Full Transcript for Israel’s Independence Day: Remembering the fallen and looking to the future

jet I would say, during the whole course of 72 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:46.639 the war, we would hear these the planes, certainly the 73 00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:49.800 fire jets going on their way to Iran or later 74 00:03:49.879 --> 00:03:53.080 on to Lebanon, and kind of a nerving. 75 00:03:53.199 --> 00:03:54.960 So we had the real thing. We didn't really need 76 00:03:55.000 --> 00:03:57.919 this practice. Same with fireworks. I think all the fireworks, 77 00:03:57.919 --> 00:03:58.240 all the. 78 00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:01.280 Fires were canceled because people, individuals may have done it, 79 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:04.879 but or were canceled. You know what struck me is 80 00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:09.199 you know the first Yo Dade Independence Day of Israel 81 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:14.080 May fifteenth, nineteen forty eight, Tel Aviv was bombed. That was, 82 00:04:14.120 --> 00:04:17.639 of course, the evening before they had they declared the 83 00:04:17.639 --> 00:04:20.639 independence of the state. David Ben Gurion and the Egyptian 84 00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:24.480 Air Force began the very next day, really the first 85 00:04:24.519 --> 00:04:29.439 independence Day, May fifteenth, to bomb the Tel Avivaria and 86 00:04:29.480 --> 00:04:33.319 they continued for a few days until the fledgling or 87 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:36.600 Israeli Air Force, which was just a few planes managed 88 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:38.759 to bomb dropped some bombs on Cairo. 89 00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:41.560 One hundred and fifty people were killed though in those bombs. 90 00:04:41.759 --> 00:04:43.879 Yes, So I guess the last few independence days, I 91 00:04:43.879 --> 00:04:48.720 think we've really felt, you know, the impact of it. 92 00:04:48.920 --> 00:04:52.560 Between October seventh war and then the June Iran War 93 00:04:53.079 --> 00:04:56.160 and the war we just went through, we really understand 94 00:04:56.160 --> 00:04:57.839 what it means to be independent and having to fight 95 00:04:57.920 --> 00:04:58.199 for it. 96 00:04:58.439 --> 00:05:02.120 But it's also kind of reminiscent although that first Independan's 97 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:06.920 Day when Israel was at war in a war situation. 98 00:05:06.800 --> 00:05:12.759 Sadly, nothing's taken, nothing much seventy eight, seventy eight years 99 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:13.240 well I get. 100 00:05:13.279 --> 00:05:15.360 I mean the good news is Israel is still here, 101 00:05:15.800 --> 00:05:18.480 and of course it does have a powerful air force. 102 00:05:18.920 --> 00:05:24.079 But yes, we're still being unfortunately bombed, and there are 103 00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:29.480 lives that are are still being lost unfortunately, and we 104 00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:31.120 are still in this state of right. 105 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:33.920 I think in my mind, anytime now, any day now, 106 00:05:33.959 --> 00:05:36.199 we could get the warning, yes Trump is going back 107 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:38.519 with the war, and then twenty four hours later we'll 108 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:39.480 be going back to the bomb show. 109 00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:42.279 Well, let's look at the cover of the Jews Post today. 110 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:45.319 Trump says a rank can call if it wants to 111 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:50.399 the reigning envoy returns to Pakistan. We don't know if 112 00:05:50.399 --> 00:05:53.800 there's going to be talks or not, just how it 113 00:05:53.959 --> 00:05:57.360 plays havoc with people. My wife had planned a trip 114 00:05:57.480 --> 00:06:01.800 to the Netherlands, which is her nate country. She wasn't 115 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:03.720 certain whether to fly because she has to get back 116 00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:07.199 for a certain reason at the end of this week. 117 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:10.759 In the end she did decide to fly because flights 118 00:06:10.959 --> 00:06:13.839 Elala is flying normally, not the other airlines, and she 119 00:06:14.040 --> 00:06:18.680 flew to the Netherlands, but at a risk that if 120 00:06:18.759 --> 00:06:24.240 the war should restart, certainly normal regular ELF flights will 121 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:27.279 again be canceled and she might be stranded in the 122 00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:31.040 Netherlands in Holland, and it would be problematic because she 123 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:34.199 has to get back, so we might have to fly 124 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:37.000 to shaw mel Schech in Egypt and make her way 125 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:39.120 back from there, or make her way to one of 126 00:06:39.160 --> 00:06:43.079 those locations in a European flight. And it really was 127 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:46.000 a lot of tension whether to take this flight. 128 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:49.319 Right. Yeah, it's interesting how the country just adapts quickly, 129 00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:52.279 Like the day after the ceasefire went into place a 130 00:06:52.279 --> 00:06:55.199 few weeks ago. It's like if the war never happened, 131 00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:57.759 you know, the streets were filled, the cafes were killed, 132 00:06:57.879 --> 00:06:59.800 the roads which were empty. A lot of the times, 133 00:07:00.120 --> 00:07:02.720 we're filled again and now we're just waiting. 134 00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:04.759 I think that's built into the Israeli character. 135 00:07:04.839 --> 00:07:07.680 David, and you touched on that when you talked about 136 00:07:08.199 --> 00:07:12.480 observing the Memorial Day and then which is a day 137 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:15.600 of morning and talking about and you talked about this 138 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:18.399 event for the hostages or with Rachel Paul to talking 139 00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:20.639 about the hostages and a sad event, and then immediately 140 00:07:20.680 --> 00:07:23.319 you go into this sort of party atmosphere. 141 00:07:23.480 --> 00:07:25.439 We can turn on a dime, turn on a dime. 142 00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:28.439 It is something that is it's

almost like a survival mechanism. 143 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:30.800 I think that Israelis have developed. 144 00:07:31.319 --> 00:07:33.040 It's now we're in a wait and see mode. I mean, 145 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:35.240 it seems like Trump does not want to go back 146 00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:35.560 to war. 147 00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:37.399 I agree with you, Well, what is your assessment. 148 00:07:37.800 --> 00:07:40.800 My assessment is he really doesn't want to go back 149 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:43.639 at war, and really it's going to take quite a 150 00:07:44.120 --> 00:07:46.720 complete Iranian in transigence, which may. 151 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:48.720 Happen, which it seems like it is happening, which. 152 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:51.399 Seems like it is there. It's almost like a game 153 00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:54.040 of chicken that the Iranians are playing. 154 00:07:53.720 --> 00:07:56.319 And Trump's couching it that there's already been a major victory, 155 00:07:56.360 --> 00:07:59.680 that the Iranian Navy, the air force, and the leadership 156 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:02.680 is decimated, So we've already won. 157 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:04.160 Regime change has happened. 158 00:08:04.839 --> 00:08:06.639 But we have to give credit to President Ship on 159 00:08:06.720 --> 00:08:10.240 one point, which at least until this point, which is 160 00:08:10.279 --> 00:08:15.439 he has insisted that the enriched uranium that the Iranians 161 00:08:15.519 --> 00:08:18.360 possess and which could be used in the making of 162 00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:22.639 a nuclear weapon, and most of it we're not sure, 163 00:08:22.680 --> 00:08:24.439 but most of it may be buried on the ground, 164 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:28.160 but retrievable and still usable, that that has to be 165 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:31.560 taken out of Iran. The question is whether he will 166 00:08:31.560 --> 00:08:35.600 stand firm on that as a condition in order to 167 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:38.919 declare a kind of victory or will he find some 168 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:41.399 guarantee who knows. 169 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:45.200 But regarding Lebanon as well, it's interesting because they just 170 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:49.279 extended the ceasefire there in single quotes by three weeks. 171 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:53.360 Maybe explained for those of our listeners not following so 172 00:08:53.399 --> 00:08:55.440 closely why you would say cease fire. 173 00:08:55.240 --> 00:08:58.799 And right because there's an official ceasefire being Israel and Lebanon. Unfortunately, 174 00:08:58.840 --> 00:09:01.519 hisbela is the one that has to be abided by 175 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:05.039 the ceasefire, and they've constantly violated it since since it's 176 00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:06.840 kind of a place. And actually a soldier was killed 177 00:09:07.159 --> 00:09:08.279 yesterday or right. 178 00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:11.559 I believe the third the third soldier since the. 179 00:09:11.960

--> 00:09:15.279 Fire fact, so I think Israel. The report today that 180 00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:18.240 Israel has made it clear to Washington that they're going 181 00:09:18.279 --> 00:09:20.120 to take the gloves off. Like so far they've been 182 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:22.919 muted in their responses since the ceasefire, but now they're 183 00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:26.240 going to go full throttle again against Isbela. So that 184 00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:28.759 you know, the question of whether what that ceasefire means 185 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:29.679 is totally unclear. 186 00:09:29.879 --> 00:09:30.039 Right. 187 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:33.639 What strikes me about the situation in Lebanon, David, is 188 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:38.519 how closely it's kind of almost paralleling the situation in 189 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:41.960 Gaza and the Gaza Strip where there is a cease 190 00:09:42.039 --> 00:09:47.440 fire again I'll put that in quotes in place there, 191 00:09:47.480 --> 00:09:49.360 and yet every week there are. 192 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:50.240 Reports of classes. 193 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:53.440 Luckily Israel has not recently had any kind of casualties, 194 00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:55.639 but they have been castors these on the Palestinian side 195 00:09:55.440 --> 00:09:59.600 on Hamas fighters who are constantly seeming just the way 196 00:09:59.639 --> 00:10:02.440 his bu is sort of testing what they can do, 197 00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:07.879 just as if his Balak continues its activities south of 198 00:10:07.879 --> 00:10:10.480 the Latani river, which Israel has the claud a sort 199 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:12.519 of noose, kind of security zone. We're not going to 200 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:15.399 allow his bullet operate in South Lebanon, and his ballack 201 00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:20.480 keeps trying to reassert itself there, testing how far Isuel 202 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:23.240 is going to go under the limits of the seasfire, 203 00:10:23.799 --> 00:10:26.279 just the way Hamas seems to be constantly testing the 204 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:29.200 idef in the in the in the Gaza strip. 205 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:33.159 Yeah right. The difference story between Gaza and Lebanon is 206 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:37.799 while idea of soldiers are at risk in Gaza versus Hamas, 207 00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:41.159 it's the residents of the north north of Israel who 208 00:10:41.159 --> 00:10:43.919 are at risk from Hisbela because they're still able to 209 00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:47.799 fire rockets and missiles into the north and as we 210 00:10:47.879 --> 00:10:49.799 know from the last few months that they have no 211 00:10:50.120 --> 00:10:52.759 warning at all. They're they've been living under a constant 212 00:10:52.759 --> 00:10:55.159 stream of sirens and having to run to shelters. And 213 00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:58.480 so until that's resolved, I don't see. 214 00:10:58.279 --> 00:11:00.000 How well you say that's resolved. 215 00:11:00.039 --> 00:11:02.759 But it's I mean, one thing that's I guess kind 216 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:04.240 of I don't know if you want to call it 217 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:07.799 concerning or not, or how you it depends on your half. 218 00:11:08.039 --> 00:11:08.759 They are half full. 219 00:11:09.559 --> 00:11:11.840 This almost seems to be developing a new into a 220 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:15.200 new status quo, which is Israel is going to maintain 221 00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:19.080 its constant occupation of half of the Gaza strip uh 222 00:11:19.159 --> 00:11:22.879 and uh and and and try to rebuild. And we 223 00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:25.399 see signs by the way of it trying to rebuild 224 00:11:25.480 --> 00:11:28.720 kind of an alternative to the Hamas government in the 225 00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:30.840 so called I think green zone is what now they're 226 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:34.320 calling it. Uh. They're they're seem to be working together 227 00:11:34.519 --> 00:11:40.679 with local militias Palestinie militias that are against Hamas and 228 00:11:40.799 --> 00:11:42.720 we don't know if they're arming them. They may well 229 00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:45.840 be the id of course, because in the past they 230 00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:48.200 have done that, and they're even trying to hold they 231 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:51.720 have the round of elections there, so I mean people 232 00:11:51.799 --> 00:11:55.080 that story got almost no play in the international media. 233 00:11:56.120 --> 00:11:58.960 Well Hamas boycott of the elections, but still there there 234 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:02.240 was and it's clearly this is Israel is trying to 235 00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:07.559 develop in one half of Gaza an alternative to Hamas 236 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:11.039 rule there. And I guess you could this is perhaps 237 00:12:11.080 --> 00:12:14.559 a strategy. You could argue that if it proves to 238 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:18.279 some degree successful or sustainable, then they're going to present 239 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:21.480 this to the Trump administration and say Okay, this is 240 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:25.600 what we're doing in our half of Gaza. Let us 241 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:30.080 now move into the rest of Gaza with the IDF 242 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:34.440 to finish off what's left of Ramas, establish a control there, 243 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:37.600 and then try to rebuild civil society in Gaza there 244 00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:42.279 until there could be an eventual a pull out or pullback. 245 00:12:42.919 --> 00:12:45.519 Right, And in Lebanon, I guess the one hopeful sign 246 00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:48.320 is that there have been direct talks between Lebanon and 247 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:50.799 Israel for the first time since nineteen eighty three, I think, 248 00:12:50.879 --> 00:12:55.399 right right, And the trumpid administration is said to work 249 00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:56.799 with the Lebanese government. 250

00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:58.679 But they've gone beyond nineteen because I don't think even 251 00:12:58.679 --> 00:13:02.320 those are the direct talks. Here we have, you know, 252 00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:05.200 closer to direct talks, and it's very significant. 253 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:09.039 And theoretically the Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Only will 254 00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:11.200 be meeting in a couple of weeks. We don't know 255 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:13.639 about it, right, but the trumpid administration has said they'll 256 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:19.039 work with the Lebanese government to marginalize Isabella. So it's 257 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:23.320 the first time there's actual anything besides the IDEF being 258 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:26.200 involved in this, which we've for the last few decades. 259 00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:28.080 And if there's I think there needs to be some 260 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:32.080 kind of international force. France should be involved, since they're 261 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:34.960 so close to Lebanon. I mean, if they want Israel 262 00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:38.360 to stop attacking Lebanon, someone has to do something about Isabella. 263 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:40.240 If it's the ideaf by itself, it's going to take 264 00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:42.440 We're going to be in the statusquo for a long time. 265 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:46.039 But if the international community gets involved, then there's a hope, right. 266 00:13:46.200 --> 00:13:49.200 We do have to say though France, on the on 267 00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:52.360 one hand, France has deployed its military, which has a 268 00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:55.679 very professional military places like Africa, for example, former French 269 00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:58.080 protectorates or colonies. 