Transcripts For ALJAZ UpFront 20240702

The so called warren drugs here in double city. In fact, it became known for those of us that squad, visualize a group. This is twos of executing suspected drug dealers. When former president would be good, the thursday was mere and independent monitor recorded at least 53 killings in the 1st 12 months of his sons current term. Mostly during police rates, police say they were killed jury shoot outs and often repeated defends by authorities when criticized for killings. Cuz they are they not they normally we dont want our Police Officers to dine during these operations because we need them to protect the majority. But as families of alleged victims of extrajudicial killings testified in congress for the 1st time on tuesday, they said police had been slow to provide information on their loved ones cases, leaving that with no recourse but to file a complaint at the International Criminal court. Barnaby though, algebra, devil, city, southern philippines. And finally the nepali claim or tommy rita circle, his scales Mount Everest for a record. 30th time, the 54 year old broke his own record that he had said just 9 days earlier, with his 2nd sense of the season. For the 1st 3 stopped summit in 1994 and has climbed the worlds highest mountain almost every year. Since you can read more about that story as well as the days other top stories on our website had online be addressed as algebra, 0 dot com. Well take a break about 30 minutes or so, and there will be more news on algebra 0 coming up officer upfront the on counting the cost indias income inequality gap, his wife makes. So how can poor people get the share of the wealth . How much does the us spend in foreign aid and does about funding how to boost global stability . Plus why zambia has band charcoal production problems . Counting the cost on how to 0. The us senate is points to vote on the anti semitism awareness that a bill that some say with conflict criticism of israel with anti semitism. So what would it mean for the movement against israels war on garza and to jewish communities were happening with fear for their safety. That conversation is coming up. But 1st, as israel continues, as were on gaza, its leadership is far from presenting a united front. This board continues to grow within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cabinet, as the government also faces discontent and protest from his rarely citizens. So what lies ahead for the countrys leadership and what impact will it have on the palestinian pete, the israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu government has been called the most right wing government since the countrys inception. And in the midst of israels war on gaza, which is now when its 7th month, the pool on the far right agenda has left a pronounced mark when the manner in which the war is being conducted. But these rarely public disc with this government is growing as are the divisions within nets and yahoos cabinet itself. So what lies ahead here to speak with us about it is journalist and the editor of is really new site, local call, or the noises on upfront or the thank you so much for joining us. Israel seems to be preparing for a full scale invasion of the Southern City of rough, but meanwhile tensions continued to mount between members of the government. With many, from the far right, urging the Prime Minister to ignore International Pressure to call. Busy a further assault on the city of norfolk, there been numerous times in the disagreements have come out to the public. Theyve been airing their disagreements in the public sphere. How deep right now are the cracks in these really government on this thanks so much for having me. Its a very problematic composition of, of governments, and the disagreements are quite deep, but not deep enough to really stress. Mr. Now, is government, at least not at this point. It is very obvious back to grants, and hes camp are a very much not satisfied with the way that, that then, you know, has been handling the war. And they are very, very much aware of the growing public pressure to end the war. Nope, because these really public is so much worried with the whole horrifying massacre disease or it has been con, conducting in gaza. But rather because there is a growing understanding among days, really publics activities actually know what it is to bring back those among the hostages that are still still alive and, and those who are not without ending the war. Thats on the other hand, it to me yall is very much a hostage, so to speak, in the hands of the ex, treatments in these governments. People like its a mile bank via but to lead small toilet. So it stops. And in the so thats a very couldnt guarantee a threaten to bring it up to the government. If latonya backs down from a full sledge attack on the roof off. That seems to be approaching you. You raised an important point here. Benjamin. Thats in. Yeah. Whose position as Prime Minister is directly link its beholden to, hostage to do use your language and his political alliances with the far right. People likes motors and been viewed, but thats what, thats what thats he has always been good at managing those alliances and doing whats necessary to stay in office is that continue . Which i think thats uh, nathan, you