State of Tel Aviv, Israel Podcast

Jonathan Conricus has returned from a short North American speaking tour and joined me on Sunday evening to take a close look at where things stand with America and Iran. It is challenging to keep up and even more difficult to decode the often-conflicting messages issued by the main protagonists: the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. We get into the possible responses that may come from the parties and the implications for the region and the world. Who is running Iran these days and making decisions? Unclear but we have a pretty good idea. Will Iran act on its threats to impose taxes on all maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz? How about their latest initiative - to tax all data passing through internet cables that are laid at the bottom of the Persian Gulf? Or - maybe they will sever the cables and disrupt global commerce? So many possibilities and we get into them all. Why is Iran attacking the UAE so consistently and hard? And why is the UAE not responding? Oh - and we also spend a bit of time marveling at the tendency of western media to accept the “spin” coming out of Iran, pretty. much unquestioningly.This pod was recorded on Sunday night, but it is current as of 10 am EST on Tuesday. At the end of the episode I include a short clip of Conricus speaking on Monday to media. He addresses America’s rejection of the Iranian response to the most recent U.S. proposal to…..formalize the ceasefire? End the war? This became public after we recorded on Sunday night. It never stops……Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivJonathan Conricus is a senior fellow with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington D.C.-based think tank. He served in the IDF for 24 years, four of them as spokesman during the intense 11 days of the Guardian of the Walls Operation between Israel and Hamas. Now a reserve officer with the rank of Lt. Col., he is a sought-after speaker internationally and is frequently seen on major television news shows. Jonathan was born in Jerusalem to a Swedish father and an Israeli mother and spent his formative years in Sweden.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

There was the “joke” a senior Toronto Police officer made one day to then One Homicide Chief, Hank Idsinga. You know, the one about a kosher bbq being a “Jew-Q.” As in, thinking that the idea of burning Jews during the Holocaust in Europe - was funny. The jokester told Idsinga it was really funny. And that was when Hank Idsinga began to see the deep antisemitism among police leadership, and others. And there was more. Much more.Idsinga’s recently published book: “The High Road: Confessions of a Homicide Cop”, was released in early May and is prompting discussion about the conduct of the Toronto Police Force, particularly since October 7. Toronto has become a dangerous city for Jews to live in. Hostility toward Jewish people is overt, everywhere and inescapable. It was clear from October 7 that something was very wrong with how Toronto police were dealing with the outburst of Jew-hatred. The antisemites were given free rein. Police spoke about constitutional rights and other high-minded issues, which actually had nothing to do with the illegal conduct proliferating on Toronto streets. In fact, the cops protected the “protesters”, insisting they were not breaking laws and that their conduct was “peaceful.” Well, they were breaking many laws, and their conduct was anything but peaceful. Almost three years later, Toronto is unrecognizable and considered to be one of the most dangerous cities in the world in which to live today, as a Jew. This podcast episode is a touch longer than our usual, because there is so much important information to be shared.We focus on Hank Idsinga, his personal story and how that influenced his career, particularly in the later years. And we get into the way in which Toronto Police have handled overt and often violent antisemitism since October 7. Their conduct is indefensible. Inexplicable. And I have been writing and podcasting about this tirelessly. Only now, as attacks on Jews have become more frequent and violent - attracting international attention - has the Toronto Police Service even acknowledged that there may be, you know, a problem.I have provided time stamps for three sections of the podcast, so you can jump around or skip. But I urge you to listen to them all. They build on and reinforce one another. And the story of what is going down in Toronto is just one extreme example of what we are seeing in many cities around the world. This will not just “go away”.Thanks to Andrea Marcus, a friend, proud lifelong Torontonian, brilliant artist, and sponsor of this episode of State of Tel Aviv and Beyond. Like so many Canadians, Andrea is devastated by what has happened to Canada and Toronto, particularly in recent years. They are unrecognizable. If you would like to be like Andrea and support our work by sponsoring an episode or two, please contact me directly. [email protected] Stamps:Part I - Introduction to Hank Idsinga and the Toronto Police Force 00-34:54Part II - Toronto Police and Jews: Open Contempt at a Recent Press Conference 34:55-37:41Part III - Deep Dive into Post October 7 Toronto Police Conduct 37:42-endShow your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivHank Idsinga