Worried Nation, Thin Hope: Shmuel Rosner on Israel After the Trump Plan and the October 7th War

In this episode of Tel Aviv Diary, host Marc Schulman speaks with Shmuel Rosner, senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) and author of the new book Why Am I a Jew?. Rosner walks us through JPPI’s November 11th survey on Israeli public opinion in the wake of the October 7th war and the Trump ceasefire plan: why a large majority of Israelis back accepting the plan even though most don’t believe it is “good,” why only a tiny minority think Hamas will really disappear from Gaza, and why more than half the country expects the current quiet to last only weeks or months.The conversation ranges from Israelis’ emotional state—anxious, polarized, and still traumatized—to the battle over a commission of inquiry, the ultra-Orthodox draft, and the political cost of keeping the current coalition. Rosner explains his idea of a “thin constitution” to finally clarify powers and checks between Knesset, government, and courts, and reflects on the paradox of how Israelis view Donald Trump: as Israel’s strongest friend in the White House, yet only “somewhat” trusted. The episode closes with a discussion of his book and the big questions of Jewish identity, survival, and peoplehood in the 21st century.To Purchase WHY AM I A Jew https://amzn.to/480TWPN This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcschulman.substack.com/subscribe