Shaiel Ben-Ephraim
@shaielb.bsky.social
Hoping for a more connected and empathetic world. Host of the Israel Explained YouTube channel and the History of the Land of Israel Podcast.
Check out my new Substack article. It is free! Subscribe now!
The Unraveling: The Unusually Slow Death of the Liberal International Morality
We had a moral consensus surrounding basic human rights that the international community created with painstaking effort. Now we look around and it is completely gone. What happened?
shaielbenephraim.substack.com
February 8, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Check out my new Substack article. It is free! Subscribe now!
Subscribe to my Substack! My first post is on the foreign policy orientation of Marco Rubio.
shaielbenephraim.substack.com/p/what-kind-...
shaielbenephraim.substack.com/p/what-kind-...
What Kind of Secretary of State Will Marco Rubio Be?
Marco Rubio's Foreign Policy Evolution: Between Hawkish Roots and Trump's America First
shaielbenephraim.substack.com
February 6, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Subscribe to my Substack! My first post is on the foreign policy orientation of Marco Rubio.
shaielbenephraim.substack.com/p/what-kind-...
shaielbenephraim.substack.com/p/what-kind-...
Netanyahu tried to avoid sending a team to Qatar to start discussions over the second phase of the ceasefire as required by the deal on the 16th day of the 1st phase.
February 4, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Netanyahu tried to avoid sending a team to Qatar to start discussions over the second phase of the ceasefire as required by the deal on the 16th day of the 1st phase.
When the war in Gaza started I supported it. I still think it had to be fought. But I realized the war had to end months ago. People wonder what happened to me and why I changed my mind. I realized three things, that would not give me respite. I simply couldn't ignore them.
January 30, 2025 at 11:54 PM
When the war in Gaza started I supported it. I still think it had to be fought. But I realized the war had to end months ago. People wonder what happened to me and why I changed my mind. I realized three things, that would not give me respite. I simply couldn't ignore them.
Zakaria Zubeidi will be released tomorrow. That is a massive deal because he is one of the biggest symbols of the Second Intifada to the Palestinians. He was the Jenin chief of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.
January 29, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Zakaria Zubeidi will be released tomorrow. That is a massive deal because he is one of the biggest symbols of the Second Intifada to the Palestinians. He was the Jenin chief of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.
Two months ago, my doctor told me I should stop drinking. I did not know if I could do it. But I have succeeded. Two months sober. Two months of meditating every day. I am so grateful.
January 29, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Two months ago, my doctor told me I should stop drinking. I did not know if I could do it. But I have succeeded. Two months sober. Two months of meditating every day. I am so grateful.
What a lot of people are missing is that Trump is declaring war on science and education. His policies include:
* Stopping funding for scientific research.
* Defund universities and replace them with his own online college.
* Close the Department of Education.
* Stopping funding for scientific research.
* Defund universities and replace them with his own online college.
* Close the Department of Education.
January 25, 2025 at 1:09 AM
What a lot of people are missing is that Trump is declaring war on science and education. His policies include:
* Stopping funding for scientific research.
* Defund universities and replace them with his own online college.
* Close the Department of Education.
* Stopping funding for scientific research.
* Defund universities and replace them with his own online college.
* Close the Department of Education.
One of the weirdest things about Trump's turn towards Iran is how he is punishing Brian Hook, Mike Pompeo and John Bolton, the Iran hawks by revoking their security despite warnings that there are threats to assassinate them.
January 24, 2025 at 5:24 AM
One of the weirdest things about Trump's turn towards Iran is how he is punishing Brian Hook, Mike Pompeo and John Bolton, the Iran hawks by revoking their security despite warnings that there are threats to assassinate them.
The execution of "collaborators" by Hamas is a reminder of a few things that many of you forgot:
1) There are plenty of innocent people in Gaza and even people far braver than we are willing to fight Hamas. They deserve better.
1) There are plenty of innocent people in Gaza and even people far braver than we are willing to fight Hamas. They deserve better.
January 24, 2025 at 1:44 AM
The execution of "collaborators" by Hamas is a reminder of a few things that many of you forgot:
1) There are plenty of innocent people in Gaza and even people far braver than we are willing to fight Hamas. They deserve better.
1) There are plenty of innocent people in Gaza and even people far braver than we are willing to fight Hamas. They deserve better.
With every day of sobriety and meditation, I feel closer to understanding the unity of creation. “All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything” - Swami Vivekananda
January 23, 2025 at 4:44 AM
With every day of sobriety and meditation, I feel closer to understanding the unity of creation. “All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything” - Swami Vivekananda
Because Trump won and there is a new cultural moment, it can be tempting for liberals to try and moderate their opinions to try and maintain relevance.
January 23, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Because Trump won and there is a new cultural moment, it can be tempting for liberals to try and moderate their opinions to try and maintain relevance.
Today was one of the best days of my life. Romi, Emily, and Doron were reunited with their families. I inspired someone to stop drinking. I managed to maintain my sobriety meeting friends at a bar. I was there for a friend going through a rough time. The world is a beautiful place. Namaste.
January 20, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Today was one of the best days of my life. Romi, Emily, and Doron were reunited with their families. I inspired someone to stop drinking. I managed to maintain my sobriety meeting friends at a bar. I was there for a friend going through a rough time. The world is a beautiful place. Namaste.
The government meeting where the deal was approved, has been described by all concerned as more cordial and serious than the usual. Everyone involved understood the gravity of the moment and what was at stake.