was a member of the Toronto Police Services for thirty years, leading the country’s top homicide unit for five years. Having served as Detective Sergeant and, later, Inspector in charge of Toronto’s Homicide Squad, he has policed just about every kind of case you can imagine, and has stared down some of the hardest criminals the city has ever seen. Idsinga has received numerous awards from the Ontario Homicide Investigator’s Association, and has twice been recognized by Toronto Life magazine as one of Toronto’s 50 Most Influential People. Additionally, he is a regular presenter at policing conferences, including the FBI National Academy Associates Conference and the Ontario Homicide Investigators Conference, among others. Recently retired and now a crime commentary fixture on the Corus radio network (nationally) and Global Television, as well as American crime series in production, Idsinga speaks widely about policing in the wake of a highly decorated career.From decorated homicide detective Hank Idsinga comes The High Road—a raw, riveting true crime memoir from the man who helped take down one of Canada’s most notorious serial killers.Hank Idsinga knew from the age of ten that he wanted to solve murders—especially after learning his grandfather had been executed by the Nazis during the Holocaust. Over a thirty-year career with Toronto Police Services, Idsinga rose through the ranks to lead the country’s top homicide unit. From street crime to serial killers, he saw it all—and now, for the first time, he tells the story in his own voice.Written in a hard-boiled but deeply human tone, The High Road chronicles the highs and horrors of life on the homicide beat. Idsinga recounts some of Toronto’s most gripping cases that caught the attention of the nation, including the Boxing Day shooting of Jane Creba, the Yonge Street shootouts, and—most infamously—the Bruce McArthur serial killer investigation. With equal parts warmth, candor, and gravity, he offers rare insight into how detectives do their work, how justice is served, and how the toll of the job is carried quietly and constantly.Far from glorifying violence, Idsinga focuses on the people at the heart of each case: the victims, the families, and the fellow officers who became like family over decades of service. Many of those families remain in touch with him today, a testament to his character and compassion.With the rise of true crime podcasts and docuseries, audiences are hungry for authentic, unfiltered voices—and The High Road delivers. This isn’t just a book about catching killers. It’s about the moral weight of justice, the value of empathy, and the complicated humanity on both sides of the badge.Podcast NotesIn the podcast I refer often to how entrenched antisemitism is in Canada and how obvious that has become since October 7. Below are links to two articles published in Toronto media regarding Idsinga’s allegations regarding antisemitism on the police force.Following are links to podcasts and written articles by me, on the State of Tel Aviv website and in other publications. This is just a sampling of the work I have done on antisemitism in Canada, focusing on Toronto, since October 7. And there’s much more. State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

Yes. I am generating a lot of material about antisemitism in Canada - and not just because I am Canadian. You will probably have noticed that some popular American podcasters and media have been focusing on Canada recently. Canadian society and the rot pervading it is turning heads in the United States, UK and continental Europe. Not only because the situation is so bad. But perhaps moreso because political and law enforcement leadership in Canada seem unperturbed. They barely notice. In fact, they seem to react only when American media takes note. That - by the way - is a classic Canadian thing. We like to keep things “in the family.” But when American or UK media come out and criticize - well - that is noticed. If a Canadian dares to be critical of the government in foreign media - it is often cast as being disloyal. As we say in Hebrew - very small-minded.In March, shortly after three synagogues were shot up in Toronto in one week, the world took note. Within days of the shootings, I interviewed Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli. He said - and it is in this podcast - that Canada is at the top of a list that no one should want to be on: he regards Canada as being perhaps the most dangerous place in the world to be Jewish these days. His strong concerns are shared by Sharren Haskel, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Both Chikli and Haskel have been paying attention to the grim reality on the ground for Canadian Jews - especially since October 7. They do not hold back. And they also bring to the discussion a global perspective. Their job is to be on top of the status of Jewish communities all over the world - and they are watching like hawks. This is about Canada, yes, but it is about so much more.Their comments and observations are from March and I have provided updated context in the podcast narrative. Almost immediately after the drama in Toronto things got pretty crazy in the UK, especially London. And the war in Iran exploded. Sometimes, events overtake the material I have prepared……and I had to hold these interviews until those crises subsided, temporarily. So - here we are. And in the meantime……the mess, if I can call it that, remains a mess.Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivAmichai Chikli is an Israeli politician who serves as the Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism. In the past he worked as an educator and social entrepreneur.Chikli was born in 1981 in Jerusalem. He served as an officer in the Golani brigade, an elite IDF unit.Following his military service, Chikli earned a bachelor’s degree in security and Middle Eastern studies from Haifa University and a master’s degree in security studies and diplomacy from Tel Aviv University. Minister Chikli is married and has three children.Sharren Haskel is 41 years old, married and the mother of three young children. At 18, she served in the Israel Defense Force, as a combat soldier in the Border Guards during the Second Intifada. Following her military service, Deputy Minister Haskel pursued a career in veterinary medicine. Haskel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and International Relations from The Open University in Israel, where she also was the Israeli national debating champion. She entered the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) in 2015.In November 2024, she was sworn in as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.State of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

One day ago, at approximately 11:30, two Jewish men were stabbed by a stranger on a street in a Jewish neighborhood in London. Had private community guards not been on the scene then the outcome would certainly have been much worse. It took police four minutes to arrive on the scene. And when they did one of them realized that he had forgotten his taser gun in the car. UK police officers are not armed. Seriously.Just hours before dropping this podcast, the UK Daily Telegraph published an exclusive story that the suspect, Essa Suleiman, is a 45-year-old Somali immigrant to the UK with previous convictions for violent crime, including the stabbing of at least one police officer and his canine partner. Mr. Suleiman served prison time and was referred in 2020 to a government run “counter-extremism” prevention program but as the Telegraph reports, “his case was closed later that year.” Exactly what that means is unclear. What is clear is that Mr. Suleiman was known to law enforcement and they clearly had formed a view that he may be a political or other extremist. He is believed to be associated with a terror organization supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran.London. Melbourne. Sydney. Toronto. Manchester. Montreal. Something is very wrong in the United Kingdom and its former colonies. Very wrong. In today’s podcast we have a detailed discussion with Mark Sandler, a criminal lawyer based in Toronto who has acted as counsel in countless cases as well as more than 20 public inquiries. The depth and breadth of his experience is seriously impressive. These days, Sandler acts as chair of the Alliance of Canadians Combatting Antisemitism, a group of more than 70 organizations that have come together to voice their profound concern with the state of civil society in the country. Sandler seems to be everywhere - especially since October 7. He is a force of nature. I learned so much from speaking with Sandler and he confirmed many of my deepest concerns regarding the reasons that Jew hatred is so prevalent in Canada. It didn’t just “happen.” It’s a direct result of weak leadership, at best. At worst, it is due to institutional antisemitism. In another episode some time I hope to sink my teeth into why these issues seem to be manifesting in such an extreme way in the UK, Canada, and Australia.Update: As we finalize this podcast news came in that the UK just raised the threat level to severe, one notch below critical - the highest. Government is saying that it is related in part to the Golders Green attack. But there is more in the mix.In the podcast notes I have included links to previous State of Tel Aviv and Beyond podcasts and episodes that are directly relevant and may be of interest to you.Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivMark Sandler, LL.B., LL.D. (honoris causa), ALCCA’s Chair, is widely recognized as one of Canada’s leading criminal lawyers and pro bono advocates. He has been involved in combatting antisemitism for over 40 years. He has lectured extensively on legal remedies to combat hate and has promoted respectful Muslim-Jewish, Sikh-Jewish and Black-Jewish dialogues. He has appeared before Parliamentary committees and in the Supreme Court of Canada on multiple occasions on issues relating to antisemitism and hate activities. He is a former member of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, a three-time elected Bencher of the Law Society of Ontario, and recipient of the criminal profession’s highest honor, the G. Arthur Martin Medal, for his contributions to the administration of criminal justice.Podcast Notes:* Home page for Alliance of Canadians Combatting AntisemitismThis site is a trove of superb material documenting the ongoing efforts of this coalition to combat antisemitism in Canada: alcca.ca* Previous State of Tel Aviv and Beyond episodes directly relevant to the issues discussed in this podcastState of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe