Michael Oren: What Led to the Hamas Terrorist Attacks and What Happens Next - Danger Close

Today’s guest is Middle East scholar, historian, diplomat, soldier, and New York Times bestselling author, Dr. Michael Oren.
From 2009-2013, Dr. Oren served as Israel’s ambassador to the United States. He is a former member of the Knesset and was Deputy Minister for Diplomacy in the Prime Minister’s Office. He served as an IDF Paratrooper in the 1982 Lebanon War.
He is the author of numerous books including Ally: My Journey Across the American-Israeli Divide, Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East, Reunion, Sand Devil, The Origins of the Second Arab-Israel War: Egypt, Israel and the Great Powers, 1952-56, The Night Archer, To All Who Call in Truth, and, most recently, 2048: The Rejuvenated State.
You can read more of Dr. Oren’s work on his Substack Clarity with Michael Oren.
You can follow him on X @DrMichaelOren and on Instagram @ambmichaeloren
SPONSORS:
Navy Federal Credit Union: Today’s episode is presented by Navy Federal Credit Union. Learn more about them at navyfederal.org
Danger Close Apparel: Check out the new Danger Close apparel.

[@misterfujixman6991]

Can't beleive my city (Montreal) was mentioned in your podcast. To add to what you said, we have also had two Jewish schools shot at. Thankfully, no students were at the schools at the time of the shooting. Those events are the ones that kind of shook me. I live in the 2nd largest Jewish neighborhood in Mintreal (I'm not Jewish) and in the past couple of weeks, my situational awareness has gone up immensely. Anyhow, thank you for your informative podcasts, keep up the great work.

[@Kawitamamayi]

Thank you for having this guest on your YT/podcast

[@theagitatedatom7049]

Jack good interview, Ambassador Oren thank you for your frank talk and your 6 Days book, its been in my personal library for years.

[@briangranader]

Thank you so much Jack for your great podcasts on Israel and what's happening in Gaza. I am Jewish and a Zionist and have learned so much from your podcasts. I really appreciate your willingness to take on this huge subject despite what so many may say about it and you. Thank you for bringing light to a very troubling topic.... Strength and honor!

[@marcwalker9610]

Outstanding interview and incredibly enlightening on the situation as a whole, past, present and future!! I'm so incredibly grateful for your content and the guests you bring to the table. God Bless you brother 🙏🕊️🙏 This old Veteran US Paratrooper appreciates all you've done and are doing to keep us informed with truth 🇺🇸🫡🇺🇸 Victory ✌️ for the brave IDF 🇮🇱👊🇮🇱 troops

[@JonathanBotach]

This old Israeli infantry saluting you brother

[@ggaggagga4]

Six Days of War is the best exploration of the 1967 war that I've read. VERY exhaustive research.

[@Potatodude223]

I read this book, "Six Days of War" in highschool! I thought it was very eye opening to the ground struggles and world conflicts during that time for Israel.

[@shedmeraked]

Thank you for sharing this. It’s so easy for people to misunderstand the situation here in Israel and form an opinion which is based only upon a very superficial view of a really complex problem. Much love from Israel and hope for peace to everyone in this land Israelis and Palestinians alike.

[@sydneychase780]

Michael Oren, much respect from this American of Greek heritage. Our country has been in similar situations for modern times, I would like to know how it goes at Columbia. Let us know. God Bless you.

[@mcrock4960]

I agree. Look what happened in Vietnam when we stopped are bombings by air. Every time North Vietnam was brought to their knees. They wood say “peace talks.” Air strikes would stop and the whole time during these talks the north would be recovering. Not for peace. But for war. Israel should never do a cease fire.

[@boo9990]

The US military has never lost a war, they’ve been sabotaged by our politicians every single time. The IDF is a specialized defensive Army the best in history with the most advanced research and development of cutting edge of mil/tech and a constant state of war puts Israel at the absolute top IMHO. The Armed Forces of the US are the greatest and most versatile GLOBAL fighting force and domestic defense force with the best equipped and trained highly skilled and athletic warriors who have a personal duty to serve and voluntarily fight for our freedom.

[@Dave183]

OMG- do people honestly believe this! ???

[@mcrock4960]

@@Dave183OMG, you are a communist living in America.

[@fwfeo]

What does winning mean to you? Occupying a foreign land killing its people for resisting your occupation?? What’s the point? Who was served in that war? 58,000 Americans and millions of Vietnamese died for what?? Those are the questions!

