The State of Affairs

The State of Affairs is a thought-provoking podcast hosted by Dr. Avi Abraham Benlolo, featuring candid conversations with leaders, policymakers, diplomats, business executives, and changemakers from around the world. Each episode explores the defining issues shaping our time—from geopolitics, democracy, and national security to human rights, business, innovation, and global leadership. Through insightful interviews and informed analysis, The State of Affairs provides listeners with the context and perspectives needed to better understand today's rapidly changing world.

The State of Affairs is a news podcast hosted by Avi Abraham Benlolo, with 16 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Avi Abraham Benlolo hosts The State of Affairs, a news show with 16 episodes published.

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  The State of Affairs

  Israel’s Battle for Truth at the UN in Geneva

  Aug 24, 202626 min

  Why is Israel the only country permanently singled out by the United Nations Human Rights Council? Can democracies defend human rights when authoritarian regimes sit in judgment of them? And what happens when international law is weaponized, special rapporteurs abandon neutrality and the atrocities of October 7 are subjected to moral inversion? In this compelling episode of The State of Affairs , Avi Abraham Benlolo speaks with Ambassador Daniel Meron, Israel’s representative to the United Nations and international institutions in Geneva, about the diplomatic battle taking place inside the UN system. Why did Israel disengage from the Human Rights Council? Can its structural bias ever be reformed? Why do friendly nations express private sympathy for Israel but fail to support it publicly? Has anti-Israel politicization infected organizations and other international bodies? Should Israel continue fighting for fairness within these institutions—or begin building alternative alliances? Ambassador Meron also discusses Israel’s humanitarian, medical and technological contributions, the challenges confronting Israeli diplomacy and where he still finds reason for optimism. Produced by the Abraham Global Peace Initiative. Learn more and support our work at agpiworld.com .

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  The State of Affairs

  IS AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL AN ACT OF GENEROSITY—OR ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS THE UNITED STATES MAKES?

  Aug 17, 202629 min

  In this episode of The State of Affairs , Avi Abraham Benlolo speaks with Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger about the military intelligence, defence technology, battlefield experience and economic innovation Israel provides the United States. Their discussion examines the F-35 program as a powerful example of an alliance that works in both directions. How much is that contribution worth to the United States and the wider F-35 program? Why has the U.S. State Department repeatedly misread the Middle East? Is it possible that Iran already has the bomb? Can diplomacy ever contain Iran’s revolutionary regime—or does negotiation merely give Tehran additional time, money and legitimacy? This is a compelling examination of the assumptions shaping American policy—and whether following conventional wisdom could place Israel’s future at risk. To learn more about AGPI and support our important work, visit www.agpiworld.com .

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  The State of Affairs

  Back to Campus: What Can Jewish Students Expect?

  Aug 12, 202625 min

  A federally commissioned study of approximately 900 Jewish postsecondary students found that 95.7 per cent had experienced or witnessed antisemitism. Seventy per cent said their institution does not take antisemitism seriously, 68 per cent described campus as unsafe for Jewish students, and 22 per cent reported experiencing or witnessing physical violence directed at Jews. In this episode, Avi Abraham Benlolo speaks with the President and CEO of the Association for Canadian Studies and Metropolis Institute, Jack Jedwab about whether antisemitism has become systemic, why Jewish students are concealing their identities, how professors and student organizations contribute to the climate, and why university complaint systems have lost credibility. They also examine new polling showing a sharp decline in Canadian attitudes toward Judaism and ask whether campuses are reflecting a broader social crisis—or helping create it. The State of Affairs is created by The Abraham Global Peace Initiative, a prominent Canadian think-tank working to counter antisemitism, defend Israel and promote democracy.

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  The State of Affairs

  'Core of Palestinian Aspiration Built on Destroying Another Nation'

  Aug 10, 202623 min

  Can an Arab Muslim defend Zionism while warning the West about the dangers of political Islamism? In this episode of The State of Affairs , Saudi-born peace advocate Loay Alshareef joins Avi Abraham Benlolo for a fearless discussion about Israel, antisemitism and the battle between peace and extremism. How did learning Hebrew and studying Jewish history transform Loay’s understanding of Zionism? Why does anti-Zionism so often descend into open antisemitism? What does the growing influence of radical ideology in Europe and North America mean for Western democracy? From the Jewish Can an Arab Muslim defend Zionism while warning the West about the dangers of political Islamism? In this episode of The State of Affairs, Saudi-born peace advocate Loay Alshareef joins Avi Abraham Benlolo for a fearless discussion about Israel, antisemitism and the battle between peace and extremism. How did learning Hebrew and studying Jewish history transform Loay’s understanding of Zionism? Why does anti-Zionism so often descend into open antisemitism? What does the growing influence of radical ideology in Europe and North America mean for Western democracy? From the Jewish people’s ancient connection to Jerusalem to the threats posed by Iran and the Houthis, Loay confronts the forces working to perpetuate conflict. Can the Abraham Accords withstand today’s regional turmoil? Is Saudi-Israel normalization still possible? And why does Loay remain convinced that Arab-Israeli peace will ultimately prevail? ancient connection to Jerusalem to the threats posed by Iran and the Houthis, Loay confronts the forces working to perpetuate conflict. Can the Abraham Accords withstand today’s regional turmoil? Is Saudi-Israel normalization still possible? And why does Loay remain convinced that Arab-Israeli peace will ultimately prevail?

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  The State of Affairs

  THE NEXT OCTOBER 7? THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY’S 70,000-MEMBER ARMED FORCE

  Aug 3, 202636 min

  Could the next October 7-style attack come from Judea and Samaria? In this episode of The State of Affairs , Avi Abraham Benlolo speaks with Lt.-Col. (res.) Maurice Hirsch about his warning that the Palestinian Authority has built a military-capable force of approximately 70,000 armed personnel. More than 70,000 are reportedly stationed in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) —compared with only 12,000 permitted under the Oslo Accords. How did this force grow so dramatically? Why are its personnel allegedly being trained in sniping, artillery, armoured warfare, shoulder-fired missiles and parachuting? With Qalqilya only 14 kilometres from the Mediterranean, which Israeli cities would be threatened if these weapons were turned against Israel? Did Western funding and Israeli weapons transfers help create this danger? Does PA security coordination protect Israelis—or primarily preparing for war against them? Did the PA’s salaries and employment benefits for released terrorists help senior Hamas leaders prepare for October 7? Most importantly, what must Israel do now to prevent another October 7th catastrophe? To learn more about AGPI and support our important work, visit www.agpiworld.com .

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