Judging Freedom Alastair Crooke : Israel's War of the Jungle.
12 snips
Sep 22, 2025 
Alastair Crooke, a former diplomat and expert in Middle East geopolitics, dives into the complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict. He highlights the symbolic nature of Palestinian state recognition amidst growing settlements and discusses how Israel's strategies are unraveling established legal norms. Crooke also addresses the shift in U.S. public opinion regarding support for Israel and critiques current political distractions, such as the focus on Bagram. Tune in for insights on the intersection of geopolitics and domestic politics.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Recognition Is Largely Symbolic
- International recognition of Palestine is mostly symbolic because 800,000 settlers block feasible statehood.
- The gesture keeps the idea of Palestine alive but cannot produce practical change without removing settlers.
European Moves Are Calculated
- European statements on Gaza are shaped by fear of losing favor with Trump and U.S. policy on Russia.
- Leaders like Starmer and Macron issue symbolic moves to balance domestic pressure and U.S. alignment.
Rules-Based Order Is Unraveling
- Crooke argues the post‑war international order is collapsing as states ignore rules and borders.
- He cites recent Israeli strikes across multiple countries as evidence of deliberate erosion of legal norms.
