistan, with Guest Terry Glavin - Episode 22This week, the Taliban retook Afghanistan in a whirlwind blitz, shocking observers with their speed and ferocity. But while the international news media (correctly) identifies the Taliban as a regressive, misogynistic and brutal regime, other terrorist groups seem to avoid that same label.
Hamas and Hezbollah, for example, both Islamist terrorist groups in the Middle East, are often seen by the mainstream news media as actors in specific circumstances, and not as part of the same hateful ideology as the Taliban. But why?
In this week's edition of the Honest Report podcast, we welcome Terry...2021-08-1927 min
The Honest ReportTaking Control of the Zionist Narrative, with Guest Ben Freeman - Episode 21The concept of Zionism, and even the word itself, is being increasingly stolen away from the Jewish People. Rather than defining it as the quest for self determination in their historic homeland, Zionism is being defined as a hateful and racist concept, often bolstered by social media and the news media alike.
In this week's edition of the Honest Report podcast, we welcome Ben Freeman, an international speaker and author, for his thoughts on how pro-Israel voices can take back the concept of Zionism from those who seek to demonize it.
Welcome to the Honest...2021-08-1223 min
The Honest ReportHamas' Economic War Against Its Own People - Episode 20Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip suffer from one of the highest levels of poverty and unemployment in the world. It is a human rights tragedy for the 1.8 million residents of the coastal enclave. But while international nongovernmental organizations and media outlets frequently point the finger at Israel, in reality, it is Hamas, the terrorist group which runs Gaza, which is wholly responsible.
Hamas actively steals hundreds of millions of dollars each year from its own people, and enriches its senior leadership as a result. But Hamas continues to get a free pass from much of the...2021-08-0510 min
The Honest ReportOlympics of Hate: Antisemitism at the World Games - Episode 19After a yearlong delay, the 2020 Olympic Games have kicked off in Tokyo, Japan. And while the games strive for goals like international cooperation and striving for excellence, once again, they have been marred by the refusal of some athletes to compete against Israelis.
But despite these disgraceful acts on the part of some athletes, there have been shimmers of hope, too: athletes who are rejecting their country's official hatred of Israel, and are instead taking a moral stand, and bringing peace just a little bit closer.
In this episode of the Honest Report podcast, we...2021-07-2810 min
The Honest ReportWhy the Ben & Jerry's Debacle Is So Dangerous - Episode 18On July 19, ice cream manufacturer Ben & Jerry's announced a boycott of Israeli communities in Judea & Samaria, commonly called the West Bank. Almost immediately, it ignited a firestorm around the world, including from Israel's current and former prime ministers.
In this episode of The Honest Report podcast, we explore why this boycott is so significant, and why its potential consequences are so large, stretching far beyond ice cream.
Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you are interested in sponsoring a podcast, visit the...2021-07-2209 min
The Honest ReportAmnesty International Canada's Anti-Israel Obsession - Episode 17This past Saturday, Amnesty International Canada sent out an anti-Israel e-mail missive, featuring some of the most egregious anti-Israel misinformation one could imagine, which included accusing Israel of murdering Palestinian civilians.
While shocking, this latest e-mail is far from the first time that Amnesty International, a powerful NGO (non governmental organization) has targeted Israel. In fact, it is not the only NGO to do so, and groups like Amnesty International are often shielded from criticism when their anti-Israel obsession is pointed out.
In this episode of the Honest Report podcast, we explore the toxic anti-Israel...2021-07-1509 min
The Honest ReportSocial Media Influencers & Israel Beyond The Conflict, with Guest Shai DeLuca: Episode 17In the last armed conflict between Israel & Hamas, as with previous violent escalations, anti-Israel misinformation was rife in the news media. But this time, perhaps more than ever before, social media influencers took on a major role in spreading anti-Israel bias.
To help us unpack this phenomenon, and to explore the path to combatting it through telling the story of Israel beyond the conflict, we were joined by Shai DeLuca, internationally renowned social media influencer, public speaker, and pro-Israel advocate.
Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and s...2021-07-0820 min
The Honest ReportThe Palestinian Authority's Brutal Repression - Episode 16Last week, prominent critic of the Palestinian Authority (PA), Nizar Banat, was arrested at his home in Hebron by Palestinian security services. Hours later, he was dead.