270 00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:59.639 And a couple of French soldiers who have been killed 271 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:00.919 in Lebanon by his bullets. 272 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:05.559 On the other hand, Israel's relation, this Israeli governance relations 273 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:08.919 with the French government, let's put it mildly, is not 274 00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:12.240 They're not on the best of terms. And certainly, yeah 275 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:16.360 for Prime Minister that now moving in a diplomatic direction 276 00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:22.279 with Lebanon might pose some political problems for him, you know, 277 00:14:23.399 --> 00:14:26.679 particularly for the base on his hard right who believes 278 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:30.039 that you know, the idea has to go in to 279 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:36.519 at least stay in South Lebanon and totally disarm his baller. 280 00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:40.240 That ultimately, if hisbella is disarmed by some way besides that, 281 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:41.600 then they should have no argument. 282 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:44.159 Right, it's hopefully, but that is a big that that 283 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:44.720 is a big. 284 00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:48.519 Hopefully great Israel's always had to rely on itself until. 285 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:51.000 Now, right, so there's going to be a We should mention. 286 00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:53.240 We mentioned Prime Minister that now he has some big 287 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:59.000 moves and decisions to make diplomatically in a fairly small timeframe. 288 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:02.639 Also course we should note and the other big story 289 00:15:02.679 --> 00:15:06.399 here I would say now in Israel is the beginning. 290 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:07.519 Of the election season. 291 00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:10.360 Six months ago is six months to well, yeah, six 292 00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:12.879 months ago. Let's to be clissover reviewers who don't understand 293 00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:16.000 the Israeli election system. We're parliamentary stem. There is not 294 00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:19.200 a fixed date for the next elections, but there is 295 00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:23.120 a time limit for each parliamentary government, and it has 296 00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:24.919 reached out a six month when it could happen. 297 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:27.679 Before then, it most likely will. 298 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:32.360 Happen, perhaps not one hundred percent, but it could well happen. 299 00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:36.039 Some people are talking from the even as. 300 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:36.320 Some people to June the ly. 301 00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:39.960 Some people say beginning of September could push into beginning 302 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:45.440 potentially of October, depending on how certainly basically on how 303 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:50.200 Prime Minister Netta now wants to play it. And of 304 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:53.320 course we saw another big at the first I think, 305 00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:57.039 real big saw of political maneuvering ahead of the elections. Again, 306 00:15:57.080 --> 00:16:00.000 I look at the Jewsom posts, it's on the underheadline 307 00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:06.039 Bennett and Lapede joined forces launch Together, Party Together. Just 308 00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:09.600 I think this union of Bennett and Lapede is not 309 00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:13.759 directed against Benjaminetta who directly it's not to pull votes 310 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:15.120 from Benjaminetzie. 311 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:17.919 And finally, Bennett is more I don't know if you 312 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:18.919 could call him right. 313 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:21.799 Now, and some people have been saying sent he's really 314 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:24.440 the center right, some people using the phase now the 315 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:28.039 soft right liberal or the liberal right, so he wouldn't 316 00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:29.960 likely pull votes from Benjamin. 317 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:32.519 I think it's it's it's Gottie Eisencott has been. 318 00:16:32.440 --> 00:16:35.440 Climbing in the polls and some people have been

putting 319 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:39.159 him forward, perhaps as a potential prime minister if the 320 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:42.159 block a post of Benjaminetziel should get a majority. And 321 00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:45.960 I think Bennett's union with Lapide is to reaffirm his 322 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:51.679 position as the leading candidate to be prime minister if Benjaminetta, 323 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:56.519 who support falls below the man that the level below 324 00:16:56.600 --> 00:16:59.639 sixty kinessets sixty had of one hundred and twenty. And 325 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:01.879 that's what that's what this maneuver is about. 326 00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:04.720 And I think the whole issue of right and left 327 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:07.960 in Israel has sort of become obsolete in the post 328 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:12.440 October seventh reality. I think it's now there kind of 329 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:14.720 is no left and right aside from the Democrat Party 330 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:17.240 led by year ago Lan, which is like you know, 331 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:20.319 a pro Tesday Solution and very left left wing party. 332 00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:24.359 Among the Jewish parties, there really is no left and right. 333 00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:33.400 I mean mainly it's now a decision of normal and crazy. 334 00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:33.480 Your political being. I would let me let me put 335 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:37.559 it into more neutral terms. The mandate is Benjamin Ettaw 336 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:43.039 who has been the Prime minister now for seven seventeen years. 337 00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:44.839 Right, And it's not even as much him, but but 338 00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:46.079 his coalition. 339 00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:47.680 His coalition right that I agree with you. 340 00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:50.880 By the way, it's not about even the Liqude party 341 00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:55.240 because in previous times, for example, when Bennett and Lapede 342 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:58.039 were able to form a government in the prior to 343 00:17:58.319 --> 00:18:01.920 the last election, they actually said that if the Liqud 344 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:04.119 would choose a new leader, they would be willing to 345 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:06.640 talk and have the liquor. It is a mandate on 346 00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:12.079 Benjamin Now and even more so his coalition, particularly the 347 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:15.720 support he's received from the ultra Orthodox or religious parties 348 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:19.480 Shats and United Too, Judaism, and of course the parties 349 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:22.359 of Iamar ben Vere we would call what an Israel 350 00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:26.240 now we call the far right parties, uh ben Vere 351 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:32.359 and Thats allels, small trucks, the finance minister uh And 352 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:36.319 it's a mandate on on that government. Uh and And 353 00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:41.279 I agree with you, it's not necessarily even certainly Benjamin Netting, 354 00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:42.599 I was going to want to make the issue of 355 00:18:42.599 --> 00:18:45.119 a Palestinian state the issue. 356 00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:47.960 Uhi. Well, that's it. 357 00:18:48.839 --> 00:18:53.440 They're gonna obviously Tally Bennett will want to remove that, say, 358 00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:55.319 that's not even the issue. He's going to try to 359 00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:58.599 bring up the draft of the ultra drafting the ultra Orthodox, 360 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:03.319 and also the sure of I would just say, of governance. 361 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:07.519 Benjaminets And now in recent years has run as a 362 00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:12.559 populace as saying that established me almost like Donald Trump. 363 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:14.559 I think he's positioned himself kind of as the Donald 364 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:21.920 Trump of Israel, running against the establishment, the courts, the academia, 365 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:25.079 the media, now even the securities, even the idea for 366 00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:28.519 security services, which he says has undermined him probably to 367 00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:29.400 October seventh. 368 00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:33.119 I think one area where the Bennett Lapeede block could 369 00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:38.240 do well and could lose support is the whole issue 370 00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:41.960 of reserve duty that during the last two and a 371 00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:45.960 half years, doesn't matter if you're left or right. You've 372 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:48.480 so many people have done, you know, hundreds and hundreds 373 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:52.680 of days of reserve duty, whereas the ultra Orthodox have 374 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:56.039 not due to do to the government, not for. 375 00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:58.319 How much effective. Now, I don't want to you. You 376 00:19:58.359 --> 00:20:02.000 live in a community which is I live outside of 377 00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:04.400 Jerusalem and live outside of Jerusalem. I'll just say, we'll 378 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:08.240 specify it. But it's a community that veers right and 379 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:12.720 has also a large Orthodox population. How do you read 380 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:13.200 the youth? 381 00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:17.880 So I can give you anecdotal evidence based on being 382 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:22.160 in a bomb shelter for fifty or sixty times with 383 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:25.160 all my neighbors from like four or five buildings, many 384 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:29.880 of them have been licruded. Voters are cluded voters, and 385 00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:34.759 I saw extreme dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister, a lot 386 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:36.720 of it due to the fact of the fact that 387 00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:40.440 so many of them and their children have been in 388 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:44.039 the reserves for so long, and

