Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

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Rachel Goldberg-Polin joins Dan for a Purim special to explain why this is possibly the most misunderstood holiday in Jewish tradition. Rather than simply a fun masquerade for kids, Purim presents a profound meditation on hiddenness, courage, and stepping into one’s moment. Rachel walks Dan through the Book of Esther, unpacks its drama and philosophical depth, and explores why a story where God is never mentioned may be the most relevant text for a confusing, fractured age.

In this episode:

- The world of Persia and the backstory to Purim

- Vashti, Esther, and the making of a queen

- Haman, Amalek, and the logic of antisemitism

- “For such a time as this” and the Esther moment

- Where is God in a story without God?

- Masks, hiddenness, and the illusion of randomness

- Unity, generosity, and the mitzvot of Purim

- Discovering your purpose when no one summons you

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

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As American military assets flow into the Middle East and Tehran prepares its response to Washington’s demands, Dan is joined by Nadav Eyal and Mark Dubowitz to assess whether President Trump is leaning toward diplomacy or decisive military action. They break down what’s real, what’s signaling, what would be the goals and scope of an American attack, and whether Israel is preparing to take part in it.

In this episode:

3:00 - Is Trump leaning toward a strike or a deal?

3:30 - What “zero enrichment” really means and why it matters

9:30 - Pickaxe Mountain and Iran’s rebuilding nuclear infrastructure

11:00 - The scale of U.S. military deployments in the region

16:00 - Israel’s preparedness and the missile defense dilemma

22:30 - Hezbollah, Gulf states, and regional spillover risks

27:00 - Symbolic strike or regime-level operation?

39:00 - How politics, legacy, and red lines shape Trump’s decision

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Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

This is a sneak peek from the latest Inside Call Me Back, the members-only edition of the podcast. Amit Segal joins Dan to separate spin from substance and answer the question on everyone’s mind: is a military operation truly imminent, and how should Israelis think about what comes next?

They also discuss Amit’s political worldview and how it compares to his father’s Jabotinskyite vision.

To hear the full conversation, become a member by following the link in the description or visiting arkmedia.org.

In the full episode: 

Dan and Amit Segal take listener questions that dig deep into the Israeli divide. Will the election revolve around the Haredi draft crisis or the judicial reform? Should Antizionist Arab parties be able to run in Israeli elections? What is the future of Judea and Samaria and how long can Israel postpone the question of Palestinian statehood? And does Amit share his father's vision of a Jabotinsky right? 

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Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel

Get in touch

Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

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Do most people misunderstand the true nature of Antizionism?

Dan sits down with renowned computer scientist and public intellectual Judea Pearl to understand why he coined the term “Zionophobia.” Pearl argues that Antizionism is not simply policy criticism but a rejection of Jewish collective sovereignty.

Pearl shares his personal story, that dates back to the founding of Israel, and explains how the murder of his son, Daniel Pearl, and the violence of the Second Intifada have reshaped his thinking about Israel, identity, and moral clarity. 

The conversation spans failed peace efforts, the politics of language, the meaning of indigeneity, and Pearl’s warning that Israel’s greatest long-term vulnerability may be the erosion of bipartisan American support.

Read Judea’s book Coexistence and Other Fighting Words

In this episode:

03:00 - From AI pioneer to Zionist advocate

24:00 - “Zionophobia,” not anti-Semitism

29:00 - Terrorism, moral asymmetry, and the Carter controversy

35:00 - Education as the true battlefield

38:00 - Why peace efforts failed and what was misunderstood

41:00 - Indigeneity, sovereignty, and competing narratives

44:00 - The bipartisan question and Israel’s strategic future

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Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel

Get in touch

Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

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For years, normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel was seen as the ultimate goal of the Abraham Accords and the final step towards unlocking regional stability. But a sharp rivalry is heating up between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed. Dan is joined by Yonatan Adiri and Yael Wissner-Levy to unpack the economic, political, and personal dynamics driving this feud, what it means for Israel, and why India and global energy corridors may matter more than most people realize.
In this episode:
00:18 - MBS’s Vision 2030 under pressure and the internal Saudi recalibration
10:40 - Mentor turned rival: How MBS and MBZ went from alignment to confrontation
18:45 - The Yemen flashpoint that ruptured the Saudi–UAE relationship
24:00 - Energy corridors, IMEC, and the India factor
28:30 - Is Israel collateral damage or strategically positioned?
34:50 - Why UAE’s “infrastructure diplomacy” may be winning quietly
38:45 - The future of normalization versus regional integration
This episode was sponsored by United Hatzalah. Donate today at IsraelRescue.org/CallMeBack. Add this number to your phone right now if you live in Israel – 1221, and for those visiting it’s 972-2-5-383838.
More Ark Media:
Subscribe to Inside Call me Back
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Watch Call me Back on YouTube
Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal
Instagram | Ark Media | Dan
X | Dan
Dan Senor & Saul Singer’s book, The Genius of Israel
Get in touch
Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo