128: Iran, Gaza and the new American right, with Sohrab Ahmari

The conversation examines the evolving US-Israel relationship amidst a resurgence of antisemitism and shifting political ideologies within the American right. Haviv and guest Sohrab Ahmari analyze the "suturing" function of modern antisemitism, where complex societal antagonisms are projected onto Jewish figures. They debate the strategic necessity of Israel’s military actions against Hamas and Hezbollah, contrasting Israel’s "Maccabean" security posture with the growing American desire to pivot away from Middle Eastern conflicts. Ahmari highlights the disconnect between Israel’s tactical military successes and its lack of a long-term political strategy, while Haviv argues that Israel faces an existential threat from an undeterrable, Iranian-led ideological front. Ultimately, the dialogue underscores the impasse between Israel’s survival-driven security policies and the declining moral and diplomatic support from its primary Western allies, emphasizing the difficulty of maintaining a democratic state while surrounded by enemies committed to its destruction.