[@lennyhendricks4628]

Interesting that you have a book on the 6 day war that you are mentioning. About every ten years, I reread the autobiography of Moshe Dayan and I just finished the preface which deals with Dayan's experiences on the ground (in the 6 day war) and in command of the forces liberating Jerusalem. I'm into the first chapter dealing with Dayan as a young man on one of the Israel's first Kibbutzes. Dayan has always been a hero of mine since my childhood. Hey! a guy winning a war in 6 days is pretty special! Jack, I've seen a number of your shows on the current situation in Israel and Michael Oren, I'm glad to have heard from you and hope to hear more from both of you in the future.

[@judystaab7126]

You are not alone,this has been part of my life growing up,. My grandmothers were jews, in u. S. No cease fire, til hostages, are found!🎉

[@louiss.w1944]

Some of the loudest voices in Israel calling for a ceasefire are the family of hostages that were taken…

[@MS-to6bq]

Great podcast - but one correction because Michael Oren made a mistake, and the correct figure helps his argument. He said that 1% of the Israeli population died during the war of independence, “which would have been 330,000 people in America today.” But actually it would have been 3.3 million people!! Thanks again

[@JonathanBotach]

Interesting eye opener. Thank you

[@boonealley]

I appreciate persons like you who Pay Attention, take care to reply---so we might better understand. Thanks!

[@JonathanBotach]

You the one paid attention. Reply to what

[@nancymoore8026]

His voice is strong, confident and hopeful. Thank both of you men.

[@timurtruman]

1% of US population is 3.2M people.

[@d4nitz]

It is comforting to see there still some basic common sense left in the world.

[@adamredwine774]

Six Days of War is an excellent book. I highly recommend it.

[@davereid-daly2205]

A-grade interview and content, thanks !!

[@Kvell55]

Great episode.

[@StrategicCIS]

There are three layer of shields for Hamas; 1. their own civilians; 2. hostages; 3. the UN.

[@user-xo6qt5zl2n]

I added the Press too!!

[@user-wo4kn6ge6j]

Regarding protesting college students, I remember back to when I was in college and then a recent graduate. I knew much less than I thought I did, especially on geopolitical matters and human nature.

[@gregggillis3344]

Jack thank you for getting this information out. Great interview. The battle against antisemitism must be combatted at every turn.

[@Dave183]

I agree 100% But lets identify the target first.

[@RS-uh7rz]

Great interview. I also really appreciated Oren's book, Six Days of War, when I read it years ago.

[@kj1483]

53:41 "Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor" is one Israeli’s powerful attempt to reach beyond the wall that separates Israelis and Palestinians. In a series of letters, Yossi Klein Halevi explains what motivated him to leave his native New York in his twenties and move to Israel to participate in the drama of the renewal of a Jewish homeland, which he is committed to see succeed as a morally responsible, democratic state in the Middle East. This is the first attempt by an Israeli author to directly address his Palestinian neighbors and describe how the conflict appears through Israeli eyes. Halevi untangles the ideological and emotional knot that has defined the conflict for nearly a century. In lyrical, evocative language, he unravels the complex strands of faith, pride, anger and anguish he feels as a Jew living in Israel, using history and personal experience as his guide.

[@boo9990]

I have most of the books by both of you. I'm a huge fan. Oren, will you be doing a deep dive into the ‘48 war and the 100 years prior with a parallel timeline in US history and the overall relationship and how it has evolved? Jack when my head is exploding due to global politics I read your books and get sucked right in. Thank you both

[@LuTube2011]

Jack and Michael ! Thank you!!!

[@stacyscott2720]

Another great conversation. Thank you for your podcast.

[@tuliptulip7565]

Another amazing intelligent man. So proud

[@jitod1]

Thank you Jack for an excellent podcast. Intelligent and probing interview with an outstanding guest. Apologies for the blowback, they detest anyone who doesn’t follow the anti- Israel script!

[@vnpunt]

Thank you for covering everything that we need to know and going deep on the most interesting topics. You really have the best podcast out there and I'll start reading your books now too. Greetings from the Netherlands.

[@theunboundDragon]

Thank you for an excellent interview

[@jenniferjones2036]

Brilliant

[@joycefilatreau8189]

Great interview. Thanks!!

[@eden5260]

This is a great interview I still have half of it to listen to, I am new to this channel cheers

[@jilllathers9215]

Wow. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@thatisie]

Awesome interview. Thanks!❤

[@zibabird]

Thank you Sirs! Shared.

[@JonathanBotach]

Interesting guest, thorough research, pinpoint questions, all together great interview, thank you Jack.

[@kathrynludrick4821]

Great interview.

