Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi discuss moral red lines in response to absolute evil during the Israel war. They explore the impact of recent events on society, the ethical dilemma of granting Hamas immunity, managing emotional responses, and the complexity of producing evil while maintaining moral boundaries.
The dilemma of not granting Hamas immunity and the emotional complexity of risking innocent lives on both sides highlight the importance of maintaining moral credibility in the ongoing conflict.
Striking a balance between military objectives and proportionality in the use of force is a challenging task, requiring introspection, self-reflection, and ongoing dialogue to determine and uphold Israel's moral red lines.
Deep dives
The Struggle with Moral Red Lines
In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss the moral struggle and red lines in the context of the ongoing conflict. One key point is the dilemma of not granting Hamas immunity and the emotional complexity of risking innocent lives on both sides. The hosts deliberate on the importance of destroying Hamas while maintaining moral credibility and making the distinction between combatants and civilians. They acknowledge that the emotional response to the conflict has temporarily overshadowed concern for civilian casualties in Gaza, emphasizing the need for introspection and self-reflection. Moreover, they discuss the challenge of maintaining red lines in the face of a genocidal threat and the difficulty of striking a balance between military objectives and proportionality in the use of force.
The Personal and Policy Level Struggles
At a personal level, the hosts express their struggle to reconcile their desire to win the war with moral considerations. They acknowledge that just war principles still apply, even when the enemy is embedded within a civilian population. They assert the need to protect the moral integrity of the Israeli society and the importance of not losing sight of civilian lives in Gaza. They call for public conversations about moral red lines and encourage a serious examination of Israel's actions while recognizing the unique challenges posed by the Gaza conflict. The hosts propose an ongoing dialogue that accounts for the fundamental value of all human beings and explores the question of what more Israel can do while still fighting and winning this war.
Creating Space for Anguish and Determination
The hosts conclude by asserting their commitment to holding both anguish for the innocent in Gaza and determination to destroy Hamas. They emphasize that this conversation about moral red lines is essential and not anti-Israeli, highlighting the broad consensus among Israelis to win the war while also considering the ethical dimensions of their actions. The hosts stress the need for introspection and self-reflection to navigate the complex emotional and moral challenges posed by the conflict, urging the audience to engage in an ongoing dialogue to determine and uphold Israel's moral red lines.
As we enter into week two of this horrifying war, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi struggle with the question of if there are moral red lines when responding to absolute evil and if there are, how do we define them. Noting that Israelis are entering this discussion wounded, grieving, enraged, and scared, they acknowledge our need to fight the war fully while grappling with who we want to be not just who we are at this moment.