Novara Live Extra: Israel’s Illegal War w/ Norman Finkelstein
Dec 7, 2023
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Renowned political scientist and activist Norman Finkelstein discusses Israel's assault on Gaza, the relationship between Hamas and Hezbollah, the use of human shields, and whether US pressure can restrain Israel's 'high-tech massacre'.
The recent Israeli assault on Gaza is not a war, but an extermination, with chaos and danger faced by Palestinians.
Israel's options may be limited due to the impact on its reputation, but the outcome of the assault remains uncertain.
Deep dives
Israel's assault on Gaza and the chaos for Palestinians
The speaker discusses the recent Israeli assault on Gaza and highlights the chaos and danger faced by Palestinians. A Guardian article reveals the disorganized and inaccessible instructions for people in Gaza to flee to safety, reminiscent of the experience of the speaker's mother during the war. The speaker emphasizes that the situation in Gaza is not a war, but an extermination. They delve into the reasons why the recent assault differs from previous ones, including the sheer bloodlust element observed, the blow to Israel's intelligence reputation, and the opportunity Israel sees to solve the Gaza question.
Israel's actions and potential constraints
The speaker acknowledges that Israel has gotten away with numerous atrocities in the past. They note that the US has the power to stop the assault and that there is increasing international and domestic pressure on Biden to intervene. However, the speaker also recognizes the tension between the US and Israeli goals, as Secretary of Defense Austin declared the US would not let Hamas win the war, while Nasrallah of Hezbollah claimed they would not let Hamas lose. The speaker suggests that Israel's options may be limited due to the impact on its reputation, but acknowledges the uncertainty surrounding the outcome.
Hamas and their capabilities
The speaker acknowledges that they are not an expert on Hamas but states that Hamas has shown a shocking military capacity during the recent assault. They refer to the experiences and motivations of the current Hamas leaders, who experienced imprisonment and the brutality of the Israeli government, as well as the support and teachings from Hezbollah. The speaker cautions against underestimating Hamas and their determination to rid their neighborhood of Israel's presence.
Arguments and responses
The speaker addresses some arguments in support of Israel's actions. They dismiss the notion of human shields as irrelevant since Israel claims that everyone in Gaza is Hamas. They also point out the indiscriminate nature of Israel's bombing based on the statistics of civilian deaths. The speaker criticizes discussions of proportionality in military strikes as absurd and morally bankrupt. They also refute the argument against a ceasefire, emphasizing that a permanent ceasefire is not realistic if it leaves the current oppressive situation and status quo in place for Palestinians.
On Novara Live this week, Michael Walker spoke to renowned political scientist and activist Norman Finkelstein about Israel’s assault on Gaza and the collapse of the ceasefire. In this extended interview, they discuss the relationship between Hamas and Hezbollah, the use of human shields, and whether US pressure can restrain Israel’s “high-tech massacre”. Subscribe to […]
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