[@bigjoe805]

Excellent interview. I learned so much 👍🏻

[@user-tj9xu8tl9n]

Amazing interview very revealing thank you

[@MiracleandBlessing]

thank you for your clear eyed heart strong standing with israel

[@edmundcowan9131]

Remember the liberty.

[@rafaelmadrigal9038]

East mentality is way different than the West.

[@BonesTheCat]

There WAS a ceasefire on Israel's side. It was up to and including October 6th.

[@natopeacekeeper97]

I have the Six Days of War book! Very good.

[@Tradarcher-xy]

Thank you for this interview Jack. Be ready to see a lot of pushback on your career when you don’t walk the anti Israel road. Keep fighting the good fight.

[@Justme99709]

Top man Jack

[@gtamir613]

Yes! Please interview Yossi Klein Halevy Jack!

[@jwollheim]

Dude thanks for having so many awesome Jews and Jewish allies that are knowledgeable about all this (like yourself) on. Weird time to be a Jew

[@DaveKesler]

I love you brother. Keep up the great work. Long live Israel

[@XXX.573]

Another great podcast Jack I just wish these “experts “ if there going to keep clinging to the back of 911 they at least get there facts correct it was four airplanes not two. Thanks for all you do and have done keep up the good fight.

[@Dave183]

911 was a warning shot to the USA, from the rest of the world. I mean [and keep this to yourself] a terrorist could travel up the west coast of th eUnited States with a rental car and a box of matches- and create havoc. No-one in th world is immune from threats- from any quarter.

[@suegordon6805]

Just subscribed to your Substack.

[@anng.4542]

Exactly. Tiny Israel surrounded by 22 Muslim countries.

[@TimothyDeSomerville]

Huh, what are the 22 Muslim countries that surround you? Maybe 7 or 8 Muslim countries surround you. Always an exaggerated number with you!

[@anng.4542]

@@TimothyDeSomerville Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria*, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

[@TimothyDeSomerville]

@@anng.4542 When did they begin to surround Israel?

[@chiquitafeldberg8259]

Nobody asks why the Palestinians have no bomb shelters or sirens. Israel is not responsible for that.

[@alfredopampanga9356]

Such clarity of expression. Pity there’s so little commentary

[@djeasy9978]

Jack, do you see James Reese going to Isreal to help save the day? Love your work

[@Andrey1308K]

Great video. 🇮🇱❤️🇺🇸

[@paramount10987]

What an interesting podcast. A calm and matter of fact presentation of a horrible subject.

[@dwightthomas8617]

Wonderful news Baruk Hashem

[@joeyclark3995]

I'm a Maori from New Zealand & a lot us stand with Israel. We understand in religious terms that Israel (Judea and Samaria) is the ancestral homeland of the Jews & the 12 tribes of Yees-Ra-El. I also believe in Zionism & I believe the Jews & all Israelites (when they all return) should have a state of their own where they can live & feel safe, & no place could be better suited than the ancestral home land that was promised to the seed of Isacc & Jacob. The holly land wasn't promised to the Ishmaelites or the Amalekites etc. I have done a lot of study on Israel & this conflict over the past 5 years, however I'm still no expert, so this is just my opinion, but I think Israel should of kept all the land they won in the 1967 six day war (except Egypt's Sanai) it all belongs to Israel through holly covenant & it was all won by conquest! All the land belongs to you especially Jerusalem. IMO Israel tries to appease the world too much & it's biggest fear is world opinion. I hope Israel has FINALLY learnt that no matter how much they bend over backwards to appease the world, the world still doesn't like you and will condemn you anyway because you are held to a different moral standard than EVERYONE else. Also Israel's policy on deterrence & minimum retaliatory action in regards to attacks from it's hostile enemies has been a waste of time over all these years. They need to give Hamas & Hezbollah the full TONK!!! Then find a way to knock off the Iranian leaders & hopefully in doing so will also liberate the Iranians as 70% of their population is against the current regime & they are 💯% PRO ISRAEL. If liberated they would love to become allies with Israel. Just my opinions that I know most will disagree with BUT STIFF CHEESE 🍕 🍕 UP ISRAEL!!!

