Nir Hasson (Haaretz): What Jerusalem Reveals About Israel | Jerusalem Day 2026

Jerusalem Day is supposed to celebrate the unity of Jerusalem. But what is the reality of the city in 2026?In this episode of The Pluralist Podcast, Orly Erez-Likhovski and Rabbi Josh Weinberg sit down with Haaretz Jerusalem correspondent Nir Hasson for an honest and deeply important conversation about the realities shaping Jerusalem today: the growing extremism surrounding the Flag March, the unequal realities between East and West Jerusalem, the changing demographics of the city, and the surprising places where coexistence and shared life still exist.Drawing on years of reporting — and after covering the devastation of Gaza throughout the war — Nir reflects on why Jerusalem remains both one of the most painful and one of the most hopeful places in Israel.Together, they discuss:• Why Jerusalem Day has become so controversial• The reality of life in East Jerusalem for Palestinians• The rise of racism and violence during Jerusalem Day’s Flag March• The growing “Israelization” and shared daily life between Israelis and Palestinians in Jerusalem• The changing character of Jerusalem and tensions inside Jewish society itself• Why Nir still finds hope in Jerusalem despite everythingThe Pluralist Podcast: From Both Sides of the Ocean is hosted by Orly Erez-Likhovski, Executive Director of IRAC, and Rabbi Josh Weinberg, Vice President for Israel and Reform Zionism at the URJ and Executive Director of ARZA.