Change that your district and scrap the public broad costs of the controversial moves thats pumped in weeks of street protests. Some during the se, press freedom is one of many points being rooted. There. The vision is that the journalist here are not here to criticize the government, but theyre here to serve the government. There is this atmosphere in the society where anything you say basically can be interpreted as an attack. This is somebody must be in the city on search and see is in yeah, the attack on department is to the police shaking people in. So its like you would many wondering what will happen now, minutes to say the governments running the country as usual. And they hope that fits, they will fully recover, but what can be done to kill political decisions is unclear. So that gives you prison says the attack monks a turning point. The things may never be quite the same. Many here agree natasha butler. Ill just say refreshed his lava. As a scientists have made a discovery which could explain how the egyptian permits we build an International Team for such as says the news to be a branch of the nile river flowing by the apartment complex and visa radius radar satellite imagery. It shows that the river had disappeared. Miller, millennia erica, this discovery could explain how millions of heavy stone block, some of the materials were transported to the sides. Something archaeologist, ive been considering about for centrals, and thats for me, mccloud. You can find more information on the website id 0 dot com. Good morning whos coming up right off the we get to the. Ringback the, the us senate is points to vote on the anti semitism awareness that a bill that some say would 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, its war on gaza. Its leadership is far from presenting a united front. This board continues to grow within Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu, whose cabinet, as the government also faces discontent and protest from this rarely citizen. So what lies ahead for the countries leadership and what impact will it have on the pallets been empty . The israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu government has been called the most right wing government since the countries inception. And in the midst of israels war on gaza, which is now when its 7th month. The pool of the far right agenda has left a pronounced mark when the manner in which the war is being conducted. But these rarely public discontent 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, lo costs 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 rarely government. Lets thank you 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 threaten within the i was government, at least not at this point. It is very obvious that the guns and hes camp are the very much not satisfied with the way that that they need out has been handling the war. And they are very, very much aware of the growing public pressure to end the war. Not 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 these rarely publics, that there is actually no waiting 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, and you always very much a hostage, so to speak, in the hands of the ex, treatments in these governments. People like its about being via but to lead small plate, so it stops and in the so thats very couldnt guarantee us a reference to, but its up to the, the government. If latonya backs down from a full sledge attack on the roof, off of that seems to be approaching you, you raise an important point here. Benjamin thats in. Yeah. Whose position as Prime Minister is directly link its beholden to, hostage to, to use your language and his political alliances with the far right. People like small church and been viewed. But thats what, thats what thats he has always been good at managing those alliances and doing whats necessary to stay and offices 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 to the most difficult of surfing political circumstances. I dont think that this is the case. Any more of it 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 with the way whos been handling the the war. So, you know, at the best scenario, furniture and yeah, we are talking only to enable him to finish. Thats to me, 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 election. May i ask more . So 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 that in yahoo at the core . 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 22 co partners. I dont think that this is very relevant. The fact is, but that then yall has been promoting extreme needs all of those uh, 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 v. E ron. He has been promoting extreme anti democratic conduct against the palestinian citizens of these when there is a growing persecution. And because this, the persecution of notes on the palestinian citizens but also of jewish activities. So anybody who you know, expresses any har, reset the, whats going on, even john saw or speech in about a genocide. So to, you know, if, if this is really the person or just whos putting to go persona, 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 a present inviting, announced that he wouldnt be sending any more weapons to israel if they were going to be using a ground evasion in the rough or now of course, since that announcement biden is agreed to send other stuff to you know, oh, 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 bite 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. When critics would argue the us has been very little terrain in israel during this time. How does that impact the International Standing of israel . And there is no question that you spend these at the most difficult position i regarding its International Position since its establishment 76 years ago. There is no doubt about that. We are losing grounds not. Weve only we saw our biggest ally of the united states, but also we split our countries, we school, we have peace treaties and they are burning all of the political breaches of israel. We to forge of for rights ministers in the cabinets. How does no free dodge of for is, was International Staff to they are really searching for something fundamentally different to be a chipped through chaos through our govern armageddon. And in the time you know who it 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 hostage negotiations, and that it would bring it in to the war before the goals are completely achieved, how do you respond to this argument from nets in 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 and the shock into the rage. Thats uh, uh, the is really public salesman. Some yeah, i knew that he had to do something drastic. And i think thats in a way his thoughts that massive massacre would ease the sense of re bang. Sure. This was very much existing amongst, among these rarely 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 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 the low to absolute, the victory a allows the fall right to sink. Oh, to imagine the absolute victory as the final, the in elation 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 noir. And we thank you so much for joining me on upfront. Thank you. Back the, the anti semitism awareness act 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 8, 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 or with 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 michael since he is a contributing calling this for the forward. And we also have last treatment 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 remembrance 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 girl 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 or so that the battle or on the ice or 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 awareness 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 as well. Because according to that definition, examples, for example, if youre an organization like mine which focuses only on israel 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 you are not equally criticizing all others who are 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 and elephants, it means your anti, the welfare of every other organism, 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 j. 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 they call themselves democratic are imperfect democracies. 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 complains within american universities and against universities, it will also result funding for schools that failed to discipline or even ban events. Uh professors uh, campus groups who speak out against israel. Now jewish parents, warrens us, that were seeing and unfolding what they call maro panic, that power those 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 make space for those. There are a lot of reasons why americans choose do 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. Uh, and then the rupture of both legitimate, i would say anti israel protests and illegitimate anti semitism. And american shoes 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 American jews 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 incidents since october. This number, however, explicitly counts all palestinian solidarity activism is anti semitic. Spring opposition from the inside of the atm, you have a ppo stand for 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 r