What Do You Think About This Daily Show Interview?
Last night The Daily Show with Jon Stewart aired part of an interview with Anna Baltzer, a Jewish pro-Palestinian human rights activist and author "Witness in Palestine," and Mustafa Barghouti, a Palestinian democratic leader and former candidate for the presidency of the Palestinian National Authority. The two say they represent a non-violent movement wherein Jews and Palestinians work together towards the common goal of peace, something which Barghouti related to the values of Martin Luther King Jr's struggles in America during the 1960's. "It's not an Arab issue, not a Muslim issue, it's a human issue," Barghouti stated, "Israelis will never be free unless Palestinians are also free."
During the interview one audience member was so perturbed by what Baltzer and Barghouti were saying that he felt compelled to shout "Liar!" after Barghouti said "Palestinians are struggling for liberty, we are struggling for justice. It's Palestinians who have been subjected to the longest occupation in history and a system of segregation that is totally unjust." Later on, shortly after Baltzer commented that Israel's treatment of Palestinians violates the principles of Judaism, the heckler could be heard shouting in the background - I suspect while he was being removed from the audience. (It's hard to say for sure, you can judge for yourself at the end of Part 1 of the interview.)
The entire interview can be seen on The Daily Show's website in two parts, which you can view here and here. What do you think about the interview? Do you agree or disagree with Baltzer and Barghouti? What do you think of the way Jon Stewart handled the interview?
B”H
I think it wasn’t at all bad for Jon Stewart to invite them and for them to come, but the odds are that it won’t change anything. The guests didn’t have the opportunity to get to their main points, and many of Jon’s questions were very one-sided.
On the other hand, one of Ariela’s comments are also not totally balanced. You wrote, “he was compelled to shout “Liar!”". He might have FELT that he was compelled to shout “Liar”, but I heard nothing that told me that he was compelled and not just trying to disturb the interview.
That’s life, as sad as it sometimes is.
Sei Gesund
Can never figure out why the Israelis should feel comfortable where they are when nobody insists that the Palestinians must stop threatening to push them into the sea. Another point of discomfort is that the Palestinians must publicly uphold the two-state solution. Didn’t hear any answers to theses problems in this interview but am willing to hear answers and would not need to be ejected from the audience.
I didn’t think the language I used was biased but I changed “was” to “felt” just in case anyone else got that impression. Thanks for commenting!
That’s it! Isael will never be free, as the intention of that state is to never do justice on an ocupied land, the fact that rich sionist in the USA are purchasing in East Jerusalem, is a diabolic act that should be prohibited. You can no gain VIP entrance into a country based on religion..I don’t like the expression used by Ariela: “felt compelled”, that person shouting is a simple “thugh”!
I firmly believe Judaism stands for resistance in the face of injustice, wherever and whenever this may happen, but this includes fighting against the injustice of untruth. I do not condone the behaviour of hecklers, but I understand when someone feels uncomfortable if only one side of the truth is shown, because this is another way of lying. Palestinians who are truly interested in peace and respectful relationships with Israel must be brave enough to state clearly their support for a two state solution, for the necessity of full recognition of the State of Israel, and for the need to stop not only unprovoked acts of terror and violence against the Jewish State, but also for the need to stop hateful and hate inducing discourse, which always feeds on lies and distortions of the truth, and which never countenances rationality and true tolerance.
I agree completely with what Manuel has said in the second part of his comments. I didn’t see the Daily Show and may not watch the interview on his website. However, I’ve just recently returned from the J Street Conference in Washington, which I found very exhilarating. It was so encouraging to see so many Jewish people fully committed to a two-state solution and to a “pro-peace,pro-Israel” position. Sure, there was not total agreement on all points, but the main thrust was apparent.
My concern, and that of many there, is that if an agreed upon two-state solution is not reached soon, it may be too late. And then what? A one-state result can only mean one of two things, both unthinkable to me: 1). A state which is no longer “Jewish,” and in which Jews are in the minority, which would happen; or 2). An apartheid autocratic, non-democratic Jewish state run by the minority.
This is just a one-sided presentation, and what Israelis themselves feel and want is totally neglected here.
It matters not how many concessions Israel will make, the Arabs will not be content until Israel no longer exists.
So there is not any point in pursuing a state for terror here. Let this idea die of its own weight. Israelis are prepared to move on and they will fight for their survival no matter how many talk shows and critics come to find fault and what else Israel can do for Arabs.
No one ever asks why Arabs feel so comfortable in their continuing hatred of Jews and of Israel. Why is that?