February 3, 2025
2/3/2025 | 55m 31sVideo has Closed Captions
John Baird; Adam Boehler; Tom Malinowski; Peter Beinart
Former Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird discusses tariff negotiations between Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and Donald Trump. U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler on the U.S. citizens being wrongfully detained throughout the world. Former Congressman Tom Malinowski discusses the surprising suspension of USAID. Peter Beinart on his book "Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza."
February 3, 2025
2/3/2025 | 55m 31sVideo has Closed Captions
Former Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird discusses tariff negotiations between Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and Donald Trump. U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler on the U.S. citizens being wrongfully detained throughout the world. Former Congressman Tom Malinowski discusses the surprising suspension of USAID. Peter Beinart on his book "Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza."
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PBS and WNET, in collaboration with CNN, launched Amanpour and Company in September 2018. The series features wide-ranging, in-depth conversations with global thought leaders and cultural influencers on issues impacting the world each day, from politics, business, technology and arts, to science and sports.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> ♪ >>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO AMANPOUR.
HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP.
>>> THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN RIPPED OFF BY VIRTUALLY EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
>> SLAPS TARIFFS ON CHINA, MEXICO AND CANADA.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR AMERICA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS NORTHERN NEIGHBOR?
I WILL SPEAK TO CANADA'S FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER.
>>> HAMAS RELEASES THREE HOSTAGES.
U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR HOSTAGE AFFAIRS JOINS THE SHOW.
>>> TRUMP THREATENS TO SHUT DOWN AMERICA'S FOREIGN AID AGENCY.
WHICH COUNTRIES WILL BE IMPACTED THE MOST.
>>> ALSO AHEAD.
>> WHEN YOU FLIP VIOLENCE ON PEOPLE, THE STRUCTURAL VIOLENCE THAT HAS BEEN INFLICTED ON PALESTINIANS AND GAZA AND BEYOND, YOU MAKE EVERYONE LESS SAFE.
MICHELLE MARTIN SITS DOWN WITH JOURNALIST ABOUT HIS LATEST BOOK, BEING JEWISH AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF GAZA.
>> ♪ >>> AMANPOUR AND COMPANY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE ANDERSON FAMILY ENDOWMENT, JIM ATWOOD AND LESLIE WILLIAMS, SYLVIA A AND SIMON B PROGRAMMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM .
THE FAMILY FOUNDATION OF LAYLA AND MICKEY STRAUSS, MARK GLESSNER, THE FILAMENT FOUNDATION, THE PETER G PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COODY FUND.
PATRICIA COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, JEFFREY AND BETH ROGERS.
BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.
>>> WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM, EVERYONE.
I'M SITTING IN FOR CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR.
PRESIDENT TRUMP PUTTING AMERICA'S ECONOMY FRONT AND CENTER AND DISRUPTING THE GLOBAL FREE TRADE SEND SOME SYSTEM WHILE DOING IT.
AMERICA'S THREE BIGGEST TRADE PARTNERS FRIEND AN ALL OUT TRADE WAR WITH MEXICO, CANADA AND CHINA, WHICH COULD DENT GLOBAL GROWTH AND FUEL INFLATION, SINCE THE CONSUMERS WILL BE BEARING THE BRUNT OF THE TURFS.
TRUMP CONFIRMS THAT HE HAS REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH MEXICO TO PAUSE TERRORISTS IN EXCHANGE FOR TROOPS BEING SENT TO THE BORDER WITH THE UNITED STATES.
CANADA IS ALREADY RESPONDING WITH 25% ON U.S. GOODS WORTH $100 BILLION, INCLUDING ALCOHOL AND MOTORCYCLES.
CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER SPOKE WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP TODAY AND IS EXPECTED TO KEEP NEGOTIATING.
MY NEXT GUEST IS CANADA'S FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER WHO WAS ALSO THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF CANADA'S TREASURY BOARD BOTH UNDER CONSERVATIVE PARTY AND JOINS US FROM TORONTO.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO JOIN US.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE LATEST NEWS FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE PRESIDENT OF MEXICO AGREEING TO PAUSE TARIFFS FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH AND BOTH SIDES SAYING THAT THEY HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION FOR THE MEXICAN PRESIDENT DEPLOYING 10,000 NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS IMMEDIATELY TO THE BORDER TO ADDRESS THE TRAFFICKING OF DRUGS INTO THE UNITED STATES.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE FACT THAT THE SHE WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH UP UNTIL NOW WHAT PRIME MINISTER HAS NOT AND DELAYING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TURFS.
>> THESE TARIFFS ARE MASSIVE AND UNJUSTIFIABLE.
THEY ARE UNJUSTIFIED.
HE'S TRYING TO USE A NATIONAL SECURITY LAW FOR EPIDEMIC ECONOMIC GAIN.
THE MEXICAN PRESIDENT IS IN A STRONG POLITICAL SITUATION.
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS RESIGNED AFTER THE PARTY TOOK THEM OUT AND WE WILL HAVE A NEW PRIME MINISTER IN SHORT ORDER AND A NEW GOVERNMENT IN SHORT ORDER.
I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL TAKE THE PAUSE ON THE TARIFFS WITH CANADA, AS WELL.
99% OF GOODS FROM THE U.S. COME TARIFF FREE FROM CANADA.
UNITED STATES HAS A $50 BILLION TRADE SURPLUS WHEN YOU TAKE THE NATURAL GAS, WHICH THEY REFINED, ENRICHED IN THE U.S.
IT'S A PRESENT PRETTY DECENT TRADING RELATIONSHIP FOR BOTH COUNTRIES AND CONSUMERS.
>> IS THIS A JUSTIN TRUDEAU PROBLEM MORE THAN A LARGER SCALE ECONOMIC CONCERN BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES IF THERE WERE A CONSERVATIVE PRIME MINISTER IN OFFICE?
MEMBERS OF THE CONSERVATIVE OPPOSITION PARTY ARE ALSO STICKING TO WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER HAS SAID IS A POSITION OF NOT BUDGING AND PUTTING CANADA FIRST.
>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY, THE ADMINISTRATION HAD NO GOVERNMENT THAT COULD NOT RESPOND TO THIS AND I SUSPECT THE PRESIDENT WOULD NOT HAVE ANY RESPECT FOR A GOVERNMENT WHO DIDN'T END THERE HAS TO BE A RESPONSE.
LET'S JUST HOPE THAT WE CAN HAVE A PAUSE AND DEAL WITH A LEGITIMATE CONCERN THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND FENTANYL COMING IN FROM THE NORTHERN BORDER.
THAT IS MINUSCULE COMING FROM THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND THERE IS NO ARGUMENT THAT CANADA WILL TAKE EVERY AND ALL OPTIONS TO STOP IT, THAT IS WHAT A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND GOOD FRIEND WILL DO.
>> CAN I ASK YOU TO RESPOND TO WHAT THE ECONOMIC DIRECTOR SAID THIS MORNING ON TELEVISION?
IT SEEMS TO STOP QUITE A FEW OBSERVERS.
THESE ARE HIS WORDS, CANADA MISREAD THE EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM THE PRESIDENT.
HE SAID THIS IS A 100% DRUG FOR WAR AGAINST FENTANYL AND NOT A TRADE WAR.
THEY BETTER UNDERSTOOD THE ISSUE THAN WHAT IS AT STAKE FOR CANADA AND HOW CANADA HAS INTERPRETED THIS.
HOW DO YOU RESPOND?
AS YOU NOTED AND THIS IS DATA FROM THE USDA SAYING THAT SMUGGLING FROM CANADA LESS THAN 1% OF FENTANYL THAT COMES INTO THE UNITED STATES.
>> I THINK TRUMP HAS THE ONLY INSTRUMENT THAT HE HAS TO, WHICH IS NATIONAL SECURITY LAWS AND IS PUSHING THE LIMITS AND BOUNDARIES OF THEM.
WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN AND CANADA WILL DO EVERYTHING IT CAN TO CRACK DOWN ON FENTANYL AND ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS.
THAT IS WHAT A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND FRIEND WILL DO, SO THE COUNTRY WILL TAKE EVERY MEASURE UNDER THE GOVERNMENT AND FUTURE GOVERNMENT TO CLAMP DOWN AND ENSURE THAT WE DO EVERYTHING PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE.
>> THE PRIME MINISTER HAS ANNOUNCED THE FIRST WAVE OF RETALIATORY TARIFFS WOULD BE AND THEY SAID IT WILL TAKE EFFECT TOMORROW IF NOTHING CHANGES IN BETWEEN.
ABOUT $20 BILLION WORTH OF IMPORTS FROM THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING PRODUCTS FROM REPUBLICAN LEANING STATES, WHICH IS NOTABLE.
WHISKEY IS FROM KENTUCKY, FOR EXAMPLE.
ORANGES ARE FROM FLORIDA.
APPLIANCES FROM SOUTH CAROLINA AND MOTORCYCLES FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
WHAT IS THE STRATEGY BEHIND TARIFFS AND WHY SPECIFICALLY TARGETED STATES?
>> THAT IS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BUT THE ONTARIO PROVINCE THAT WILL START PULLING OFF CALIFORNIA WINE OFF THE SHELVES, SO IT WOULD BE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO LOOKING AT THE ACTIONS BUT LET'S HOPE SANITY CAN PREVAIL AND THAT WE CAN DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MEET THE LEGITIMATE CONCERN OF DRUGS AND ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS AND MAKE THE BORDER SAFER FOR BOTH COUNTRIES.
>> CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED?
WE HAVE SEEN TANGIBLY THE RESULTS FROM THE CONVERSATION WITH THE PRESIDENT OF MEXICO, CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM AND TRENT.
THE ISSUE WITH THE SOUTHERN BORDER IS MUCH LARGER AND DANGEROUS FOR THE UNITED STATES FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF DRUGS COMING INTO THE COUNTRY AND ILLEGAL MIGRATION.
WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE TANGIBLE ITEMS THAT CANADA CAN PERHAPS HAVE NOT YET OFFERED THE UNITED STATES AS SORT OF AN OFFRAMP GIVEN THE SUPPLY OF DRUGS COMING FROM CANADA?
WE KNOW IT'S MINIMAL AND THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL MIGRANTS ARE ALSO A FRACTION OF WHAT WE SEE FROM THE SOUTHERN BORDER.
>> I WOULD MASSIVELY REINFORCE THE BORDER AND LAND BORDER CROSSINGS AND LAND BORDERS, WHETHER IT'S WITH BORDER OFFICIALS, POLICE OFFICERS OR BRINGING MEMBERS OF CANADIAN FORCES AND WE CAN CERTAINLY CLAMP DOWN HARD ON FENTANYL LABS TO ENSURE THAT THE PRODUCT CANNOT BE EXPORTED AGAINST CANADIANS OR THE UNITED STATES.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST COCAINE BUSTS IN CANADIAN HISTORY IN RECENT WEEKS.
EVERYONE IS UPPING THEIR GAME AND DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MEET THE LEGITIMATE DEMANDS TO KEEP THE U.S.
SAFE.
>> WHAT I'M HEARING FROM YOU IS DIFFERENT AND PERHAPS UNDERSTANDABLY SO.
EXPLAIN FROM OUR VIEWERS FOR THE PRIME MINISTER AND OTHERS, LIKE WHO ARE STANDING FIRM DEFENDING CANADA SAYING THAT THIS IS A MISTAKE ON AMERICA'S PART.
WE HAVE HEARD BOOING AT SPORTS GAMES JUST OVER THE WEEKEND TO THE U.S. NATIONAL ANTHEM BEING PLAYED.
WHAT I'M HEARING FROM YOU IS THAT THERE IS MORE THAT CANADA CAN DO TO ASSUAGE THE PRESIDENT'S CONCERNS.
WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT THIS IS SHAME ON THE UNITED STATES AND THAT CANADA DID NOTHING WRONG HERE.
>> LISTEN, I THINK THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA HAS BEEN BLUNT AND DIRECT WITH THE ADMINISTRATION WILLING TO DO MORE AND THAT THEY WILL STEP UP THEIR ATTACK AND IMPROVE THEIR GAME AND A NEW GOVERNOR WILL DO MORE.
WE HAVE THE PRIME MINISTER LEADING OFF AND THERE IS A CONTEST INTO WHO WILL REPLACE HIM, THEN WE GET TO AN ELECTION WHERE THE PUBLIC OPINION POLLS ABOUT HAVING A NEW CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE A BETTER PARTNER NOT ONLY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP, BUT THE LOCAL LEADERS AROUND THE WORLD.
>> HOW WILL A TRADE WAR WITH THE UNITED STATES IMPACT OTHER ASPECTS OF THE RELATIONSHIP AND IMPORTUNE PARTNERSHIPS WHEN IT COMES TO INTELLIGENCE SHARING IN BOTH COUNTRIES ARE MEMBERS OF THE FIVE EYES.
GO AHEAD.
>> I TRY TO AVOID THE TARIFFS AND TRADE WAR.
CANADA CAN STEP UP ITS GAME WITH THE NATIONAL SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE.
THE GOVERNOR OF CANADA RECENTLY ORDERED 85 F-35 AIRCRAFT'S THAT WERE ALL MANUFACTURED IN THE U.S. WITH THE COST OF TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THERE'S A POLITICAL CONSENSUS THAT SUBMERGED BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP AND WE HAVE GOT TO GET TO THAT 2% AND 2% EXPEDITIOUSLY.
OUR AMBASSADOR SAID THAT THE TIMELINE THAT CANADA HAS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH AND I THINK A NEW GOVERNMENT WILL BE A GREAT PARTNER FOR THE U.S. MILITARY.
WE FOUGHT IN TWO WORLD WARS TOGETHER AND FOUGHT IN KOREA WHEN THE UNITED STATES WAS ATTACKED ON AN 11 AND SENT A LOT OF FORCES TO AFGHANISTAN.
WE TOOK A HUGE CASUALTY HIT OF 158 CANADIAN SOLDIERS WERE KILLED AND ONE DIPLOMAT WERE KILLED AND IN THE FIELDS OF AFGHANISTAN, SO WE HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN THE UNITED STATES WENT AFTER ISIS AND CANADA IS ONE OF THE ONLY COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD THAT STRIKE ISIS TOWERS AND IN IRAQ.
WE HAVE GONE A LONG-STANDING HISTORY OF COOPERATION AND THE UNITED STATES IS CANADA'S CLOSEST FRIEND AND ALLY.
WE HAVE AN INTEGRATED ECONOMY AND I THINK CANADIANS LOVE THE UNITED STATES, BUT THERE IS SIGNIFICANT DISAPPOINTMENT AND CONCERN ABOUT THE ISSUE OF TARIFFS IN RECENT DAYS.
LET'S HOPE THAT WE CAN ADDRESS ALL OF THE RECENT CONCERNS AND GET BACK TO THAT GREAT PARTNERSHIP.
THERE IS NO UNDEFENDED BORDER IN THE WORLD BETWEEN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES AND WE SHARE THE SAME VALUES AND COMMITMENT TO OPEN MARKETS AND FREE ECONOMIES.
WE ARE NATIONAL SECURITY PARTNERS AND INTELLIGENCE PARTNERS.
HOPEFULLY A NEW GOVERNMENT CAN RESTORE THE RELATIONSHIP.
THIS DEAL WAS SIGNED BY PRESIDENT REAGAN AND WAS ENHANCED WITH PRESIDENT BUSH.
OBVIOUSLY, A LOT HAS CHANGED WITH THE CURRENT AND MY MESSAGE TO AMERICA IS A BETTER LEADERSHIP TO CANADA AND ON THE HORIZON.
A NEW GOVERNMENT WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER PARTNER.
>> IT WAS FURTHER ENHANCED BY TRUMP IN HIS LAST TERM AND U.S. AND CA, AS WELL.
I WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS DEVELOPING STORY.
APPRECIATE THE TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>>> TUBULIN SCENES IN ISRAEL THIS WEEK AND AS HAMAS RELEASED THREE HOSTAGES HELD IN CAPTIVITY.
ISRAELI-AMERICAN KEITH WAS AMONG THEM.
IS WHAT HIS WIFE SAID IN NOVEMBER.
>> AFTER SO MANY MONTHS AND DAYS HAVE PASSED, MIKE HUSBAND IS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN UNDERNEATH THE GROUND AND 40 METERS UNDERNEATH THE GROUND AND JUST PRAYING THAT SOMEBODY WILL COME AND TAKE HIM AND BRING HIM HOME.
I CANNOT WAIT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
I WAS TWICE UNDERNEATH THE GROUND AND I WANT TO TELL EVERYBODY THAT IT IS WORSE THAN .
