In this episode of IsraelCast, Yaakov Katz joins Steven Shalowitz for an in-depth conversation about the intelligence failures, political assumptions, and regional dynamics that shaped the October 7 attacks and continue to impact Israel today. Drawing from his bestselling book While Israel Slept, Katz explains how Israel underestimated Hamas, the breakdowns within the intelligence community, and the lessons the country must learn to prevent another national tragedy. The conversation also explores Israel’s ongoing challenges in Gaza, the evolving threat from Iran and Hezbollah, the fragile state of the U.S.-Israel relationship, and the growing importance of public diplomacy in an increasingly polarized world. Katz offers candid insight into Israel’s internal divisions, the emotional toll of prolonged war, and why true national healing remains elusive. Thoughtful, urgent, and deeply informative, this episode provides listeners with a clearer understanding of the forces shaping Israel’s present and the difficult choices that will define its future.
Yaakov Katz is a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI), co-founder of the Middle East America Policy Forum (MEAD), and former editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post. A leading Israeli journalist and analyst, he frequently appears on major international media outlets, including CNN, and writes for Newsweek and the Jewish Chronicle. Katz is the author of Shadow Strike and, with Amir Bohbot, the co-author of While Israel Slept and Weapon Wizards, books that explore Israel’s military, intelligence, and national security challenges.