Transcript [00:01] [music] [00:02] Life audio. Hey there, this is Marissa [00:05] Strite. I am the CEO of PragerU and you [00:08] are about to listen to a special edition [00:10] of Fireside Chat with Dennis Prager. [00:13] Those of us here at PragerU are [00:14] continuing to do the very important work [00:16] that we've been doing with him for over [00:18] 10 years. We are educating millions of [00:21] young people online. We have state [00:23] partnerships to bring our content into [00:26] schools and so much more. or you can [00:28] head over to prageru.com to see the [00:30] progress that we've been making. Also, [00:32] I'd love to invite you to support our [00:34] mission by donating to our 501c3. It is [00:37] a nonprofit. Your taxdeductible donation [00:39] will go to an institution of higher [00:41] learning that actually shares your [00:43] values. So, enjoy your podcast and thank [00:47] you so much for all your support. [00:49] >> Hi everybody. Welcome to the Fireside [00:51] Chat, which is a little different than [00:53] usual. I'm Dennis Prager. This is Otto, [00:55] my man. Well, my dog. I don't confuse [00:58] humans and dogs, but I love the guy. And [01:02] this is different because on a few [01:04] occasions a year, I have a guest on the [01:07] fireside chat. Normally, it is just you [01:09] and me. And I think that's a wonderful [01:11] thing. And and thank God a lot of you [01:14] think that way, too. But sometimes [01:16] somebody special comes in to uh Los [01:19] Angeles. This is my home, and comes to [01:22] my home because I want to talk to them [01:24] and learn from them. [01:26] and dialogue with them. And such is the [01:29] case here. Basm Eid Eid is the man in [01:34] this case. He is a Palestinian lives in [01:36] the Palestinian territories and in [01:38] Jericho. And he blogs for the Times of [01:41] Israel. And let me just say this about [01:44] him because I I'll have him say it more [01:47] so you get a better idea of who he is [01:49] and why he is with me. He has the [01:52] greatest of all the good traits. There [01:54] are many good traits. honesty, [01:56] integrity, loyalty, [01:58] kindness, compassion, but the best is [02:02] courage because without courage, the [02:04] others are largely useless. [02:07] And he has courage. He's an outspoken [02:10] Palestinian about a lot of the human [02:13] rights abuses in the Palestinian arena. [02:17] He obviously cares about other human [02:19] rights abuses as well, but there are [02:21] very few critics within that world. not [02:24] nearly as many as within for example [02:26] Israel about Israel. I think that's [02:29] true. I'll I'll have him answer. In any [02:31] event, first of all, welcome to my home. [02:34] Basim. [02:35] >> Thank you. It's a pleasure. [02:36] >> Thank you so much. We noted, by the way, [02:39] earlier that one of our dogs who usually [02:42] uh Snoopy uh who usually gets very [02:45] agitated when a man that he does not [02:48] know comes to the door immediately liked [02:51] you. That is a very good sign. Bosam, [02:54] >> thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Dennis. [02:56] Thank you very much. [02:57] >> So again, it is a pleasure. Okay, so [03:00] tell us a little more about you. You [03:02] were uh you were born where? [03:04] >> Yeah, I born in the old city of [03:06] Jerusalem and specifically in an area [03:09] called the Jewish Quarter. [03:11] >> Oh, how interesting. [03:12] >> Yeah. [03:13] >> So, you're a Palestinian born in the [03:15] Jewish quarter. By the way, I meant to [03:17] ask you and it's because Palestinians, [03:19] most Palestinians are from a Muslim [03:23] family. Some are Christian. What are [03:25] you? [03:26] >> I am a Muslim. [03:27] >> You are from Okay. [03:28] >> If I may ask, and you you don't have to [03:31] answer every question, but are you a [03:33] practicing Muslim? [03:34] >> No. [03:35] >> Right. [03:36] >> I am anti-religious person. [03:38] >> Anti-religious? [03:39] >> Yes. [03:39] >> Okay. I'm pro-religious, but I still [03:41] love you. It's And I'm not joking. I'm [03:43] not joking because I I judge I don't [03:45] judge people by their faith. I judge [03:47] them by their behavior. And you're a [03:48] wonderful human being. [03:50] >> So I just that's important. [03:52] >> Yeah. [03:52] >> So were you raised religious? [03:54] >> Uh no. [03:56] >> Oh, interesting. So you came from a [03:58] secular home. [03:58] >> Exactly. [03:59] >> Okay. So you were born in uh the Jewish [04:04] quarter of what was then under Jordanian [04:07] control. [04:07] >> Exactly. [04:08] >> Okay. So you are now living where? in [04:12] Jericho, [04:13] >> right? And you have a family? [04:16] >> Yes. Four children. [04:18] >> Four children. [04:19] >> Two boys, two girls. [04:20] >> Oh, you hit the jackpot, as we say in [04:22] America, [laughter] [04:23] >> right? And none of them send postcards. [04:27] >> None of them call [laughter] [04:28] >> Yeah. [04:29] >> That's the joke we think. [04:30] >> The most the most interesting story [04:32] here. [04:33] >> Yeah. between the Jewish quarter and [04:35] Jericho [04:37] that in 1966, [04:41] specifically in June 66, [04:44] means exactly one year before the 67 [04:48] war, [04:48] >> right? The Jordanian government decided [04:52] to evacuate [04:54] 500 Palestinian families from the Jewish [04:58] quarter [04:59] and to transfer them to north of [05:02] Jerusalem in an area called Shaat [05:05] refugee camp. [05:06] >> Why? [05:07] >> That's a big question. [05:09] Neither an Israeli nor a Palestinian, [05:13] even not a Jordanian, succeed right now [05:16] to give an explanation [05:19] why the Jordanian government, [05:21] >> right, [05:22] >> decided so. So we moved in June 66 to [05:27] Shaat refugee camp. [05:29] >> You didn't want to. [05:30] >> Where I grew up for 33 years. [05:33] >> Oh my god. [05:34] >> So who made me a refugee, [05:36] >> right? is the Jordanians, not the [05:38] Israelis, by the way. [05:40] >> Okay, let me just explain for those of [05:42] you watching because I don't expect [05:44] everybody to know their history, [05:45] unfortunately, because most people go to [05:48] an American school and learn very [05:50] little. So, for in a nutshell, Jordan [05:54] controlled the West Bank of the of [05:56] Jordan until 1967 after it invaded [06:00] Israel and lost that territory in the [06:02] Six-Day War or the June 67 war. Then [06:06] Israel got control of it. It still has [06:08] control of it to this day. It's part of [06:10] what is called the West Bank, but it was [06:13] under Jordanian rule from 48 from 48 to [06:17] 67. [06:18] >> Yeah. [06:19] >> And that's that's what And then Jordan [06:21] lost it as I said in in that war. Okay. [06:25] >> So if you would have been asked in 1960, [06:30] if you if you were I if you were old [06:32] enough even to have been asked a [06:33] question, [06:33] >> I was two years old. So, okay, then it [06:36] wouldn't count. Had you been asked in 60 [06:40] so 66, we'll go right before the the [06:43] war. [06:44] >> Yeah. [06:44] >> What are you nationally, what would you [06:47] have answered? What would your parents [06:49] have answered? I remember when they [06:52] asked me at the school on the first year [06:55] of the school when I went to school the [06:59] teacher start asking you know each of [07:01] the the students there what is your [07:04] nationality? [07:07] uh some people used to say Palestinians [07:12] and they were beaten by the teacher in [07:15] that time by saying from where you [07:18] brought this word [07:19] >> you really Jordanian [07:21] >> wow [07:21] >> who is ruling your your life here [07:24] >> that's why I asked the question [07:25] >> or any other country right [07:27] >> so we used to be beaten if we if we are [07:31] saying Palestinian [07:32] >> and what would your parents have said [07:34] >> my parents used to say Palestinian [07:36] Inians, [07:37] >> they did. [07:37] >> Yes. [07:38] >> But in the official, let's say, or [07:41] right, they'd say Jordanian. [07:42] >> You you must have to say Jordanian. [07:45] >> What would a Palestinian Most Jordanians [07:48] to make things even more confusing for [07:51] you, my my viewer, most Jordanians are [07:54] Palestinians, correct? [07:56] >> Right. Let's say it probably [08:00] till 2003. [08:04] But right now in Jordan, you have more [08:08] Iraqis after the war. [08:10] >> Really? Palestinians than Palestinians. [08:13] >> That I did not know. [08:14] >> Yes. Yes. There was a survey. They there [08:17] was a a a census in Jordan, I think last [08:22] year. [08:22] >> Yeah. [08:23] >> And they found that the the the Arab [08:25] refugees from Iraq and Syria are double [08:29] than the number of the Palestinians. So [08:31] we became the minority the minority in [08:34] Jordan right now. [08:35] >> Okay. So but my question would still [08:37] hold what would a Palestinian in Jordan [08:39] say he is Jordanian or Palestinian? [08:42] >> See they they used to say Jord they used [08:44] to see Palestinians but in the in the [08:47] official documents [08:48] >> right [08:48] >> they mentioned as Jordanians [08:50] >> and between themselves in discussion [08:52] what would they say? [08:53] >> Let us not go that far. Let us take the [08:57] Israeli Arabs who are holding the [08:59] Israeli citizens. Correct. Correct. [09:01] >> What they are calling themselves [09:03] Palestinians. [09:03] >> Uh-huh. But that began after 67, didn't [09:07] it? [09:08] >> Yes. [09:08] >> Right. Until then, they call themselves [09:10] Arabs. [09:11] >> Right. Israeli Arabs. [09:13] >> Israeli Arabs. [09:14] >> So the term Israeli Arab is is not used [09:17] much now among Israeli Arabs. [09:19] >> I think who gave us the privilege [09:23] to call ourself Palestinians? Yeah. [09:26] >> Are the Israelis. [laughter] [09:28] >> Now, if you're not confused, Hey, if [09:30] you're not confused by now, [09:32] >> you're good. But not that it's not [09:34] clear. It is, but it is mind-bogglingly [09:37] confusing. [09:38] >> So, an Israeli Palestinian is that what [09:43] is that? If if he went to London and and [09:46] sir, and you are he would say an Israeli [09:49] Palestinian or just Palestinian? [09:50] >> Just Palestinian. [09:51] >> That's what I thought. [09:52] >> Yeah. [09:52] >> Exactly. Yeah. [09:53] >> All right. [09:54] >> Because does he think different [09:56] nationalities? [09:56] >> Correct. Compared to 25 years ago, are [10:01] Palestinians less or more Israeli? [10:05] >> Less, let's say. [10:06] >> That's