there's nothing happening regarding 389 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:46.880 the Orthodox draft, So I think I could lose a 390 00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:49.599 lot of support that they would choose Bennett over him, 391 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:54.839 or maybe a Vigdor Lieberman who also follows a similar. 392 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:58.319 Pattern could be problematic for Benjaminettes And now they were 393 00:20:58.359 --> 00:21:00.640 just just this week, just the last couple of days, 394 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:04.000 there has been talk of Gilad or Done, a former 395 00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:07.359 senior ly could minister who had were not even clearer 396 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:10.519 personal issues with Benjamin that's now or whatever and basically 397 00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:11.640 stepped out of the party. 398 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:13.880 All of the people in the leagu Coud who have 399 00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:16.599 issues with are possibly banding together. 400 00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:21.880 Right clach Loan, who was a former economic Minister of 401 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:25.440 Finance who left the League could and formed of his 402 00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:28.880 own party. Juliettelstein, who is still in the League could, 403 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:31.480 but he's on the outs certainly with Benjamin. That sounds 404 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:34.759 unlikely to be re elected in a primary race. And 405 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:37.720 these are figures more firmly accepted on the right than 406 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:40.880 say Polly Bennett now and they're talking about running as 407 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:44.440 a new party breakaway. They're using the term likud bet 408 00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:48.079 like the lakoud B team, and. 409 00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:50.599 They would be a natural partner for the Bennett or 410 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:55.039 Lapid team, because, like you said, if you remove Netau 411 00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:58.000 from the mix, there's not that much difference between the two. 412 00:21:58.079 --> 00:22:01.240 So this is going to be Benjaminettes. And now never 413 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:06.000 underestimate him. He is politically the most savvy politician probably 414 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:07.559 there's ever been in Israel's history. 415 00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:09.160 He has been. 416 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:14.640 He's incredibly shrewd and this is gonna be his biggest challenge. 417 00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:16.319 But we want to wish him well. 418 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:17.720 We should mention that. 419 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:22.079 He disclosed he underwent prostate cancer surgery. 420 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:23.720 No, not surgery, radiation. 421 00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:26.559 Radiation, which he's fully recovered from. I mean, it seems 422 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:28.680 like he has an amazing stamina, but no, we look 423 00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:29.079 at the man. 424 00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:31.799 He does look in good shape, but that's

been questions raised. 425 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:35.200 But he's had health issues. You wonder if that would 426 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:37.960 be impact on people. I'm not so sure that it 427 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.720 would more. 428 00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:42.960 Impact on himself it was. Does he say, you know, 429 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:45.480 I don't think I can continue, probably never, But. 430 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:49.480 I would say Donald, I look I Benjaminettes, noow, I 431 00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:52.519 you know, I've interviewed it. I've been in meetings with him. 432 00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:55.599 I think that he sees himself as being on a mission. 433 00:22:57.319 --> 00:23:02.200 I think, especially while the Iran issue is unresolved. He 434 00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:05.039 I think wants to see that to some kind of conclusion, 435 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:06.799 which I'm not sure will be by. 436 00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:09.839 Even although between these two campaigns the last June in 437 00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:15.640 this current one, he has succeeded so greatly in part 438 00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:16.079 of what he. 439 00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:17.920 Wanted to be, part of what he did, Yes and 440 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:18.519 I saw. 441 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:21.759 The question is whether he feels that's it'd be fascinating 442 00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:23.559 his most fascinating figure. 443 00:23:23.640 --> 00:23:24.000 Certainly. 444 00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:26.960 One of the main things enough Tallly Bennett said in 445 00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:29.319 his press conference last night was that one of the 446 00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:31.359 first things he would do would be to set a 447 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:35.599 limit on prime minister term for eight years. No more 448 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:37.039 lifetime prime ministers. 449 00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:38.880 You know what, David, If I had a shekel for 450 00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:41.640 every time a politician said that that they are going 451 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:45.440 to support term limits before they actually get into office, 452 00:23:45.640 --> 00:23:46.960 a couple of I would have a. 453 00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:48.839 Couple, I would have more than a couple of shekels. 454 00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:52.519 So we'll see if term limits Presidents usually do, but 455 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:56.599 prime ministers are a little different, and well if some 456 00:23:56.640 --> 00:23:59.799 countries do have it, I think Canada, for example. Perhaps 457 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:03.799 I may be mistaken there, but I believe that when 458 00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:06.359 I see but term limits maybe not a not such 459 00:24:06.359 --> 00:24:10.000 a bad thing. I want to turn focus from Israel 460 00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:17.559 now a little to the diaspora. And unfortunately, David, the 461 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:22.640 wave of however you want to define it, anti Israel, invective, 462 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:28.000 incitement or just playing anti Semitism just seems to sort 463 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:34.519 of be spreading, mutating, evolving even more to the point 464 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:37.279 to a couple of incidents. Sweetly, I think almost fear 465 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:40.599 into to the absurd. People know who read the Jews 466 00:24:40.599 --> 00:24:43.759 and posts know you also are a music aficionado. You 467 00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:49.039 cover rock pop music and still writing about them and here, 468 00:24:49.079 --> 00:24:52.200 and there's been a particular case for really, I think 469 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:54.079 in your face example. 470 00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:58.000 Yes, right, So there's a band called the Strokes who 471 00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:01.799 are start out two thousand and one and were imensely popular. 472 00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:05.839 They actually are very good and it's funny whenever, generally, 473 00:25:05.880 --> 00:25:14.200 whenever pop celebrity insults Israel or says something about Israel, 474 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:17.200 the kde jerk response of most of Israel supporters is, well, 475 00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:20.279 he's terrible anyway, who listens to him? But in this 476 00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:23.720 case they're really good. But their lead singer, Julian Casablancis, 477 00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:28.079 was interviewed on a podcast which a big podcast has 478 00:25:28.119 --> 00:25:31.799 like over a million subscribers, and he said this quote 479 00:25:31.880 --> 00:25:37.039 is here about American Zionists. American Zionists get the benefit, 480 00:25:37.480 --> 00:25:40.160 get the benefit of white privileged people, but talk like 481 00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:46.759 they're black people during slavery. So it's interesting because Julian Casablancas, 482 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:50.200 his father's John Casablancas, who was the founder of the 483 00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:55.680 Elite Modeling agency, and you know, immensely wealthy. He's passed away. 484 00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:58.200 But if anyone's privileged, I think. 485 00:25:58.359 --> 00:25:58.839 More than that. 486 00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:03.319 His father was also accused of sectionsides parties, had some 487 00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:06.200 connections apparently with Jeffrey Epstein. But I think you should 488 00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:08.680 give it more context because the Strokes as a band 489 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:10.480 that's did more than him. 490 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:13.119 Julian Casablancis make comments right right. 491 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:15.480 Last week they show they they at. 492 00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:19.440 The coach Coach maybe the most popular. 493 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:24.000 They showed a film of Guy's a hospital being bombed 494 00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:27.160 and uh in the past during the concert. During the 495 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:29.720 concert in the past, he signed the letters calling for 496 00:26:29.720 -->

00:26:33.599 boycotts of Israel. So they're like a mainstream band, not 497 00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:37.039 like Bob Villain or these other cap or kneecap Who 498 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:39.880 has anyone ever really heard of them? Besides there, which. 499 00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:42.519 Is who would just explain who these these people are? 500 00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:45.480 But there these are British hip hoppers or rappers who 501 00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:50.880 also in festivals. Last year broadcast films in England in 502 00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:55.160 England showing you know, showing Israeli quote unquote atrocities and 503 00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:59.559 and uh stating very anti Israel sentiments, and it got 504 00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:02.839 them a lot of publicity, you know. So, but the 505 00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:05.599 Strokes are a little bit different and they're popular bad right. 506 00:27:05.640 --> 00:27:08.000 I mean, they might say they past their prime. They 507 00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:10.079 came up with an album last year, but I think 508 00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:12.279 it's just like you said, indicative of how mainstream it 509 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:16.200 is now to not only to denigrate Israel, but in 510 00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:17.519 this case American Zionists. 