Israel’s Ghost Towns

A first-hand account of Israel today.

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Graeme Wood is in Israel to report on the aftermath of the October 7 atrocities for The Atlantic. He joins Jamie to share his impressions of Israel from before and after the attack, including:

-records (and recordings) of the pogrom

-the alienation between the Israeli state and the Israeli people

-the participation ultra-Orthodox Jews in the war effort

-the Hamas/ISIS comparison

-civilian deaths in Gaza

-Graeme Wood’s profile at The Atlantic

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Comments (10)
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  1. Sunilsaha2

    That was a good one.

    I personally support Israel dismantling Hamas in Gaza.

    But I also believe that the Palestinian side must be better understood to ever achieve peace.

    To that end, I found this podcast helpful:

    https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/07/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-amjad-iraqi.html

    I think it would be useful for The Dispatch to also explore the Palestinian perspective while still showing strong support for Israel's actions in Gaza.

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  2. Wap3pcomm

    Grateful for this explainer.

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  3. Phillyex1

    This was an excellent interview. I look forward to more.

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    Michael Berkowitz

    Well done, and welcome, Mr. Weinstein.

    Most of the interview describes a reality that I recognize - which is already a cut above most Middle-East reporting and analysis. The one part that rang false was the statement about the security forces committing extra manpower to the West Bank to deal with the violence of radical settlers (Mr. Wood probably didn't say "radical", but the fact is that we're talking about a very small number of the hundreds of thousands of Jews living over the Green Line). While I have no reason to doubt the uptick in violence from that direction, he left out that we're coming off of several months of heightened terrorist activity coming from Jenin, Huwara and other Palestinian areas, so there was already a beefed-up security presence and much of the settler activity can be seen in that context (not to excuse any crimes, mind you, but to understand the situation).

    Aside from that, I have a question: I believe that toward the end Mr. Wood mentioned the Gazan civilian casualties and said something like "by all accounts" when indicating their number. I wonder what "accounts" there are at this point aside from Hamas's.

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  5. Binyaminazomer

    Jamie,

    First, welcome to the Dispatch. I look forward to your future interviews. Second, appreciate the Dispatch and, especially the thoughtful way it covers very complex issues. Like you said on the show last week, there is no other media platform which matches my political world view more than this one.

    Having lived in Israel for more than 13 years, there has never been a time in which we have been more proud to be raising our four daughters here than we are now. I think Graeme confused disappointment by many with the government and grave concern with how the murderous attacks of October 7, could have happened, with, as he described "hatred for the State." Nothing could be further from the truth.

    Israelis are united, not just in our belief of the necessity of defeating Hamas, but in our love for the State and the realization that its existence is essential not only for those of us who live here but for the safety and security of world Jewry. Once again, we have been reminded that, notwithstanding the current support of the Biden administration and encouraging lip-service from other world leaders, ultimately, we have only ourselves to rely upon.

    While some leaders maybe confused into thinking that "L'etat, c'est moi," Israelis are not confused and stand firmly on the side and in support of the State. Hatred is reserved only for those who murdered, raped and tortured our people.

    Keep up the good work and I look forward to hearing more from you in the future.

    Best,

    Bini

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      SandyG

      Dear Bini, I am a pro-Israel - because I'm pro-democracy - liberal. But I have to challenge your statement that ultimately Israel has only itself to rely upon. I did a quick search and came up with this fact: Annual foreign military financing grants from the United States represent about 16% of the Israeli military budget, according to the Congressional Research Service. What would happen to Israel's defense if those funds were withheld (which I am not advocating).

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      1. Binyaminazomer

        Sandy,

        There is no doubt that Israel has friends in the world, first and foremost the United States. And, no doubt that today, US support for Israel remains strong. However, that is not guaranteed to be the case in the future. One need only look where the younger voices in the Democratic party are headed. I refer you to Jonah's interview with Fanklin Foer last week in which, as I recall, he recognizes that President Biden might be "the last Zionist." I don't know if he meant that as the last Zionist in the Democratic party or more broadly. I assume he meant in the Democratic Party or the last Zionist president.

        Nevertheless, while US defense assistance to Israel is a critical element of Israel's security budget, at this time, it would seem to me just as important that the US give Israel the time it needs to complete its war aims. That would be mean vetoing UNSC resolutions seeking to impose a cease fire. I have no doubt that such vetoes will be forthcoming in the weeks ahead. The question is whether they will be forthcoming in the months ahead if and when Israel's interests diverge from the administration's, either geopolitically or politically.

        At any rate, I did not mean to diminish the importance of US aid or friendship.

        I appreciate your support for Israel and for democracy. Thanks for the discussion.

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          SandyG

          Got it. As far as I'm concerned, much of our youth is woefully ignorant of both 20th century history and the threat to democracy Trump poses. This has to be remedied. I'm not sure how.

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          1. Binyaminazomer

            subscriptions to the Dispatch!!

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