Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an unplanned stop at the White House after a visit to Hungary, aiming to persuade Donald Trump to reverse a looming 17% tariff on Israeli goods. But the real story was playing out just beneath the surface.

Trump dropped a surprise announcement: senior U.S. officials would be holding direct talks with Iran — a shift that appeared to blindside the Israeli leader. Netanyahu stuck to his hard line on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, while Trump emphasized diplomacy and pointedly reminded everyone of the billions in U.S. aid to Israel.

Was this an act of diplomatic finesse or a political gamble gone sideways?

Aviva Klompas speaks with Dr. Michael Oren — historian, author, and former Israeli ambassador to Washington — to break down the visit, the messaging, and what it all signals about the road ahead for Israel and Iran.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others.

Learn more about Boundless: https://boundlessisrael.org/

Definition of adumbration - the act of providing vague advance indications.

In this longform edition of Boundless Insights, Dr. Rachel Fish sits down with Michal Cotler-Wunsh — Israel’s Special Envoy for Combatting Antisemitism and a former Member of Knesset — for a wide-ranging conversation about the evolution of antisemitism, the weaponization of international law, and the global implications of October 7.

Michal argues that the misuse of human rights language, including terms like "genocide" and "apartheid," has served to delegitimize Israel, and she calls urgently for moral clarity and consistency in applying human rights principles globally.

Drawing from her own personal journey — from early childhood in Jerusalem’s Knesset corridors to formative years in Canada — Michal brings a rare perspective to understanding Israel from both the inside out and the outside in. She shares deeply personal stories, including memories of playing in the Knesset and visiting the home of Menachem Begin, while also offering sharp political insight into the modern-day challenges facing the Jewish people and the international community.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others.

Learn more about Boundless: https://boundlessisrael.org/

Guest Bio:

Michal Cotler-Wunsh, LL.B, LL.M, is Israel’s Special Envoy for Combatting Antisemitism and a Senior Policy and Strategy Advisor. A former Member of Knesset, she chaired and served on several key parliamentary committees and was the first Knesset liaison to the International Criminal Court. She also co-founded the Inter-parliamentary Task Force to Combat Online Antisemitism.

Michal’s work focuses on antisemitism, international law, human rights, and Zionism. Her diverse legal, academic, and professional background includes roles with the Jewish Federations of North America, Nefesh B’Nefesh, and Reichman University in Herzliya. She also serves as a trustee of The Rabbi Sacks Legacy. Michal lives in Ra’anana, Israel, with her husband and four children.

Mentioned in this episode:

Working definition of antisemitism from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)

As the Houthis escalate their attacks on international shipping and threaten both Israeli and Western vessels, the Trump administration has responded with a sweeping military campaign against the Iran-backed group in Yemen. With Red Sea shipping traffic plummeting and global trade at risk, the U.S. is signaling that enough is enough.

So what’s different this time? Can the Houthis actually be stopped? And how will Iran, global powers, and U.S. allies respond?

Aviva Klompas is joined by Michael Doran, senior fellow and director of the Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East at the Hudson Institute. A veteran of the Bush administration, Doran served on the National Security Council, at the State Department, and in the Pentagon.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others.

Learn more about Boundless: https://boundlessisrael.org

Guest Bio:

Michael Doran is a senior fellow and director of the Middle East center at the Hudson Institute. In the administration of President George W. Bush, he served as the senior director in the National Security Council responsible for the Middle East and North Africa. He has taught at Princeton, NYU, and the University of Central Florida, and publishes articles frequently. His last book, Ike's Gamble, was published by Free Press in 2016. He received a B.A. from Stanford and a Ph.D. from Princeton.