October 15, 2023 - Steven Simon | Katherine Franke
Oct 15, 2023
auto_awesome
Middle East expert Steven Simon and law professor Katherine Franke discuss Israel's strategy to defeat Hamas, the challenges of discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on college campuses, and the current political landscape in Israel. They emphasize the need for dialogue, acknowledge suffering on both sides, and call for support to the show.
The US takes a relatively standoffish posture in the Israel-Hamas conflict, recognizing its limited influence on Israeli actions and emphasizing the complexities of managing local conflicts while balancing strategic interests in other regions.
Efforts to limit discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on university campuses through labeling criticism of Israel as anti-Semitism hinder open and respectful dialogue, narrowing the range of acceptable narratives and stifling diverse perspectives.
Deep dives
US involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict and Armenian-Azerbaijan tensions
The United States finds itself grappling with multiple challenges in the Middle East, including the Israel-Hamas conflict and potential military invasion by Azerbaijan into Armenia. Despite dispatching the Secretary of State and making public statements, the US is taking a relatively standoffish posture, recognizing the limited influence it can exert on Israeli actions. The US government recognizes the risks of becoming drawn into these conflicts while balancing its strategic interests in Ukraine and the Pacific. The situation highlights the complexities of managing local conflicts as global powers juggle their engagements.
Rising tensions on university campuses between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian students
University campuses have become arenas of clashes between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian students, resulting in the firing of some professors and criticism of administrators. Efforts led by Kenneth Marcus, former head of the Education Department's Office of Civil Rights, sought to revive Trump's executive order that labeled criticism of Israel as anti-Semitism and threatened to cut federal funds to colleges. The Trump-era approach aimed to limit discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, narrowing the range of acceptable narratives. However, it is important to foster open and respectful dialogue that allows for diverse perspectives in dealing with sensitive and complex issues on campus.
The Israeli objective to defeat Hamas militarily and the potential endgame
Israel's current objective is to defeat Hamas militarily and eliminate its leadership and military capacity. The Israeli government intends to hand off Gaza to another entity that can maintain control and prevent the resurgence of Hamas. The specifics of this endgame are unclear, but options could involve a contact group of Western countries allied with Arab countries, potentially including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar. The international community, with UN authorization, may be involved in helping to reconstitute Gaza, secure it from a Hamas resurgence, and oversee the revival of the Palestinian Authority in the war-torn region. It is a challenging task that requires careful coordination, elections, and reconstruction efforts.
The distracted US government and the challenges in Ukraine and Israel-Palestine
The US government faces significant challenges in managing both the conflict in Ukraine caused by Russian aggression and the Israel-Palestine situation. Despite the US government's ability to handle multiple issues simultaneously, the sizable military and financial support provided to Israel and Ukraine through foreign aid aids in mitigating immediate challenges. However, the US government's influence on the overall resolution of these conflicts is limited. The intricacies of the conflicts and the complexities of regional dynamics underscore the need for careful diplomacy and strategic decision-making to address these ongoing crises.
Can Israel Destroy Hamas Then Hand Over Gaza to the UN and Arab States to Rebuild and Sustain it? | Rising Tensions on Campuses Between Pro-Israel and Pro-Palestinian Students
backgroundbriefing.org/donate
twitter.com/ianmastersmedia
facebook.com/ianmastersmedia
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode