Off The Hookah With Phil And Cooper

Phil and Cooper record their first remote podcast due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on recent political intrigue in Israel. After three rounds of elections, there may finally be a successful attempt at forming a new Israeli government, with opposition leader Benny Gantz having been tasked with building a coalition. But sitting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has his own ideas, and he’s using the coronavirus outbreak as a political cudgel. Al-Monitor contributor Ben Caspit joins us remotely from Israel to discuss this and more. Netanyahu's target: to isolate coronavirus, Benny Gantz (Ben Caspit) Netanyahu, Gantz get closer to reaching unity government (Mazal Mualem) Netanyahu's coronavirus strategy erodes Israel's democracy (Ben Caspit) Netanyahu wants an emergency government of Jews only (Afif Abu Much) Netanyahu's chief rival promises 'broad' government 'within a few days' (Elizabeth Hagedorn) Extra Listening: Episode #78,  Honey I Shrunk My Coalition (11/29/2018): Phil, Co