know, i got to caught up with the self image of himself as this, you know, in, in hebrew is very often referred to as the magician, the political magician that can always, you know, make his way as through the most difficult of surfing political circumstances. I dont think that this is the case. Any more. Uh, i, there hasnt been a single reliable opinion. Public opinion poll that shows any degree affected of Public Satisfaction with his conduct as Prime Minister over the way hes been handling the the for so you know, at the best scenario, furniture now we are talking only to enable him to finish that term. There is no future political future for understanding. Yeah, this is quite clear for everybody. Im not sure hes understanding it, but there is no way around it. He cannot, he will not be able to form a government the following the next the next semester. Of course, what i mean is your question about that because we keep talking as if nothing yahoo is gesturing to the right and appealing to the right out of political expediency. But why are we not to believe that he actually is the right wing extremist, that he aligns themself with . And he only appears moderate to uh, to, to, to get more widespread acceptance of me. Who is netanyahu at the core . And honestly, i dont see it. I mean, for me personally, it doesnt really match. So theres a match or is a person is promoting fascist, racist, of a supremacy policy is because he truly believes in them or just to, to accommodate his put the political partners. I dont think that this thing is relevant. The fact is, but that then yall has been promoting extreme needs all of those of policies and not totally visa because uh you said that uh uh mr. Neal has been shooting, you know, uh, 2 or directions. Hes been provoking of the situation in the north. Shes being provoked. Seems to be the situation visa be wrong. He has been promoting extreme anti democratic conduct against the palestinian citizens of each man. There is a growing persecution in because district persecution of a note on the palestinian citizens, but also of jewish activities, or anybody who you know, expresses any har reset the whats going on him, john saw or speaking about a genocide. So to, you know, if, if this is really the person or just to, for me to go 1st. So now i dont think that there is a difference anymore. It, it makes any difference at this point. Speaking of the far right, the far right has been very vocal in israel over the last week, particularly after president bite and announced that he wouldnt be sending any more weapons to israel if they were going to be using a ground evasion in the roof. Or now of course, since that announcement biden is the greatest and other stuff the, you know, of billions of dollars over 1000000000. 00 in, in aid to israel. So it was a shortly in a moment of frustration for the right, but never the less. When it happened, a security minister, its more been veered, tweeted, mass loves buying and how may i have heart bided in response when you see this type of rhetoric coming out of these really government and aimed at israels top ally the united states. 1 when critics would argue the u. S. Has been very little terrain in israel during this time. How does that impact the International Standing of israel, or if there is no question that these valleys at the most difficult position regarding its International Position since its establishment 76 years ago, there was no doubt about that. We are losing grounds not weve only we saw our biggest ally of the united states, but also we saw our countries. We school, we have peace reducing the they are burning all of the political breaches of israel. We to forge of for rights ministers in the cabinets. How does no for the dodge of, for is, was International Staff to they are really searching for something fundamentally different to be chipped through chaos through our govern armageddon and, and mr. Neal, who is, is really a captive right right now in their hands and thats in yahoo. Doesnt have to call for elections until october of 2026. But its still been a mounting pressure for all the reasons youve mentioned for him to schedule early elections. He of course, has dismissed these uh these, these demands, arguing that israel is at war and that elections would essentially to use his language, paralyzed houses, negotiations, and that it would bring it into the war before the goals are completely achieved. How do you respond to this argument from nothing yahoo that effectively hes not going to call for early elections, which is what the people want because it would undermine the stability and growth of the country . Nope, i think thats following up until the 7th. And the horror in the shock into the rage. Thats uh, uh, the is really public salesman. Some yeah. Oh, i knew that youd have to do something drastic. And i think thats in a way his thoughts that match didnt match the occur would ease the sense of the banjo. This was very much existing among, among these fairly public. And therefore in that way, reduced the political pressure that he was under. Thats the best thing is, is that he promised these really public things that he could never filled. 