Underground if youre watching in the u. K. Or on stay with us for school. Im actually times are we going on the ground as a British Armed israel bombs besieged gaza and the syrian capital of damascus while facing the prospect of a 3rd election in a year amid strong trumps decision to defy global consensus on the theft of Palestinian Land coming on the show are israel and the us a rogue states when it comes to International Law well thats israels former moment washington down the aisle on the new film gaza fights for freedom documents israeli mass killings by bullets and poison gas we talk to the films director files are all the people going to have a days going on the ground 1st which countries have privileged trading relationships with the European Union cited as a key issue in britains general Election Campaign well he is one country famous for repeated violations of International Law. Or and one that has been bombing damascus and reportedly killing civilians in syria this week israel has a privileged trading relationship with the European Union based on the e. U. Israel Association Agreement establishing that product originating in israel within its internationally recognized borders benefit from pressure and show tariff treatment upon their n. T. Into the European Union yes special either trade treatment for violators of International Law so israels detractors might have it but there was more this month from the European Court of justice thank you has a longstanding and well known position that it will not recognize any changes to pre 967 israelis borders other than those agreed by the parties to the Israeli Palestinian conflict they you consider us settlements in occupied territory still ego and International Law illegal hundreds of national law but not suitable for any e. U. Armed action to enforce international or in israel so instead the e. U. Has decided to require labeling of fruit from illegally occupied Palestinian Land while at the same time rejecting calls for south africa or apartheid style boycott they use does not support any form of our sanctions against israel and the u. Rejects attempts by the campaigns of the socalled Boycott Divestment Sanctions Movement to isolate israel so that still an ode to what legendary roxy music and david bowie musician brian ino told us some 5 years ago about b. D. S. A lot of artists have said to me oh ive been asked to play in israel what do you think i should do and a lot of them are refusing i think of course you dont hear very much about it because these rallies arent going to tell you about it and the artists obviously dont want to get a huge amount of criticism directed at them for making such a decision but while artists like glover del ray lord i mean lenox color santana roger waters and brian ino support the bee. Yes boycott of israel that the e. U. Is opposed to the usa is not only supporting israels illegal actions against International Law its jumbling down on it weve now declared the settlements are not per se illegal under International Law as for the 1st time in 40 years the usa now explicitly instead of implicitly supporting the violation of International Law when it comes to palestine the palestinians call it a war crime but joining me now from tel aviv is israeli diplomat danny aiello and former israeli ambassador to the United States thanks so much ambassador for coming on the show were having a general election here in britain at the moment where under broadcast restrictions just wanted what you thought about the policy positions Jeremy Corbin saying he will ban weapons sales to israel the tories disagree there will democrats and appear to disagree and the s. And p. Has to agree with corbett yeah well i think its unfortunate and i think its maybe lick understanding because anything that can keep stability in their region if anything it is. Deterrence power and without our presence here im im afraid that there would be everybody fighting everybody else on this very very small piece of land of ours because its not just in britain though Bernie Sanders the democrat president ial candidate for 2020 saying that military aid to israel should be conditional and that some of that military aid should actually be spent on humanitarian aid for palestinians in gaza what we have seen for the last well i dont want to go too far but lets say since since the oslo agreement this is 9093 so were talking 26 years ago most of the pressure was directed. At israel if we really want to see a fair deal then we should come into the negotiating table without any preconditions and the compromises. Should come from all sides not just from israel master why are you talking about the also glue agreement obviously mike bump a. O. The us secretary of state has said that hell recognize israeli illegal settlements even quoting Ronald Reagan even though of course Ronald Reagan said these illegal colonial settlements are ill advised and represent an obstacle to peace there is no all slue agreement at all now well the oslo actually did not deal at all with the settlements i think it should be discussed and i think in all the agreement so far it should be discussed between the 2 parties and it is true that. Peril has not. Actually come up with this idea. Originally basically its very consistent with the letter of george w. Bush 2004 april 2004 when he wrote a letter to then Prime Minister ariel sharon saying that realities on the ground in assessing tate actually recognition of what we call here are the major blocs well as i said 1st could run old reagan of course the oslo accords were in the context of Un Security Council resolution 446 about settlements surely even the us peace negotiator martin indyk has called the trump decision a gratuitous move at the very moment israel has a new government a you expecting violent retaliation from your enemies because of what they say is Israeli Colonial atrocities i dont think so i dont think so because at the end of the day i think they all realize that. Nothing is done and nothing is settled until the reason a negotiated settlement and theres the same goes for a jerusalem you know that. Trump present trumpery recognize the sovereignty of israel over jerusalem on. Although he was very very careful not to delineate any any demarcation and which leaves also with the question open. For the palestinians had i been a palestinian i would have taken this