What looks like a shocking incident tragically is part of a larger trend by the Palestinian Authority to exercise repression against its own people, whether by silencing dissent, cancelling elections, or by inciting hate against Israel.
But despite this shocking authoritarianism, the news media may sometime describe the PA as the moderate arm of the Palestinian leadership.
Welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to...2021-07-0109 min
The Honest ReportIran's Propaganda War Against Israel - Episode 15The news media reported this week that a number of Iranian websites hosted on US servers were shut down by the US government, citing Iranian disinformation.
And for the first time in a long time, Iran's longstanding campaign of propaganda and disinformation has finally made the news.
In this week's podcast, we discuss the depth and intensity of Iran's propaganda war against Israel, and how it's more complex than most people realize - and why it's critical to report.
I'm Robert Walker, and welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our...2021-06-2410 min
The Honest ReportThe media's lopsided coverage of Jerusalem Day - Episode 14Each year since 1968, Israel has celebrated Jerusalem Day, commemorating the liberation of the city from Jordanian occupation. And each year, a march with flags is a highlight of the day.
And like clockwork, Israelis waving flags is called a provocation by the news media, arguing that Jews waving flags needlessly provokes Hamas into killing Jews. This is untrue, is a form of victim blaming, and the news media must do better.
I'm Robert Walker, and welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you're...2021-06-1810 min
The Honest ReportIsrael's Diverse Coalition - And Why it Matters - Episode 13The defamatory lie that Israel is an apartheid state is hardly new, but with each passing day, it becomes more ludicrous. With Israel's new government, this claim becomes outright comical.
Israel's new governing coalition, slated to be sworn in on June 13, will include, for the first time ever, an Arab Islamist party, Ra'am, as well as a dizzying array of diverse voices, opinions and backgrounds, reflecting the true reality of Israel. This is a true repudiation to the apartheid claim, and Canadian news media should report on this critical fact.
I'm Robert Walker, and welcome t...2021-06-1010 min
The Honest ReportThe Power of the News Media to Create Anti-Israel News - Episode 12Misinformation about Israel in the news media isn't new, nor is it unfortunately rare. But the problems are often much deeper than one recognizes. The headlines, photos, slant and angles used in articles and broadcasts all contribute to further misinformation about Israel in the media, but the real issue is the very themes which the news media uses to understand and classify Israel and the Palestinians alike.
I'm Robert Walker, and welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share our show. If you're interested in sponsoring a podcast, please...2021-05-2709 minThe Honest ReportThe Hamas War of Misinformation Against Israel - Episode 11Hamas and Islamic Jihad aren't just terrorist groups; they are masters of disinformation. And that means Israel isn't just fighting a war against rockets and bombs; it is fighting a war of persuasion, against opponents who will tell any lie to get their way.
In this most recent armed engagement between Israel and these Islamist terrorist groups, images of Jews dancing at the alleged burning of the Al Aqsa mosque went viral, before becoming unmasked as utterly untrue. But once the image goes viral, the damage is done.
I'm Robert Walker, and welcome to the...2021-05-1610 min
The Honest ReportIf It Bleeds, It Should Lead - Episode 10There is a threat that Israelis continue to regularly face which does not attract the media attention that it used to: terrorism.
Just in the last week, there were two separate terror attacks targeting Israelis in Judea & Samaria, commonly called the "West Bank." The first attack was an attempted suicide stabbing attack by a 60-year-old Palestinian woman. The second attack was a shooting attack by a 44-year-old Palestinian terrorist who killed a 19-year-old Israeli and wounded two other yeshiva (Jewish seminary) students.
The media dictum that "if it bleeds it leads" should be at play...2021-05-0709 min
The Honest ReportRemove The Hyphen! It's Antisemitism Not Anti-Semitism - Episode 9It's not "Semitic Semantics"!
In recent weeks, a growing list of US news media outlets have announced they are removing the hyphen from the word antisemitism, and turning the two words into one. Here in Canada, CBC and the Globe and Mail have also updated their style guides to refer to just "antisemitism" or "antisemitic".
Of course, removing the hyphen won't remove antisemitism from the world, but it will provide a greater understanding of this age-old hatred targeting the Jewish people.