January 19, 2025 at 1:26 AM
The government meeting where the deal was approved, has been described by all concerned as more cordial and serious than the usual. Everyone involved understood the gravity of the moment and what was at stake.
Hamas is blaming the delay in passing the names of the hostages on technical problems. However, more likely, it is yet another attempt to terrorize Israeli society psychologically and the hostage families. Nonetheless, Israeli officials believe the list will arrive soon.
January 18, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Hamas is blaming the delay in passing the names of the hostages on technical problems. However, more likely, it is yet another attempt to terrorize Israeli society psychologically and the hostage families. Nonetheless, Israeli officials believe the list will arrive soon.
Trump screwed Israel and Netanyahu over again. Dermer traveled to DC to get US assistance in a strike on Iran and was told to buzz off.
January 18, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Trump screwed Israel and Netanyahu over again. Dermer traveled to DC to get US assistance in a strike on Iran and was told to buzz off.
The withdrawal Israel will make during the first step is quite deep. It includes all of the Netzarim corridor and everywhere else, aside from a strip 700 meters from the border, which can be expanded to 1.1 kilometers in 5 specific points.
January 18, 2025 at 2:59 AM
The withdrawal Israel will make during the first step is quite deep. It includes all of the Netzarim corridor and everywhere else, aside from a strip 700 meters from the border, which can be expanded to 1.1 kilometers in 5 specific points.
On Tuesday, Trump will send up to 200 agents into Chicago to deport undocumented immigrants to America. It will be the start of what he hopes will be the largest deportation in history.
January 18, 2025 at 1:47 AM
On Tuesday, Trump will send up to 200 agents into Chicago to deport undocumented immigrants to America. It will be the start of what he hopes will be the largest deportation in history.
The reason Netanyahu's policies on this war and the Palestinian issue, in general, have been so inept is that they do not follow any strategic logic. Left-wing policies have the advantage of encouraging conciliation. Right-wing of being firm against enemies and deterring them.
January 18, 2025 at 12:42 AM
The reason Netanyahu's policies on this war and the Palestinian issue, in general, have been so inept is that they do not follow any strategic logic. Left-wing policies have the advantage of encouraging conciliation. Right-wing of being firm against enemies and deterring them.
It is now final, the heaviest prisoners will NOT be released in the first phase:
* Abbas al-Sayed (responsible for the 2001 Sharon shopping mall 2002 Park Hotel bombing)
* Ibrahim Hamed (responsible for the Zion Square and Ben Yehuda St. attack)
* Abbas al-Sayed (responsible for the 2001 Sharon shopping mall 2002 Park Hotel bombing)
* Ibrahim Hamed (responsible for the Zion Square and Ben Yehuda St. attack)
January 17, 2025 at 7:09 PM
It is now final, the heaviest prisoners will NOT be released in the first phase:
* Abbas al-Sayed (responsible for the 2001 Sharon shopping mall 2002 Park Hotel bombing)
* Ibrahim Hamed (responsible for the Zion Square and Ben Yehuda St. attack)
* Abbas al-Sayed (responsible for the 2001 Sharon shopping mall 2002 Park Hotel bombing)
* Ibrahim Hamed (responsible for the Zion Square and Ben Yehuda St. attack)
The hostage families are begging Netanyahu not to delay the release of the hostages for Monday. In their letter, they wrote, "For the 98 hostages, every night is another night of a terrible nightmare.
January 17, 2025 at 2:36 AM
The hostage families are begging Netanyahu not to delay the release of the hostages for Monday. In their letter, they wrote, "For the 98 hostages, every night is another night of a terrible nightmare.
Israel, Hamas, Qatar and Egypt have signed the ceasefire deal. Our people are coming home. Not ashamed to say I have tears of joy in my eyes.
January 17, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Israel, Hamas, Qatar and Egypt have signed the ceasefire deal. Our people are coming home. Not ashamed to say I have tears of joy in my eyes.
Remember, Netanyahu is now dealing with terrorists who are extorting him and will stop at nothing to destroy Israel. And Hamas is a problem, too.
January 16, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Remember, Netanyahu is now dealing with terrorists who are extorting him and will stop at nothing to destroy Israel. And Hamas is a problem, too.
Let's cut the bullshit. If the hostage deal breaks up this government: GOOD. After screwing up October 7th and the war, tearing the country apart with their judicial reform and running Israel's reputation abroad, they have no reason to exist. They should agree to the deal and dissolve.
January 16, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Let's cut the bullshit. If the hostage deal breaks up this government: GOOD. After screwing up October 7th and the war, tearing the country apart with their judicial reform and running Israel's reputation abroad, they have no reason to exist. They should agree to the deal and dissolve.
n order to understand the current crisis in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas, you need to separate two things: A) The normal last-minute haggling in Middle Eastern ceasefire negotiations. B) The coalition crisis is facing Netanyahu, with Smotrich threatening to leave.
January 16, 2025 at 2:33 PM
n order to understand the current crisis in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas, you need to separate two things: A) The normal last-minute haggling in Middle Eastern ceasefire negotiations. B) The coalition crisis is facing Netanyahu, with Smotrich threatening to leave.
People keep asking me if I think Hamas will keep the ceasefire. Yes. But not because they are trustworthy, They are anything but. They will do what every terror group does when they get a ceasefire they want.
January 16, 2025 at 4:23 AM
People keep asking me if I think Hamas will keep the ceasefire. Yes. But not because they are trustworthy, They are anything but. They will do what every terror group does when they get a ceasefire they want.