what I was afraid of. [10:08] >> Yes. Less. [10:08] >> See, that's [10:09] >> because I can see, you know, the the [10:12] >> the behavior, let's say, of the 2 [10:14] million [10:15] >> Israeli Arabs inside Israel, living [10:18] inside Israel, [10:19] >> holding the Israeli citizenship, right? [10:21] >> Now, more and more they are calling [10:24] themselves Palestinians rather than [10:26] Israel. And how do you explain that? [10:28] >> See, I think that the Israeli Arabs [10:30] inside Israel [10:32] has their own problems. [10:35] And I'm looking to these people as [10:37] people who are living under a kind of a [10:41] shattered identity. [10:44] They don't know exactly what is their [10:47] real identity. [10:49] >> If it is Israeli or it is a Palestinian [10:52] or it is an Arab. Sometimes [10:55] they are behaving like an Israeli. [10:58] >> Mhm. [10:58] >> And they introduce themselves as an [11:01] Israeli. [11:02] >> But sometimes also the opposite, [11:04] >> right? [11:05] >> They claim that they claim that they are [11:08] Palestinians [11:09] and they are not connected at all to [11:12] Israel. If there were a vote with the [11:15] among the two million Palestinian [11:17] Israelis or Israeli Palestinians, [11:22] should Israel cease to exist as a Jewish [11:25] state, how would they vote? [11:28] >> Against [11:29] >> against the Jewish state. [11:31] >> Yes. Because that's exactly the the the [11:34] the political agenda of the Israeli [11:37] Arabs members of Kineset, [11:39] >> right? is that Israel is the state of [11:43] its own citizens. [11:44] >> Right. Not a Jewish state. [11:46] >> Exactly. [11:46] >> This might be the only case in the world [11:49] of members of a parliament who are [11:52] opposed to the existence of the state of [11:55] that parliament [11:57] >> which they are which they are the [11:58] citizens of the same state. [12:00] >> Yes. Which they are. [12:01] >> Yes. I agree. I agree. It's there is a [12:03] huge confusion. Yeah. [12:05] >> It it's sad though. It it doesn't make [12:07] one optimistic. [12:08] >> Yeah. I agree. I agree. I agree. [12:11] >> What is your view with regard to Israel [12:13] as a Jewish state? [12:14] >> See, I have no problem that Israel can [12:17] call itself whatever it wants. [12:20] That's not my matter. This is not my [12:23] business. Let Israel call itself [12:26] whatever it want. [12:29] that shouldn't shouldn't [12:33] let's say faced by any any kind of a [12:37] boycott [12:39] or uh divestment or sanction should it [12:44] Israel has the full right as Israel has [12:47] the full right to exist Israel still has [12:50] the full right to call itself whatever [12:52] it want [12:54] >> this is my opinion [12:55] >> you don't represent most Palestinians [12:58] >> unfortunately Not unfortunately not [13:01] >> especially the Palestinian leadership. I [13:04] think that the problem of Israel right [13:06] now is much more with its own Arab [13:10] citizens rather than with the [13:12] Palestinians towards the issue of the of [13:15] the Jewish state. The real fight right [13:18] now is inside Israel. It's not outside [13:21] Israel. [13:21] >> It's really uh a parallel to America. I [13:24] think that for example, I think black [13:27] Americans feel less American today, [13:30] generally speaking, there are many [13:31] exceptions than than 25 years ago. I [13:36] think they feel more black than [13:37] American. I think Palestinian Israelis [13:40] feel more Palestinian than Israeli than [13:42] 25 years ago. [13:43] >> Yeah, I agree with that. I agree with [13:46] that. And they they you know when you [13:48] come when you come to the Israeli Arabs [13:50] and asking them why that happened then [13:54] people start complaining then people [13:57] start complaining. You know the Israeli [13:59] Arabs [clears throat] as an example [14:00] never ever use the term of uh [14:05] considering Israel as a partite. it just [14:08] recently. It's never happened during the [14:10] 60s or the 70s or the 80s even just [14:15] recently. Why that's happened? Looks [14:18] like that there is an internal internal [14:21] problems inside Israel [14:23] >> and I don't want to talk about the [14:25] recent you know a a a a fight inside the [14:30] joint cities in Israel during the fight [14:33] with between Israel and the Hamas in [14:35] Gaza. It's unbelievable what's happening [14:38] inside Israel. I think that that's [14:41] probably the only thing that Hamas [14:44] succeed on [14:46] >> that they really destroyed the [14:50] coexistence [14:51] which took the Israelis and the Arabs [14:54] over than 73 years to build it. They [14:58] succeed to destroy it within 10 days. [15:01] >> That is very int. That might have been [15:03] the reason for the war. They knew they [15:05] can't defeat Israel, [15:06] >> unfortunately. [15:07] >> Yes. But if they can get the ArabIsraeli [15:12] to feel less Israeli or even [15:15] anti-Israeli, [15:16] then they won. [15:18] >> Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. [15:21] >> Well, [15:21] >> yeah, that's the point. [15:23] >> What can Israel do? [15:26] >> See, I don't know that Israel can do [15:29] that much, [15:32] but let us hope. Let us hope [15:35] that during [15:38] the new government [15:41] and the coalition