Israel & Palestine | The War Against Hamas | Peter Hitchens

In this conversation, John sits down with journalist and author Peter Hitchens to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. This conversation was filmed on the 26th of October.

While Hitchens labels himself as 'pro-Israel' he argues against their current course of action as both politically and militarily disastrous. He also contends that being anti-Zionist does not equate to being anti-Semitic. Moreover, Hitchens is a self-proclaimed 'free speech absolutist' which he discusses in the context of anti-Semitic speech and the ongoing political challenges facing Britain.

Hitchens currently writes for The Mail on Sunday and has contributed to numerous other newspaper outlets. He has published various books, including The Abolition of Britain, The Rage Against God, The War We Never Fought, The Phoney Victory, and his most recent book, A Revolution Betrayed: How Egalitarians Wrecked the British Education System.
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00:00 Intro
00:27 Introducing Peter Hitchens
00:58 Why a two-state solution wouldn't work
4:55 Why do some Palestinians support Hamas?
7:04 'It is absurd to think you can get rid of Hamas'
9:00 'You can't destroy an idea using physical force'
12:01 Does being anti-Israel equal anti-Semitic?
13:32 The unashamed anti-Semites
16:06 Why freedom of speech matters
19:06 Israel's survival depends on the West
22:00 What happens next in the Middle East?
24:55 What if Iran becomes a nuclear power?
26:42 You can support Israel and still criticise them
30:00 The world is in a state of 'permacrisis'
33:20 The infamous 'Rivers of Blood' speech
35:45 Extremism breeds extremism
37:25 The problem of immigration in the UK
38:50 France's migrant problem
41:30 'There is nothing to hope for'
46:50 The West is in a worse position than before WW2
48:28 'The New World'
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Conversations feature John Anderson, former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, interviewing the world's foremost thought leaders about today's pressing social, cultural and political issues.

John believes proper, robust dialogue is necessary if we are to maintain our social strength and cohesion. As he puts it; "You cannot get good public policy out of a bad public debate."

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[mohamedali]

If you ever feel useless, remember it took 20 years, 3 trillion dollars,
and 4 US presidents to replace the
Taliban with the Taliban

[paullacey]

I really appreciate an interviewer who asks a question then shuts up until the answer is given.

[landofthesilverpath]

Shameful how Peter slandered Enoch Powell, like that! And the reality is that if it weren't for him, no politician would have said anything about immigration! No one was speaking for the British, he gave them a voice and he staved off mass immigration until Blair!

[yehudaschryer]

It's true that Israel would have had more global sympathy had it swown more restraint towards Gaza, and yet Peter is wrong, as he fails to take into account the middle-eastern arab mentality. It seems he had in mind something like the Swiss army instead. A moderate "intelligent" response from Israel's side is sure to be iterpreted by surrounding hostile arab parties as a sign of weakness, and it's prone to encourage them to venture into a yet another Hamas-Isis inspired venture, thinking they can get away with it for cheap. It's not a speculation, this is what has happened every time that the moderate entities on both sides have attempted to negotiate a peaceful solution of the conflict. Gaining popularity among the West in the long run is hardly a counterweight to the immediate danger that it would create to Israel. Peter also fails to grasp the extent of the trauma experienced by the Israelis. After the government/army/intelligence failed to defend its borders the people of Israel need to be shown proof that the state has regained control of their security. Otherwise Israelis will be doomed to live in fear that a similar thing could happen again anywhere, at any given moment and without warning. So as bad as it may look from the outside, a forceful and terrible response from Israel is in fact the intelligent and civilized think to do. Regretfully it won't take long before Europe will learn the same lesson, the Arab demographic growth within it is like bubbling vulcano that thakes full advantage of the Europeans' moderate disposition in order to take over. The vulcano may be dormant at the moment, true, but the question is not wether it will erupt or not, the question is only when.

[robertaelliott]

Multiculturalism has been an accepted situation by the British population but isn’t it one sided? Immigrants who have escaped their unwanted country fly the very flags of the country they have turned their back on. Why aren’t they staying in that same country and support it and make it grow? No they want a quick boost to their way of living but do not want to belong to their new country.

[jonmaestro]

Trying to understand - if the current response by Israel is the wrong one, then what would he recommend Israel do which would protect its citizens?

[jackominty]

Once again, Peter doesn't disappoint.

[ipsizm]

This is the best version of Peter Hitchens. Thank you.

[tee]

John Anderson .. thank you for bringing to all your followers the best minds on top topics in a calm fashion with reason

[Le_Trouvere]

But he didn't say if Enoch was actually correct that this is how it would turn out. Hitchens here i feel is completely wrong about integration. We have parallel societies running alongside our own with their own languages, beliefs, and values. Then we have the grooming scandals that went on for DECADES! So disappointing to hear Peter ignore this. the pro palestine demonstrations we're seeing show this lack of integration further, we've seen deep anti semitism and people displaying Al-Qaeda and hamas flags !

[peterallum]

Hitchens fails to recognise the threat of immigration and the rise of Islam.Once I listened, now I have moved on to those who actually know rather than, with Hitchens, acting as though he knows.A great act but sounding more and more tired.

[EmilyBrownstone-ulun]

Peter, hearing your voice so similar to your brother Christopher was amazing for me! I miss him dearly! I know you and your brother had many differences but in this, given my own listening to your brother, I sense he would be proud! Thank you for speaking and continuing on! 🥲

[Monkeyuface]

Would have been great to hear his brother Christopher's opinion on this current situation, long may he rest in peace 😢

[afiqzikri]

If Jewish people were expelled from Europe and went to Argentina, South Africa or Uganda and went in and took their land you would have Hamas in all of these places.

[Haggis]

I don't know if I've commented on your interviews before, John. This is just to say that I appreciate them. For what it's worth, thanks.

[kjr]

I appreciate very much Peter Hitchens's thoughts and expose on this current issue! He is always an intelligent voice, even if you don't agree with everything he is saying!

[shauncarter]

Great channel. John is so subtlety effective at initiating interesting conversations. So sick of activist journalism.

[afrusali]

Big respect for Peter good to hear from someone who has thought about a whole lot of issues very inspirational 🙏🏾

[alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

I disagree with Peter over Powell, as I think history has shown that he has been right about the demographic change in the UK and how that has effected social cohesion.

[jumblestiltskin]

Id normally agree on a lot Hitchens says, but i disagree about immigration and integration. I have seen plenty, and we are undoubtedly under constant attack and critisism from within by these minority causes. Not all but many. Social trust is very low and theres no doubt that sooner or later a "reckoning" will occur.