Mid-Atlantic - conversations about US, UK and world politics

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Is This a Turning Point - Rami Khoury

·1 hr 3 min·5 clips

Khoury argues the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a 100-year war, not a series of isolated attacks.

["Host Roifield Brown introduces the episode focusing on the Israeli invasion of Gaza and the threat of famine.", "Guest Rami Khoury, a journalist and academic, corrects the pronunciation of his name and recounts being in Cambridge during the October 7 attack.", "Khoury states that the attack should not surprise those familiar with the century-long conflict, which he describes as a war between the Palestinian and Jewish Zionist Israeli peoples.", "He traces the conflict's origins to the 1923 League of Nations mandate and the creation of Israel, leading to Palestinian disenfranchisement.", "Khoury explains Palestinian historical weakness in capabilities and diplomacy compared to Zionist groups.", "He notes Hamas has developed significant military proficiency, enabling the October 7 attack and resistance, which he says is shaking up diplomacy.", "Host Brown disagrees, arguing international support stems from Palestinian hopelessness and disproportionate Israeli response, not Hamas's actions.", "Khoury refuses to condemn the October 7 attack alone, insisting on applying the same standards to all attacks on civilians by both sides.", "He compares the conflict to Northern Ireland, emphasizing the need for fair assessment of both parties to reach a political resolution.", "Khoury highlights the ICJ case as historic for openly assessing accusations like occupation and genocide under international law.", "He mentions a U.S. federal judge's ruling that found plausible evidence of genocidal actions, calling it extraordinary.", "Khoury details recent U.S. moves, including Biden's executive order sanctioning Israeli settlers and Blinken's review of recognizing a Palestinian state.", "He links these shifts to Hamas's actions and growing global pressure, including from Arab American voters affecting Biden's election prospects.", "The discussion turns to Gaza's humanitarian crisis, with over half its population displaced in Rafa and widespread destruction.", "Khoury attributes initial Western inaction to Israeli public relations and later changes to fear of electoral backlash and genocide charges.", "He outlines a two-state solution with Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank, involving land swaps and a demilitarized Palestinian state.", "Khoury emphasizes reciprocity and equal rights as key, with Palestinians conceding on an army but demanding mutual security measures.", "Host Brown notes the asymmetry in concessions, with Palestinians giving up land and military capacity.", "In Q&A, Khoury addresses Hamas's potential role in negotiations, stating they are prepared to coexist with Israel if occupation ends.", "He explains U.S. pro-Israel stances due to strategic alliances, Christian fundamentalism, and historical contexts like the Holocaust.", "Khoury asserts Palestinians are capable of self-governance and that 2024 may be a turning point toward resolution.", "The episode concludes with Brown agreeing that light may be emerging for Palestinian statehood amid Western policy shifts."]

As heard by us

Rami Khoury links Gaza's famine threat to the political terms he says any Israeli-Palestinian settlement must address.

Rami Khoury frames Gaza's looming famine and the barriers around aid inspections as the starting point for a wider argument about power, resistance, and what a political settlement would have to include.

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You want to understand how Gaza's famine threat feeds into a larger argument about resistance, statelessness, and equal rights.

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