I'm Aiton Weinstein.

And I'm Naor Menninger.

And you're listening to Two Nice Jewish Boys.

This podcast is made in collaboration with the Jewish Journal.

Israel is headed to elections.

On April 9th, Israelis will be called to the ballot box to support their political party.

Bibi, the incumbent Prime Minister, is once again asking for Israelis trust and support.

With tensions rising along the border with Syria and Gaza, an internal pressure building up between the left and the right here at home,

this election is bound to be

dramatic. In an attempt to understand the upcoming elections, the players in the current state of

affairs were joined by Deputy Minister Michael Oren, who by now, we're happy to say, is a regular

on the podcast. Dr. Michael Oren is a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's office, member of

Knesset and the

Kulano Party, and he served as the Israeli ambassador to the United States in the years 2009 to

2013. He is also a visiting professor at Harvard, Yale, and Georgetown. He is the author

of several books, both fiction and nonfiction, which we've discussed here on the podcast. We are honored

to be joined by Deputy Minister Orrin to discuss what's in store for Israel and for him.

Thank you so much for joining us. If we could give knighthood, we would. I, you know, smack me

with a sword. Why not? I've been in Israeli politics, I can probably put up with that too.

How do you sum up the last four years as

first of a learning experience? You know it's very it's remarkable to get to my advanced age and

and basically go through elementary school again. And it's funny the first day when you go into

...