Amit, you did a great job in this interview—it must be so difficult for you not to lose your temper while being interviewed by a typical anti-Semitic, anti-Israel Brit. Unfortunately, the world has decided Israel’s response to the massacre on October 7th was “asymmetrical.”
After 9/11, the US destroyed two countries and killed who knows how many civilians. China continues to massacre its Uyghur population. Russia continues to kill its checnyian population. Iran kills everyone but the ultra-religious, ultra-nationalistic Shia-observant class. The list is sadly too long to continue.
In Gaza, which again the world refuses to admit, billions of dollars in aide have been shipped in by many countries and that aide continues today. And where has that investment gone? Tunnels, buying hundreds of thousands of Kalashnikovs, drones, etc. in fact, when Israel and the US tried to bring in aide, Hamas shot at any “civilian” trying to get bread for his family.
And the interviewer once again raises the specter of a state. Gaza was turned over to the Palestinians in 2005 with an opportunity to build a state with good relations with its neighbors including Israel. However, Hamas just turned it into an armed camp.
Israel should not give up one yard of territory until Hamas is unarmed. Period. Once that happens, Israel should pull back. Not out of the strip, but pull back and test whether a real state can emerge.
And let’s be under no illusion .. Israel’s safety and security is paramount, such that Syria’s new leader is going to have to go a long way, and more, if he ever decides to normalise relations with Israel. His real name is Ahmed al-Sharaa, nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, as his family are from the Golan Heights.
He was the leader of Syria's hardline Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and a past member of al-Qaeda in Iraq, fighting the US occupation of the country, as well as his role in founding Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate Al-Nusra Front.
HTS was just one of several Sunni Islamist factions that Turkey had backed since the earliest days of Syria’s civil war, beginning in 2011, so Jolani’s association with Erdogan will always be a concern for Israel.
Listening to the interview, the question of what future Israel envisages for Gaza - the answer is a peaceful, Singapore-like neighbor, is the wrong one to ask. The appropriate question is how Gazans see Gaza, and here we have a clear historical precedent.
In 2005, after Israel’s full withdrawal, Gazans were given the opportunity to answer that question. Not to be too biblical about it, but the table set before them gave them the choice between life and death, but they never made it to the end of the verse.
If Gaza were a test, the Gazans failed it catastrophically by electing Hamas which proceeded to divert billions in international welfare and turned the entirety of Gaza into an urban warfare battlefield. That, by the way, explains the extensive damage.
So the real issue is whether Gazans will make better choices going forward, because on offer is that rarest of things, a second chance. A start would be for their leaders to publicly adopt the “two states for two peoples” paradigm and recognize Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people with whom they will live side-by-side in peace.
Unfortunately, it took generations of antisemitic indoctrination to get where we are and it will take at least a generation to undo the damage. In this, the larger Muslim world needs to play a constructive role, and the first hint will be a reinterpretation by Al Azhar of Islamic teachings regarding Jews and a vastly different editorial position by Al Jazeera. The first is a tough sell, the second only requires an order from the Emir.
Truly astonishing Channel 4 video .. Amit, you were excellent.
At 1min 13 it clearly states that Egypt are a signatory to the 15 point plan. Further on, it talks about getting more aid into Gaza .. the world needs to be reminded that Egypt has a border with Gaza, yet Egypt’s border remains closed to Gaza.
Matt is wrong that that the current state of Gaza is Israel’s fault .. it’s Hamas’ fault. Get rid of Hamas.
Matt Frei has a reputation of siding / being critical of Israel .. a loathsome character.
You were very polite to the incredibly biased UK interviewer. He framed every problem in Gaza as a problem caused by Israel. It’s as moronic as it is biased. No surprise there. I’m glad you pushed back on the issue of causation. The interviewer had an exquisite concern for the Palestinians without mentioning they elected Hamas to lead after Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, they support Hamas even after October 7th, and a large majority support the atrocities committed on October 7th. The “cause” of their current situation is clear, and it’s not Israel, it’s not Bibi, and it’s not Trump. Gee, what could it possibly be?
Amit, you proved to be as articulate doing a live interview as you are in your daily newsletter. Unlike in your interviews with Dan Senor, who is sympathetic to your views, this British interviewer was hostile, yet you managed to express cogent and reasonable answers. Kol hakavod to you!
I've always wanted to ask these interviewers this question: Out of 22 Arab states, how many of them, in your estimation, demonstrate competent governance? Syria? Lebanon? Iraq? Egypt, Libya? Why should anyone believe that Gazans or Palestinian Arabs as a whole would demonstrate competent governance? What is the probability that they could on a scale. of 0% to 100%?
Amit, you did a great job in this interview—it must be so difficult for you not to lose your temper while being interviewed by a typical anti-Semitic, anti-Israel Brit. Unfortunately, the world has decided Israel’s response to the massacre on October 7th was “asymmetrical.”
