How can a fairytale be interpreted in the light of the uprisings in Egypt? How can issues in Shakespeare’s plays - from Romeo and Juliet to Julius Caesar - be related to the experiences of people living in the midst of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? And what role can books play here anyway? On this week’s trip Out of the Comfort Zone, host Inna Lazareva meets Tom Sperlinger from Bristol University, who spent a semester teaching literature at the Al Quds University in the West Bank. Sperlinger discusses his experiences and talks about his forthcoming book Romeo and Juliet in Palestine, to be published in June 2015.   Music: Dire Straits - Romeo and JulietNina Simone - Why? (The King of Love is Dead)

Through labyrinthine passages, ornate churches, and even inside people’s living rooms, this week’s show comes from the little-known Coptic Christian parts of the Old City of Jerusalem, as local licensed tour guide Nabil Razzouk tells host Inna Lazareva about the history and the current issues facing the believers in Israel, Palestine, and in the wider region.   Music: Lina Egyptian - Stranger (lyrics by Pope Shenouda III)Mahalia Jackson - Walk in JerusalemCoptic hymn - GolgothaCoptic hymn - Je Nai  NanNeil Diamond - Jerusalem

Reporting from the US, host Inna Lazareva interviews the founder of Unchained at Last, an organization that helps women to leave or avoid forced marriages.  

Inna Lazareva interviews two female entrepreneurs - one Israeli, the other Palestinian - who have set up innovative tours throughout Israel and Palestine.

Tues. 9-11PM (Israel); 3-5PM (EST); 12-2PM (PT) Join TLV1 anchors Ilene Prusher and Gilad Halpern for LIVE coverage of Israel's election madness as the exit polls come out and the votes begin to be counted. We'll have TLV1 & Haaretz correspondents at the major campaign headquarters and special reports on the issues facing Israeli voters. Weds. 7AM (Israel); 1AM (EST); 10PM (PT) Listen to our special LIVE election panel of Noah Efron, Debra Kamin, and Gil Troy putting together the pieces of the jigsaw as the Israeli election results come in - that's when the political game really begins in the race to form a coalition.   Tune in LIVE at www.tlv1.fm

This week host Inna Lazareva dips into the upcoming Israeli elections. She travels to Akko to meet Aida Touma-Suliman of the Hadash party; they discuss political activism, women's rights, and the recently formed Joint List of Israel's Arab parties. Back in Tel Aviv, she meets MKs from the Yesh Atid and Meretz parties, who talk about the potential impact of the votes of new immigrants as well as non-native Hebrew speakers on the outcome of the elections.   Music: John Mayer - Waiting On The World To ChangeSunnyland Slim - Be Careful How You VoteShakira - EmpireRadiohead - Electioneering

From the wild marshes of Iraq to the hilltops of West Bank, Inna Lazareva interviews the author and former diplomat Gerard Russell on the Middle East’s exotic yet tragically disappearing religious minorities. From the influences of Pythagoras to unusual encounters in supermarkets around downtown Detroit, Mr Russell explores the fates of Yazidis, Mandaeans, Zoroastrians, and many others in his recent book ‘Heirs to Forgotten Kingdoms’ which we discuss on ‘Out of the Comfort Zone’ this week.   Music:John Lennon - ImagineBob Dylan - With God on our side

An Israeli Arab literature teacher nicknamed Ulysses is arrested for trying to sail a raft full of Russian literature to Gaza. A successful Israeli Jewish lawyer takes up the case to defend Ulysses, pro bono. This is a plot for a play, entitled Ulysses on Bottles by Gilad Evron, tackling ordinary life as played out against the background of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict - and which is one of many plays performed by an innovative theatre company, Israeli Stage, based in Boston, USA. On today’s show, we’ll meet the founder and producing artistic director of the company, Guy Ben Aharon. He is an Israeli-born Bostonian whose innovative performance project is dedicated to sharing the diversity and vitality of I​sraeli culture through theatre. Since its inaugural season starting in 2010, Israeli Stage has produced well over fifteen plays (as staged readings) by ten playwrights, exposing American audiences to theatre from Israel.   Music: Cabaret - Life Is A CabaretArik Einstein - Shir Ha Shayara​Yves Montand - Sous Le Ciel De Paris

