What Gives? The Jewish Philanthropy Podcast · Jewish Funders Network

Eugene Kandel - Israel’s Strategic Future

·59 min·1 clip

If that American president calls two countries and says from tomorrow, I don't want you to supply Israel with oil, we will last two months.

Host Andres Pokojny interviews Eugene Kandel, former chair of Israel's National Economic Council and current chair of Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, on Israel's geopolitical and economic future. Kandel traces his biographical journey from Soviet-born rocket engineer family through Hollywood writer intervention that enabled Israeli escape, to 28 years of academic economics and 6 years as Prime Minister's economic advisor. He dissects the paradox of Israel's stock market reaching world-best performance during a 2-year war despite collapse in agriculture, tourism, and airlines—explaining that markets discount future profits, not present conditions. Kandel reveals Israel's critical vulnerability: absolute dependence on world trade (cannot achieve food/energy self-sufficiency given population density); loss of any major supplier (US oil, for example) would be existential within 2 months. He critiques Israeli government's reckless dismissal of Europe (32% of exports) while depending on it, and highlights the false assumption of immunity underlying dangerous policy positions. The episode concludes with analysis of Israel's constitutional weakness (no formal constitution, simple Knesset majority can pass basic laws, judiciary has excessive power by necessity) as the structural driver of perpetual institutional conflict and polarization.

As heard by us

A measured look at Israel's divisions, vulnerability, and the pressures shaping its future.

The conversation between Eugene Kandel and Andres Pokojny offers a steady look at Israel's internal fractures and the pressures shaping its next phase.

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Why you'd press play

You want a clear map of Israel's internal fracture lines without the noise.

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