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Israel’s far-right leaders, assisted by their allies in the U.S., have waged a year-long assault on Gaza in the name of “self-defense” after the attacks by Hamas on October 7 2023. Now Israel stands accused of genocide and war is breaking out across the region. Military conflict won’t make Jews — or any of us — more safe, so why do leaders like Benjamin Netanyahu and former U.S. president Donald Trump continue to get away with casting themselves as the “protectors” of Israel and the Jewish people? The Trump campaign is actually deeply allied with anti-semitic Christian Zionists whose investment in Israel is tied up with a belief in Biblical “End Times” when Jews convert or perish. In this report, (which was recorded before the Israeli assassination of Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon,) we turn to Ben Lorber, a Senior Analyst at Political Research Associates and co-author of the book “Safety Through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism.” Also joining us are Phyllis Bennis, Director of the New Internationalism Project and fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington D.C. and the author of several books on the United Nations and the Middle East; and Yoav Peck, an organizational psychologist, Executive Director of Solidarity of Nations and Israeli peace activist based in Jerusalem. Together we unpack the links between Christian Zionism and Jewish Zionism, look at how trauma has become a political tool, and ask, how might any of us become less vulnerable to the weaponizing of our fears, with a commentary from Laura.
“Real antisemitism is on the rise, but the problem is with all the attention being put on the false claim that criticizing Israel, demanding a ceasefire, demanding an end to genocide, standing with South Africa, asking the International Court of Justice to hold Israel accountable for genocide . Those things are not antisemitic. But if you put all your focus there, you’re not out there ending the kind of real antisemitism that comes from the Right.” – Phyllis Bennis
“It doesn’t make us any safer to empower the state, to go after protesters in this way, and as a Jew it’s, especially galling to me that it’s done in the name of Jewish safety . . . Taking away people’s speech rights, deporting people in the name of keeping me safe doesn’t keep me safe.” – Ben Lorber
“People are traumatized and retraumatized and dwelling on October 7. The media is supporting it every day . . . But October 7 is a year ago, and where we are now is a completely different place. So now we have a major educational challenge ahead of us to get people to see the link between Israel’s occupation of the Palestinians and the present situation.” – Yoav Peck
Guests
- Phyllis Bennis: Fellow, Institute for Policy Studies & Director, New Internationalism Project; International Advisor, Jewish Voice for Peace
- Ben Lorber: Senior Research Analyst, Political Research Associates; Co-Author, Safety through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism
- Yoav Peck: Organizational Psychologist; Executive Director, Achvat Amim/Solidarity of Nations
Portions of this interview are featured in our episode, “Trump, Netanyahu & the Weaponizing of Fear One Year After October 7“
