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Unpacking Israeli History

Go behind the scenes of Israeli history with self-confessed history nerd Noam Weissman.

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Anti-Zionist protesters in New York City, April 5, 2024. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)

Unpacking Israeli History

Good Jews Only? Confronting New York Magazine’s Habibi City story

Noam unpacks the firestorm around New York Magazine’s "Habibi City" issue and traces the deeper historical pattern behind it: the demand that Jews disavow Zionism.

Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, left, walks with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat after the opening ceremony of the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa, August 31, 2001. (AP Photo/Jose Goitia, File)

Unpacking Israeli History

Durban 2001: How Zionism became a dirty word

The UN World Conference Against Racism was meant to fight bigotry. Instead, it became what has been called the most sickening display of hatred for Jews since the Nazi period.

People walk past an election campaign billboard showing Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli prime minister and the head of the Likud party, in Bnei Brak, an ultra-Orthodox Tel Aviv suburb, Oct. 25, 2022. The Hebrew on the billboard reads: "The 61st seat depends only on you." (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Unpacking Israeli History

Why Israeli elections never produce a clear winner

August 24, 2026

Israelis don't vote directly for prime minister, no party has ever won a majority, and a party with just a handful of Knesset seats can win big. How do Israeli elections actually work?

Fans watch the final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, in Tel Aviv, May 16, 2026 (Dor Pazuelo/Flash90)

Unpacking Israeli History

Israel’s Eurovision story: Boos, ballads, and breaking up with Europe (Part 2)

August 17, 2026

The story continues through PingPong's fever dream, Netta's feminist anthem, and the raw, post-October 7th performances of Eden Golan, Yuval Raphael, and Noam Bettan.

Noam Bettan from Israel, center, reacts as the points are awarded during the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, May 17, 2026. (AP/Martin Meissner)

Unpacking Israeli History

Israel at Eurovision: How a Middle Eastern country crashed Europe’s biggest party

Noam unpacks how Israel went from Eurovision newcomer to music powerhouse, exploring the songs, stars, and surprising moments that put the Jewish state on Europe's biggest stage.

A protestor waves a Palestinian flag during an unauthorized pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel demonstration on Dam Square in Amsterdam on November 13, 2024. (Nick Gammon / AFP)

Unpacking Israeli History

Is the Palestinian flag illegal in Israel?

July 27, 2026

A man is detained over a kippah bearing both the Israeli and Palestinian flags. Was it legal? Noam unpacks the surprising history of the Palestinian flag, and why Israel once banned it.