About Defense Matters | Defense, technology and the powers that move them
Israel Defense, in association with the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is proud to present its new podcast, Defense Matters, which delves into all elements of defense, technology and the powers that move them.
Each episode will feature the latest in global military affairs, cyber security and much more. In addition to the challenges of today, we will be looking into the technologies that will shape the battlefield of tomorrow – and also take a brief stroll down memory lane to the major affairs of yesterday.
Defense Matters, Episode 10 | The Chinese Connection
Israel Defense, in association with the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), is proud to present a new episode of its new podcast: Defense Matters | A podcast about defense, technology, and the powers that move them.
In Episode 10, the last of this season, Host Aron Heller speaks with Carice Witte, Founder & Executive Director of SIGNAL - Sino-Israel Global Network & Academic Leadership.
Witte and Heller delved deep into the fascinating and complex relationship between Israel and China. They discussed China’s long-term goals, executed through its Belt & Road Initiative as well as its Maritime Silk Road, and Israel’s role not only as a tech superpower but as a bridge to the Middle East, the OECD and the US.
Joining us for the Gamechanger segment is Asher Abish, Regional Director of Marketing and Sales in ELTA’s Land Division. Abish focuses on IAI’s new gunfire-detection system, the “Othello-P”, explaining the needs behind its development, as well as its practical implications in the battlefield.
14 Dec 2022
Defense Matters, Episode 9 | Israel: new government, same old challenges
Israel Defense, in association with the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is proud to present the newest episode in its podcast: Defense Matters | A podcast about defense, technology, and the powers that move them.
In Episode 9, Host Aron Heller speaks with Eitan Dangot, retired IDF general, former Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, and currently a Senior Research Fellow at the Jerusalem Institute of Strategy and Security.
They discuss the strength of Israel’s defense structure and the new Israeli government; how the people taking part within, including expected new Foreign Minister Amir Ohana and expected new Defense Minister Yoav Galant, among others, will impact the state's response to terror attacks, relationship with its Palestinian neighbors, and potentially affect the ever-strengthening Abraham Accords.
In our Gamechanger segment, Aron talks to Gideon Fostick, Director of Marketing and Business Development for the Intelligence, Communications and EW Division at ELTA. Fostick speaks about the electromagnetic spectrum, why jamming is vital in today’s battlefield, and introduces IAI’s new jamming system called Scorpius G, which adds another layer to kinetic defenses.
21 Jul 2022
Defenses Matters, Episode 8 | The Cyber Special
Defense Matters, Episode 8 | The Cyber Special
Israel Defense, in association with the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is proud to present its new podcast: Defense Matters | A podcast about defense, technology, and the powers that move them.
This is our last episode before we go on Summer Break and we wanted to go big. Since our world is replete with cyber, we focused on its complex reach into our lives. Don’t worry; we will return in September, giving you time to catch up on Season One of Defense Matters.
In Episode 8, Host Aron Heller speaks with Erez Kreiner, a former director of the Cyber Division of Israel’s Shin Bet security service and currently a senior research fellow at the Insitute for Counterterrorism at Reichman University. The two examine the prominent role that cyber plays in today’s world. It is most obvious with regard to cyberattacks, but it also creates civilian “cyber” soldiers within wars and significantly defines alliances in the international arena.
In our Game changer segment, Heller speaks with Esti Peshin, Vice President and General Manager of the Cyber Division at IAI. She discusses the five aspects of defense against cyber dangers in our world today as well as how IAI technology will help define the concept of cyber in the near future.
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6 Jul 2022
Defense Mattters: Episode 7 | Seeking the Saudis
Israel Defense, in association with the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is proud to present its new podcast: Defense Matters | A podcast about defense, technology, and the powers that move them.
In Episode 7, Host Aron Heller speaks with Prof. Uzi Rabi, PhD, Director of the Moshe Dayan Center for the Middle Eastern and African Studies at Tel Aviv University, about the Israel’s relations with Saudi Arabia and potential future normalization.
Prof. Rabi and Heller discuss the Kingdom’s vital role as the lynchpin of the Abraham Accords, and analyze the upcoming Biden visit to the Middle East in the context of America’s needs from the Saudis. The two also examine the role of prominent politician and crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), who has recently transformed the character and temperament of the Arab country, and possible defense alliances against the common regional enemy, Iran.
In our Game Changer segment, Heller speaks with our first return guest Ilan Bublil, Business Development and Marketing Director of Elta Systems at IAI. Bublil shares the highly advanced and innovative sensors available today in medical science, how they assist in reading patients remotely, and how they compare to traditional methods.
Find our podcast, be sure to rate us, and leave comments below!
21 Jun 2022
Defense Matters, Episode 6 | The Biden visit: checking the pulse of Israel/US relations
Israel Defense, in association with the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is proud to present its new podcast: Defense Matters | A Podcast about defense, technology and the powers that move them.
In Episode 6, we focus on the upcoming Biden visit to the Middle East and what it means for Israel and the region.
Host Aron Heller speaks with Helit Barel, a security expert on US-Israel relations, the former Director at the Israeli National Security Council, a founding member of Forum Dvorah, Women in Foreign Policy and National Security, and the former Executive Director of the Council for Peace and Security.
Heller and Barel compare past relationships of the two countries, examine the dynamic of the current leaders, and review the related issues involving Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Palestinian issue.
In our Gamechanger segment, Aron talks to Nir Salomon, Head of U.S. Desk & Business Development, IAI’s Military Aircraft Group. Salomon explains the need for maritime airborne surveillance to protect coastal borders, and how IAI’s long-endurance, unmanned systems radically increase the safety and success rate against coastal-related threats.
*This episode was recorded shortly before the Israeli government called for new elections due to its political instability. As a result, it will be alternate PM Yair Lapid who will be hosting President Joe Biden during his visit in July 2022.
13 Jun 2022
Defense Matters, Episode 5 | Israel & Turkey: friends or foes?
Israel Defense, in association with the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is proud to present its new podcast: Defense Matters | A Podcast about defense, technology and the powers that move them.
In Episode 5, we focus on the ongoing relationship between Israel and Turkey, as well as its current status these days. The two countries – are they friends or foes?
Host Aron Heller talks to Dr. Gallia Lindenstrauss, an expert on Turkey and a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University. They review the recent history of the two countries, discuss the impact of Turkish President Erdoğan, and examine what the future holds for the relationship.
25 May 2022
Defense Matters, Episode 4 | The war on public opinion
Defense Matters, Episode 4 | The war on public opinion
Host: Aron Heller
Israel Defense, in association with the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is proud to present its new podcast, Defense Matters, which delves into all elements of defense, technology and the powers that move them.
This week, we will try to figure out why Israel always seems to be on the losing end of global public opinion, guilty until proven innocent. We will review recent crises, such as the deadly shooting of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and its aftermath, to see how Israel communicates them to the world - or, often times, how it miscommunicates them.
Our main guest is Lt. Col. (ret.) Peter Lerner, Former International Spokesperson for the IDF, and current Director General of International Relations Division, Histadrut Labor Union. As the former face and voice of the IDF for non-local audiences, Lerner has some great insights about how, and when, a narrative is set.
For our Game Changer section, we are joined by Alex Riahi - Director, Head of Marketing & BD, TAMAM Division, IAI. Riahi will discuss the latest innovations in WAMI - Wide Angle Motion Imagery.
Defense Matters is hosted by Aron Heller
Executive Producer Roni Bar
Producer Tzachi Biran
Sound and Video Production by AdPure Media
Defense Matters is an Israel Defense production, in association with the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)
4 May 2022
Defense Matters, Episode 3 | A New Middle East?
Defense Matters, Episode 3 | A New Middle East?
Host: Aron Heller
Israel Defense, in association with the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is proud to present its new podcast, Defense Matters, which delves into all elements of defense, technology and the powers that move them.
This week, we take a look at the seemingly new era in the Middle East: Israel now has open relations with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and others, and the Palestinian issue seems passe. And yet, we still have rocket attacks from Gaza, terrorism on Israeli streets and the same, persistent tensions within the Old City of Jerusalem, restricted access to holy sites, and more.
So are we living in the “new Middle East,” or is it the same old one it’s always been? Eran Etzion, Former Deputy Head of Israel's National Security Council, will give us his analysis.
For our Game Changer section, we are joined by Nir Gil, Marketing & BD, C4ISR Directorate, ELTA Group IAI.
Defense Matters is hosted by Aron Heller
Executive Producer Roni Bar
Producer Tzachi Biran
Sound and Video Production by AdPure Media
Defense Matters is an Israel Defense production, in association with the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)
12 Apr 2022
Defense Matters, Episode 2 | Coping with lone attackers
This week we focus on the recent wave of terror attacks in Israel, after the deadliest month of nationalist violence in years. The stabbing and shooting attacks in Beer-Sheba, Hadera, Bnei Brak and Tel Aviv were all very different, but the one common thread was that the perpetrators were all lone attackers who acted by themselves without any direct organizational affiliation. Lior Ackerman, a former top official in the Shin Bet (ISA) security service talks about challenges and solutions.
In our Game changer section. We are joined by Eyal Shapira, who heads the radar department at IAI.
Defense Matters is hosted by Aron Heller | Executive Producer Roni Bar | Producer Tzachi Biran | Sound and Video Production by AdPure Media | Defense Matters is an Israel Defense production, in association with the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)
3 Apr 2022
Defense Matters, Episode 1 | Ukraine: first lessons from a brutal war
This week, Defense Matters is focused on the ongoing war in Ukraine and discussed the actual fighting on the ground, technology involved, cyber war, post-Cold War military balance that is currently unfolding – and of course the Israeli angle, its mediation efforts, and how all of this is tied to the Iran nuclear deal.
The first guest was IDF (ret.) Major General Amos Gilead, a former top Israeli Ministry of Defense official and current Executive Director of the Institute of Policy and Strategy at Reichman University.
The episode ends with the “game changer” section, which takes a look at the industry of tomorrow and how it will affect the future battlefield. Aviv Kanelbaum, Business Development & Marketing Manager of the IAI Space Division, discusses satellite tracking for intelligence purposes in the context of the war in Ukraine.
Defense Matters is hosted by Aron Heller | Executive Producer Roni Bar | Producer Tzachi Biran | Sound and Video Production by AdPure Media | Defense Matters is an Israel Defense production, in association with the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)
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