511 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:19.279 Well, let's let's be honest. What does he mean by 512 00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:24.200 American Zionists Jews? Let's I mean he's talking about Jews here, 513 00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:27.160 and you know, if he had made a comment about 514 00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:31.279 another minority group like this, of course the blowback would 515 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:34.039 be more significant. It's he feels a comfort level that 516 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:36.119 he can say something like this against Jews. 517 00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:40.079 It's funny. One of his band members is Nick Nick Valensi, 518 00:27:40.160 --> 00:27:43.400 who's who's a Sfardi Jew, And be interesting to see 519 00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:44.240 what his reaction was. 520 00:27:44.359 --> 00:27:47.839 Well, I you know, Jews, I would I'm not going 521 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:50.759 to go into a whole thing plenty of unfortunately Jews 522 00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:53.519 have He might not be a Zionist, He's not one 523 00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:56.400 of those American Zionists. I guess, as you said, it's 524 00:27:56.480 --> 00:28:00.400 this is it's growing. This kind of invective is growing more, 525 00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:04.200 particularly and just absurd to say talk about privileged, you know, 526 00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:07.039 white people from a man who grew up in the 527 00:28:07.079 --> 00:28:08.119 hedrophones absurdity. 528 00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:09.640 I'm going to give you another. 529 00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:13.799 Example of this kind of anti Israel invecta veering into 530 00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:17.480 anti Semitic terror to the point of absurdity, which is, 531 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:20.000 you know, there has been a situation in New York City, 532 00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:22.960 my hometown of all things, which is of course the 533 00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:26.240 city that has the largest Jewish population in total in 534 00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:31.680 the world, and increasingly there have been concerns, especially with 535 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:36.240 the new mayor, Mayor Mondani, of people more openly expressing 536 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:39.839 a form of anti is Israel protest that veers into 537 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:43.880 i would say, anti Semitic territory and. 538 00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:44.519 Again to the point of absurdity. 539 00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:48.640 One group of people apparently decided the other week that 540 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:52.279 they would protest against Israel's policy and Gadza by protesting 541 00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:57.079 where outside of the Second Avenue Deli. And for those 542 00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:59.720 who don't know, I would say to the second Avenue Delis, 543 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:03.640 that's yes, yes, the Second Avey Delhi is probably the 544 00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:06.759 second most famous Delhi in all of New York City, 545 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:08.519 the most famous being kats Is Delhi. 546 00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:11.160 And it just struck me. 547 00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:15.079 Of all places that if you listen, there have been cases, 548 00:29:15.119 --> 00:29:19.079 for example, of restaurants in New York that are served 549 00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:22.839 Israeli cuisine or like falafel or homus that have been 550 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:26.759 the target of protests and more natural and even beyond that, 551 00:29:27.079 --> 00:29:30.039 you know, protests against Israeli policy, this sort of absurd 552 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:33.880 thing that that the Israelis have stolen the cuisine of 553 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:36.960 the Palestinians Homosa falafill never mind, or the Middle Eastern 554 00:29:37.039 --> 00:29:39.000 Jews that there are but. 555 00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:40.920 Practically majority in this country. 556 00:29:41.160 --> 00:29:44.440 But of all places that you would protest, if any 557 00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:49.839 place symbolizes not Israel but the diaspora jury an identity 558 00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:53.359 away from Israel, it would be the Second Avenue Delhi exactly, 559 00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:58.720 you know, of all crazy places. Well, I would say 560 00:29:58.759 --> 00:30:02.599 that this protesting the Second Avenue Deli is less of 561 00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:03.960 it's it's less about pastrami. 562 00:30:04.119 --> 00:30:06.400 Comby for more about maloney. 563 00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:10.400 And you know, there's an old saying ignorance is blints. 564 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:12.400 So you know, I just want to. 565 00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:14.359 Say, if you're in New York, if you're a New Yorker, 566 00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:18.640 or you're visiting New York, maybe make a visit of 567 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:22.920 Saladarity and go to the Second Avenue Deli and get 568 00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:28.319 yourself a nice pastrami. Stand up standard stand up for 569 00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:32.680 American Zionis Americans close privileged American Zioni is eating their 570 00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:38.200 eating their pastrami sandwiches there on Rye with mustard, no mayonnaise. 571 00:30:39.039 --> 00:30:44.279 David Brynn, thank you for joining us here. Mark Seglish 572 00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:47.240 will be back with us. We miss you, Ruth, come 573 00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:50.240 back soon, and thank you for joining us this week 574 00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:50.640 on 575 00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:51.759 The Jerusalem Dispatch