October 29 at 10:28AM
Jon Stewart's Extended Interview with Anna Baltzer and Mustafa Barghouti
On last night's Daily Show, Jon Stewart interviewed Anna Baltzer and Mustafa Barghouti, a Jewish American and Palestinian, respectively. Not only did it make for a fascinating discussion of the current state of Israeli-Palestinian relations, but it also set the stage for what could be a hilarious buddy cop movie. If the segment left you wanting more, here's the online-exclusive extended version.
Part two is after the jump.
The Daily Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm / 10c.
PERMALINK:
RSS
I'll bet that interview is eating at Jon Stewart's soul. And the open forum that now he's created for anti-Israel sentiment, which inevitably turns into an open anti-Jew attitude, is simply appalling. Everyone just sit back and watch the cycle of Jewish history perpetuate.
After 60 years of opression and apartheid, finally the west are awakening about this matter;
Interviews like that , the breaking of the big media group's monopoly about news, works like "Occupation 101" (the movie documentary), books of historians like Ilan Pappe havinng help to spread light on it.
It must be remembered for over 100 years, Palestine was ruled by the British, and before them the Turks. In 1948 the British left and the UN declared Israel a State with the right to exist. Israel was then immediately attacked by all of it's Arab neighbors. Israel persevered for the first time in 200 years. Again in 1967 all of the Arab countries attached Israel from all sides. This time, in 6 days, Israel not only defended itself but conquered the territory of the Golan Height, East Jerusalem and the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Sinai. Israel made Peace with Jordan and land was split. Israel made peace with Egypt and returned the Sinai. Both of these treaties remain today. Israel knows how to make and keep the peace.
All of the Palestinians who didn't leave their homes, voluntarily, prior to the war in 1967, remains in Israel today. They vote in the elections, and have full representation in the government. They live in Israeli cities, amongst Jews and Christians and people of all faith, as Israel is a fully free and democratic society which has freedom of religion. Palastinian-Israelis walk down the street of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv just like everyone else. They are citizens in every sense.
However, the same cannot be said for the Jew walking alone in a Palestinian neighborhood.
The State of Israel will always remain a free society, with freedom of speech and freedom of religion, a place for all people to enjoy. It also allows everyone the freedom to pursue their dreams and live their lives to the fullest. The Palestinian State, which I do hope is established with a peaceful resolution, will not be a country which tolerates these same freedoms. Israel is expected to tolerate, and tolerate some more, even take back refugees and their decedents, whereas the Palestinian State will not take even 1 Jew. Tale a close look and tell try to figure out which is the real Apartheid State.
"Palestinian is a made-up anti-israeli word". Really OTA?
I can agree from your reasoning that Palestinian is a recently invested word. But it is a word used to describe an arab people living in a certain area, an area that used to be for shared by groups that now longer can see eye to eye.
Both people have a right to life, freedom, and human dignity. If they each feel they constitute their own nation, be it Jew or Arab, who are you do deny them that right?
Just because they are arabs and there are other Arab states does not preclude them from the right to have a state too, much less in a land that they have lived and died in for millenia.
The argument that there are other Arab states, but not other Jewish states, and therefore Jews deserve their own state, but not Palestinians is ludacris. Should there be one state for Slavs only? Or one state for Hindu's only? How aboute one state for people speaking Semetic languages?
No, each nation with it's own place, deserves its own state if it's people so chose. They have the right to deny you your state, and you have no right to deny them theirs.
Oh, by the way, I agree with your comment about Jews having historically lived as second hand citizens in Muslims states (Christians were too by the way). However, in many cases, "being a second hand citizen" meant little more than higher tax rates. Right to property, life, and equal protection under the law of the land were the same in many cases. Which is more than what can be said for Jews in Christian states.
Anna's point was that both peoples can and have live a society of peaceful coexistance between Arabs and Israelies.
Finally, I want to make sure you don't get me wrong. I do not necessarily agree with the gueast, and am not blaming Israel for the conflict. In fact I am probably more sympathetic to those who want to fight for that side, I just don't agree with how it is being done.
Finally, on the interview. Jon didn't seem his usuall. You can tell he does not agree with everything being said, but he either does not know enough or feel comfortable enough to contradict them on the points fully. Still thinks he deserves props for doing the interview.
Whilst we can all debate certain historical 'facts', which ultimatly are simply subjective interpretations on second source information. very few of us have had the experience of living in an occupied territory and therefore must be aware that we do not have primary soucre information.
One area of analysis is that of international law, here it becomes easier to give blame where it is required. If one looks through this perspective, we see constant and blatent breaches of international law on both sides. The only difference is that the 'state of Israel' (not its people) has been far more effective in its use of illegal tatics. In the past decade less than 500 israelies have been killed, where as several 1000 palestinians have lost their lives due to illegal measures. Israel as a recognised international state should keep to the lack instead of arguing that because they are under attack they have a linciense to defend in any way they see fit. International law does not support that veiw. I think it is important to remember that many Israeli citizens can access international travel and life comfortable enough lives that if they so choose they could leave, most palestinians cannot
Jon, you're awesome. Nuff said, love how you keep it real!
Thank you John and the tea. As an Arab Muslim American, I am so proud to see that Palestinians are finally being considered equal to Israelis, and are afforded the right to speak. I encourage you to do more of this….because humour is the best way to deal with such a long and hostility-filled issue.
Way to go Jon. I support your mature and rational decisions. And for all the people that want to say sh*t about him like hes a "self hating jew" or whatever the typical defense mechanism is, he probably is more of one then the rest of them. Because he genuinely cares about this issues and realizes oppression and humiliation of the Palestinians is NOT the way to do it.
I have much respect for you, Jon!
Jon if you read this I have to ask you what made you allow the palestinian 'informaton' ministers comments to go unchallenged when so much was a lie. He says they are 99 percent non violent? Tell that to the 1000's of dead Jewish peoples families who lost loved ones…..and even now the rockets are still being fired from Lebanon and Gaza…..rockets that come from Iran and are bought and paid for with oil money.
The middle east has hundreds of millions of muslims and only 6 million Jews they could use your help.
He lied Jon, there are still anti semitic shows on Arab TV and still the Hamas charter calls for the death of all Jewish people….why didn't you ask about that?
You shouldn't have let that go, its shocking that you are so ashamed to be Jewish that you would have the modern day Goebbles on your show and let his sugar coated lies go unchallenged.
This was a wonderful episode–so refreshing and interesting to see this perspective. I have to commend Jon.
Although, I wish I could have heard more from Anna…..
In any case, Jon Stewart has really fostered a good environment for open dialogue and perhaps even peace…..
At the end of the day, Arabs and Jews have soooooooo much in common….we even look alike!