[@alimuchenik9807]

My kind regards from Argentina. Ever since I was a child, I used to see people worldwide stepping or burning the American Flag. I was outraged, used to cry, and on a trip to the US, I asked Americans here and there how come they didn't react. The answer was clear: they didn't care because THEY were Americans - the most powerful country in the world (at least, at that time, you could argue). So, there's a standard for the US as well. As you can see, the US has been wrapped up in the same package with Israel for being its ally. Latin Americans used to hate the American people dragged by the 3rd Word guerrilla ideas that were dominant in academic environments - now everybody wants to migrate there... From my humble point of view, Israel is acting with rage against a whole population that may or may not approve of Hamas. As Colonel Macgregor says, "you don't FIGHT an IDEA; you discredit it". Hamas is an idea. Israel seems to be throwing out the baby with the bathwater. The US has been critizised in the US and abroad for all the wars after WWII and for the two atomic bombs, too. I must apologize for my awful English. I hope you can understand what I was trying to say.

[@RS-uh7rz]

Your English is excellent. No kidding.

[@JonathanBotach]

Great English, and you right, you cannot fight ideas, but Oren said you can degrade their power base. You do what you can.

[@mericafirst]

Yea both of our intelligence/ communications sucks.... look at what happened in 1967, the USS Liberty, an unarmed Navy technical research ship, was attacked by Israeli aircraft and motor torpedo boats in international waters off the coast of Egypt. And we lost 13 America's and we did nothing.

[@Dave183]

I live in New Zealand... ...in our southern city of Christchurch we had a massacre here a few years ago. 51 people were murdered while at prayer. Could have been anywhere, in the world. We were allied with the USA, at one time.

[@johnpoore474]

Great podcast! Thank you Jack. As a student of history and world politics it was very interesting. I completely support israel in this. I don't want to get into another protracted middle east war, but the USA must stand in support of Israel and not try to hold them back. On the subject of the 6 Day War, we can't forget the USS Liberty and what happened there.

[@JonathanBotach]

Right, the Liberty was a huge blunder, we apologized, but should never forget the stupid carelessness that killed American servicemen. Real tragedy.

[@davidkublin4446]

Michael Oren,my mom's first cousin.

[@cisnerosigonda]

Victory in Gaza should mean dictating the terms of the government that is formed. As humiliating as this will seem, what is the alternative?

[@elefnishikot]

By the way there are proven gas fields off the coast of Gaza. The Israelis said that it belongs to Gaza. They just have to live in peace.

[@michealfriedman7084]

There is Gas and oil off the coast of Israel also. They've been selling the excess to Jordan and Egypt.

[@Gocheckfacts]

Just craziness

[@danapeck5382]

Great interview, great reality check. Hamas/Muslim Brotherhood goals must be defeated, not accommodated. Be well

[@SionTJobbins]

It's not just anti-semitism. Even supporters if Israel understand that the Israeli situation is unique - a people returned to reclaimed land which had (mostly) been empty of them for 2,000 years. There were/are people who'd been on the land, farming, living, creating lives for hundreds of years. And yes, many if not a majority, of those people are very possibly decended of people who converted from Judaism to Christianity or Islam, either through threat of duress or also volutarily. So, the whole question is one which is difficult to people. When Israeli governments take Palestinian lands in the West Bank, when the balkanise the territory in the WB, then people feel very uneasy, even supporters of Israel. So, when a war starts, a state which is built on land which was already inhabited, raises lots of questions about if that land has a right to exist. So, yes, people are very judgemental of Israel during war but that's because the cause of those wars all lead back, ultimately, to a contested right for that state to exist.

[@gamechannel1115]

u should do a talk with warroombanon

[@LittleTed1000]

4:50 Nobody said anything? No one said America was acting disproportionately at any time? What... the... fuck? People said that A LOT. Was this guy just not paying attention?

[@user-xo6qt5zl2n]

Hammas has 3 shields, the third is the PRESS!!!

[@boonealley]

Clever!..and sadly, true.

[@user-oo7nm1ly4i]

Fantastic guest. Jack, any chance you would consider eradicating the phrase "ahhhh' from you vernacular. Thanks for your consideration.

[@tuliptulip7565]

Michael Oren for Israeli prime minister

[@sauldemize9998]

great interview! His point about Jews being indigenous to Israel is so true. Go back as far as you want. the Jews have been there since before the Muslim religion.

[@richcurren6888]

70+ years of brutal occupation? There, saved you 55 minutes.

[@dkeberhard]

If the drug cartels in Mexico did the same thing to our people in the US in border towns in Texas and Arizona, wouldn't we respond in the same way? YES.

[@berylalanthwaite5325]

Long live the Holy Land of Israel. ❤

[@Doodlefisher]

A lot of Italians Have jewish blood because of the connection between the Romans and Jews

[@TreeLuvBurdpu]

He works very much in the construction of democracy and he's very proud of it, but i wonder if there is any part of life that he thinks should absolutely not ever be governed by democratic vote.