IT IS THE WORST THING THAT ANYBODY COULD GO THROUGH IN THIS WORLD.
>> THANKFULLY THOSE PRAYERS WERE FINALLY ANSWERED OVER THE WEEKEND.
>>> BEYOND ISRAEL, SIX AMERICANS RETURNED HOME FROM VENEZUELA ON SATURDAY.
U.S. CITIZENS WRONGFULLY DETAINED IN AFGHANISTAN, RUSSIA AND MANY OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.
APPOINTED SPECIAL ENVOY JOINS US FROM MIAMI.
ADAM, WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HOSTAGE RELEASE IN GAZA AND INTO ISRAEL OVER THE WEEKEND.
KEITH SIEGEL BACK IN ISRAELI SOIL AND REUNITED WITH HIS FAMILY AND WE HEARD FROM HIS WIFE WHO WAS RELEASED IN NOVEMBER 2023 AND THE FIRST HOSTAGE EXCHANGE.
I JUST SPOKE WITH HIS BROTHER WHO CAN FINALLY SAY GOOD MORNING, GOOD AFTERNOON AND GOOD EVENING, BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING GOOD ABOUT ANY OF THE TIME THAT HIS BROTHER WAS IN CAPTIVITY.
WHAT WAS THIS MOMENT LIKE FOR YOU?
>> IT'S AN UNBELIEVABLE MOMENT ANYTIME AN AMERICAN THAT IS WAS LEASED.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THE PRESIDENT WAS JUST INAUGURATED, BUT AT HIS INAUGURATION, HE HAD A NUMBER OF FAMILIES BEHIND HIM THAT WERE RELEASED AND THERE IS NOTHING BETTER.
THERE IS NOTHING WORSE TO ME THAN THINKING ABOUT AMERICANS STILL BEING HELD BY HAMAS OR ANY ORGANIZATION.
WE NEED ALL AMERICANS HOME AND CANNOT STOP UNTIL THEN.
>> SPEAKING OF AMERICANS HELD IN CAPTIVITY, WE ARE EXPECTING AT LEAST TWO MORE TO BE RELEASED AND ONE MORE IN THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS DEAL AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE HOSTAGES THAT ARE BELIEVED TO BE ALIVE AND WHAT MORE DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHEN WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE HIM RETURN?
>> YOU BETTER BE THERE AND OUT IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
I BETTER TELL YOU THAT MUCH.
I WAS JUST TALKING TO ALEXANDER'S PARENTS WHO IS SECOND PHASE BUT I DON'T FIND THAT ACCEPTABLE.
I THINK THE PRESIDENT WAS VERY CLEAR TO HAMAS THAT THERE IS TO PAY AND I THINK I MUST BETTER RUSH AND HURRY UP.
I THINK WE'VE GOT TO GET HIM BACK IMMEDIATELY AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT IT WILL BE VERY SOON.
I DON'T CARE IF EDAN ALEXANDER IS A SOLDIER , BOY, GIRL, BUT HE'S AN AMERICAN AND WE NEED ALL AMERICANS OUT RIGHT NOW.
>> THAT SPEAKS TO THE TIMELINESS OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S TRIP TO WASHINGTON, D.C. MEETING WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP TOMORROW.
WE KNOW THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS OVER PHASE TWO OF THE DEAL WERE SET TO BEGIN TODAY AND THEY HAVE BEEN PART PUT ON PAUSE FOR NOW.
WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES FOR THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP GOING INTO THIS MEETING?
>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, TO SUPPORT ISRAEL.
NO COUNTRY HAS GONE THROUGH WHAT THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH.
TO HAVE SO MANY LIVES KILLED LIKE THAT BY TARIFFS AND ISRAEL HAS GONE TO GREAT EXTENTS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE TREATED NOW THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS WHO HAVE DONE SOMETHING.
SOME OF THEM HAVE KILLED PEOPLE FOR INNOCENT CIVILIANS TAKEN.
THAT IS A VERY HARD CHOICE AND IT SHOWS THE EXTENT THAT ISRAEL WILL GO FOR THEIR PEOPLE.
NOW, THE NUMBER ONE FOCUS HAS TO BE, HOW DO WE GET EVERYONE OUT, BUT ALSO THE LONG-TERM SECURITY AND QUITE FRANKLY THAT IT'S THE SAME AS THE LONG-TERM SECURITY AS THE REGION.
THERE WILL BE NO SECURITY FOR FOLKS WHO LIVE IN GAZA OR FOR FOLKS THAT LIVE IN THE WEST BANK UNTIL A TERRORIST GROUP LIKE A MOTH IS OUT.
>> ADAM, WE KNOW THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP CAMPAIGNED ON AND REITERATES THAT HE WANTS TO SEE THE WAR COME TO AN END AND THAT HE SUPPORTS THE HOSTAGE CEASE-FIRE DEAL.
AS PHASE TWO AND NEGOTIATIONS AS I NOTED ARE SET TO BEGIN TODAY OR THIS WEEK, THERE IS CONCERN, AS YOU KNOW, AMONG AMERICANS AND ISRAELIS THAT THE PRIME MINISTER WILL TRY TO CONVINCE PRESIDENT TRUMP NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PHASE TWO OR AT LEAST TO DELAY THAT IF FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN FOR HIS OWN POLITICAL SURVIVAL AND THERE IS A LOT OF PRESSURE FROM FAR RIGHT MEMBERS OF HIS OWN COALITION THAT HAVE THREATENED TO LEAVE THE GOVERNMENT IF ISRAEL ISN'T ALLOWED TO RETURN TO GAZA AND CONTINUE FIGHTING.
NETANYAHU COMES TO WASHINGTON TO KILL TRUMP'S GAZA DEAL.
WILL THE PRESIDENT LET HIM?
ASKING YOU THIS QUESTION.
WILL THE PRESIDENT LET HIM ATTEMPT TO KILL THE DEAL?
>> THIS IS WHAT I KNOW.
HE KEEPS HIS WORD AND HE IS THE TOUGHEST GUY IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.
WHAT HE SAID IS THAT THERE WOULD BE TO PAY FOR HAMAS UNTIL ALL HOSTAGES GET OUT.
THAT IS WHAT HE SAID.
MY JOB IS TO WORK WITH HIM AND WORK WITH MARCO RUBIO AND WORK WITH OUR ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION TO DELIVER WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAYS.
I SEE NO CHANGE IN THAT VIEW ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
THERE MAY BE WAYS TO DO THAT AND I'M SURE THAT WE WILL TALK TO THE PRIME MINISTER WHO SHARES, I'M SURE, RUNNING A COUNTRY THE DESIRE TO HAVE ALL HIS PEOPLE OUT.
I THINK BY HOOK OR CROOK, THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE VERY CLEAR OF WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN RELATIVE TO HAMAS AND THOSE HOSTAGES.
>> EVEN IF THAT MEANS HAVING TOUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER?
>> I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF THE PRIME MINISTER DOESN'T ALSO VIEW IT AS AN IMPERATIVE TO HAVE HIS PEOPLE HOME AND HE JUST WENT INTO A DEAL THAT TRADED THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS THAT HAVE HURT HIS PEOPLE TO GET THEM HOME AND NOBODY HAS GIVEN MORE THAN THE ISRAELIS, BUT I DO THINK THAT IT WILL BE A SHARED OBJECTIVE.
THAT IS HOW IT WILL WORK AND HOW WE IDENTIFY THAT, BUT IT COULDN'T BE ANYTHING BUT A SHARED OBJECTIVE BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. AND PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL.
>> YOU ARE A KEY PLAYER OF NEGOTIATING DURING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FIRST ADMINISTRATION AND ONCE WE KNOW HIS NORMALIZATION DEAL BETWEEN ISRAEL AND SAUDI ARABIA AND ALSO BETWEEN THE U.S. AND SAUDI ARABIA, SEPARATE DEAL AND A SECURITY DEAL.
THAT CANNOT HAPPEN AND THIS IS FROM HIS OWN MOUTH AND WORD THAT THIS CANNOT HAPPEN UNLESS THERE IS AT LEAST THE BEGINNING OUTLINES OF A DAY AFTER PLAN FOR GAZA AND WHO WILL BE IN CHARGE AND RUNNING THE DAY-TO- DAY OPERATIONS.
WE HAVE YET TO SEE PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU AGREE TO SUCH A DEAL.
DO YOU WORRY ABOUT DIFFERENT PRIORITIES FROM THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION AND THAT OF THE PRIME MINISTER?
>> I THINK WHAT IS SHARED IS THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME ANSWER.
WHAT IS SHARED IS THAT THERE IS NOT A TERRORIST GROUP LIKE HAMAS.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS FIND AN ALTERNATIVE NO MATTER WHAT.
IF WE ARE ONE STATE, TWO STATE OR NO STATE.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN GAZA AND PEOPLE IN THE WEST BANK THAT NEED A LEADER AND COUNTERPARTY TO WORK WITH AND SOMEBODY THAT REPRESENTS THEM.
I THINK THAT WILL RESULT IN ULTIMATE SECURITY.
FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, I AGREE COMPLETELY.
LET'S THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE SOME DAY AFTER IN MY OPINION THAT DAY AFTER IS WHAT HAMAS IS NO LONGER THERE BUT WE NEED SOMEONE TO ACTUALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT WE DO FOR THE PEOPLE.
I AGREE AND I THINK EVERYONE AGREES.
I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYBODY THAT LIKES TO SEE SUFFERING OF PEOPLE.
WE ARE ALL PEOPLE.
THE REALITY HERE IS THAT HAMAS GREETED THE SITUATION.
WE ARE GOING TO ELIMINATE IT THROUGH ELIMINATING HAMAS AND WE WILL FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
EVERYBODY IS THINKING TO THAT.
>> LET ME TURN TO UNDER OTHER DEVELOPMENTS.
SIX AMERICANS WHO WERE DETAINED IN VENEZUELA CAME HOME SATURDAY WITH THE PRESIDENT'S ENVOY FOR SPECIAL MISSIONS WRECKER NOW AND HE WROTE ON TRUTH SOCIAL THAT HE WAS HAPPY TO HAVE AMERICANS BACK HOME AND WENT ON TO SAY A VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT VENEZUELA HAS AGREED TO RECEIVE BACK INTO THE COUNTRY ALL VENEZUELA IN THE ILLEGAL ALIENS ENCAMPED IN THE UNITED STATES.
DID HE AGREE TO TAKE BACK ALL OF THOSE MIGRANTS WHO CAME TO THE U.S.
ILLEGALLY FROM VENEZUELA?
>> IF THE PRESIDENT SAID IT, THEN I BELIEVE IT.
THAT WOULD BE THE CASE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT THAT WAS A UNILATERAL RELEASE OF SIX AMERICANS.
WE SHOULD CELEBRATE THAT AND I THOUGHT IT WAS AWESOME.
I GOT THE CALL AND HEARD WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
I GOT THE CALL WHEN THEY WERE AN HOUR FROM LANDING FROM STATE DEPARTMENT OPS, WHICH IS KIND OF AN OPERATOR.
EVEN THEN, HE SAID, SIR, THEY ARE AN HOUR FROM LANDING, TO ME.
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE AND WE BOTH WERE SO EXCITED.
ME AND THE STATE OPS PERSON, BECAUSE EVERY AMERICAN IS EXCITED ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE HOME.
I THOUGHT IT WAS AWESOME.
>> IT IS QUITE A PICTURE TO SEE THE AMERICANS HAPPY ON THAT PLANE.
LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT AUSTIN WHO HAS BEEN IN SYRIA FOR ROUGHLY 12 YEARS UNACCOUNTED FOR AND ALMOST TWO MONTHS.
CAN YOU GIVE US ANY MORE DETAILS AS TO WHAT YOU KNOW AND WHAT U.S. INTELLIGENCE KNOWS ABOUT HIS WHEREABOUTS AND STATUS?
>> WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL WE GET HIM.
THERE ARE OTHERS IN SYRIA, TOO.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BROADLY, BECAUSE AMERICANS SHOULD KNOW THAT THERE ARE AMERICANS ALL OVER THE WORLD.
THERE ARE 6000 AMERICANS IN JAILS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY ARE INNOCENT, ALL OF THEM TO BE CLEAR.
SOME OF THEM HAVE COMMITTED CLEAR CRIMES, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF AMERICANS ALL OVER AND WRONGFULLY DETAINED IN COUNTRIES.
THIS IS HIS VIEW.
THERE IS A ROUTE.
YOU NEED TO UNILATERALLY RELEASE AMERICANS.
IF YOU ARE NOT, THEN YOU ARE AN ENEMY.
IF YOU HAVE AMERICANS AND WANT A DEAL, THEN WE DON'T GO.
THE UNITED STATES IS NOT UNILATERALLY HOLDING INNOCENT PEOPLE.
WE DON'T DO THAT.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED PEOPLE WRONGFULLY DETAINED TO BE LET GO, WHICH INCLUDES IN SYRIA.
IF THERE IS ANY OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN HAVE A CONVERSATION AND I THINK THERE ARE TWO OPTIONS.
OPTION ONE IS THAT YOU DO WHAT YOU SEE IN VENEZUELA WHERE SOMEONE UNILATERALLY RELEASED AMERICANS AND WE CAN CELEBRATE THAT IN THE PRESIDENT DID APPROPRIATELY.
OPTION TWO IS TO STRIKE AGAINST ISIS.
>> THE SECRETARY OF STATE THREATENED A BIG BOUNTY AND EVEN DOUBLE THAT, WHICH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR OSAMA BIN LADEN FOR WHAT ARE KNOWN TO BE AS MANY AS SEVEN AMERICAN HOSTAGES CURRENTLY HELD IN AFGHANISTAN, AS WELL.
CANNOT ASK YOU TO RESPOND GIVEN YOUR FORMAL WORK IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND WORKING AS EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT THE U.S. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION AND CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES.
YOUR RESPONSE TO WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW IN REGARDS TO USAID AND DEPARTMENTS OVER THE WEEKEND AND ELON MUSK'S INVOLVEMENT AND NOW WITH THE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY OF STATE COMING OUT CONFIRMING THAT FOR NOW IT WILL BE UNDER THE PURVIEW OF SECRETARY RUBIO.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR?
WALK US THROUGH YOUR REACTION TO THIS.
>> I THINK A LOT OF AMERICANS THINK OF USAID OF WHERE IT PROBABLY SHOULD BE, WHICH IS IF YOU THINK ABOUT FEMA IN THE UNITED STATES, AND IT ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS TO HELP PROVIDE SERVICES WHEN THINGS ARE NEEDED.
MAYBE THERE'S A HURRICANE OR TSUNAMI AND WE HELP.
USAID HAS OBVIOUSLY FROM THE COMMENTS GROWN TO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
TO BE USED AS INSTRUMENTS OF SOME THINGS THAT MAYBE THEY SHOULDN'T BE, SO WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING IS, HOLD ON.
MARCO RUBIO IS SECRETARY OF STATE AND HIS STRATEGY AND MINE IS TO APPROACH THINGS IN A UNIFIED WAY.
THE CONCEPT OF STATE BEING INVOLVED IS WHAT WE DECIDED BROADLY.
THE CONCEPT DOESN'T BOTHER ME AND IT MAY MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.
I'M NOT FULLY UP TO SPEED ON THESE THINGS AND OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE BREAKING, BUT THERE IS NOTHING I SAW THAT MADE ME THINK, THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, BUT MARCO IS VERY INVOLVED AND HE WAS ON MY BOARD AT DFC FOR EXAMPLE.
SECRETARY OF STATE, SO THERE'S ALWAYS HEAVY INVOLVEMENT IN THIS CASE, THEN THE NORMAL REPORTING AND IT MAY NOT MATTER THAT MUCH.
>> IT'S NOTABLE TO HEAR HIS PHRASING OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT IN HIS VIEW NEEDS TO REFORM AND I WOULD PROBABLY SAY THAT THERE ARE MANY THAT WOULD AGREE WITH THAT CHARACTERIZATION AS OPPOSED TO HOW ELON MUSK DESCRIBED IT AS AN APPLE WITH A WORM OR BOWL OF WORMS OR CORRUPT ORGANIZATION, SO I'M JUST ASKING YOU IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK IS WORTHY OF THE PRESIDENT AND WHO HAS VIEWED AS HIS RIGHT-HAND MAN AS IMPORTANT.
>> I CAN'T COMMENT ON WHAT HE DID OR DIDN'T SAY.
I WILL SAY THIS AND THIS IS WHAT I THINK.
AMERICANS ELECTED PRESIDENT TRUMP AND ELECTED HIM FOR A REASON.