declaration of trump with open arms because they can it can be interpreted as the eastern side is still for negotiation. If you are not expecting violent retaliation for this us violation of International Law why is the United States itself trump state above and saying all americans right across the region should prepare for possible attacks on u. S. Government Facilities Private interests and citizens im not sure whether that means on the same scale as an israeli killing in gaza or a recent years they the americans certainly believe there will be violent retaliation well maybe they are privy to some information that i am not to maybe some intelligence in from ation we have to remember the context also of the wider context in the middle east is that not just americans but most. Lets say western interests and not just western interests also with a sunni interest i would say are under threat from shiite militias that are supported by iran or by the iranians. Forest so that could be maybe the greatest context but iran hasnt been bombing israel in the bus few days israel has been bombing syria and of course has been bombing gaza. What proof do you have of any iranian obama to his rally before the bombing that was announced by israel there were 4 rockets that where actually shot. At israel and luckily they were all intercepted by our ballistic you know missile defense. But iran is very very aggressive and they work through proxies they work through the hizbullah and theyve been on and they work through. Shiite militias in syria and they have become ever more aggressive by actually using and using actually their own forces the force and they have helped assad to take over his country after the civil war that took place there with severe severe casualties you know youre talking about more than 600000 deaths and theyre trying to dig in open basically a 2nd front against israel and we certainly will not allow that if you look from a larger perspective you see that iran is trying to surround israel from all sides and we take seriously the. Announcements and declarations of the leaders of iran that they want to erase israel from the map iran denies that syria denies that but there are pictures of president yahoo treating people in syria in the Golan Heights associated with isis diaster an al qaeda you just mentioned 600000 figure of 600000 when it came to the Syrian Civil War did your Government Support isis dietitian al qaeda in syria does it ever support those groups no no way if you look at the charter or the belief so fail qaeda and isis they think we are at the top of the list to be exterminate and. We know what terrorism is unfortunately we have suffered more than anyone else from hizbullah terror group and hamas terror groups all of which are by the way recognized by the International Community you deny the Israeli Government had a part in funding hamas is creation when it had a charter. That was against the existence of israel of course like iran it recognizes a 2 state solution the no that was and i thought i would say is with that it is true that you know when the hamas tried and started in 987. 00 the start of hamas was and this was the papers that were submitted as a Charity Organization unfortunately they turned into. Charity for a terrorist and killing innocent people but if i go back there is a photograph of. Visiting a hospital is ready hospital in the north which just for you many tarion bases received wounded from syria they were not isis or anything like that but about to talk to the journalist in director abby martin about a documentary film on gaza duz does israel continue to plan do you think to kill civilians of the great march of return thousands dead or injured children is the accusation made in the film of course this in the context obviously of 10000000 Palestinian Refugees now under Un Security Council 194 resolution who have the right of return but again this is a selfdefense when you come to marches into the to the to the border of israel unfortunately these are not innocent people that truly they were selected and sent by hamas sometimes under the gun threats and we know that among them among them where are embedded. Sharpshooters and other terrorists who would like to infiltrate ok will the protesters let alone the United Nations itself completely contradicts everything you just said ive just got to ask though since theres a lot of debate here about the nuclear terror. And i know you think that iran despite its continued denunciation of Nuclear Weapons is trying to get one how many Nuclear Weapons just israel have you know that israel has a long historical position that we will not be the 1st to introduce Nuclear Weapons to the middle east and and continue. To hold but i dont think that you can compare israel to you ron or to any other country certainly not when israel has not threatened anybody and is not planning to destroy any any nation but when the iranians are plenty and are saying its you dont have to take it from me just a bit one way they are plenty want to destroy the jewish state but why dont you allow moody guy vanunu the Nuclear Whistle Blower kidnapped in Leicester Square in Central London just speak to the media about israels alleged Nuclear Weapons program well he had a contract he signed like you know any. Civil servants all over whether its in the u. K. Or israel or anywhere else you have you go into a classified position and you are sworn in not to just disclose it if you disclose it you violate the law so. Any other democratic country we uphold the law and certainly we want to keep our interest and classified information away from the public like any other normal country ambassador thank you thank you after the break. Down journalist and director abby martin on her debut feature film gaza fights for freedom and its evisceration of israels alleged crimes against humanity all this and more coming up about 2 going on the ground. The tense situation in venezuela. All over the news the problem in venezuela is not that socialism has been poorly implemented but that socialism has been phased only implemented for inside venezuela things look different were going to announce sanctions against petroleum to venezuela associate. Famously have a son of a moment to. Get out of that political battle so on the path to the map of the moment the focus of the who story isnt new nixon told in Henry Kissinger