I’m Mike Fegelman and welcome to the Honest Report podcast. Please sub...2021-04-2911 min
The Honest ReportEarth Day Proves That There's No Foundation To The "Greenwashing" Libel Against Israel - Episode 8The term "greenwashing" accuses Israel of using its environmental bona fides in order to hide its alleged human rights abuses against the Palestinians. The greenwashing libel against Israel also accuses the Jewish state of being, contrary to all established evidence and reality on the ground, of actually not being environmentally friendly at all, and, using selective cherry-picked information, advocates of the greenwashing lie claim Israel is a harmful contributor to the world.
It goes without saying that no country, Israel very much included, has a perfect track record when it comes to any topic, including the environment...2021-04-2210 min
The Honest ReportIsrael: 3,000 Years Old, 73 Years Young - Episode 7When Israelis celebrate their independence on Yom Ha’atzmaut, they find joy in the responsibility and freedoms of self-determination in their historic homeland - as well they should. Israel has, in a short 73 years, proven what can be possible when there is little more but determination and chutzpah. But the long and arduous arc of Jewish history has taught a powerful lesson that Israel does not only exist for moral, ethical, legal or historic reasons. Rather, it exists for a very practical reason as well.
Israel’s independence celebrations always follow the commemoration for the Holocaust to show...2021-04-1509 min
The Honest ReportThe Shadow War Between Israel and Iran - Episode 6You probably didn’t hear this update in the news yet, but it’s absolutely true: Israel and Iran are at war.
Now, before you go to Google and start feverishly checking for a headline about Israeli warplanes over the skies of Tehran, let me be more specific. Israel and Iran are in a state of war, but not quite in the sense that most of us think. Israel and Iran are at war, with real weapons, real rockets, real guns and real casualties. In other words; this is not a cold war, but very much a hot...2021-04-1110 min
The Honest ReportWhat the Media Don't Understand About Israeli Elections - Episode 5Beyond the headlines and contrary to the dominant media narrative of a dysfunctional Israel, the Jewish state's electoral challenges actually showcase a remarkable resiliency and commitment to democracy.
While Israel’s regular elections are a running joke, and for good reasons: Four trips to the polls in two years is a sign that there is a real need for reform in Israel’s democratic system. But with that said, this minor flaw also demonstrates four incredible strengths of Israel - the fact that it holds elections at all, the smooth transition after elections, the ability of Arab part...2021-04-0209 min
The Honest ReportAntisemitism Amplified in the Sports and Entertainment Industry - Episode 4Even in diversions like sports and entertainment, there is a pernicious hatred that never seems to die. Antisemitism has been called the world’s oldest hatred for its remarkable agility and ability to morph, depending on the circumstances. And it has been around for a long time, and like a cockroach, antisemitism never seems to die. In some situations, Jews are assailed as crooked and greedy capitalists, while simultaneously being a fifth column of communists. In other situations, Jews are godless atheists, or people without any morals at all, while sometimes they are religious extremists, following the archaic strictures of...2021-03-2610 min
The Honest ReportPalestinians Have Money to Pay for Terrorist Salaries, But Not Vaccines - Episode 3Critics of Israel claim the Jewish state deserves little credit for vaccinating the Palestinian population, because it was Israel’s responsibility and obligation all along to do so. Despite the fact that this is emphatically not the case, but this entire argument really misses the biggest problem. And that is that while the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have always been happy to paint Israel as the biggest human rights abuser in the region, the question that the Canadian news media really ought to be asking is: how do regimes which receive billions of dollars annually in foreign aid manage to...2021-03-1911 min
The Honest ReportHamas' Brutal Misogyny of Palestinian Women Must Be Condemned - Episode 2As we mark International Women's Day this week, we look at how women living under Hamas control in the Gaza Strip have become effectively rendered as prisoners by their own government, treated as chattel and banned from traveling without a male relative's permission.
Here in Canada, particularly with a self-avowed feminist prime minister at the helm of our country, we should collectively be outraged at the state-sponsored misogyny taking place under Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip and our media must condemn Hamas' thuggish dictatorship.
Find out more on The Honest Report with Mike Fegelman...2021-03-1210 min
The Honest ReportWhy Canada Must List the IRGC as a Terror Group - Episode 1In the wake of Canada's recently listing 13 groups as terror organizations, it's concerning that the world's most dangerous terror organization, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) remains unlisted.
Regrettably, this has gone out of sight and out of mind by our news media. Find out more on The Honest Report with Mike Fegelman.
2021-03-0407 min