After 9/11, the US destroyed two countries and killed who knows how many civilians. China continues to massacre its Uyghur population. Russia continues to kill its checnyian population. Iran kills everyone but the ultra-religious, ultra-nationalistic Shia-observant class. The list is sadly too long to continue.
In Gaza, which again the world refuses to admit, billions of dollars in aide have been shipped in by many countries and that aide continues today. And where has that investment gone? Tunnels, buying hundreds of thousands of Kalashnikovs, drones, etc. in fact, when Israel and the US tried to bring in aide, Hamas shot at any “civilian” trying to get bread for his family.
And the interviewer once again raises the specter of a state. Gaza was turned over to the Palestinians in 2005 with an opportunity to build a state with good relations with its neighbors including Israel. However, Hamas just turned it into an armed camp.
Israel should not give up one yard of territory until Hamas is unarmed. Period. Once that happens, Israel should pull back. Not out of the strip, but pull back and test whether a real state can emerge.
Good post - except that there should never be a "Palestinian" state west of the Jordan River. There already is such a state east of the river.
I am a BIG Donald Trump Guy, BUT this Gaza Plan, Its just Silly.
And let’s be under no illusion .. Israel’s safety and security is paramount, such that Syria’s new leader is going to have to go a long way, and more, if he ever decides to normalise relations with Israel. His real name is Ahmed al-Sharaa, nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, as his family are from the Golan Heights.
He was the leader of Syria's hardline Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and a past member of al-Qaeda in Iraq, fighting the US occupation of the country, as well as his role in founding Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate Al-Nusra Front.
HTS was just one of several Sunni Islamist factions that Turkey had backed since the earliest days of Syria’s civil war, beginning in 2011, so Jolani’s association with Erdogan will always be a concern for Israel.
Listening to the interview, the question of what future Israel envisages for Gaza - the answer is a peaceful, Singapore-like neighbor, is the wrong one to ask. The appropriate question is how Gazans see Gaza, and here we have a clear historical precedent.
In 2005, after Israel’s full withdrawal, Gazans were given the opportunity to answer that question. Not to be too biblical about it, but the table set before them gave them the choice between life and death, but they never made it to the end of the verse.
If Gaza were a test, the Gazans failed it catastrophically by electing Hamas which proceeded to divert billions in international welfare and turned the entirety of Gaza into an urban warfare battlefield. That, by the way, explains the extensive damage.
So the real issue is whether Gazans will make better choices going forward, because on offer is that rarest of things, a second chance. A start would be for their leaders to publicly adopt the “two states for two peoples” paradigm and recognize Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people with whom they will live side-by-side in peace.
Unfortunately, it took generations of antisemitic indoctrination to get where we are and it will take at least a generation to undo the damage. In this, the larger Muslim world needs to play a constructive role, and the first hint will be a reinterpretation by Al Azhar of Islamic teachings regarding Jews and a vastly different editorial position by Al Jazeera. The first is a tough sell, the second only requires an order from the Emir.
Truly astonishing Channel 4 video .. Amit, you were excellent.
At 1min 13 it clearly states that Egypt are a signatory to the 15 point plan. Further on, it talks about getting more aid into Gaza .. the world needs to be reminded that Egypt has a border with Gaza, yet Egypt’s border remains closed to Gaza.
Matt is wrong that that the current state of Gaza is Israel’s fault .. it’s Hamas’ fault. Get rid of Hamas.
Matt Frei has a reputation of siding / being critical of Israel .. a loathsome character.
This is the first time I’ve watched BBC report on Gaza of any length. All I can say is despicable, biased, hatred, spewing coverage.
It’s not the BBC, it’s Channel 4.
Thank you for the clarification. I see that now.
"Hamas Is An Obstacle"
Gosh...Ya Think?
Bravo-kept your cool despite the obvious provocation.
Yes - good job keeping your message on track against that hostile loudmouth!
You were very polite to the incredibly biased UK interviewer. He framed every problem in Gaza as a problem caused by Israel. It’s as moronic as it is biased. No surprise there. I’m glad you pushed back on the issue of causation. The interviewer had an exquisite concern for the Palestinians without mentioning they elected Hamas to lead after Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, they support Hamas even after October 7th, and a large majority support the atrocities committed on October 7th. The “cause” of their current situation is clear, and it’s not Israel, it’s not Bibi, and it’s not Trump. Gee, what could it possibly be?
Amit, you proved to be as articulate doing a live interview as you are in your daily newsletter. Unlike in your interviews with Dan Senor, who is sympathetic to your views, this British interviewer was hostile, yet you managed to express cogent and reasonable answers. Kol hakavod to you!
I've always wanted to ask these interviewers this question: Out of 22 Arab states, how many of them, in your estimation, demonstrate competent governance? Syria? Lebanon? Iraq? Egypt, Libya? Why should anyone believe that Gazans or Palestinian Arabs as a whole would demonstrate competent governance? What is the probability that they could on a scale. of 0% to 100%?