[@JonathanBotach]

Interesting. Please explain

[@TreeLuvBurdpu]

@@JonathanBotach a person who spends his life constructing the vast mechanism of state must tend to be subsumed by the mechanism he is creating. At first, he does it to help the humans, but at some point the state grows to such a size that it starts to bend all the rays of light towards itself and develops it's own event horizon. The thing that was developed to save the humans becomes the thing that consumes them. When do you see it coming?

[@TreeLuvBurdpu]

@@JonathanBotach I think the Hamas and other leftist tyrants, there and in the US, are just a little farther along the road to tyranny than the people who insist we subordinate every life choice to "the will of the people" democratic vote. The printing press was "democratized" in the Soviet Union long after it was privatized (liberated) where it was invented in The West.

[@JonathanBotach]

@@TreeLuvBurdpu connect all this to the video

[@ljpass70]

I stand with Israel but blame her current administration for the situation we have now . The prime minister should be thrown out of office . I respect the ambassador immensely but deep down he is a hard core hawk who never accepts blame for the illegal settlements , who is against a 2 state solution and quite frankly is from American so you’re not indigenous . Your home sir is new york .

[@JonathanBotach]

By indigenous he meant 3000 years of history. What can Palestinians show. Palestine and Jerusalem, both biblical names, never mentioned in the Quran.

[@ljpass70]

@@JonathanBotach I understand the definition but its all hocus pocus in the end

[@ljpass70]

@@JonathanBotach I’m a Jamaican American from queens doesn’t mean I’m indigenous Jamaican ✌🏻

[@jvm-tv]

Hamas will definitely be defeated but the question what happens next? With the number of civilian casualties and West Bank difficulties there will be some other terrorist group.

[@4069ish]

He lost me at CNN. The leader in fake news.

[@gamechannel1115]

Banon room war

[@alglen9208]

This is just another chess move because of Ukr.

[@lynellerradu326]

Very biased narrative. This is causing hate

[@Ectomesoendo]

Your guest loses credibility when he says no one opposed the iraq war and calls people anti-Semitic for wanting restraint in Israel's response.

[@01017400]

How about saying occupiers v Hammas war !

[@raf7665]

Enjoyed the podcast but "New York, behind enemy lines"....I know it was a joke but thought you were more intelligent than that

[@brendondowdy5651]

How so? Places like new York and California are the biggest threat to Americans. Islamic terrorists can't destroy America the same way far left states can.

[@yuuts2619]

Nope

[@MegaBob222222]

Search "Free Palestine? No thanks!"

[@calripkenjr83]

That's how I feel about the new Texas law that just passed. Asking Mexicans to go home. We are home there is no legal or illegal. This is home. I'm glad you support native populations being able to live where they have originated. All America should belong to true Americans. Not Europeans

[@riaanbooysen6934]

Mr Oren tell them Terrorist the IDF will do their business...and business is going great.Great vid Mr Carr

[@robertcarkeek8391]

The man lacks moral fortitude; compassion for life other than his own interest.😂

[@sherylbusch5853]

I just shake my head at male violence. Men write the Rules of War, and women write the Rules of Etiquette, aka Peace. This all makes me sad.

[@dann547]

There were plenty of female head loppers in Pol Pot’s Cambodia and in Rwanda.

[@sherylbusch5853]

@@dann547 Sure, women aren’t immune from violence, just not our chosen means of solving conflict. Generalizing, obviously, both men and women.

[@MJ-km5dp]

Guy says from New York”there’s no where else for us to go” 😂

[@TheBurke1986]

Clown

[@logantuk]

I don't think it's accurate to say it's Antisemitism, you know what the difference is between a "Ceasefire" and a "Humanitarian Pause" don't you? I know, there is a big fucking difference!

[@theveteransergeant]

Israel started the Six Day War based on lies. They had slaughtered 19 Jordanian soldiers the year before, which caused their neighbors to move more troops into defensive positions. Israel then used those defensive positions as an excuse to claim they were about to be attacked. But all their own generals, the head of Mossad, and prime minister later admitted that they had just used the false pretense to seize Gaza, West Bank, Golan Heights and the Sinai peninsula. The entire cause for the modern violence is the Israeli occupation of West Bank and Gaza, and it all goes back to Israel's own choice to invade its neighbors and steal Palestinian land.

[@dann547]

You conveniently forgot to mention Egypt’s occupation of Gaza from 1948 to 1967 and Jordan’s occupation of The West Bank from 48’ to 67’. Also Israel has been gon from Gaza since 2005.