Deep Dive: Netanyahu & Trump Work on Phase 2 of Ceasefire in Mar-A-Lago - Israel Daily News Jan 5, 2026

·22 min·1 clip

Israel may enter phase two only if Hamas disarms and returns Ron Gavile’s body.

Shanna Fold opens by framing the segment as a close look at Netanyahu’s trip to the United States. She introduces legal expert Benyamin Moalem as the guest. Moalem is presented as someone deeply tuned in to Israeli current events and policy, with a background that includes work as a foreign law clerk at the Supreme Court of Israel. The show also points to his Instagram work, where he explains Israeli politics in a balanced, time-saving format for listeners who want to stay informed without spending too much time on it. The main topic is Netanyahu’s meeting with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. The conversation treats the meeting as more interesting and productive than expected. Moalem is asked for the biggest takeaways. The discussion then moves into Gaza and the reported shape of phase two. Reports suggest the sides may be giving Hamas time to move forward, though it is unclear whether that window is for starting or finishing disarmament. Disarmament is described broadly, including rifles, terror infrastructure, and tunnels on the Gaza side not controlled by the IDF. Moalem says that puts pressure on Hamas to follow through. If Hamas does not, he says, IDF military action could continue in Gaza. Trump’s role is part of that calculation too. Moalem notes that renewed war would be politically awkward for Trump, who has been speaking about bringing peace to the Middle East. Lebanon is also discussed. The show raises skepticism around peacekeepers and points to UNIFIL in southern Lebanon as a warning sign. The interview closes by circling back to what was actually made public. Moalem says that if anything was written down, it was not released publicly. The episode ends with the practical detail that Trump was on vacation for Christmas and New Year’s, which explains the Mar-a-Lago setting.

As heard by us

A brisk, grounded read on Netanyahu, Trump, and the next phase.

This episode sticks to the immediate fallout from Netanyahu’s U.S. visit and his Mar-a-Lago meeting with Trump, with Benyamin Moalem laying out what phase two could mean.

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Why you'd press play

You want the Mar-a-Lago Netanyahu-Trump angle without cable-news fog or guesswork.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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