This week, join host Inna Lazareva for a trip to Bethlehem of Galilee - not the West Bank Bethlehem - where we find out about the German Templers who arrived in Palestine as missionaries back in the days of the Ottoman Empire. The Templers left a considerable contribution to agricultural and other practices in the Holy Land, but were ultimately unceremoniously deported during the Second World War.   Music: Turn Back Time - AquaOne Of Us - Joan OsborneStille Nacht (Silent Night ) - Sung by the Vienna Boys Choir

Israel's Druze community are part of the Israeli-Arab minority, yet serve in the IDF - while many of their bretheren in the Golan Heights refuse to even take up full Israeli citizenship. The community in Israel faces increasing challenges: in recent weeks, at least two Druze were killed in attacks in Jerusalem, and the proposed 'Israel as a Jewish state' legislation has increased tensions in the community. Inna Lazareva talks to Tel Aviv University Professor Amal Jamal and Diplomat Walid Abu Haya about the issues facing Israel's Druze, before delving into Druze music and poetry.   Music: The Puppini Sister - SwayLorde - TeamAsmahan -Ya Habibi TalaaSamih Al Qasim - Travel Tickets (poem)Farid Al Atrash - Asturias of Isaac Albeniz

Journalist and author Barbara Demick, Beijing correspondent for the LA Times, talks about the ordinary lives of North Koreans as they are vividly described in her best-selling book 'Nothing to Envy.' Music: The Weepies- The World Spins Madly On   Hyon Song-Wol- Medley of Songs

This week, we delve into world of books, literature, diplomacy and strikes. We meet Prof. Reuven Snir, an expert on Arabic language and literature, who will tell us about his new book on the poetry of Baghdad. We discuss the popularity of Arabic language literature in Israel – and Hebrew-language literature in the Arab world. We also meet the diplomat-gymnast Dan Oryan, who has recently become the first Israeli diplomat to publish a children’s book which has just been translated into Arabic. Oryan will also talk about the Israeli diplomats’ strike which started this week.   Playlist: Mercedes Sosa and diego torres – Zamba para olvidarteJohn Lenon – ImagineWill Smith – Just the two of usIndila – Derniere DanseNena – 99 Luftballons

What does architecture have to do with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? A lot, as it happens. On this week’s show, host Inna Lazareva interviews three remarkable architects from Israel and Palestine, working to create a change on the ground in the absence of a political resolution. Yehuda Greenfield-Gilat is part of SAYA – a group that plans out how a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians could be effectuated on the ground in minute detail. I explore the West Bank village of Jaba with architect Renad Shqeirat of the group ‘Riwaq,’ who tells me about an innovative project restoring Palestinian villages to create social and economic incubators for the locals. Back in Ramallah, I meet Yousef Taha, who is involved with a unique architectural project in Gaza. Playlist: Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow TaxiTom Waits – House Where No One LivesPink Floyd – Another Brick In The WallTalking Heads – Don’t Worry About The Government

Although we might know her for her acting performances, Ania trained as a classical pianist and singer for many years, and music is her great passion. She recently released her first album, completely self-penned, to great critical acclaim. She talks about her roots, musical inspirations, and what it is like to work as singer and actress in a country in the midst of conflict. Music: Ania Bukstein- Yom Ahad Nina Simone- Feeling Good Asaf Amdursky - Zug Me Shamaim Camille- Ta Douleur Ania Bukstein- Parpar Lavan

