#5 Ehud Olmert and Why Israel’s Future Depends on a Palestinian State
In this episode of the EPICON Podcast, Ehud Olmert, former Prime Minister of Israel, joins Daniel Gerlach, Director of the Candid Foundation and Editor-in-Chief of zenith magazine, to discuss the aftermath of October 7, the future of Israeli–Palestinian peace, and Europe’s role in reviving the two-state solution.
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#4 Dialogue Across the Divide — In Conversation with Palestinian Political Activist Samer Sinijlawi
In this Candid Conversation on Palestine, Israel, and Europe, Anne Bauer, Political Officer at the Candid Foundation, speaks with Samer Sinijlawi, renowned Palestinian political activist and founder of the Jerusalem Development Fund. As a teenager during the First Intifada, Samer spent five years in an Israeli prison. Today, he works to promote dialogue and understanding between Israelis and Palestinians. From his childhood in East Jerusalem to his encounters with Israelis across political divides, he shares a rare perspective on trust, empathy, and leadership.
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#3 International Law in the Israeli-Palestinian Context — In Conversation with Dr. Eitan Diamond
In this episode, Valeska Heldt—Political Officer at the Candid Foundation and a lawyer by training—speaks with legal expert Dr. Eitan Diamond, who sheds light on the growing challenges faced by civil society and humanitarian actors in the Israeli-Palestinian context. He also unpacks the often-confused fields of human rights and humanitarian law, showing how the law is stretched to justify violations rather than protect civilians. Together, Eitan and Valeska clarify how these violations create legal obligations for third states, including EU member states.
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#2 Against the Rule of the Sword — In Conversation with Shira Ben-Sasson Furstenberg
In this episode of the EPICON Podcast, Pascal Bernard (Political Officer at the Candid Foundation) speaks with Shira Ben-Sasson Furstenberg, Associate Director of the New Israel Fund. Together, they explore Shira’s personal story, her faith, her work in Israeli civil society, and her vision for peace in Palestine and Israel.
Drawing on her deeply personal family history – including the remarkable stories of how both her grandmothers survived thanks to the courage of others during the Hebron massacre of 1929 and the Holocaust in Ukraine – Shira reflects on the power of human solidarity across borders.
As a modern Orthodox Jew, she is part of a small but determined community that places compassion, equality, and responsibility at the heart of Jewish life. In her role at the New Israel Fund, she works for peace, democracy, and coexistence.
Shira’s voice – rare, courageous, and profoundly human – offers a vision that is more urgent and necessary than ever.
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#1 A Palestinian Armistice Plan — In Conversation with Dr. Jamal Nusseibeh
In this debut episode of the EPICON podcast, Dr. Jamal Nusseibeh discusses the »Palestinian Armistice Plan«—a bold proposal for a long-term ceasefire, international protection, and a political restart. We explore the broader political context surrounding Netanyahu, Trump, and the two-state debate, as well as the role of safety as a foundation for peace. Dr. Nusseibeh reflects on the urgent need for internal Palestinian reform, including the future of the PLO and engagement with Hamas. The conversation also examines the idea of international peacekeepers, potential political outcomes—from two states to a confederation—and why peace ultimately depends not on destiny, but on political courage. The episode concludes with a look at Europe’s potential role as a transformative actor in the region.
About EPICON:
Palestinian and Israeli civil society still has agency—agency over shaping the current realities and the future of Palestine and Israel. Against all odds, courageous individuals from both sides are choosing to engage, to defy political stagnation, and to present concrete ideas and plans for a peaceful solution.
These individuals insist that peace is not simply a diplomatic agreement; it must be built on the ground, through dialogue, human connection, and shared commitment. They claim that it is the responsibility of political leaders to listen and to translate their insights and proposals into decision-making and real action.
Our Palestinian and Israeli guests on this podcast include former prisoners and soldiers, relatives of hostages, leading peace activists and mediators, scholars, legal experts, and more—voices rarely heard in Europe. They bring forward-thinking, pragmatic, and actionable ideas in response to a central question: What can Europe do?
Die Lage im Nahen Osten ist unübersichtlich und aus westlicher Perspektive nur schwer zugänglich. Welche politischen Interessen verfolgen die einzelnen Länder und Protagonisten, welche Entwicklungen gibt es und wie schätzen international renommierte Experten die Sicherheitslage und die politische Zukunft der dortigen Länder ein? zenith gibt Antworten, steht dem Leser mit seiner Fachredaktion als kompetenter Berater zur Seite und verdeutlicht die Hintergründe. Autoren und Redakteure von zenith beherrschen orientalische Landessprachen wie Arabisch, Türkisch, Persisch, Malaiisch oder Hebräisch und sind bestens vernetzt. Warum zenith? Auch unter den außenpolitisch Interessierten nimmt die Zahl der täglichen Zeitungsleser ab. Immer mehr Menschen ziehen es vor, sich online auf dem Laufenden zu halten und nur punktuell tiefergehende Berichterstattung zu beziehen. Mit seinen ausgeruhten und sorgfältig recherchierten Inhalten und seiner hochwertigen Gestaltung erfüllt zenith als Quartalsmagazin die Ansprüche eben dieser Leserschaft. Von Politik, Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft über Kultur bis hin zu Reise informiert zenith regelmäßig über Ereignisse und Trends, die über die Tagesaktualität hinausreichen. Der gesamte Orient auf einen Klick erwartet Sie auf unserer Webseite: www.zenith.me
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