2 things. One is to the return of the hostages, and the 2nd is the ultimate victory. The final victory, the absolute speak 3, which nobody really has any idea of what it is supposed to look like. The big list of these to the find . No, they actually, uh, victory. Uh, allows the fall right to sink. Oh, to imagine the absolute victory as the final, the in isolation of gospel street. And we should really be aware of that that there are people in these when not so few that understand that is really victory as the ultimate to 9 nations of the gaza strip. And this among other is what brought us to it is the International Court of justice or the noise. I wanna thank you so much for joining me on upfront. Thank you back. Thats the, the anti semitism awareness that is points for a vote in the us senate to pass in the house earlier this month by a large majority. The bill with right into law, the International Holocaust remembrance, alliances definition of anti semitism which Civil Liberties groups. They will both suppress criticism of the state of israel and make it more difficult to address the actual anti semitism. Pro israel politicians have been pushing for the bill since 2016, but appear to be capitalizing on the climate of fear that it has arisen in recent months over demonstrations against israels continued war on guys. So what will this mean for pro palestinian organizing, as well as for conversations around anti semitism . Joining us to discuss this is read by j michelson. He is a contributing columnist for the forward and we also have lar friedman with this president of the foundation for middle east peace. Thank you both for joining me. Laura. Im actually going to start with you. If past this bill is going to write the International Holocaust, remember its alliances. A definition of anti semitism into federal law saying that quote, anti semitism is a certain perception of use which may be expressed as hatred towards use. Now, this is general, seems like a pretty benign definition, but Human Rights Watch the c o u american Civil Liberties union and but selling these really Human Rights Group and others are sounding the alarm over the adoption of an i h r a definition. Why . So that the battle around the ice r i definition of had to semitism has been going on, as you said, since 2016. And it really isnt over the sentence you read. Although experts on anti semitism will say that that sentence is badly written and doesnt really say much. The battle is really around a set of examples that are appended to that definition. And theres controversy over how they became appended to it. But those, those examples of the majority of them deal not with hatred or discrimination or threats or violence against jews as jews. They deal with criticism of israel and this is the latest controversy. This isnt the 1st with the anti semitism during this act. Is that this is really a self effort to redefine anti semitism to not only include criticism of as well, but just focus on and prioritize it. And then have that as a weapon against palestine rights activism against organizing and even against jewish people around the world to criticize this route. Because according to that definition, examples, for example, if youre an organization like mine which focuses only on his role palestine or narrowly focused, people argue, well that means youre anti semitic because under the ira definition, criticism is deemed to be anti semitic. If youre not equally criticizing, all others were guilty of similar bad behavior, which is sort of like saying, you cant have an organization that focuses only on the welfare of say, elephants. If you focus on the welfare of elephants, that means or n, t, the welfare of every other organ as of every other animal, right . Its, its, theres something in name about this to suggest that in order to criticize, in order to engage in criticism of israel, you have to be an anti semite that thats what its setting up as an argument. Jay, what do you say to the person who pushes back to that argument . That large is laid out and says, yeah, but there has to be some room uh to criticize a very real practice of isolation. For example, if we criticize israel for having an imperfect democracy, right . All the nations in the world, the call themselves democratic, are imperfect democracy is. But if we only focus on israels, then that represents an example of isolation and exceptionalism and ultimately anti semitism. What do you say to people who say that these kinds of double standards are the problem . Well, i think the question is whether it is a double standard. I mean, israel is so uniquely situated, some of the countries of the worlds leading recipient of us foreign aid. It has a lot, there is a whole special relationship between the countries. There are many reasons why one might focus on the imperfect democracy to use your phrase in israel, rather than somewhere else. Its just, its just as far as that, there are many reasons why you might want to focus on the, lets say, misdeeds or, or actions of one country and not necessarily another. And again, israel as is reliant on American Foreign aid. So these things are happening on our dime. The ira definition has no space for any of that nuance. Now j if the bill is past the, the department of education is going to be required to use the i h r a definition. When judging anti semitism complaints within american universities and against