Israel today is home to the largest Russian-speaking population outside the countries of the former Soviet Union. The majority of these immigrants arrived in the 1990s, bringing a sea of change to Israel politically, socially and culturally. We discuss this with writer and veteran journalist Lily Galili, co-author of The Million that Changed the Middle East, and Ukrainian-born Israeli artist Zoya Cherkassky. Music: The Beatles - Back In The USSR Mark Bernes - Dark Is The Night/Темная ночь Gilbert Bercaud -Natalie Muslim Gauze - I Shall Sing Until My Land Is Free Alla Pugacheva - Two Stars/Две Звезды

This week, we discuss politics, polygamy, and the secret to eternal life with the African Hebrew Israelite community of Dimona. Our guide is Andrew Esensten, a journalist and ethnographer who has spent 14 months living in the community. We talk with Sar Ahmadiel, spokesperson for the Hebrews, and Sister Rofa Tehelatiyah, the community doctor.   Playlist Stevie Wonder – I Wish Soul Messengers & The Spirit of Israel – A Place To Be Yaheerah – Living A Dream Whitney Houston – I learnt from the best Andrews Sisters – Rum and Coca Cola The New Jerusalem Fire Choir – Henay

Recent days have been dominated by the latest war between Israel and Gaza. This week, Out of the Comfort Zone goes into conflict-neutral territory. In Wolfson hospital in Holon, children from all over the world are being given life-saving heart surgery for free. Meet the staff and patients from the Save a Child’s Heart project, including a Gazan grandmother with a one-month-year-old baby, and a British volunteer who has experienced most of Israel’s major wars in recent decades. He has helped save the lives of patients from as far away as rural China.   Music: Madonna – Frozen Norah Jones – Feeling The Same Way (all over again) Ana Silvera – All The King’s Horses The Beatles – Let It Be Miri Aloni – Shir Ha-Shalom (Song For Peace)  

In today’s show we travel to Hebron, a city in the West Bank often described as the craziest place in the Holy  Land. We delve into the heart of the city, talking to the Israelis and Palestinians who live the conflict day-in, day-out. We also speak to the international observer force stationed there.   Playlist: Zombie – The CranberriesMad World – Gary Jules Hometown – Ana Silvera How – Regina Spektor

This week, we explore the mystical world of Sufism and its followers in Israel, Palestine and the wider Middle East. Sufism – a particularly spiritual dimension of Islam – has a small but a significant following here. We travel to Old City Jerusalem to meet the followers of an Afghani Sufi group. Prof Itzchak Weismann from the University of Haifa talks us through the history of Sufis in the Holy Land and explains their situation in the present day. We then hear from Ora Balha, a dancer and a teacher who performs the Whirling of the Dervish dance in Jaffa We talk to Zeev Ben Ari, an expert on Sufism, a writer and a tour guide – and a whirling dervish himself.   Music: Soof – Gil Ron Shama Mercan Dede – Dream of Shams The Beatles – ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ Cunninlynguists – Guide You Through Shadows Shye Ben Tzur – To Die in Love Nazanin Afshin Jam – Goleh Sang

This week, we meet those who want to renounce God in the Holy Land. Three remarkable guests share their stories: Bella, a lady who decided to run away from both her ultra-orthodox religious community and her abusive husband to begin a new life –  with some unexpected help from an Iranian women’s group in London. Meir Azari, Senior Rabbi of the Daniel Center for Progressive Judaism in Tel Aviv, who discusses why people are leaving the ultra-orthodox life in the first place. Eldad, who is following in the footsteps of Israel’s prize-winning author Yoram Kaniuk and campaigning for the right to be considered without a religion altogether.    Playlist: Queen – I Want to Break FreeEthnix – Ein Le’an Lalechet (Nowhere To Go)Avril Lagvine – Knocking on Heaven’s DoorMadonna – Like a PrayerR.E.M – Losing My Religion

Israel and Lebanon consider each other enemy states – but one Cardinal defied warnings, threats and even assassination plots to become the first Lebanese religious leader to tour both Israel and Palestine to meet one of the region’s smallest communities. This week on Out of the Comfort Zone, we travel to the village of Biram to meet Cardinal Rai and Israel’s Christian Maronites, who claim a 4th century hermit monk as their ancestor and who have survived centuries of persecution. Today they face a unique set of ideological challenges: whether or not to serve in the IDF, whether or not to revive their ancient language of Aramaic, and whether they see themselves as Palestinians/Israelis/Arabs or all three.   Music: Fairuz – Le Beirut Damien Rice – Blower’s daughterShakira – Ojos Asi Boaz Ofri – Stei etbaot me tzidonEric Clapton – Tears in Heaven.

