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ToggleConversations About… Israel vs Palestine, Part 3/4
Today we will continue to talk about the Israel vs Palestine relationship, the war in Gaza and the Middle East.
"Conversations About…”, is a different interview format, presented in our More Afrika Channel from YouTube, where we try to talk with guests about a specific topic or theme that is on the agenda.
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This is the ninth of these conversations, and given what is currently happening between Israel and Palestine, the conversation was about the conflict in the Middle East and the risks it poses, not only for Africa, but for the rest of the world in general.
The Conversation
In this conversation, we addressed the complex dynamics between the West and Israel, highlighting the relevance of the historical and cultural relationship that underpins this support.
We discussed the West's actions toward Israel, with our guest stating that Israel is considered the "heart" of the West or "the apple of its eye." He explained that the West can be defined in three dimensions: cultural and religious (the Judeo-Christian world of Greco-Roman origins), the project of modernity (liberalism and democracy), and Christian/Protestant ethics, according to Max Weber.
Our guest argued that it is for these reasons that it is natural for the West to support Israel. He cited Shakespeare's play, "The Merchant of Venice," to explain this, highlighting the character of Shylock, the Jew, to illustrate why the West always supports Israel. He criticized the stance of unconditional support for Israel, citing a recent comment by Portugal's Minister of Foreign Affairs.
We discussed the International Tribunal's decision that stated there was a basis for pursuing the genocide charge against Israel, with our guest disagreeing, stating that the notion of genocide is complex and unclear, explaining that while legal decisions are important, the main focus should be on the lives being lost on the ground right now.
During our conversation, we discussed Brazil's role in revising international precepts and values presented by South Africa, with our guest stating that, although Brazil is an influential country, its population is generally unaware of the complexities of the Middle East and that, despite the heightened sensitivities, Brazil's influence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is limited.
Finally, we discussed the current fragmentation of the West and compared the current period with the Cold War, although, unlike the Cold War, the world today is more complex and dynamic, with many powers and sovereignties competing for influence.
The analysis concluded by reinforcing that current global issues are more complex and dangerous than those of the Cold War period and that it is important to recognize different cultural perspectives and the complexity of international issues.
In short, this conversation brought to light the complexity of Western-Israeli relations, highlighting the cultural, historical, and political influences that shape this support, as well as highlighting the humanitarian implications and the need for a deeper understanding of current international issues.
So don't miss this Conversation About... because in addition to these topics, we talked about other very interesting topics and this was just the third part of four...
Anyone who wants to delve deeper into this topic can read additional information published on our website:
Israel/Gaza: The Normalization of the Unbearable
HRW: Israel Starves Children in Gaza
South Africa Accuses Israel of Genocide
Human Rights Lie Agonizing in Gaza
Israel and the New (Now Palestinian) Apartheid
What do you think of this new series of interviews? Can you speculate on the subject and say whether the “Conversations About…” will be successful? We want to know your opinion, do not hesitate to comment and if you liked the article, share and give a “like/like”.
Picture: © 2024 Francisco Lopes-Santos