universities. It will also revolt funding for schools that failed to discipline or even ban events. Professors campus groups who speak out against israel. Now Jewish Currents warrens us, that were seeing and unfolding what they call moral panic. That power allows the red squares or the 19 twenties and the 1950s. How do you see it . I mean, i, i describe this as a moral panic back in december, january, where we saw University President s hauled before our Congressional Committee in a process designed to trap them. And i think whats interesting about moral panic is it is a panic. There are a lot of reasons and i think its important to make space for those. There. A lot of reasons why americans choose to feel profoundly unsettled right now. Obviously october 7th and the unprecedented hires of that day. And then also the ways in which many of our allies in the Progressive Community either did or didnt respond. And then the rupture of both legitimate, i would say anti israel protests and illegitimate anti semitism. And americans who is, are in this really heightened state and its very, its a very tough time that a lot of people are experiencing. And that condition is being weaponized by opportunists, primarily on the right to further their own ends, which are ends, which are really about attacking all kinds of a university education. Attacking what they see is instruments of liberal culture and indoctrination and so forth that jews have been enlisted in this war on work. Is there a tremendously cynical i think exploitation of the real pain that so Many Americans use are feeling right now a lot. Theres been a pattern in recent years of defining anti semitism very, very broadly in the us, the Anti Defamation League has tally the near 400 percent increase in anti submitting incidence since october. This number, however, explicitly counts all palestinian solidarity activism is anti semitic spring opposition from the inside of the video music, audio staff or say, hey, this is too broad, were going to far, thats a red flag. What does this trend mean for, for, for efforts to actually combat anti semitism . Look, i mean, as we move further and further away from what is the common sense understanding of what is anti semitism which really boils down to threats, discrimination against violence, against hatred of jews because they are jewish and you move further and further into conflicting being jewish with supporting israel, which lets remember, has always been considered anti semitic. You open the door for a whole new surge of real anti semitism which you dont record and youre not watching because youre giving cover to it by saying, well, they support israel, so theyre not anti semitic. And by the way, were much more worried. And if you look at the last couple 80 l reports, youll see that even in their huge 3rd, theyre saying of what they call into some it doesnt. The majority of anti semitism of their recording is not related to what they call israel or, or a hatred or protest against israels treatment of palestinians. Its actual hatred against jews. But if you read the headlines, all theyre focusing on is the palestinian rights protests criticism that is around what its doing in gaza. Theyre prioritizing that in the fight against that above all else. Well 1st thats picking up our largest site. If you compare the anti semitism that is present in some quarters of the far left to whats happening in the far right, weve got a holocaust deniers being the republican nominee for the governor of north carolina. That if this, that is a way, more serious threat, i feel as a rabbis to my own safety to the safety of american choose, then any, you know, anti semitic a events that happened on a college campus. You know, by a lone activists here there by somebody who has, who has maybe even coming, you know, from the outside and, and kind of trying to stir up trouble. There is just no comparison. Theres no, theres no democratic equivalent with, you know, donald trump, dinings nic fuentes, for example, noted white supremacists, an anti anti semite, and a neo nazi, basically. So theres just, its, its, theres sort of a comparison or an equation of occasional over steps on the left or i would say, i do think i do think that at some campuses didnt, protestors could do a better job of drawing clear lines, making sure that no individual jewish students are being harassed in any way, making sure that no conspiratorial claims about, do you know, some jewish conspiracy controlling politics are made in any way. However, the vast majority of those protests are at the appalling nature of the war and gaza. And i may agree or disagree with, you know, everything, some active assess, but that is a political protest obviously. And i want to add one thing, which is, you know, i think it might be helpful for viewers to kind of see where some of the jewish students are coming from. And these campuses, you know, i grew up in the conservative jewish move in kind of the middle of the road in terms of religiosity in america and zionism. Not just love of the land of israel or historical ties land result. But political scientism was part of my Jewish Education and it became part of my jewish identity when i was a teenager. And to see that attacked can make a lot of folks feel as though they were being