This week, we shimmy into the world of fashion in Israel and Palestine. On our show today, we’ll be hitting Ramallah, the fashion capital of Palestine, which recently hosted the second ever Palestine Fashion Week. We’ll also meet two entrepreneurs – one from Israel, one from Palestine, who will discuss their new venture, ‘Two Neighbors,’ which produces a brand new fashion line, involving some seriously beautiful clothes.   Playlist: Jill Sobule – Supermodel Suede – She’s in Fashion Queen – The Miracle John Lenon – Imagine Madonna – Vogue

This week we meet the Samaritans- the smallest, most ancient living ethnic community in the holy land and possibly the world. They trace their origins to Moses himself, believe the Jews have got the wrong end of the stick in terms of their faith, and lately have been welcoming brides from the Ukraine to marry the Samaritan men and ensure a healthy perpetuation of the sect. Tune in to find out more. Playlist1. Ain’t no mountain high enough- Diana Ross and the Supremes2. Livin’ on a prayer- Jon Bon Jovi3. I’m a believer- the monkeys4. Grow old with me- John Lennon

Meet Israel’s Bedouins: They discuss their history, culture, the burning issue of land rights and their uncertain future in Israel. We meet Ishmael Khaldi, a Bedouin diplomat based in London; Fadi Msamra, General Director of the Bedouin Council of Unrecognized Villages who lives in the largest Bedouin town in the world – Rahat; and we discuss the Prawer Plan with Sadek Aburat of the Adalah Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights.   Playlist: Itzhak Klepter – A Bedouin Love Song (Shir Ahvava Bedoui) Zohar Argov – An old Bedoui (Bedoui Zaken) Mati Caspi – A Bedoui Song (Shir Bedoui ) Shlomo Artzi – Lanegev Hoppa Hey Trio – Baderech El Hanegev

This week’s show explores Druze culture and history, as well as the ongoing tragedy in Syria, as seen through the eyes of the Druze community living just across the border in the Golan Heights and their neighbors.   Playlist:  Tracy Chapman – RevolutionSimon and Garfunkle – the sound of silenceLena Chamamyan –  Lama Bada YatathanaMatti Caspi and Ehud Manor – קולות השדהChemical Brothers – close your eyesOne Direction – Best Song EverChemical Brothers – close your eyesREM – Sunday Bloody Sunday

This week’s episode comes from the Western Galilee hospital in Nahariya where we talk to the staff treating injured Syrians who have crossed the border for emergency medical treatment.1.We talk to Sara Paperin from the international dept who tells us about the proximity of the hospital to the Lebanese border.2.We then meet the head of the neurosurgical department Prof Jean Soustiel who tells us about the kinds of injuries – and stories of life in Syria- that some of the patients arrive with.3.Dr Yoav Hoffman from the emergency Pediatric unit talks about disturbing pattern of children who appear to be repeatedly targeted by snipers in the spine, as well as the reactions of Syrians upon finding themselves in Israel in the first place. PlaylistFive for fighting- supermanGarbage- milkColdplay- yellowMariah Carey-heroOlivia Newton John-Xanadu

