The Majority Report with Sam Seder 3532 - The Myth of Israel / Palestine Negotiations; Mamdani's Priorities w/ Robert Malley, Zohran Mamdani
Nov 25, 2025
Robert Malley, a conflict-resolution specialist and author, discusses his new book highlighting why the two-state solution has faltered and the enduring myths around U.S. neutrality. He shares insights on the historical contexts that perpetuate violence and the complexities of Palestinian aspirations versus Israeli security fears. Zohran Mamdani, the progressive Mayor-elect of NYC, talks about his meeting with Trump, emphasizing the importance of advocating for New Yorkers' cost-of-living issues. He outlines his focus on delivering policies that address material needs.
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Episode notes
October 7th Didn't Reset The Conflict
- The post-October 7 framing treated events as a rupture, but Robert Malley argues history shows continuity in violence and grievances.
- He says the peace process returned to longstanding patterns rather than creating a new epoch.
The U.S. Mediator Myth
- Malley identifies U.S. mediation myth as central: America often adopted the Israeli narrative and blamed Palestinians.
- He says U.S. policy frequently treated Palestinian demands as obstruction rather than legitimate claims.
Oslo Was A Mismatched Bargain
- Oslo wasn't a mutual peace pact but a mutual misunderstanding about what each side expected to get.
- Israelis saw security and limited autonomy; Palestinians expected reciprocal statehood on 1967 lines.
