The Genuinely Interested Podcast Ep 35 - Einat Wilf - The War of Return
Dr. Einat Wilf is the co-author of “The War of Return: How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace” and a leading intellectual and original thinker on matters of foreign policy, economics, education, Israel and Zionism. She was a member of the Israeli Parliament from 2010-2013, where she served as Chair of the Education Committee and member of the influential Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. She is considered one of Israel’s most articulate representatives on the international stage.
Einat's book has been making waves on the world stage, challenging many of the preconceived notions many have had about the situation in the Middle East. In an area that is more complicated than any other in the world, Einat gives the readers a clearer understanding of what the Palestinians want, and why no matter what happens, the idea of "from the river to the sea" makes it extremely difficult for peace to reign in the region.
I thoroughly enjoyed our candid and open conversation on a topic that many would rather not discuss. Einat was insightful, knowledgable, and funny - when talking about such a heavy topic. It helps to inject some humor at times. I hope more people read her book, listen to this podcast, and learn more about the less told aspects of why peace has been unattainable so far.
Einat and I discussed her book, MENA Jews, the transfer of empires to nation-states, Palestinian "refugees", UNRWA, what is happening in the UN, Israel's disastrous PR job, and much much more.
My Take - Einat really took a very complicated issue and distilled it into a single story, which is really the crux of the whole conversation. I hope this book opens people's minds, clears up misunderstandings, and makes people understand what has been the real issue all along. When you strip away the emotions, the political ideology, the theatrics of Pollywood, media bias, and religious dogma - you're really only left with the truth. Hopefully, Einat's book will clear a path to a more honest and open dialogue and maybe even in the long run, if one wants to be optimistic, peace.
Enjoy the Episode.
Comments, requests or questions, please reach out - my email is roybntz@gmail.com