that Naftali Bennett [15:44] succeed to build with an Israeli Arab [15:48] political party Ram and Abbas Mansour [15:51] and Mansour Abbas. I hope that that's [15:56] will a little bit improve let's say [16:00] >> the coexistence [16:02] between the Israelis and the Israeli [16:04] Arabs I [16:05] >> if I were to ask the average [16:09] Israeli Palestinian Israeli Arab [16:12] whatever term you use do you think you [16:15] have it better in Israel than you would [16:18] in almost any Arab country what would [16:20] what would they would say [16:22] >> oh 100% would say yes 100% will agree [16:26] with that. [16:27] >> No doubt about that. Everybody knows [16:31] inside Israel [16:33] >> that his his level of life is much [16:38] better than [16:38] >> and his freedom. [16:39] >> Of course. Of course. Of course. Yeah. [16:42] Look to the Syria. Look to the Arabs in [16:44] Syria, the Palestinians in Syria. Look [16:46] to the Palestinians in Lebanon. Look to [16:49] the Palestinians in Yemen. Look to the [16:51] Palestinians in Iraq. you couldn't [16:53] understand what's really going on. I [16:55] used to say Dennis that if we are [16:58] looking to the Middle East map and how [17:01] the Islamic terror is increasing, [17:05] we will find that the Israeli [17:07] Palestinian conflict is probably the [17:09] most safe place in the Middle East. [17:13] As an Arab, as a Muslim, I don't want to [17:16] be in Syria. I don't want to be in Iraq. [17:18] I don't want to be in Yemen. It's much [17:21] more safe for myself [snorts] and for my [17:23] children to continue living under the [17:26] Israeli Palestinian conflict, [17:28] >> right? Including safer in occupied West [17:33] Bank. [17:34] >> I think [17:34] >> because if Israel left, you would end up [17:36] with a kamas like West Bank. [17:39] >> Oh, that would be horrible. [17:40] >> Yes. [17:41] >> I don't think that the West Bank wish [17:42] the same future of Gaza right now. [17:45] >> So, exactly. Exactly. So I'm feel I I [17:52] don't know if you know this phrase in [17:53] America we say I've now entered the [17:56] twilight zone. I have entered a strange [17:59] place where the is 100% you said of [18:04] Israeli Arabs would say we have it [18:06] better than any other Arab in the world. [18:08] >> Right. [18:09] >> And yet we want Israel basically [18:11] destroyed. [18:12] >> Yeah. This is this is you know sometimes [18:16] a a a [18:18] let's say people [18:21] are speaking from two different faces [18:26] unfortunately [18:28] and each time they are looking you know [18:30] which face is more comfortable for this [18:33] question and which face is more [18:35] comfortable for that question. It [18:38] depends with whom they are talking. [18:42] [snorts] It depends which kind of [18:44] question you are asking. But people from [18:47] their hearts secretly [18:50] knows that their life in Israel much [18:53] better than it is under any other Arab [18:56] country around. [18:57] >> Right. And but you have even added a [18:59] point that nobody in the West even would [19:02] even consider. [19:04] It's better on the West Bank under in [19:07] the Palestinian territories under [19:10] Israeli occupation than if Israel left. [19:14] >> Of course. [19:15] >> Of course. You say [19:17] >> it is much much safer, [19:19] >> much safer and freer. You know, you [19:21] know, I used to ask my my friends [19:23] sometimes in refugee camps, imagine that [19:26] tomorrow morning you will wake up and [19:29] you f you will find that no Israeli [19:33] exist in the West Bank. What you will [19:36] do? [19:37] >> Right? [19:37] >> They said you will go out and try to [19:41] search where they are to bring them [19:43] back. [laughter] [19:45] You know it is like a friends in Gaza. [19:47] Sometimes when I talk to them they ask [19:50] me bas can you describe to us how the [19:53] Jewish people looks like? We miss them. [19:56] >> Oh my god. [19:58] >> Listen it is horrible. I think that [20:01] after the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, [20:05] Gaza became a real hell. [20:08] >> Exactly. Exactly. [20:09] >> Yeah. Yeah. No doubt about it. I used to [20:13] say, Dennis, that there are two big [20:16] historical mistakes the Israeli leaders [20:19] committed since the establishment of [20:22] Israel in 1948. [20:24] >> Yeah. [20:25] >> The first mistake committed by Mahim [20:27] began in 1977 [20:31] when he signed the peace accord with [20:33] Egypt without returning back all of Gaza [20:36] to Egypt. We took it from you. Please [20:40] take it back. Otherwise I will never [20:43] sign any piece accordly. [20:45] >> Oh [20:46] >> that was the [20:47] >> fascinating. [20:48] >> The second mistake was made by Ariel [20:51] Chiron when he decided in 2005 [20:55] just to leave Gaza and to get out. [20:58] >> Right. What should he have done? Ah [21:00] >> look what's going on. [21:01] >> No we know. So he should not have left. [21:03] >> Exactly. Exactly. [21:04] >> So again let me explain to all of you. [21:07] In 1967, [21:09] Israel [21:10] in the in the war that they they really [21:14] had to fight or they would have been [21:16] destroyed. It was against Egypt, Syria, [21:19] and Jordan. And they conquered Egyptian [21:23] territory, the Sinai Peninsula, and this [21:26] little piece of land known as the Gaza [21:28] Strip. That's why it's called a strip. [21:30] It's alongside the Mediterranean, tucked [21:33] into the Sinai Peninsula. [21:35] That is a a very original thought I had [21:38] never thought of. Why [21:42] didn't So let let me begin by saying so [21:46] the Egyptians said we don't want Gaza. [21:49] >> Yes. [21:50] >> And the Israelis said okay [21:53] you don't have to have Gaza. [21:55] >> We will keep it. [21:56] >> Well yeah we will keep it in effect. [21:58] That's right. Big boo boo. That's right. [22:01] I understand that. Well let us say I [22:03] mean we we don't know the answer. Let us [22:05] say began the Israeli prime minister [22:07] said to Saddat, the Egyptian president, [22:11] uh, no deal if you don't take back Gaza. [22:14] Would he have taken it? [22:16] >> Probably yes. [22:17] >> That's what I think. [22:18] >> Probably yes. [22:19] >> But he Sadat was smart. [22:22] >> He he knew what trouble the Gaza Gaza [22:25] would be. [22:25] >> Yes. And he prefer to leave this trouble [22:28] for Israel to deal with. [22:30] >> Since you like beehives and hornets [22:32] nests, right? [22:33] >> Enjoy them. [22:35] It's [laughter] exactly right. [22:37] >> Yeah. Yeah. [22:38] >> Oh god. The world in which we live. Oh [22:40] my god. [22:42] >> So your work, you you do this blog [22:47] uh for the Times of Israel as a [22:50] Palestinian [22:51] and you also do human rights work within [22:56] and civil rights work within the [22:58] Palestinian world. Can you tell me about [23:00] that? I founded in 1996 [23:04] the Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring [23:06] Group [23:08] to deal directly with the violations [23:11] committed by the Palestinian Authority [23:14] and its security services [23:18] against the Palestinian civilians. Four [23:21] months after I established the [23:23] organization, I was arrested by Yaser [23:26] Arafat. I'm surprised it took four [23:28] months, [laughter] [23:30] >> but I was so lucky. [23:31] >> Uhhuh. [23:32] >> That I kept in jail for for 25 hours [23:36] only. [23:37] >> Yeah, that's lucky. [23:38] >> And the only one who involved directly [23:41] in my release was the former US [23:44] Secretary War Christopher [23:47] >> under Bill Clinton administration. [23:49] >> Interesting. [23:51] >> I don't know one Christopher at all. I [23:53] never met with him. [23:54] >> Right. But he received an urgent message [23:58] from the human rights watch in New York [24:02] >> that you must have to be involved in [24:04] releasing him. [24:06] >> And according to the human rights watch, [24:08] he picked up the telephone. He talked to [24:10] Arafat. He gave Arafat 5 minutes to [24:13] release me and I was released. And that [24:17] detention, by the way, serves me right [24:20] now as a kind of impunity. [24:24] not to be arrested again. [24:26] >> Imagine that I am living in Jericho. [24:28] >> Oh, that's right. I'm amazed that [24:30] >> I'm amazed. I I hate to say truly hate [24:32] to [24:33] >> I'm amazed you're not in jail and I'm [24:35] and amazed you haven't been shot. [24:37] >> Right. Right. [24:38] >> Why haven't you been shot? I must admit [24:40] I've never asked anybody that question. [24:42] >> I paid I paid I paid a very a very high [24:45] price in my life. First of all, I spent [24:48] 26 years [24:50] uh defending the rights of the [24:53] Palestinians if it is from the Israeli [24:55] army or it is from the Palestinian [24:57] security forces. In the meantime, I [25:00] received several international award [25:05] in uh I I became a media man. I'm well [25:10] known around the world. I almost visited [25:13] over than 93 countries around the world [25:17] talking about the Israeli Palestinian [25:20] conflict. So for the Palestinian [25:22] Authority, you became an international [25:24] character. [25:25] >> Oh, so you're protected. [25:26] >> Yes. And that's really [25:28] >> You're too well known. [25:29] >> Exactly. Exactly. [25:30] >> Oh, I'm happy. Thank God to hear that. [25:32] >> We have a We have questions always. So [25:35] you we've touched on this, but I'd still [25:37] like to take our weekly question and [25:40] we'll find out from whom. [25:41] >> Yeah. [25:42] >> Hi Dennis Embassy. My name is Tina. I'm [25:44] 17 and I'm from Los Angeles, California. [25:47] And my question is, what does the future [25:49] hold for peace in the Middle East given [25:50] the recent conflicts between Israelis [25:52] and Palestinians? [25:54] >> Okay, there you go. So that's of course [25:57] the larger question of our whole [25:59] discussion. Unfortunately, I am a person [26:03] who is considering the Israeli [26:05] Palestinian conflict as an unsolvable [26:09] conflict. [26:10] >> You know, I just want to say I respected [26:13] you before you came and I you've just [26:17] doubled it. [26:20] People are not mature enough, I think, [26:24] to acknowledge when there aren't [26:26] solutions. It's a if the issue is not [26:29] even in this case you have I mentioned [26:32] your courage but in this instance this [26:36] is just maturity [26:38] be real there is no solution at this [26:41] time that's exactly right [26:43] >> I want to drive the lady who asked the [26:46] question even more crazy [26:48] >> okay [26:49] >> by saying [26:51] that sometimes it looks like to me that [26:55] the Palestinian leaders ership. If it is [26:58] the Hamas in Gaza or the BA in the West [27:01] Bank, they are against the two-state [27:04] solution for two people. They are [27:06] completely against. [27:07] >> Mhm. [27:09] >> What they are in favor of is a [27:13] three-state solution for two people [27:17] because the Hamas right now building its [27:21] own Islamic Emirate in the Gaza Strip. [27:23] >> Uhhuh. Abbas is building his own empire [27:28] in the West Bank and the state of [27:30] Israel. This is how we are living in the [27:33] past 12 years [snorts] and looks like [27:35] that everybody is so satisfied with his [27:38] own. [27:40] >> Are the people [27:40] >> the solution [27:41] >> that that's fascinating. Yes. Exactly. [27:45] >> What can all I know? Now tell me if I'm [27:48] wrong I have been to uh the Palestinian [27:50] territories often. I've I I I was never [27:54] in Gaza, but I was in the Palestinian [27:56] territories, what called the West Bank. [27:58] >> Yeah. [27:58] >> All I saw was building and more building [28:03] and more building. [28:05] >> Is that accurate? [28:06] >> Of course. Of course. Of course. You [28:08] know why? Because it's because we have [28:11] an open borders with Israel. [28:14] >> 24 hours we can move inside Israel and [28:16] getting out. This is why there is no [28:20] blockade from Israel on the west bank. [28:22] This is why the west bank is just [28:24] growing day by day. [28:26] >> Yes, [28:27] >> if you will come these days to Ramla, [28:29] right? I did it was in Ramla which is [28:31] not exist in Washington DC. [28:33] >> And one more thing that is worthy of [28:35] note, a restaurant that believes it has [28:38] the finest humus in the world. [28:41] >> Do you agree with that? And it is much [28:43] more expensive than in the UK and Paris, [28:47] by the way. [laughter] [28:50] [clears throat] But some of you crack me [28:52] up. [laughter] [28:54] So I I'm reflecting now on the the ocean [28:58] of lies in the Western media a and the [29:02] universities. Israel is committing [29:05] genocide. [29:06] Uh, as I often point out, it is the [29:09] worst genocide ever committed because [29:12] Palestinians keep growing in numbers. [29:15] >> Yeah, we are. [29:16] >> So, it it's a very failed genocide when [29:19] the group is growing. You know, you know [29:22] what I noticed here in especially in the [29:25] United States and in the compasses and [29:28] in Europe [29:31] that there is a kind of a fight a fight [29:36] between those groups like the BDS, [29:40] the the students [29:41] >> boycott devestment sanctions. [29:43] >> Yeah. The students for justice for [29:44] Palestine. [29:45] >> Yes. Right. [29:46] >> The Jewish voice for peace. [29:48] >> Right. [29:49] These people has a real fight with [29:52] Israel. [29:53] >> Yes. [29:54] >> On a specific agenda, [29:57] but they are using the Palestinians. [30:01] >> They are not falling in love with the [30:02] Palestinians. [30:04] >> They don't like us at all, by the way. [30:06] >> But they are using us. Right. You're so [30:08] >> And this is unfortunately how the [30:11] Palestinian case has been used since [30:14] 1948 until these days. The left uses [30:18] Palestinians. The left uses blacks. The [30:21] left uses women. The left uses gays. [30:23] >> What these leftist people ever benefited [30:26] the Palestinians? Tell me. [30:27] >> Zero. [30:28] >> Tell me. [30:29] >> Zero. [30:31] That is exactly right. [30:32] >> Yeah. [30:33] >> So, I'm curious in light of this, has [30:36] any American university invited you to [30:39] speak? [30:39] >> I was many times. [30:41] >> Really? I mean, it's shocking. [30:43] >> What was the last one you spoke at? I [30:45] think that it was in San Diego [30:48] in February last year. [30:50] >> What do you mean the year before? [30:51] Because last year they had nothing. [30:53] >> The year before. Yeah. [30:53] >> And then the Corona came, [30:55] >> right? [30:56] >> And then I What was it? UC San Diego? [30:59] Yes. Yes, I did. Really? You did? Yeah. [31:00] Yeah. Yeah. [31:01] >> What group invited you? Do you remember? [31:03] >> I remember stand with us invited. [31:05] >> Oh, so an Israeli pro-Israel group [31:07] invited you. Okay. [31:09] >> I have no problem to be invited by [31:10] pro-Israeli. [31:11] >> That's right. But that's what I mean. [31:13] It's almost inconceivable to me that the [31:15] history department of UC San Diego would [31:18] invite you because they're all [31:20] anti-Israel, which which would interest [31:23] me tremendously. [31:25] In light of your realism and [31:27] truthtelling, [31:29] how do you explain the hatred for Israel [31:31] in the world? [31:32] >> I think that it is something related to [31:34] the anti-semitism [31:36] >> rather than to any other things. [31:39] >> I agree. And I believe that Europe as an [31:42] example right now trying to move [31:46] backward toward towards its own history [31:50] with Israel [snorts] [31:52] >> and unfortunately Europe also in the [31:54] meantime using the Palestinians right [31:57] now [31:58] >> to fight [32:00] Israel. I don't think that [snorts] we [32:03] the Palestinians, you know, the problem [32:05] is [32:06] >> that the Palestinian leadership [32:09] didn't realized yet [snorts] [32:12] how much we the Palestinians has been [32:15] used by the others. [32:17] >> Mhm. [32:18] >> They didn't realize yet. [32:20] >> Mhm. [32:21] >> Probably they realize it because these [32:24] days we also used by our own leadership. [32:28] Mhm. [32:28] >> Look to the Hamas how they are using [32:30] their civilians as human shield. [32:33] >> Right. [32:34] >> Look to the Hamas how they are [32:35] protecting their rockets by using their [32:39] own inhabitants over there. [32:42] >> Right? [32:42] >> Look, so we also used by our own [32:46] leadership these days. So on the West [32:48] Bank where it's not Hamas, if there were [32:51] free elections among Palestinians on the [32:55] West Bank, who would they vote for uh uh [32:59] for Fata or for Hamas? [33:02] >> I have very interesting answer for you. [33:05] Just two months ago, there was a survey [33:09] conducted by the University of Al- Nah [33:12] in Nablo. [33:14] A survey, [33:15] >> right? And the question was if the [33:19] elections will take place today [33:21] >> Mhm. [33:21] >> for whom you are going to vote, [33:24] >> right? [33:24] >> You couldn't believe what the results [33:26] were. 70% [33:30] said neither the Hamas nor the Fat. [33:33] >> Oh, interesting. [33:34] >> So why to make elections? Yeah. That [33:37] means that I think that the majority of [33:40] the Palestinians almost fed up [33:42] >> with both [33:43] >> with both with both because both of them [33:46] are corrupt in the meantime. [33:50] >> Which is more corrupt. [laughter] [33:53] >> I think each one is more corrupt than [33:55] the other. [33:58] >> I had a feeling I'd get a great answer [34:00] to that one. [34:01] >> Yeah, [34:01] >> that's right. The answer to which is [34:04] more corrupt is yes. Yeah, [34:06] >> that's the answer. [34:07] >> Right, right, right, [laughter] [34:10] >> right. [34:10] >> But the fact remains, [34:12] >> so all of these all of these, [34:13] >> right, [34:14] >> in in in the West [34:16] >> who are sitting in their warm houses, [34:19] >> right, [34:20] >> calling Israel apartheid, genocide, [34:23] whatever. [34:24] >> Please come to Gaza. I want to see you [34:27] surviving for one week in Gaza. [34:28] >> Yes, exactly. If there was an actual [34:31] free election in Gaza, who would they [34:34] vote for? It will never ever be any free [34:37] election in Gaza while the Hamas is [34:39] ruling. [34:39] >> Correct. That's why I said if [34:40] >> so I can I can I can give you the answer [34:44] that if an elections will take place [34:46] tomorrow in Gaza, 100% will vote for the [34:49] Hamas because if you are going to vote [34:51] for another one, you will be killed. [34:53] >> That's correct. I understand. No, no. [34:54] It's like it's like voting for for [34:56] Exactly. It's like in Syria in Syria. [34:59] Yes. Agreed. I agree. [35:00] >> It's an Arab It's an Arab regime. So [35:02] what do you think though as a [35:04] Palestinian if they could secretly vote [35:08] what would it be? [35:09] >> See [35:10] >> or is it a silly question? [35:11] >> The majority [35:12] >> it's okay you could say it's a silly [35:13] question. [35:13] >> The majority [35:14] >> Yeah. [35:15] >> of the Palestinians in Gaza still right [35:18] now. [35:19] >> Yeah. [35:20] >> Don't want elections. [35:22] Don't want anything. They want only one [35:24] thing. [35:24] >> Food. [35:25] >> How to escape [35:27] >> from Gaza to another country. [35:29] >> Oh fascinating. This is what the people [35:31] are. You know when I talk with the [35:33] youth's people in Gaza, [35:35] >> they used to tell me, listen, if Israel [35:38] tomorrow morning will open one of its [35:41] passages for 2 hours, [35:42] >> yes, everybody would leave. [35:44] >> 30% of the youth will escape to will [35:47] flee to another country. here. Here. So, [35:50] here here's a here's a real great [35:52] question [35:53] >> that nobody would answer. But [35:55] >> so, uh, Gazin, if you could live among [36:00] Palestinians in Gaza or among Jews in [36:03] Israel, where would you live? [36:05] >> In Israel, [36:06] >> even the Gazins, [36:08] >> of course. Oh, of course. Of course. You [36:11] couldn't believe that. Even the [36:12] Palestinians [36:14] in the West Bank, they don't want to [36:18] accept the Gazans. [36:19] >> I believe that. [36:20] >> Yeah. [36:20] >> Cuz they're too extreme. [36:22] >> Because we are in from a different [36:24] culture, [36:25] >> it's a different culture, [36:26] >> different customs and traditions, [36:28] >> even different accent. [36:30] >> It is. It's a different accent. Is their [36:32] accent Egyptian or Egyptian? It is. So [36:34] they say they would say Gummorya. [36:36] >> Yes. Gumurya. Right. Right. Right. Yeah. [36:40] So even in the West Bank, even Abbas [36:43] himself told the Jordanians and the [36:46] Egyptians, I don't want to see one Gazan [36:49] in the West Bank. Close the borders. Now [36:52] a Gazan is not allowed to travel to [36:55] Jordan and to come to the West Bank. Do [36:57] you believe that? [36:59] >> Yeah, I will. [36:59] >> It's not allowed. [37:00] >> Right. It's really [37:02] >> So imagine Imagine [37:03] >> what? Yeah. Go on. Imagine [37:06] that we the Palestinians [37:08] are still very interesting [37:11] to keep Gaza separate [37:14] >> of course [37:14] >> from the West Bank. [37:15] >> Right. [37:16] >> And I want to remind everybody who is [37:19] going to see us that the only one who [37:23] united [37:25] the West Bank with Gaza is Israel [37:29] after the 67. [37:30] >> Oh yeah. because of the mistake that [37:32] Began made. [laughter] [37:35] >> You know, there was no one passage [37:38] between 48 and 67. No one passage to [37:42] link between Gaza and the [37:44] >> West. Exactly. I never thought of that, [37:47] which is my fault. But that that is [37:50] fascinating. Do you ever debate [37:52] Palestinians? [37:53] >> Sometimes. Yes. [37:55] >> In in the West Bank. [37:56] >> Yeah. But not on on cameras, not [38:00] visiting So you're not on Palestinian [38:02] television? [38:03] >> No, no, no, no, no, no. Palestinian [38:04] television. Forget it. No, they will [38:06] never put me on. Yeah, they will never. [38:10] Yeah, [38:10] >> too bad. [38:11] >> Yeah, [38:12] >> that would be a great day. Are you on [38:14] Israeli television? [38:16] >> Yeah, I was. I was a lot even in Arabic [38:19] programs. Yeah. [38:20] >> You speak Hebrew? [38:20] >> Yeah, I speak of course. [38:22] >> So if uh your your Hebrew is it fluent? [38:27] You speak fluent? [38:28] >> Yes, [38:28] >> I can read. Right. Right. Israeli Arabs [38:32] speak Hebrew fluently, but not generally [38:35] Palestinians. [38:35] >> No, Palestinians. The majority I think [38:38] that there are more Palestinians [38:41] >> speaking Hebrew rather than Israelis [38:43] speaking Arabic. [38:45] >> Yeah. I I believe that [38:46] >> because we used to work the majority of [38:49] the Palestinians [38:51] >> working in Israel and they learn and I [38:53] think that the majority of the [38:54] Palestinians in the West Bank right now, [38:56] >> what passport do you travel on? a [38:58] Jordanian one. [38:59] >> I still have the Jordanian one and the [39:02] Israeli travel document. [39:04] >> The Israeli travel document, I'm using [39:06] it only when I leave Israel and I will [39:08] come back to Israel. [39:10] >> And your children, what do they travel [39:11] on? [39:11] >> The Jordanian pass [39:12] >> also Jordanian. They got it through you. [39:14] >> Yes. [39:15] >> I see. [39:16] >> Yeah. We still can keep talking till [39:18] tomorrow. [39:19] >> That's correct. Forgive me for [39:21] philosophizing, but this is what I do. [39:24] The issue in life is truth, [39:27] >> right? [39:29] >> It's painful. [39:31] >> Truth is painful. [39:32] >> Yes. But for people like you and me, [39:35] it's it's liberating. [39:36] >> For very few people we For very few [39:39] people. [39:39] >> For very few people. [39:40] >> Yes. [39:41] >> This is so important. [39:43] >> Yeah. [39:44] >> That's what it all boils down to, [39:46] >> right? [39:47] >> We And we we just live in in the world [39:49] of lies about the Middle East, about [39:52] everything else. I mean it it but that [39:54] but we're talking now about the Middle [39:56] East. [39:59] The situation the the objective [40:02] situation of a Palestinian under Israeli [40:05] rule is good [40:08] >> much better than is under any other Arab [40:11] country. [40:11] >> Yes. Exactly. [40:12] >> Yeah. I can speak it very proudly and [40:15] loudly. Would the angry Palestinians in [40:18] in the parliament in the Knesset would [40:21] they agree with what you just said [40:24] >> between themselves? [40:25] >> Yes. Between themselves. [40:26] >> Yeah. Of course. Of course. Of course. [40:28] You know these people getting a salary a [40:30] salary of over [40:33] $4,000 a month. [40:35] >> Come on. This is paradise. [40:37] >> You don't you don't you don't make that [40:39] in Lebanon. [laughter] [40:42] >> You couldn't make it in Ramla. in Ramla. [40:45] You could [40:45] >> That's right. [40:46] >> Yeah. [40:47] >> Oh my god. You are a joy, my friend. [40:51] >> Thank you. [40:51] >> You really are a joy. [40:53] >> Thank you. [40:54] >> Let me philosophize one more time before [40:56] I say thank you to you officially. [41:00] >> One of the not one of the greatest perk [41:03] of all of my work is meeting wonderful [41:06] people and you are one of them. [41:09] >> Thank you so much. It's a pleasure. [41:10] >> So, God bless you. [41:11] >> Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. [41:14] Thank you. Thank you. [41:15] >> Basamided is a major Palestinian figure [41:17] and journalist and writer, but most [41:19] important a truth seeker. And I don't [41:22] know if there's a difference between [41:24] courage and truth seeeking. [41:26] >> Right. [41:27] >> I don't think there is. I'm Dennis [41:29] Prager. This is the Fireside Chat. I'll [41:32] see you next week. [41:34] >> This has [music] been Timeless Wisdom [41:35] with Dennis Prager. Visit [41:37] dennisprager.com for thousands of hours [41:40] of Dennis's lectures, courses, and [41:42] classic radio [music] programs and to [41:44] purchase Dennis Prager's Rational [41:46] Bibles. [41:48] [music] [41:50] We want to take just a second to thank [41:52] the team at Life Audio for their [41:53] partnership with us on the podcast. 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