to tell him that it would not be tolerated that in latin america. An alternative economic and social system could take hold and therefore the policy would be to make. The economy scream so wants to now make the economy of venezuela screed. Welcome back well in the 1st off we heard from a former israeli ambassador to the United States now we go to los angeles to talk to world famous journalist and director abby martin is debut feature gaza fights for freedom is out now warning though the join this interview some viewers may find the images disturbing abbi thanks so much for finally coming on going underground even if its a bit of a grim moment arguably in history that is your reaction to netanyahu facing trial for bribery and fraud well look i think this indictment will have absolutely no impact whatsoever on Israeli Society we have to remember that netanyahu can still win the election with an indictment looming it of course we cant forget that hes not going to indict its a war crimes right i mean he every time the indictment was limine he just kind of carpet bombs gaza in hopes that that will garner him more support but thats what he really should be indicted for and again i think the most important thing remember is this will have absolutely no impact on palestinians benny gats his counterpart what were told is the centrist a left candidate. Former i. D. F. Commander who also shared on the declaration to annex the west bank that netanyahu agreed upon and also the u. S. Is recent decision to codify recall settlements well you mention gaza there has been continuing violence a whole the injustices you and your codirector on the film the world famous antiwar army veteran have covered why choose gaza for your. Debut feature length documentary well action and of course this is one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world 2200000 People Living in an open air prison half are children so this is a relentless scene against kids and of course my government. Its providing economic political cover for this ongoing crisis where and 2028 in the u. N. Says there will be no water so it really is a dire situation and of course the great march of return which started march 30th 2800 was unlike anything that weve ever seen before in gaza 6 weeks later on may 14th. And one of the most egregious massacres of unarmed peoples in modern history israeli snipers killed 60 people on the stand. And 7 children but can that be taken seriously 2000000 people live there the u. N. Saying uninhabitable by next year in part by u. K. Backed israeli warplanes so that they couldnt even be in a film next year right i mean its absolutely horrifying action and we are running out of time the nutrition value is blocked and the fact that theyre denied basic mobility and of course electricity electricity i mean 2 to 3 hours of electricity a day and that really provided severe limitations for even transferring this but it really gave us a really stark insight on what life is really like how you know you cant freeze food you cant pump water to the rooms i know you outlined the israeli position we just spoke to former Israeli Foreign minister danny aiello on he told me Israeli Forces act in selfdefense against civilians fullest to march by hamas on the great return a much as you cover in the film very much and indeed there are embedded sharpshooters amidst the protests is your reaction. I mean i have to laugh about apps and i looked at about 12 hours of protests footage there wasnt one militant there wasnt one weapon and you can just look at the u. N. Report which is incontrovertibly proves extensive documentation of israeli war crimes were talking about over 200 people that were gunned down with israeli snipers these snipers are perched up on to help with a wide view of the demonstrations and they literally just pick people off like its target practice scores of civilians but not only that. Actual protected categories in the geneva conventions children disabled people medics the vast majority the people who were shot and gunned down standing there wrapped in a palestinian flag stand in their nets chanting National Slogans standing there filming the protest or simply standing there doing nothing at all this is all documented in the un report again completely uncontrovertible but of course they will always use this morally bankrupt argument that theyre all human shields and all willing agents for hamas it is absolutely disgusting to take away these Peoples Agency you can just look at the great march organizers themselves i mean these are unassociated with any Political Party their activists their artists their journalists and they clearly stated that their goal was nonviolent civil disobedience akin to occupy wall street to garner attention from the International Community and now pressure to draw attention to the fact that theyre still refugees 70 years later option but of course they will always say theyre all human shields right well that military definition of a human shield is literally a military person standing using a civilian as cover that is not happening at the great march and it has never happened the great march but it doesnt matter they will always use the stocking point but as you say in the film in media or in nato nations there are critics on both sides and as it israelis presents itself the is a case of self genocide here and in the film you show an israeli apologist some might say saying the telegenic lee dead are being used by the palestinians the rhetoric is and comprehensible action it really is can you imagine calling a civilian population that is just relentlessly bombed under a medieval siege controlled by the land air by the Israeli Military he was shot in the leg at the great march of return protests. Now one point he resorts to one of the only sources of income. Scavenging the destruction from israeli. Imagine calling 9 theyre committing a self genocide it is beyond comprehension how these talking points even stick without people laughing in their faces and of course netanyahu saying that their telegenic re dead they used telegenic the dead palestinian the more dead the better actually having the audacity to claim that they like to pile up dead bodies to look at on television its absolutely sick and if anyone thinks they know about gaza over the years of siege tell me about how in this film you talk about israeli permits for leaving gaza you say the survival rates for Breast Cancer full or maybe 6 percent to 30 percent in gaza and this is just in the past few years its very recent these figures exactly if you look at the World Health Organization and the u. N. Documentation you can see that israeli permits for medical travel have actually dropped dramatically over the last couple of years reaching the lowest point ever recorded in 2017 now this was before the great mark started it was already at 50 percent so it was really you have a 50 percent chance of life and death of course we know that israeli snipers target the limbs a lot of times the kneecaps and blow them out with exploding bullet or internationally banned by the way as material fills the Hollow Center the trucker points joined at the rim begin to function much like a hole saw effectively ripping through obstacles like plywood auto glass sheet rock cinderblock sheet metal and multiple layers of denim interviewees in the film allege the use of exploding bullets as you say what evidence did you see of the use of israeli poison gas sure so this has been extensively documented elsewhere as well we actually were able to attain the craziest footage that i have seen a big as it is an unidentified toxic gas as we know action. Israels one of the largest arms dealers in the world they use you know they continue to use different. Immense that they test out on gaza then they go to these arms expos and basically say Battle Tested but the and identify dogs that gas i mean ive been tear gassed several times it does not cause severe hole loose the nations suffocations and seizures already someone has died south again from the toxic gas well israel categorically denies the use of chemical weapons but certainly on the east british statement they did b. B. C. On c. N. N. On Mainstream Media channels they will be claiming that rockets being fired it sure wrought in the recent violence from gaza as its covered tell me about still wrote in your film and the history of. Our road was use used to be a town that was 100 percent palestinian and muslim called. Before the naacp. Alister means that let there actually help tided jewish settlers from British Occupation forces and so they were surprised to learn that you know 6 months to a year later. A jewish paramilitary actually expelled bands violently from their villages and this is one of 500 villages that with was ethnically cleansed and what is now called the nakba the vast majority of those residents fled to gaza as we know that was what the plan was andy classified Israeli Military documents that we obtained from the iran pop a just 6 months after israels creation Top Secret Military orders reveal their policy targeting of civilian arabs from gaza. The mission. Explosion of the arab villagers and denial of their return by demolishing their homes and to gather all the residents and deport them to gaza to burn down the villages and move. Surveying the refugees way of movement and lane mines in the routes fast forward to today and now they kind of use the pretense of terrorism but really they always used the pretense. Just been an infiltrator pain everyone in gaza the hamas militant and just justify killing and to be clear and you show an i. D. F. Tweet in the film you show that the present killing of civilians men women and children is purpose full everything was accurately measured they know where every bullet landed right and you see these israeli officials that sound like mean you are right i mean this is for american and western audience to try to condition and brainwash us that everything theyre doing is justified and everyone in palestinian you know is an animal pretty much as israeli officials admitted themselves on record in a tweet that everything was accurate measured they know where every bullet landed so the rhetoric that you hear about oh we dont mean to kill civilians oh every i know we only target people who are engaged in violence it is a complete farce we saw a leaked basically sniper video from one of the snipers nest that they shared themselves on either whatsapp or facebook back to the world god knows how many other videos like this exist of them gleefully celebrating centrally a targeted assassination at the child every single shot is authorized by actually higher so these go through multiple authorization levels before they are able to shoot well a film and one of those a story a paramedic resident in the jar ambassador danny aiello on and one hes previously said that she actually had explosives on a tell me about why you told the story of resident of the jar at the end of this feature debut i am such. That certainly a new one to me she was a true humanitarian she was the 1st female medic out at the great march of return she was interviewed by the New York Times a couple weeks before she was gunned down by israeli snipers they knew who she was they taunted her frequently you know shot warning shots at her feet so there were the stories changed a couple times on why she died right at 1st they said she died by accident and then of course the idea. Official propaganda account released a video of maliciously doctoring her giving an interview to turkish media where she says im a human shield me i save the injured and dine on the front lines and they cut her maliciously and doctored to say i resign on the car im a human shield so its absolutely beyond the pale to smear her when she was a hero she was peaceful and she was a humanitarian that the entire world should look up to as an example of what a medic should be there was no accountability there was no what home and her death just written just sneers again what they did to resign during the last moments of her life and after she died as is pretty shocking and we wanted to properly tell her story we wanted to give homage to her life and we wanted to bring the viewers with her on those last moments to really explain what it was she was doing when she was killed and how powerful her life really was the film is out now abby martin thank you thank you thats it for the show will be back on monday when we asked the u. N. About the political cultural and food crises affecting the worlds youngest nation while rich south sudan born of the lobbying of the British Government and hollywoods George Clooney until then keep in touch with social media and subscribe to going on the ground channel you chief