In this engaging episode of IsraelCast, Steven Shalowitz sits down with Judge Roy K. Altman to discuss his new book, Israel on Trial: Examining the History, the Evidence, and the Law. Drawing on history, archaeology, and international law, Altman addresses some of the most common accusations leveled against Israel, including claims of colonialism, apartheid, occupation, and genocide. He also shares insights from leading educational delegations to Israel and discusses how firsthand experience can challenge widely held misconceptions. The conversation explores Jewish indigeneity, the power of historical evidence, the rise of misinformation in the post–October 7 landscape, and the importance of defending truth in an age of growing polarization. Thoughtful and timely, this episode offers listeners a deeper understanding of the narratives shaping the conversation around Israel today.
Roy K. Altman is a United States District Judge and a nationally recognized voice whose work brings clarity and rigor to some of the most complicated legal questions facing society today. A graduate of Yale Law School and former editor of the Yale Law Journal, he is an award-winning writer and commentator whose work on the rule of law, Israel, antisemitism, and the American legal order has appeared in leading publications including The Wall Street Journal, National Review, RealClearPolitics, Quillette, and the Miami Herald. Before taking the bench, Altman served as a decorated federal prosecutor, earning the Department of Justice's highest honor twice and being named Federal Prosecutor of the Year. He later became the youngest partner at a prestigious litigation firm, representing clients in some of the world's most high-profile cases. He is the author of Israel on Trial: Examining the History, the Evidence, and the Law.