Thomas Friedman on Iran, Israel and Preventing a ‘Forever War’

Will Israel and Iran’s unprecedented attacks escalate into a wider mideast conflict? A “forever war”? This week, columnist Tom Friedman joins the hosts to unpack the latest developments, what it means for Gaza, and the implications for the region writ large.

A full transcript of this audio essay will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.

Mentioned in this episode:

[Documenting-life]

Tom is incorrect - Gantz and Eisencot agree on the American proposal (Gantz basically visited the US a month ago to discuss this with the US administration). Bin is reluctant to do so out of fear of loosing his coalition. And this will be one of these worst decision Bibi died in this war.

[EdoRiver]

Someone keeps saying, All wars come to an end, eventually.😢

[mahdilamb]

There were literally genuine attempts to find middle ground in the nineties and even then Israel described Palestine's aspirations of statehood to be capped at "a state minus". It's not so much that a two state solution is difficult as much as it is impossible. If the state enables the development of illegal settlements into the west bank, it has no desire to give any level of political identity to the Palestinians who's land it is.

[willdon.]

I don't understand why my moderate comment has disappeared, when many rabid anti ones left. Why?

[criticalobserver]

Matter of opinion isn’t that all of NYT?

[tb]

A face-saving gesture followed up by a face-saving gesture. Nothing ever happens gang got this one right.

[Nateasnay]

Ohhh now he wants to stop forever war, not 20 years ago when Americans were going to middle east👍

[HerrFrankenstein]

If you could remove religiously inspired ambitions from the situation, they would have nothing to fight about

[eliashe]

"Iran hoped 😢 its rockets would hit"

This seems like a really silly take. You do not telegraph your attacks unless you want them to fail.

[gibransirat]

Oh Tom you silly goose... It's amazing that he has a job at one of the most prestigious papers in the world. Do people actually take Tom *wrong about everything* Friedman seriously?

[psurrett]

When Islam returns the Temple Mount to Israel, there may be peace.