personally attacked. And so i think it could be helpful to just sort of what are we doing, but thats theres a lot of that comes out of those. What do we do with that logic, right . So if we say right, political design isnt, was baked into this in the same way that maybe slaveholding was baked into, you know, early america and, you know, Education System for white americans. Right . And, and any disruption of peoples way of life can be unsettling. And it can, they can feel as a personal attack, but at the marlin political levels, how do we respond to the fact that people personalize those things . You know, thats right. I dont love that analogy, but even so i think theres, yeah that just because somebody feels as though they may be being targeted because of their identity, that doesnt mean that thats whats actually happening. I think we could both both sides, so to speak, to with a little more empathy of whats happening. I think jewish students on campus. I do feel as though theyre under attack, we could put kind of understand that subjective experience without weaponized thing. It and, and listing the role of the federal government to Police Speech into punish campuses that dont punish free speech. Right . Thats clearly not the way to deal with the pain that people are feeling. I think it could also, and, and conversely, people who were concerned about these protests and who were scared by these protest could use a bit more empathy of the with the protesters, let alone with the people and gods of course. And could see where theyre actually coming from, but in neither case should the power of the states and the power of the Purse Strings and also the criminal power, you know, the power of the state to, to, to punish crime. Being listed to patrol political speech loud journalist musher guessing has pointed out that even the acclaimed German Jewish philosopher, honda, all right, would be labeled anti semitic under the h r. A definition. Specifically, the portion that deems, quote, comparisons of contemporary is rarely policy to that of the nazis. A rent widely considered when the 20th century is great, as scholars on anti semitism, genocide and holocaust once compared to jewish is really Power Military group to the nazis were attacking and killing in air village. If this does become the Legal Definition of anti semitism, where does the ultimate lead use . Who are Critical Design is to all, i mean, much like the debate around the demonstrators and the protests right now. Its effectively invisible lives of jewish people who are critical of as early as it effectively deems them not existing in the debate or themes. Im not jewish. And therefore legitimate to that. And we have terms that have come up in recent years like, and you or you know, as you mean or have seen resign china, no jew in name only. I mean, there is a new framework being being brought in by some parties who really want zionism to be judaism, which says that if you are not an ardently zionist you, youre not really jewish. And by contrast, if you arent jewish, but are ardently zion is, you are kind of jewish or more jewish than the jews who criticize. So were in this moment of great irony is where, you know, you have this enormous pressure. A lot of it from forces like the idea of it also forces like the anti woke, right. Were not particularly interested in jewish safety saying you must pass this to protect jews even as it will. You know, invisible lies a large part of the jewish population. United states and other places, and an israel that is extremely critical of israel and does not believe that zion is in is exactly the same as being jewish, larry freedman, rabbi j. Michelson. Thank you both so much for joining me and upfront everybody. That is our show upfront, well be back the israels war on gossip be coming in forever and walk across the united states. Why are the student protests for palestine being met with military style track down wide is by to insist on 0 consequences for israel in its war on gaza. The quizzical look of us politics, the bottom line. Ok, foundation is deliberate, over 300000000. 00. Will suffice. Emboldened 75 countries around the world, 100 percent of sex on an emergency donation spence on projects and we ensure beneficiaries come 1st of a 300 on luis, havent had going through the roof. The crossing in recent months, our most of these bless and be blessed and we all turning your donations into direct delivery in the shortest possible time donates with confidence. The one of the biggest elections of 2020 pools in the general election will administer now render moodys b t p. Increase it through the across the country. How will Economic Uncertainty and youve some employment sway focused in key states and will the media be able to cover the vote really unfairly ongoing coverage. The in the as the elections on tuesday, around the, the, the hello until mccrae. This has been use our life from coming up in the next 60 minutes, staying island to norway site. They will recognize a palestinian size as well because the 10 best that is an anger on the ground is already strikes targets. Central gallons, a once again killing at least 10 pellets cities. United nations has people encounter getting only of course of the most that they need and most of it is contamination is also a head