This week we wheel off directly into the Jordan Valley – one of the most contentious places currently debated in the peace process between the Israelis and the Palestinians. On a recent morning, TLV1  watched a motley crew of Israeli MKs and cabinet ministers armed with shovels, digging earth around a small, fledgling tree shoot. The ceremony marked the latest announcement of a new neighborhood in the settlement of Gitit, timed to coincide with John Kerry’s arrival in the region. Yet while some Israeli politicians continue with efforts to annex the Jordan Valley, some of the local settlers themselves say they are ready to leave the territory, should the government require it.We meet members of the Knesset, Palestinians and Israeli residents of the West Bank, NGOs, local farmers and ideological settlers to hear more about the issue.   Playlist Sharon Jones – This Land is Your LandFleetwood Mac – LandslideAmy Winehouse – Back to BlackAnia Bukstein – Parpar Lavan (White Butterfly)Elvis Presley – The Promised LandMonty Python – Eric the Half a BeeEdward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Home     Photo by Anna Frodesiak

Join us for a trip ‘Out of the Comfort Zone’ where this week we celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem! We meet a Franciscan friar who tells us about real-life miracles at the Milk Grotto church, speak to the locals about religion and politics, and meet Ranin Boulos from the Jewish-Arab village Oasis of Peace.   Playlist: Oh little town of Bethlehem Mariah Carey- Miss you most at Christmas Time Leonard Cohen- Halleluyah In the bleak midwinterZAZ- Je veux Mariah Carey- All I want for Christmas Christmas Carols Medley

affa, today a district of Tel Aviv, has long been a place of coexistence between Muslims, Christians and Jews – today we meet the people and projects driving this coexistence forward. We start by talking to the director of the Arab-Jewish Community Center in Jaffa, whose family has lived here since the 17th century. We then meet a pair of Muslim and Jewish community organizers helping to running a pluralist kindergarten as well as other cross-community activities in Jaffa; finally, we pay a visit to the Hebrew-Arab theater, whose current play ‘Eyes’ is based on the poems of legendary Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. Playlist: Muse: Feeling GoodChoir of Arab-Jewish Community Centre: Angels of PeaceChoir of Arab-Jewish Community Centre: Hevenu Shalom AleinuMira Awad: ‘Rita’, from the play ‘Eyes.

Today’s show will take us deep into one of the most mysterious parts of the Holy Land: the Old City of Jerusalem, home to many ancient religious communities. After talking to an Armenian priest originally from Lebanon, we then nip into an artist’s workshop to learn about the history, politics and everyday life in the Armenian Quarter. We then talk to Syrian Orthodox community leaders about the crisis across the border, as well as learning about their centuries-old customs and traditions – including playing the bagpipe! –  as they prepare for Christmas. And we also meet a British woman with a passion for the city’s religious, ethnic and cultural diversity, who is spearheading a new project aimed at bringing this to the masses.   Playlist: Sirusho -ErotasCharles Aznavour – Pour toi ArmenieEmmy the Great – Easter ParadeStromae – FormidableKatie Melua – Where does the Ocean go?Bjork – Hyperbalad

Today we’ll meet artists with funky roots and repertoires. We’ll be hosting Michal Cohen, an Israeli singer with Yemeni music in her soul who performs with musicians from all over the world. We’ll also talk to Ethnic Rapper Sameh ‘SAZ’ Zakout, who has completed projects with child refugees from West Bank and Gaza and is working on a song for Malala, the Pakistani school girl who took a stand on access to education for all. We’ll also talk to the top music producer to the stars, Gadi Gidor of Israel’s biggest music/film group NMC about his work with Idan Reichal and how rising stars today can make it in the industry   Playlist: Michal Cohen – ResisimMichal Cohen – Ode L’EliMichal Cohen – Im TomnuMichal Cohen – SahakiBalkan Beat Box – Ramallah- Tel AvivSAZ – My Mic is My WeaponSAZ – Yalla SazIdan Raichel Project – BoeeIdan Raichel Project – In Stiller Nacht

This week’s show features guests from three different continents. We meet a Uruguayan entrepreneur, a Darfuri human rights activist, and a British mathemagician, all of whom are working to improve the lives of those who have fled their homelands to Israel.