Ta-Nehisi Coates on Visit to Israel/West Bank: “An Immoral Apartheid Regime” | Amanpour and Company

Award-winning journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates says he must confront the truth, no matter how difficult. He is doing exactly that in his new book "The Message," in which he journeys to Senegal, Israel, and the occupied West Bank. The author joins the show to discuss what he found.

Originally aired on October 3, 2024

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Amanpour and Company features wide-ranging, in-depth conversations with global thought leaders and cultural influencers on the issues and trends impacting the world each day, from politics, business and technology to arts, science and sports. Christiane Amanpour leads the conversation on global and domestic news from London with contributions by prominent journalists Walter Isaacson, Michel Martin, Alicia Menendez and Hari Sreenivasan from the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center in New York City.

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[pamlloyd]

We're living in a bizarro world where someone as brilliant as Ta-Nehisi has to defend the concept that apartheid is bad.

[joelbitton]

I am a 73 year old man and I have spent the better part of my life trying to understand why I seem to always feel a certain sadness in my heart. Then I thought, maybe this had something to do with it. Hopefully this story brings out others like me. In 1963 zionists came to my home in Casablanca Morocco, to convince my parents to send me and my little sister to Israel without them. I was 12 and my sister 9 when we started our miserable journey to the "Promised land". It destroyed our family and left me and my sister with long lasting scars neither one of us has been able to heal. Being from Morocco made it even more difficult to live in a more racist country than Morocco ever was. We had a very peaceful life as Jews living amongst Muslims in Morocco. We understood each other and helped each other. To this day, the principal advisor to King Mohamed is a Jew. But the zionists needed boddies to fill Israel and slowly claim more and more land from the Palestinians they kept displacing. The people running Israel are not Jews. True Jews would have helped the Palestinians evolve and share in their fortunes, Israel claims it is defending itself? Against whom? The people they have been displacing and opressing for 80 years? Israel, my advice to you, if you want to survive, get rid of the religious zealots who run your government and join the 21st century.

[Tosin]

This made me cry. These were good questions asked in good faith that show that he has no hateful intentions and just a clear moral compass.

[DrTIPUSUK]

I'm happy mainstream media is covering him and his book. Just hope they don't cancel him. Western media has been a disgrace throughout this whole conflict and continue to be

[TheyStillCallMeRicky]

I love his Brilliance
I love his COURAGE
I love Ta-Nehisi Coates

[Free-gr]

11:19 he hits the nail on the head with the comparison of the way White southerners defended Jim Crow. It's exactly how Israel supporters argue "how complex the situation is" or "you don't know the history" to deflect criticism of their regime.

[truthsimp]

Pray for Ta-nehisi Coates, his mainstream career is about to be challenged to the point that he may back track on what he says. But just know he’d only do it if it was a matter of life and death.

You are a brave man!

[batmanRBC]

Listening to Ta-Nehisi is a privilege.

[SamTamimi-kg]

Ta-Nehisi Coatesl God bless you. You are a true human and your commitment to justice will be your legacy.

[Blizix]

I lived in the West Bank and East Jerusalem for three months, and I came to the exact same conclusions that Ta-Nehisi Coates came to.

[kambizniamir]

We need voices like yours in this world 😍

[KarenMcMillan]

Even President Jimmy Carter shared Ta-Nehisi Coates POV. Almost to the word. There are videos of Carter declaring it’s worse than former South African apartheid in 2007. Why go after Coates for speaking his, the truth. I’ve ordered the book and will also appreciate that he wrote it for writers. 🙏🏾

[rcanoli]

How sad when lies are so deeply ingrained that truth becomes a feared enemy to be annihilated. Defending lies has unleashed horrifying consequences in Palestine/Israel; Ta-Nehisi Coates' clarity and fearlessness are essential to dismantling, deconstructing them.

edit: Thank you Mr. Coates for answering the question re: Israel's "right to exist." As he easily (and brilliantly) shows the question is meaningless.

[t.dmytryshyn]

Nelson Mandela said that Israel was an Apartheid state over 50 years ago and Bishop Desmond Tutu said that the Apartheid he saw in Gaza was worse than anything he had experienced in South Africa.

[Inga]

If it's that glaring in 10 days, that's even worse

[Lalahlannd]

Thank you brother! Thank you! Coming from a Haitian brother I salute you and respect your braveness!!

[mickey]

Proud of Ta’Nehisi. He walks the walk. But surprised these journalists act as if the viewpoint is something radical, Pres Carter arrived at the very same conclusion in his 2006 book, Palestine:Peace not Apartheid.

[whitesauce]

Coates’ moral assessment is clear and straightforward. I’m so glad that his voice is being heard.

[taylorkerig]

The way he responds to every criticism is so incisive and clear. Very few writers actually do this.

[klt]

I hate "both siding". Truth is truth.