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Fmr. Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben Ami Debates Outspoken
Professor Norman Finkelstein on Israel, the Palestinians,
and the Peace Process
Fmr. Israeli Foreign Minister: "If I were a Palestinian,
I Would Have Rejected Camp David"
Norman Finkelstein on the "Not-so-New New Anti-Semitism"
and Shlomo Ben Ami on Terror, Torture, and Peace
Fmr. Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben Ami Debates
Outspoken Professor Norman Finkelstein on Israel, the Palestinians,
and the Peace Process
What happens when a former Israeli Foreign Minister debates
a scholar known as one of the world's foremost critics of
Israeli policy? The answer is not what you may expect. We
spend the hour with Shlomo Ben Ami, author of "Scars
of War, Wounds of Peace," and Norman Finkelstein, author
of "Beyond Chutzpah". They joined us in our firehouse
studio for a wide-ranging exchange. We discussed the origins
of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, to the Oslo Peace Process,
right up to the present. [includes rush
transcript]
What happens when a former Israeli Foreign Minister debates
a scholar known as one of the world's foremost critics of
Israeli policy? The answer is not what you may expect. Last
week, Shlomo Ben Ami and Norman Finkelstein joined us in our
firehouse studio for a wide-ranging exchange that lasted close
to two hours. Today, we bring you an edited version of what
they had to say.
Shlomo Ben-Ami is both an insider and a scholar. As Foreign
Minister under Ehud Barak, he was a key participant in years
of Israel-Palestinian peace talks, including the Camp David
and Taba talks in 2000 and 2001. An Oxford-trained historian,
his new book is "Scars of War, Wounds of Peace: The Israeli
Arab Tragedy." President Bill Clinton says, "Shlomo
Ben-Ami worked tirelessly and courageously for peace. His
account of what he did and failed to do and where we go from
here should be read by everyone who wants a just and lasting
resolution."
Norman Finkelstein is a Professor of Political Science at
DePaul University. His latest book is "Beyond Chutzpah:
On The Misuse of Anti-Semitism and the Abuse of History."
Leading Israeli scholar Avi Shlaim of Oxford University calls
Beyond Chutzpah "brilliantly illuminating... On display
are all the sterling qualities for which Finkelstein has become
famous."
We tried to cover as much ground as we could, from the origins
of the conflict, to the Oslo peace process, to the present.
Fmr. Israeli Foreign Minister: "If I were a
Palestinian, I Would Have Rejected Camp David"
In Part Two of our debate, former Israeli Foreign Minister
Shlomo Ben Ami and scholar Norman Finkelstein address the
intricacies of a question that has been the subject of much
debate - what happened at the Camp David peace talks in July
2000? Both sides of the Israel-Palestinian conflict say the
other rejected peace, leading to the violence that has marked
the conflict since. Ben Ami -- who was a leading member of
the Israeli negotiation team -- says he would have rejected
Camp David if he were a Palestinian, and discusses the ensuing
peace talks in Taba in January 2001. [includes rush
transcript]
Norman Finkelstein on the "Not-so-New New Anti-Semitism"
and Shlomo Ben Ami on Terror, Torture, and Peace
Norman Finkelstein argues that some supporters of Israeli
government policies have attempted to de-legitimize criticism
by disingenuously heaping the charge of anti-Semitism. Shlomo
Ben Ami defends Israel's record on human rights, and says
peace will only come about through a negotiated two-state
settlement. [includes rush
transcript]
For a copy of today’s program, call 1 (800) 881 2359.
Our website is www.democracynow.org.
Our email address is mail@democracynow.org.
Democracy Now! is produced by Mike Burke, Sharif Abdel Kouddous,
Ana Nogueira, Elizabeth Press, Jeremy Scahill and Parvez Sharma.
Mike Di Filippo is our engineer.
Thanks also to Uri Galed, Angela Alston, Orlando Richards,
Simba Russeau, Johnny Sender, Rich Kim, Joe Murgio, John Randolph,
Chris Zucker, Karen Ranucci, Denis Moynihan, Eric Rweyemamu,
Jenny Filipazzo and Isis Phillips.
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