Debating Israeli-Palestinian issues on ‘The Daily Show’

[ProgressiveMuslim]

By Gil Shefler · October 29, 2009

Tension was tangible Wednesday at the taping of "The Daily Show" as host Jon Stewart interviewed guests Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti and activist Anna Baltzer.

The interview was interrupted twice by a heckler, who was eventually escorted out of the studio.

During the interview, Stewart asked Barghouti and Baltzer, who recently wrote a book based on her experience as a human rights activist in the West Bank, various questions pertaining to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"Palestinians have been subjected to the longest occupation in modern history, and a system of segregation which is totally unjust," Barghouti said.

"Liar!" a heckler shouted in the crowd in response.

"Apparently we have Joe Wilson with us tonight," Stewart said, using his famous wit to defuse the situation.

Viewers knowledgeable in Middle Eastern affairs are probably familiar with Barghouti, a moderate member of Fatah and one of the prominent Palestinian signatories of the Geneva Initiative, an unofficial peace plan drafted by Israelis and Palestinians. But the name Baltzer may not ring a bell.

A 29-year-old Columbia grad and Jewish American, Baltzer says on numerous videos posted on YouTube that she became a pro-Palestinian activist after visiting the area and witnessing Palestinian plight...

http://blogs.jta.org/telegraph/article/2009/10/29/1008829/debating-israeli-palestinian-issues-on-the-daily-show

[ProgressiveMuslim]

1. Replay of the interviews link here:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-october-28-2009/exclusive---anna-baltzer---mustafa-barghouti-extended-interview-pt--1

[oberliner]

2. The Joe Wilson joke came up at the J Street conference as well

I believe it also got a good laugh.

[azurnoir]

3. Thanks I started to post the interview on the video forum

last night but figured it would simply be "swamped" out there the interview itself is a excellent and Stewart handles the situation quite nicely

[proteus_lives]

4. Wow, these two are quite the tap-dancers.

"Everything is the fault of Israel and let's dance away from Palestinian responsibility as quickly as possible."

:eyes: :puke:

[shira]

6. well, the Jewish Baltzer was obviously on the show to provide balance along with Barghouti

nevermind the fact she's an anti-zionist one-stater who still believes a massacre in Jenin happened in 2002.

:eyes:

[proteus_lives]

7. She does?

Well, that makes it even more sickening. :puke:

Stewart tried to be fair but those two weren't having it. The whole thing reeked of propaganda and pandering.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

18. Are you guys sure you want to be complaining about lack of balance in the media?

Be careful what you wish for!

I *wish* there had been a Zionist of any persuasion had been sitting there with Mustapha! It would only serve to highlight the straightforwardness of what he says.

[Violet_Crumble]

12. I'm not sure why you posted a quote that doesn't exist....

It wasn't anywhere in the article I read. Have you watched the interview yet? I'd like to know what yr opinion of it is if you have watched it, because I've just watched it and I'm a bit bemused as to the extremely vitriolic reaction I've seen in these two threads from some posters to what was a strong advocation of non-violence from Palestinians. I saw either in this or the other thread that you claimed there were lies and half-truths in the interview. What were they specifically? I'm kind of a bit confused as to why anyone would be offended by this interview...

[TomClash]

13. I know the answer! I know! I know! Teacher, call on me!

There weren't any lies or half-truths. The "offense" is that a peaceful, pro-Palestinian view was on an American TV show hosted by a famous and respected comedian largely watched by young people. AIPAC, the ADL and all their cousins don't like that. Not one bit.

[shira]

15. you didn't know the answer - some lies and half truths came in the form of non-response to Stewart's

questions.

Did you catch the part when Stewart mentioned Israeli self-defense and Baltzer replied to that saying that Israel depriving Palestinians water is not self-defense? She avoided the question - and replied instead with a claim that's proven false.....which is par for the course considering she still believes a massacre in Jenin happened in 2002.

Or the time in which Stewart asked whether they favor a 2 state solution and Baltzer didn't answer (she's a one-stater antizionist).

How about the virtual silence in response to Stewart mentioning antisemitic media (Farfur the mouse)?

=====

Is it too much to expect complete honesty?

=====

I also find it difficult to take seriously 2 "peace" activists for equal rights who are unwilling to criticize Hamas and Fatah leadership that will never let Palestinians achieve freedoms through civil liberties.

I understand they have to go back to the territories and get along with the authorities there who'd kneecap or kill them for criticizing the leadership too much - but let's at least admit these 2 are in no position to affect positive change for Palestinians the longer they're incapable or unwilling to challenge the Islamist secular fascists and religious zealots who rule the Palestinians.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

17. Why do Zionists (like Shira) who claim to want peace, seem to hold nonviolent activists in such

contempt.

[shira]

26. what's peaceful about 1-state activists who have no problem with Hamas?

[ProgressiveMuslim]

27. Your knowing mis-characterization of Barghouti's movement is hardly surprising.

It's refreshing that you've abandoned the pretense that you're interested in a peaceful resolution.

[shira]

28. Baltzer is a one-state antizionist......neither she or Barghouti criticized Hamas

here's more on Baltzer...
http://www.bluetruth.net/2008/07/anna-baltzer-out-of-middle-east.html

she's quite nasty.

what's Barghouti doing with this faux peace activist?

[ProgressiveMuslim]

29. That's a stretch, even for you. Anything to excuse the murder of 300 kids, right?

C'mon Shira, we both know they aren't *real* human beings with value, like their Jewish counterparts across the barbed wire and beyond the wall.

[shira]

30. sorry - can't buy that an antizionist 1-stater, Hamas apologist like Baltzer is pro-peace & HR

[ProgressiveMuslim]

31. I'm not asking you to embrace Baltzer. I'm asking flat out why you don't embrace Palestinians

who embrace nonviolence?

Yet you refuse to answer. Your silence says it all.

[shira]

32. and i'm asking you what a Palestinian embracing non-violence is doing with Baltzer

kinda gets me thinking he shares her twisted views.

:puke:

=========

admittedly, he appears better than Fatah or Hamas leadership, so I'd back him based solely on that.....but he doesn't appear to be the "great hope" if a hater like Baltzer represents his viewpoints.

sue me for thinking the Palestinians deserve better than Baltzer, okay?

=========

so why is he only getting 2% of the Palestinian vote?

[ProgressiveMuslim]

33. Barghouti doesn't book Stewart's guests. Now please answer!

I guess you hate Jews who advocate nonviolence too?

Really the question should be turned to those who hold your views? Why do you advocate violence to solve what is a political problem?


Really, Shira, violence isn't the answer.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

34. Please answer Shira. Why do you support violence against civilians to settle a political problem? n

[shira]

35. sorry - don't know why i thought they were partners in some organization

and no, I don't have problems with advocates for peace and nonviolence, I have problems with people who take on that mantle under false pretenses.

Baltzer is such a person.

I don't know enough about Barghouti to make an informed decision on him.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

36. So basically, there are Jewish people of every stripe all over the media talking about Israel.

but there is no place for a non-zionist Jewish perspective?

[shira]

38. we all know what 1-state really means, so to answer your question - no.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

39. One state means equal rights for all. Why is that so horrifying for Israel's supporters?

In any case, at this point in time, Jews are no longer the majority "from the river to the sea."

Yet the legal system in place patently favors what is now a minority group. How far will Israel's apartheid system extend before shame and basic decency force change? Hard to believe that more then 20 years after the white gov't in South Africa was shamed to its knees, Israel is developing similarly evil institutions and practices in Israel, practices which no one denies are all about guaranteeing full rights for Jews only.

Hard to fathom.

[shira]

40. no it doesn't and here's Jeremy Ben Ami of J-Street discussing it...

JB: J Street officially will not use the term "One-State Solution." That is an oxymoron because it is a one-state nightmare. That is the thing we are most opposed to -- moving in a one-state direction.

JG: A nightmare for practical reasons or a nightmare for moral reasons?