THEY ARE TIRED OF EVERYTHING STAYING THE SAME.
WE COULD SIT HERE AND SAY THAT WE WILL SHIP THIS, BUT THINGS AREN'T HAPPENING AND THE REASON YOU SEE SO MUCH HAPPENING IS BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO HERE.
I CONGRATULATE HIM AND THAT IS WHY I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
ORDINARY AMERICANS ARE TIRED OF ELITES AND WANT CHANGE.
IF THIS IS CHANGE, THIS IS WHAT HE WAS A LET TO DO.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THE ADMINISTRATION THUS FAR IN GIVING GETTING U.S.
HOSTAGES BACK HOME AND REUNITED WITH FAMILIES.
APPRECIATE IT.
>>> WASHINGTON, D.C. HEADQUARTERS OF USAID IS UNEXPECTEDLY CLOSED TODAY AND WORKERS WERE TOLD TO STAY HOME ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE SOURCES.
THE FUNDING HAS BEEN FROZEN AND DOZENS OF EMPLOYEES WERE PUT ON LEAVE LAST WEEK.
SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO SAYS THAT HE IS NOW THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF USAID.
A FORMER CONGRESSMAN WHO ALSO SERVED IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA JOINS ME NOW FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME.
BEFORE WE GET TO WHAT WE HEARD FROM ADAM, I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE WORDS WE JUST HEARD FROM SECRETARY OF STATE RUBIO WITH REGARD TO USAID.
LET'S PLAY THE SOUND FOR YOU INTERVIEWERS.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF FUNCTIONS THAT WILL CONTINUE AND BE PART OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY, BUT IT HAS TO BE A LINE DUE TO AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY.
THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF IGNORING THAT.
THESE ARE TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
>> YOUR REACTION?
>> WHO CAN DISAGREE?
OF COURSE IT SHOULD BE SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND U.S. INTEREST AND OF COURSE ANY NEW ADMINISTRATION COMING IN HAS A RIGHT TO REVIEW WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR PRIORITIES GOING FORWARD, BUT WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS DIFFERENT AND IT'S LIKE TAKING OVER A HOSPITAL, THEN SAYING THAT WE WILL STOP GETTING MEDICINE TO THE PATIENT'S AND STILL WE FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE ARE GOING TO STOP THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO SURGERIES FOR 60 DAYS OR 90 DAYS UNTIL WE FIGURE THINGS OUT.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE IF YOU DO THAT.
SEEING MARCO RUBIO UTTER THOSE WORDS IS A LITTLE BIT SAD TO ME.
HE IS LOOKING TO ME LIKE THE WEAKEST MAN IN WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THESE DECISIONS ARE CLEARLY NOT BEING MADE BY HIM, BUT THE WHITE HOUSE.
THEY ARE BEING MADE BY ELON MUSK AND COLLEGE STUDENTS THAT HE HAS BREAKING INTO THE OFFICES OF USAID TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT SHOULD CONTINUE AND WHAT SHOULD STAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT SOME POINT MARCO RUBIO ASSERT HIMSELF AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN IT YET.
>> CAN I ASK YOU TO RESPOND TO WHAT WE SAW OVER THE WEEKEND?
ELON MUSK COMING IN AND THE TRASH TALKING OF USAID AND CALLING IT ROTTEN TO ITS CORE AND IT'S AN APPLE WITH A WORM AND FULL OF WORMS AND IT'S A CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION.
HE SAYS THAT THEY AGREED WITH HIM TO SHUT THE ORGANIZATION DOWN AND THIS WAS MONEY APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS.
WHERE IS CONGRESS IN ALL OF THIS?
ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT WE HAVE NOT HEARD MORE OUTRAGE FROM THEM IN TERMS OF THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS HERE?
>> THAT'S THE CRITICAL QUESTION.
THIS MONEY IS APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS TO AN ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED BY CONGRESS WHEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND MUSK ARE DOING IS COMPLETELY AGAINST THE LAW, BUT THE LAW DOESN'T EXIST UNTIL SOMEONE ENFORCES IT AND CONGRESS HAS TO ASSERT ITS PREROGATIVES.
>> WHERE ARE THE DEMOCRATS?
YOU WOULD THINK IN THEORY THAT REPUBLICANS -- THIS WOULD NOT BE A POLITICAL PARTISAN ISSUE, BUT ONE CAN UNDERSTAND PERHAPS WHY REPUBLICANS ARE RATHER QUIET ABOUT THIS, WHERE ARE THE DEMOCRATS?
THEY HAVE A SLIM MAJORITY.
>> THIS IS EXACTLY THE POINT.
THE HOUSE IS COMING BACK AS WE SPEAK AND THERE IS A VERY SIMPLE THING.
DEMOCRATS ALONE CAN DO THAT ABOUT NOT JUST THE SHUTDOWN OF USAID, BUT THE FUNDING FREEZES.
IN MARCH, GOVERNMENT FUNDING RUNS OUT AND REPUBLICANS WILL NEED DEMOCRATIC VOTES AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT FUNDED AND THEY WILL NEED DEMOCRATIC VOTES TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING, WHICH IS A HUGE PRIORITY OF THE PRESIDENT.
IF I WAS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, THIS WOULD BE IN CREDIBLY SIMPLE.
WE WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT GIVE YOU A SINGLE DEMOCRATIC VOTE TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT WITHOUT GUARANTEES THAT EVERY PENNY CONGRESS APPROPRIATES WILL BE SPENT AS CONGRESS.
THERE IS NO POINT IN HAVING A CONGRESS IF YOU DON'T HAVE POWER.
YOU HAVE TO USE THE POWER OF THE PRESS TO DEFEND THE POWER OF THE PURSE.
BY THE WAY, I THINK THEY WILL.
I HAVE SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF MY FORMER COLLEAGUES AND I THINK THIS IS WHERE THIS DEBATE IS HEADING.
>> WALK US THROUGH WHAT USAID DOES, WHO IT PROVIDES AID FOR AND WHY IT'S AN INTEGRAL PART OF U.S.
DIPLOMACY.
IT IS VIEWED AS A WAY OF ENGAGING WITH ALLIES AROUND THE WORLD, AS WELL AS HUMANITARIAN FACTOR.
>> WE HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE HUMANITARIAN PARTS, WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL, BECAUSE THEY KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE AND KEEP AMERICANS ALIVE.
ONE REASON WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH POLIO IN AMERICA AND A LOT OF OTHER HORRIBLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES IS THAT WE STOP THEM OVERSEAS BEFORE THEY COME HERE.
IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE HUMANITARIAN PIECE.
IF YOU CARE ABOUT MIGRATION TO THE STATES, FOR EXAMPLE.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY COST-EFFECTIVE FOR US TO BE HELPING FARMERS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR PEOPLE AND TO DEAL WITH CLIMATE SHOCKS THAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING, SO THAT HUNGRY PEOPLE DO NOT GET UP BY THE MILLIONS AND TRAVEL TO THE UNITED STATES.
IF YOU CARE ABOUT AMERICAN INFLUENCE AROUND THE WORLD, YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THINGS THAT WE DID SO SUCCESSFULLY DURING THE COLD WAR.
HELPING PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS AND SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT MEDIA AND BROADCASTING.
LEADERSHIP AND EXCHANGE PROGRAMS.
THIS IS HOW WE HAVE ATTAINED INFLUENCE IN A LOT OF PARTS OF THE WORLD.
YOU KNOW WHO KNOWS THIS?
RUSSIA AND CHINA ARE TRYING TO REPLICATE THOSE PROGRAMS THEMSELVES.
TODAY, THERE ARE MORE GRADUATE STUDENTS GOING TO SCHOOL IN CHINA FROM AFRICA THAN THERE ARE IN THE UNITED STATES, BECAUSE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY HAS BEGUN TO INVEST MASSIVELY IN THE TYPES OF THINGS WE HAVE DONE THROUGH USAID.
WHY?
THEY WILL GO BACK AND START COMPANIES THAT START -- CELL CHINESE PRODUCTS, SELF-CRITICAL MINERALS AND BUY WEAPONS FROM CHINA.
WHY WOULD WE UNILATERALLY DISARM IN THIS WAY UNLESS IT IS SOMEBODY LIKE ELON MUSK WHO GETS INFORMATION FROM CONSPIRACY ACCOUNTS ON HIS OWN WEBSITE RATHER THAN UNDERSTANDING HOW THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY WORKS.
>> CLEARLY HAS THE PRESIDENTS HERE.
$42 BILLION IN U.S. FEDERAL BUDGET SPENDING IN 2024 WITH 6.75 TRILLION AND NO ONE IS ARGUING THAT THERE AREN'T REFORMS AND I THINK THE SHOCK VALUE COMES FROM HOW THIS HAS ALL TRANSPIRED OVER THE WEEKEND IN THE LAST FEW HOURS.
LET ME GET YOU TO RESPOND TO OTHER NEWS.
A FEDERAL JUDGE SAID TODAY THAT SHE IS EXTENDING THE BLOCK ON THE PRESIDENT FREEZE ON FEDERAL GRANTS AND LOANS THAT DOMINATED HEADLINES LAST WEEK IN AN ORDER ISSUED BY THE OMB, THEN RESEND IT.
YOUR REACTION TO THESE TYPES OF POLICIES AND THE FACT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS RESCINDED THAT ORDER, BUT THE MESSAGE THAT THIS SENDS TO ORGANIZATIONS AND DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
>> THE FUNDING FREEZES ARE COMPLETELY UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND ANY JUDGE WHO TAKES ONE OF THESE WILL FIND THAT, BUT WITH THE MAGNITUDE THAT WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS ATTEMPTED, THE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE FREEZE IS NOT YET COVERED BY ANY OF THE COURT ORDERS IN PART AND THIS IS INTERESTING, BECAUSE SOME OF THE AGENCIES, HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO SUE, BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF BEING TARGETED IF THEY STICK THEIR NECKS OUT.
THAT'S A MISTAKE AND THEY NEED TO GO TO COURT COLLECTIVELY TO STOP THIS.
FINALLY, TO MY FORMER COLLEAGUES IN CONGRESS, DON'T RELY 100% ON THE COURTS.
THERE MAY BE A FIGHT THAT WILL GO ON FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS ABOUT WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE IMPOUNDMENT ACT, WHICH IS THE LAW THAT SAYS BASICALLY THE ADMINISTRATION AND EXECUTIVE HAS TO SPEND APPROPRIATED FUNDS AND TRAMPLE CHALLENGE THAT.
WHO KNOWS BUT THE SUPREME COURT WILL ULTIMATELY SAY, BUT IT SHOULDN'T MATTER.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO SAY TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, MARCO RUBIO, MUSK AND ALL OF PEOPLE.
WE WILL NOT GIVE YOU A PENNY UNLESS YOU GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL SPEND IT AS WE DIRECT.
>> TOM IN WASHINGTON, D.C., THANK YOU FOR JOINING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AS WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING, THERE IS UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE SECOND PHASE OF THE CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA AFTER NEARLY 60 MONTHS IN WAR, THE HUMANITARIAN ATTRITION REMAINS DIRE.
BELIEVES EQUALITY BETWEEN ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS IS THE ONLY WAY TO SECURE SAFETY AND PEACE FOR GOOD.
IT IS SOMETHING HE ADDRESSES IN HIS NEW BOOK, BEING JEWISH AT THE DESTRUCTION OF GAZA.
HE JOINS MICHELLE MARTIN TO DISCUSS.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR TALKING WITH US ONCE AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU.
YOU OPENED YOUR LATEST BOOK, WHICH YOU CALLED A LETTER TO A FORMER FRIEND.
IT'S HEARTBREAKING.
WOULD YOU JUST TELL US ABOUT THIS LETTER AND WHY IT IS A FORMER FRIEND?
>> MY PUBLIC VIEWS OF OPPOSITION TO THE WAR IN GAZA AND OPPOSITION TO THE IDEA OF A STATE THAT GIVES JEWS THE RIGHTS THAT PALESTINIANS DON'T HAVE IS A POPULAR VIEW IN CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY AND MANY INSTITUTIONS WHICH I SPEND MY LIFE, BECAUSE I'M AN OBSERVANT AND JEWISH INSTITUTIONS ARE STRUCTURE IN MY LIFE AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO I CARE ABOUT A GREAT DEAL WHO FEEL VERY BETRAYED BY MY VIEWS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY ARE EXPRESSED SO PUBLICLY.
PEOPLE HAVE SAID MANY TIMES, PETER, YOU ARE PUTTING MY FAMILY AT RISK.
I WANT TO WRITE THIS BOOK FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO EXPLAIN WHY I SEE THINGS SO DIFFERENTLY AND BY OUR COMMUNITY HAS GONE SO PROFOUNDLY WRONG AND WHY I BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING AND SUPPORTING IN ISRAEL'S TREATMENT OF PALESTINIANS AND DESTRUCTION OF GAZA IS NOT JUST A VIOLATION OF OUR BEST ETHICAL AND RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS, BUT ENDANGERS US.
>> THE LATEST BOOK IS TITLED, BEING JEWISH AFTER DESTRUCTION OF GAZA.
IT'S NOT BEING JEWISH AFTER OCTOBER 7th OR BEING JEWISH AFTER 1947.
WHY AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF GAZA?
WHY IS THAT THE BEGINNING POINT?
>> I THINK THE JEWISH COMMUNITY FEELS AND WRESTLES WITH THE HORROR OF OCTOBER 7.
THAT IS FOR ALL OF US ON THE PRESENT AND ONE OF THE MOST TRAUMATIC DAYS OF MY LIFE.
I KNOW PEOPLE ARE ALREADY WRESTLING WITH THE HORROR OF THAT.
WHAT LED ME TO WRITE THIS BOOK WAS SEEING SO MANY GOOD AND DECENT PEOPLE I KNOW WHO DAY AFTER DAY SOMEHOW SEEM TO BE ABLE TO BLOCK OUT THE SCREENS OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN GAZA.
I WAS LOOKING AT MY COMPUTER EVERY DAY AND HEARING FROM PEOPLE AND FAMILY IN GAZA AND EVERY DAY I WAS THINKING, I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING.
MOST OF THE BUILDINGS ARE BEING DESTROYED.
MOST OF THE SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND AGRICULTURE.
THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN BEING KILLED AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN UKRAINE AND ALMOST ANY CONFLICT IN THE 21st CENTURY AND MORE CHILD AMPUTEES THAN ANY OTHER PLACE IN MODERN HISTORY AND I LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY I LOVE AND SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE JUSTIFYING THIS.
MAYBE THEY ARE SAYING IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT ALSO IT'S ON -- NECESSARY.
THAT IS AN UNWILLINGNESS TO TRULY FACE WHAT IS BEING DONE IN OUR NAME AS JEWS.
>> HOW DID THIS START FOR YOU?
YOU HAVE A REPUTATION AS A PERSON WHO HAS LONG BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT ISRAEL'S ROLE IN THE WORLD AND THE WAY IT MANAGES ITS GOVERNMENTS OF ITS TERRITORIES AND THE STORY IT TELLS THE WORLD ABOUT ITSELF.
>> I WAS RAISED IN A FAMILY WHERE ISRAEL IS IMPORTANT IN A SENSE OF SECURITY AND THAT THERE IS A STATE AFTER THE HOLOCAUST.
MY FATHER AND GRANDFATHER AND A MEMBER HOW MUCH THEY LOVE ISRAEL.
I ALSO LOVED BEING THERE.
WHEN YOU ARE USED TO BEING THIS SMALL MINORITY AND YOU GO TO A JEWISH CIVILIZATION WHERE EVERYTHING REFLECTS YOUR IDENTITY AND CULTURE, IT'S A POWERFUL EXPERIENCE.
I HAD NO EXPERIENCE WITH WHAT THIS MEANT FOR PALESTINIANS.
IT WAS COMPLETELY OFF MY RADAR.
I'M EMBARRASSED TO SAY THAT I FIRST WENT TO SPEND TIME WITH PALESTINIANS IN THE WEST BANK TO SEE WHAT ISRAEL MEANT FOR THEM AND ON THE FIRST DAY I THOUGHT, OH MY GOODNESS, I WILL HAVE TO RETHINK SOME THINGS AND I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT REALLY MEANT FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE STATE WHERE THEY HAD NO RIGHTS AND COULDN'T BECOME CITIZENS.
THEY COULDN'T VOTE AND LIVED UNDER MILITARY LAW AND NEED PERMISSION TO TRAVEL.
IT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE WITH PALESTINIANS THAT MADE ME RETHINK WHAT IT MEANS TO ME TO TRY TO LIVE ETHICALLY.
>> DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAW LITERALLY ON THOSE FIRST DAYS THAT AWAKENED THIS?
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO CALL IT MORAL CRISIS.
>> I READ ABOUT IT IN A BOOK.
SHE HAD TWO DAUGHTERS, THEN THEY HAD A SON AND WHEN -- THE DAUGHTER STARTED CRYING HYSTERICALLY, BECAUSE IN THEIR VILLAGE, THE BOYS WOULD THROW STONES AT ISRAELI SOLDIERS AND THE ISRAELI ARMY WOULD GO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND PULLED THEM OUT OF THEIR HOMES.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO THROUGH THEM, BUT THEY KNEW THAT PROBABLY THAT FULLY COULD INFORM THE OTHER BOYS IF IT WASN'T HIM.
BECAUSE THEY LIVE UNDER MILITARY, YOU COULD BE HELD UNDER ATTENTION WITHOUT FAMILY, LAWYER OR OFTEN PHYSICALLY HARMED FOR DAYS AND I SAW THAT FEAR AND IT MADE ME REALIZE, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE UNDER CONTROL OF A STATE THAT HAS LIFE AND DEATH POWER OVER YOU, BUT NOT ACCOUNTABLE AT ALL?
YOU CAN VOTE AND DON'T LIVE UNDER THE SAME LAW AS JEWISH NEIGHBORS.
IT IS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE TO BE POWERLESS IN A STATE THAT HAS CONTROL OVER YOU AND I NEVER REALLY INTERNALIZED THAT AND I NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IMAGINE MYSELF IN THAT PLACE.
>> IT'S INTERESTING HOW YOU ARE ACTUALLY FROM SOUTH AFRICA.
HER FAMILY IS FROM SOUTH AFRICA.
I WONDER WHAT ROLE THAT PLAYED IN YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THESE THINGS.
>> AFTER I STARTED TO LEARN FROM PALESTINIANS AND READ WRITING AND GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT ISRAEL MEANT, I STARTED TO HEAR ECHOES OF WHAT I HEARD AFRICANS SAY DURING A PARTAKE.
ALMOST UNIVERSALLY WERE CONVINCED THAT IF BLACK PEOPLE GOT THE RIGHT TO VOTE, THEN THEIR LIVES WOULD BE IN GRAVE DANGER.
IT WAS CONSIDERED OBVIOUS THAT IT IS WHAT KEPT WHITE PEOPLE SAFE, BECAUSE NELSON DIDN'T BELIEVE IN NONVIOLENCE.
THE USED DISTANCE AND WERE CONSIDERED A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND BEING FUNDED BY THE SOVIET UNION.
IT LOOKED TERRIFYING TO WHITE PEOPLE, SO I KEPT THINKING, WHY ARE THOSE SOUTH AFRICANS ON?
WHY WERE WHITE PEOPLE NOT SLAUGHTERED?
WHY DID THE MILITARY WING DISBANDED AFTER THE END OF A?
I THINK WHEN PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO VOTE AND WHEN THEY CAN GET THE GOVERNMENT TO LISTEN TO THEM WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE UP ARMS, MOST PEOPLE ARE MUCH HAPPIER DOING THAT THEN HAVING TO PUT THEIR LIVES AT RISK, WHICH IS WHY YOU GIVE PEOPLE EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW, THINGS BECOME SAFER.
THAT BEGINS TO TRANSFORM THE WAY THAT I HEARD THESE DEBATES IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY THAT UNLESS YOU HAVE A STATE IN WHICH WE HAVE LEGAL SUPERIORITY, WE CAN'T BE SAFE.
>> THIS BOOK IS DIRECTED TOWARDS JEWISH PEOPLE.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU CALL THE STORY THAT JEWISH PEOPLE TELL THEMSELVES ABOUT BEING HISTORY'S PERMANENT VIRTUOUS VICTIMS.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?
>> OFTEN TIMES BECAUSE OF OUR EXTREMELY TRAUMATIC HISTORY, THERE IS A TENDENCY IN JEWISH DISCOURSE TO IMAGINE THAT THE ONLY ROLE WE PLAY AND THESE ARE THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE WORLD IS AS THE ROLE OF VICTIMS.
AFTER OCTOBER 7th, THE HORROR OF OCTOBER 7, PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY CALLED IT AND WE ARE REFERRING TO A CONTINUATION OF AN ASSAULT ON THE JEWISH EMPIRE.
THE REINCARNATION OF THESE ANTI- SEMITES FROM EUROPE A CENTURY AGO AND EVERY CREATION OF THE .
THE CONDITIONS IN ISRAEL PALISADES ARE DIFFERENT.
YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE VIOLENCE WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THAT JEWS WERE LEGALLY INFERIOR AND IT IS PALESTINIANS WHO WERE LEGALLY INFERIOR.
JEWS HAVE LEGAL'S PHARMACY OVER PALESTINIANS.
IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND THIS TERRIBLE ACT OF VIOLENCE BY HAMAS, YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO FACE THE FACT THAT PALESTINIANS LIVE WITHOUT BASIC RIGHTS.
IF YOU WOULD THAT FACT, YOU ARE BASICALLY SUGGESTING THAT PALESTINIANS ARE THE REINCARNATION OF THE JEW HATERS .
THEY ARE NOT PEOPLE IN IT OF ITSELF THAT YOU NEED TO ACTUALLY TRY TO UNDERSTAND.
>> YOU ALSO SAY -- LET'S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS A VERY DELICATE THING TO SPEAK ABOUT ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.
MANY PEOPLE DO COMPARE THE ATROCITIES OF A HEART ATTACK TO THE EVIDENCE OF THE HOLOCAUST.
TALKING ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST IS ALWAYS VERY FRAUD NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.
YOU ARGUE THAT THIS ISN'T QUITE THE RIGHT ANALOGY TO INVOKE.
WHY IS THAT?
>> AGAIN, YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE HOLOCAUST WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THE FACT THAT JEWS WERE THE SUBORDINATED CLASS FOR CENTURIES .
OCTOBER 7th IS MUCH MORE IN MY MIND LIKE AN INHUMANE BRUTAL ATTACK BY PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPRESSED.
THIS HAPPENS TRAGICALLY THROUGHOUT HISTORY.
THINK ABOUT AMERICA IN THE 19th CENTURY WHEN NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE BEEN FORCED OFF OF THEIR LAND AND CROWDED INTO SMALLER RESERVATIONS.
WHEN THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIGHT BACK, OFTENTIMES THEY DIDN'T DISTINGUISH BETWEEN CIVILIANS AND COMBATANTS.
THEY KILLED MEN AND WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN HORRIFYING WAYS, JUST LIKE HAMAS DID.
PALESTINIANS AND GAZA, THIS DOESN'T GET DISCUSSED ENOUGH.
THEY ARE NOT FROM GAZA.
THEY ARE THE DESCENDENTS OF REFUGEES FORCED OUT OF WHAT IS NOW ISRAEL.
MANY CAN SEE FROM GAZA THEIR LANDS IN WHICH THEY LIVE AND NOW THEY LIVE IN A PLACE CALLED AN OPEN AIR PRISON.
MY FRIEND TOLD ME THAT EVERYONE HE KNEW HAD CONTEMPLATED SUICIDE.
THERE IS NO HOPE FOR THEM TO HAVE A DECENT LIFE.
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE NEVER HAVE OCTOBER 7th AGAIN, GOD FORBID, THE UNDERLYING OPPRESSION.
WHEN YOU INFLICT VIOLENCE, THE STRUCTURAL VIOLENCE THAT ISRAEL HAS INFLICTED, YOU ULTIMATELY MAKE EVERYBODY LESS SAFE.
>> WHAT ARE THE POINTS YOU MAKE IN YOUR BOOK?
IS IT CRITICIZING THE WAY ISRAEL CONDUCTS ITSELF AND THE WAY ISRAEL CONDUCTS ITSELF WITHIN GAZA AND THE WEST BANK IS NOT THE SAME AS BEING ANTI- SEMITIC?
YOU CAN ACKNOWLEDGE, CAN YOU NOT, HAMAS HAS THE LAW ARE?
TERRORIST GROUPS HAVE BEEN OR ARE ANTI-SEMITIC AND WANT TO KILL JEWS?
HOW SHOULD WE THINK ABOUT THAT?
>> THE WAY I THINK ABOUT IT IS THAT PEOPLE ARE DENIED THEIR RIGHTS.
