Presented by the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, "East to West" offers a fresh look at the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and Israel. This podcast features diverse voices and perspectives rarely heard in mainstream media, bringing expert analysis from policymakers, scholars, and thought leaders.
With in-depth discussions on the region's most pressing issues, "East to West" uncovers the complexities behind the headlines and provides unique insights for both seasoned observers and those new to the topic. Discover the untold stories shaping to
"We Were Unprepared": A Former IDF Spokesperson on What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Jonathan Conricus is a former IDF international spokesperson and current Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) who returned to uniform on October 7 to represent Israel on the global stage.
In this episode of East to West, Jonathan sits down with host Sarah Martinez Amir to discuss the fierce battle for public opinion and narrative control fought alongside the war on the ground. He reflects on the shock of October 7th, Israel’s early strategic communication missteps, and Hamas's deliberate tactic of using GoPros and live streams to drive global media narratives.
The conversation also covers the film NAZA and IDF targeting ethics, the issue of terrorist operatives masquerading as journalists, his intense debates on shows like Piers Morgan Uncensored, and what complete victory, demilitarization, and deradicalization in Gaza actually require.
29 Sept 2026
Tamer Masudin: “I’m Arab, Muslim, Bedouin & Zionist”
Tamer Masudin is Black, Muslim, Arab, Bedouin, Israeli, and proudly identifies as a Zionist. In this episode of East to West, Tamer sits down to talk with Sarah Martinez Amir about an identity that refuses to fit into the labels often imposed on Israel. He shares why he began speaking publicly after October 7, why he sees Zionism as compatible with his own identity, and what growing up as a Black Bedouin in Israel actually looked like. The conversation also goes much deeper: Tamer discusses discrimination he experienced within his own community, his family’s connection to the history of the Arab-Muslim slave trade, his mother’s former family name “Al-Abid,” and why he believes anti-Black racism in the Middle East needs to be discussed openly. He also recalls traveling to Poland to visit Holocaust concentration camps — an experience he says strengthened his connection to Israel — and reflects on Nazi propaganda in the Arab world, Haj Amin al-Husseini, antisemitism, and the narratives that continue to shape the region today.
15 Sept 2026
Why Israel's Enemies Are Better at Telling the Story
What can a single cartoon tell you about the Middle East? In this episode of East to West, Balig Sladeen sits down with Middle East researcher Noam Bannett, who has spent years studying a language most of us barely notice: political cartoons. Noam explains how he learned to read the symbols hidden inside them: from animals and traditional clothing to religious stories, shoes, olive trees and even familiar characters. Sometimes, understanding one small detail can reveal an entire story about how people across the region see Israel, Iran and each other. He also shares the story behind his own podcast, Uskut – Arabic for “be quiet” or “shut up” — and why the name ended up being unexpectedly appropriate.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
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4 ratings
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