The Big Picture with Mohamed Hassan Norman Finkelstein on Israel, Zohran Mamdani and the coming class war
Jun 27, 2025
Norman Finkelstein, a renowned political scientist and scholar on Israel-Palestine, delves into provocative themes. He discusses the geopolitical fallout of the Israel-Iran conflict and critiques the legitimacy of Israel's global influence. Finkelstein highlights Zohran Mamdani's surprising election, emphasizing a shift in NYC politics towards marginalized voices. He starkly analyzes the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, questioning the moral implications of state violence and the failure of international response, while reflecting on the intersection of anti-Semitism and academic freedom.
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October 7th Changed Mainstream Debate
- October 7th shifted global legitimacy: mainstream criticism of Israel became acceptable outside elite pro-Israel circles.
- Mamdani's victory in New York exemplified that change and challenged billionaire political influence.
Mailers And A Canvassing Slip
- Finkelstein campaigned for Mamdani and received anti-Mamdani leaflets in his mailbox.
- He accidentally handed out an anti-Mamdani leaflet while canvassing, illustrating the vitriol in the race.
International Law Appears Broken
- The Israeli and US attacks marked a collapse of the UN legal order in practice, Finkelstein argues.
- He warns this creates a precedent allowing states to launch aggression with impunity.