THEY RESIST THAT AND DO SO IN A RANGE OF WAYS AND SOME OF WHICH ARE ETHICAL AND HUMANE AND SOME OF WHICH ARE UNETHICAL AND HUMANE.
SOMETIMES THEY DO SO IN A SPIRIT OF A QUALITY AND RECOGNITION OF THE HUMANITY.
SOMETIMES THEY DO SO IN THE CASE OF HEZBOLLAH AND HAMAS IN AN IDEOLOGY WHICH IS ITSELF SUPREMACIST, BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE AN ISLAMIC STATE IN WHICH MUSLIMS HAVE A SUPERIOR TO CHRISTIANS AND JEWS.
THE RIGHT WAY TO RESPOND TO THIS IS THAT IF YOU WANT TO WEAKEN HAMAS AND FEED HAMAS AND HEZBOLLAH, YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT PALESTINIANS FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM IN WAYS THAT ARE ETHICAL AND CONSISTENT WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW.
IN WAYS THAT DON'T TARGET ISRAELI CIVILIANS.
WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAVE DONE, LOOK AT HOW THEY RESPOND TO PALESTINIANS APPEARING NONVIOLENT AND INTERNATIONAL COURTS ARE WHEN THEY CALL FOR BOYCOTTS IN A SPIRIT OF THE ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENT OR WHEN THEY DO NONVIOLENT MARCHES, LIKE THE GREAT MARCH OF RETURN OR WHEN THEY COLLABORATE WITH ISRAEL TO BE TRUSTED BY WORKING COOPERATIVELY WITH THE ISRAELI MILITARY AND WITH THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY DOES.
IT DEFEATS ALL OF THOSE EFFORTS.
PALESTINIANS HAVE NOT GAINED ANYTHING FROM THOSE ETHICAL NONVIOLENT STRUGGLES.
IF WE ARE HORRIFIED AND WE OPPOSE THE IDEOLOGY AND DON'T WANT A SINGLE ISRAELI JEW TO DIE, WE ARE INCUMBENT TO SUPPORT ETHICAL HUMANE NONVIOLENT PALESTINIAN RESISTANCE TO SHOW THAT THERE IS A BETTER WAY.
I FEAR THAT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND ORGANIZED JEWISH COMMUNITY HAS DONE EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE.
>> IS IT YOUR VIEW THAT MORE PEOPLE SHARE YOUR VIEW THAT ARE WILLING TO EXPRESS IT PUBLICLY AND I REMEMBER A CONVERSATION I HAD WITH A YOUNG COLLEGE STUDENT WHO IS OBSERVING LIKE YOURSELF AND DEEPLY OBSERVANT AND SAID THAT IN THE WAKE OF OCTOBER 7th SHE SAID, DIDN'T WE WANT A PLACE WHERE WE COULD BE SAFE AND FREE?
DON'T PALESTINIANS WANT THE SAME THING AND THEY WANT A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN BE SAFE AND FREE?
SHE'S HAD HER PARENTS SAID TO HER, NOW IS NOT THE TIME.
>> POLLING SHOWS THAT AMONG YOUNGER AMERICAN JEWS , HIGH PERCENTAGE OF YOUNG AMERICAN JEWS SAYING THAT THEY THINK ISRAEL IS A APARTHEID STATE.
THERE IS WHERE SHE ASKED AMERICAN JEWS IF THEY CONSIDERED -- WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A ZIONIST IF THAT MEANS THAT IS REALLY JEWS HAVE MORE RIGHTS?
MOST AMERICAN JEWS SAID NO.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PASSIONATE SUPPORTERS OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND OF THIS WAR, BUT THERE IS ALSO A FEAR THAT EXISTS IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
RABBIS KNOW IF YOU PUBLICLY CRITICIZE ISRAEL HARSHLY, YOU MAY WELL LOSE YOUR JOB OR IF YOU ARE A TEACHER AT A JEWISH SCHOOL, PEOPLE KNEW THIS VERY WELL.
PEOPLE SUPPRESS WHAT THEY SAY.
YOUNG AMERICAN JEWISH KIDS KNOW THIS, AS WELL.
THE CONSEQUENCES COULD BE VERY SEVERE.
I THINK THERE IS MUCH MORE DIVISION AND MUCH MORE DIVERSITY OF OPINION AMONG AMERICAN THAN YOU MIGHT SOMETIMES KNOW, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO EXPRESS IT.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT THAT I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THIS QUESTION OF WHO IS INDIGENOUS.
WHO ARE THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE?
ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT EMERGED IS THAT IT DESCRIBES ISRAEL AS A COLONIAL STATE AND SUGGESTS THAT THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAME FROM SOMEPLACE ELSE AND PLANTED THEMSELVES ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, DISPLACED THEM, KILLED THEM ET CETERA.
OTHER PEOPLE ARGUE THAT JEWS HAVE INDIGENOUS RIGHTS.
HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?
>> MOST OF THESE THINGS CAN BE TRUE AND NOBODY NEEDS TO TELL ME THAT JEWS HAVE A DEEP AND PROFOUND ANCIENT SPIRITUAL CONNECTION .
WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, I PLAYED PRAYED AND SPOKE ABOUT DESIRE TO RETURN TO THE LAND OF ISRAEL.
IT IS VERY DEEP WITHIN OUR TRADITION.
IT IS ALSO THE CASE THAT THE ZIONIST MOVEMENT WAS CREATED IN THE LATE 19th AND EARLY 20th CENTURY WHO REFER TO THEMSELVES AS COLONISTS.
THEODORE WRITES THE SOUTHERN AFRICA THAT WE HAVE A COLONIAL PROJECT HERE AND IT'S JUST LIKE YOURS.
THE FOUNDER OF REVISION.
YAHOO'S OWN TRADITION.
IT MEANT BRINGING ATTORNEY TO THE BACK WERE PART OF THE WORLD.
IT CAN BE SETTLER COLONIAL IF PEOPLE HAVE DEEP ROOTS IN THAT PLACE.
THE ANSWER TO THAT IS TO CITE LIBERIA.
THE PEOPLE WHO COLONIZE LIBERIA WERE AND SAVED ENSLAVED BLACK AMERICANS AND THEY ALSO HAD ROOTS IN THAT PLACE, BUT WHEN THEY WENT BACK TO CREATE A STATE IN LIBERIA THEY OPPRESSED THE NATIVE POPULATION, BECAUSE THEY ALSO HAD NOTIONS OF THEM -- OF THEMSELVES AS COMING FROM A SUPERIOR SOCIETY AND WANTING TO RULE.
THESE TWO THINGS CAN BOTH BE THE CASE.
JEWS HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE EQUALLY AND SAFELY IN ISRAEL PALESTINE .
THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SUPERIORITY OVER OTHER PEOPLE.
>> WHAT IS YOUR VISION?
>> ISRAEL PALESTINE IS A BINATIONAL SOCIETY WITH TWO GROUPS THAT BOTH SEE THEMSELVES AS NATIONS THAT BOTH SPEAK A FOREIGN LANGUAGE.
THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPRESENTED IN GOVERNMENT, SO IT MIGHT BE MY NATIONAL DEMOCRACY, BUT THE PRINCIPLE I BELIEVE IS THAT WHEREVER JEWS AND THE PALESTINIANS LIVE ALONGSIDE ONE ANOTHER, THEY SHOULD LEAVE EQUALLY UNDER THE LAW.
MY HOPE AND I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL EVER SEE IT, BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT AFRICA AND THAT SOUTH AFRICAN LEGAL TEAM THAT WENT TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE AND THEY WERE WHITE PEOPLE AND BLACK PEOPLE AND INDIAN PEOPLE AND OF ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUND SAYING, LOOK AT US.
WE OVERCAME SUPREMACY AND WE ARE NOW FIGHTING FOR THAT PRINCIPAL AROUND THE WORLD OF HUMAN EQUALITY.
THAT IS MY DREAM OF WHAT WE CAN HAVE AMONG PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS.
A LEGAL TEAM OF PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI TRAN15 OVERCAME SUPREMACY AND WE LIVE TOGETHER IN QUALITY.
WHAT I ACCOMPLISH CAN BE INSPIRATION FOR THE WORLD AND I BELIEVE THE WORLD NEEDS THAT INSPIRATION TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR TALKING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S IT FOR OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT.
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What It Means to be Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza
Video has Closed Captions
Peter Beinart discusses his new book "Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza." (18m 25s)
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