Thank you for an excellent episode. Fadi Quran is wise and open-minded, and he has a good heart. However strongly we may feel about our position in a political conflict, it is always important to try to see how things look to those on the other side.
The continued expansion of the settlements, and now the plan for the annexation of the West Bank, stems from Israelis' fears that they are under threat from their Arab neighbours. But are those fears justified? I would have like to hear Fadi's answer to that question.
And I agree with some on this page who suggest doing an episode with a young Israeli as a counterpoint.
The point view represented by Fadi Quran is rare, of great value and ought to be heard more often. After all what are the consequences of the settlements? Is it merely real estate? Is opposition to settlement expansion antisemitic or is it a legitimate humane concern? How is the local population affected? Without hearing the side of the Palestinians, it is impossible to have an informed opinion. It seems for every 1,000 points of view of pro Netanyahu young supporters in circulation there are very few points of view like Fadi’s ...
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Just heard this story.
Might be a novel idea to have a young pro Netanyahu Israeli (there are many, and for very good reasons) Israeli give another perspective. Just for balance, what a concept.
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“Never refined sugar, MSG, or food coloring.”
MSG is extracted from kelp, and similar “free glutamates” naturally occurring in other foods are widely accepted in the US, such as Parmesan cheese and cured ham.
But in Chinese food, it’s considered practically a poison. It’s one of many incredibly misinformed ways that Americans stigmatize Chinese food as dirty or unhealthy.
It never ceases to amaze me how these supposedly health-conscious chefs know seemingly very little about food science or nutrition.
I loved the segment "Israel's Election Through the Eyes of Young Palestinian," it is so important for Americans to hear Palestinian stories. I'm disappointed though that Michael Barbaro didn't use the word occupation. I hope that you use the word in the future, as "conflict" and "geopolitical situation" do not describe the military occupation the govt of Israel imposes on Palestinians in the West Bank.
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@Bruce Sterman
Palestinians have been oppressing Jews for centuries. In 1948, Palestinians could have declared independence. Instead, they asked for union with Jordan so when Jordanians were attacking Israel it was also Palestinians attacking Israel. The occupation is legal because Israel was attacked just as our occupation of Japan was legal because we were attacked. Unlike other occupiers (China, Russia, Morocco, Turkey) , Israel offered to end the occupation in return for a peace treaty. Israel is still waiting.
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I listened to your two podcasts this week about Israel. They were interesting but one-sided. I don’t understand how you can discuss the issues of the West Bank without mentioning the critical fact that since 1937 the Palestinians/Arabs have been offered an Arab/Palestinian State in the West Bank and Gaza 5 times, and each time the Arabs/Palestinians rejected each of those offers, made no counter-offers, and proceeded to increase their attacks on the Jews/Israel. Michael Barbaro and his guests discussed the lack of a Palestinian State as if it was solely caused by Israel. But in fact, the Palestinian leadership has repeatedly rejected all offers of a Palestinian State and respond with attacks on Israeli civilians. In 2008, the last offer, PM Olmert offered the Palestinians all of Gaza, 93.6% of the West Bank, the Arab neighborhoods of East Jerusalem, territory in Israel equivalent to 5.8 % of the West Bank, a land-link from Gaza to Jerusalem, and having international control over the holy sites in Jerusalem. Abbas rejected this great offer and had no counteroffer. To not mention this on the podcasts shows a lack of understanding of the history. Additionally, after the Israelis completely withdrew from Gaza in 2005, Hamas took control and significantly increased their rocket attacks on Israeli citizens. Israel is probably concerned the same thing would happen if they unilaterally withdraw from the WB without security guarantees. Please present the accurate history and context.
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@Dan Barish
The most recent offers of peace were never really offers of peace. The last serious attempt, which got Israel’s Crime Minister shot for trying, was to control air, water, borders, and all the high land in Palestine. That’s continuing the occupation, all be it with more land than today. And, who’s to say the Israelis would have accepted that when their real objective was to take all of Palestine at gun point?
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if your own "rulers" are cruel,inneffective,intolerant, if you dont build sewer systems,schools,hospitals, roads , eventually. the power vacuem will be filled, if your freedom involves rockets,knifes,suicide vests, then you get what you get,the palestinians would have had peace 50 years ago, if their were pals who really wanted peace, but Palestinians do not want peace, they want Israel.. you reap what you sew. india got independance from britain thrrough Non violence, try it ...
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@matt
First, your spelling is terrible. Vacuum? Really? Two words: spell check. Second, the Palestinians have wanted peace, but not at the point of a gun by an Israeli taking their land. It is now clear that the Israeli government lied for decades about wanting peace. They want land and they don’t care who stands in their way. This was never about security for Israel. If it was, why would they move their people closer to the threat? This is a brutal, illegal occupation. In the end, although not as extreme as Hitler, the Israeli government is getting closer every day.
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Israel has lied to everyone and now everyone knows. The Jewish majority in Israel clearly wants land over peace, and they will take it at the point of a gun. I can not begin to express my anger at and disappointment in US politicians who support Israel’s policy of, what can be generously characterized as, apartheid. More accurately, it is a form of evil retribution for the for what the Germans did to the Jews in WWII. Bibi is a war criminal and needs to be extradited to The Hague and be held to account in the same way recent war criminals have met their fate.
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Where is Palestine, is it on any new map,? How large of an area? I do see a very small sliver of land called Israel.
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Mr Quran's eloquent and thoughtful comments put to shame the reactionaries on both sides of this issue. Why is it so hard to see the world this way?
One of my favorite The Daily podcasts. I wish him the best and hope that his wisdom will spill over to the radicals.
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I wonder if Fadi feels like if Israel were to annex the occupied territories it would be an improvement over their everyday lives and it would force Israel to give full citizenship rights to the Palestinians giving them a voice in the democratic process and ultimately more power and control over their lives. Might it enable them to more effectively organize and participate in the democratic process and force Israel to recognize them as equal citizens?
@Amy Liebesman
That will never happen. Remember, Bibi ( the leader of the Lukiud) posted on Facebook “the Arabs are voting in droves” on the last Election Day. The story was picked up by the news organization who cut a deal with the government to air Bibi’s views?
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Rashida Talib claimed Ilham Omar's "Some people did something" quote was taken out of context. Ok, what is the full context?
I am so impressed by your Palestinian guest today. Thank you for the interview.
This is a beautiful story, there is still hope for everyone. Thank you so much, Daily team.
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Fadi Quran is amazing. Clearly he is a skilled scientist and mathematician, but he is also a clear-eyed humanitarian who in spite of his background growing up in the occupied West Bank was able to see and understand the point of view of the American Jews whom he met in California. This man has a powerful message and he communicates it extremely well.
Thank you for broadcasting his voice.
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Thank you SO MUCH for this excellent piece looking at the other side of the narrative, the one we seldom hear from.
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