The Age of the Strongman: Understanding Netanyahu, with Anshel Pfeffer (Part Two)

Intelligence Squared

Arts, News, Society & Culture, News Commentary

4.2 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 7 September 2025

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In November 2022, Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power in Israel after winning his sixth election. Propped up by a bloc of far-right and ultra-religious parties, Netanyahu’s government is seen by many as the most extreme in Israeli history. But he is also a remarkably successful politician: he first won power in 1996 and is Israel’s longest-serving prime minister. In September 2025 Anshel Pfeffer, one of the world’s foremost experts on the Israeli Prime Minister came to Intelligence Squared for the third instalment of our Age of the Strongman series. Pfeffer drew from his forthcoming book 'No King In Israel: The Jewish State Confronts its Demons' to shed light on Netanyahu’s bold vision for reshaping the Middle East, his cosy relationship with Donald Trump, his battles to silence the Israeli judiciary and his ongoing expansion of settlements in the West Bank. Pfeffer also explained the monumental shifts in Israeli politics that have taken place after October 7 and the wars in Gaza and Lebanon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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0:56.9	Welcome to Intelligence Squared, where great minds meet.
1:01.0	I'm producer Mia Serenti.
1:03.3	For this episode, we're rejoining for part two of our live event,
1:07.1	Understanding Netanyahu with Gideon Rackman and Ancel Pfeffer.
1:11.6	They joined us recently at Smith Square Hall in Westminster for the third event in our Age of the Strongman series,
1:17.6	in which Chief Foreign Affairs commentator for the Financial Times,
1:21.6	Gideon Rackman speaks to leading experts about the political leaders defining our times.
1:26.6	For this installment of the series, Gideon spoke to Anshel about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
1:32.3	If you haven't heard part one, do just jump back an episode and get up to speed.
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