JB: A nightmare for the Jewish people. There would be no more Israel. One state is not a solution, one state is a dissolution.

http://jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/10/j_streets_ben-ami_on_being_a_z.php

[ProgressiveMuslim]

41. How can equal rights for all human beings be "a nightmare for Jewish people?"

Explain that.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

42. Are you going to lay out exactly how equal rights for all humans under Israel's dominion is a

nightmare for Jewish people?

I would think Jews practicing apartheid would be the nightmare.

[shira]

43. a nightmare, like Lebanon - full RoR with Jews becoming a minority in an Arab state

tell me, in your vision of a future democratic one-state scenario, what happens with an organization like Hamas? Do they serve long prison terms or are they given free reign to treat both Arabs and Jews however they wish (like they do now)?

pretend i'm thinking of living in such a wonderful and integrated democracy.....sell me on security....explain to me how this new state will ensure the safety of my family.

[Violet_Crumble]

16. Yeah, I watched the interview twice last night and didn't spot them...

And I hope that idiot in the audience yelling out during the interview isn't anyone's idea of someone trying to bring 'balance and fairness' to anything. Maybe in Foxnews world, that sort of OTT and abusive stuff is considered fair and balanced, but it came across as the guy looking like a complete dickhead....

[proteus_lives]

20. I watched the interview and saw the same thing you did.

They refused to even discuss Palestinian violence and the Palestinian responsibility for the conflict.

They are hypocrites and they still call for economic violence against Israel.

[Violet_Crumble]

37. Are you replying to the right person, proteus?

It's just that you didn't see the same thing as me at all, so I'm kind of guessing you meant to reply to someone else...

btw, 'economic violence'? Do you seriously think that the Palestinians should show no resistance whatsoever to the very violent occupation of them by Israel?

[grassfed]

5. blog about Daily Show with Barghouti and Baltzer - full video

http://mondoweiss.net/2009/10/palestinian-equal-rights-joins-the-progressive-agenda-on-the-daily-show.html

[proteus_lives]

8. Well, that blogger is about as unbiased as Baltzer.

:eyes:

[ProgressiveMuslim]

9. Are bloggers supposed to be unbiased?

[proteus_lives]

10. No but the blog was nauseating.

I'm happy that the author's glee over supposed change in support for Israel is unfounded and misguided.

[bemildred]

11. Anyone that objects to Israeli government policy is "biased" and needs to shape up.

On the other hand, if you support Israeli government policy, then you are "objective" and ought to have your own radio talk show.

[Jefferson23]

14. LOL, so true!

Thank goodness for Jon Stewart, he is unafraid..kudos to him.

[pelsar]

19. dont you ever get tired.....

of repeating such nonsense...or do you actually believe it?

[Violet_Crumble]

21. It is true in some cases...

I know of one or two regular posters in this forum who hold that view. And it's not something that's limited to 'supporters' of Israel or even the I/P conflict itself. It appears to me that the more rabid (for want of a better word and thinking of the antichoicers who used to hang out at Yahoo) people become on an issue, the more likely it is that they lose any understanding of what bias actually is and think it's something anyone who they agree with doesn't have and everything they disagree with is biased...

[azurnoir]

22. I think it was a "tongue in cheek" remark

though it does have a smidge of truth to it and I agree with NC that there are a couple posters here that the remark would apply to, and one in particular who is so rabid that they actually do damage to the ProIsrael cause, of course the same could said about the other side too I suppose

[bemildred]

23. Given my known "pro-Palestinian bias", it seem unlikely that I meant it to be taken literally.

Pelsar gets that, actually, since he takes me to task for the inference that I am putting words in the mouth of pro-Israeli posters, which is correct. But he doesn't take it far enough to infer that it is not meant to be taken literally in that sense either.

But one must consider that he might not have meant to be taken literally either, or on the other hand that he might have been being deliberately obtuse.

[pelsar]

24. I go for all of the above......

depending on what i am reading any particular day and how it affects my exasperation level....


one day.....you will all realize that only i am correct....and all of the world shall bow at my cyber feet...however until you all see the light, i shall have to suffer.....its must be gods way of testing me.

[bemildred]

25. Well I simply cannot believe that you would be deliberately obtuse.

:hi: