Guest
Ofer Cassif represents the Hadash Party in the Israeli Knesset and he has been openly calling Israel’s actions in Gaza a ‘genocide’. In this extended interview, Cassif gives insights into the political climate inside Israeli society and the Israeli government. He speaks about the “subjugation” plan, a document put forth by far-right members of the Israeli government (who are now key figures in the leading coalition) which details how what he says is a plan to either ethnically cleanse greater Israel from Palestinians or have them continue living under an ever-increasing brutal occupation that makes life for Palestinians in the occupied territories unliveable. Cassif also speaks about how Netanyahu is “terrified” about proceedings at the ICJ, how Israeli society is becoming increasingly polarised, how Israel has already moved towards a “fascist” reality and how the government is using October 7th to make Israel a fully fledged “autocratic state“. He also speaks about his early life and how his political views developed despite of the cultural climate in Israel where “brainwashing” was rampant. 00:00 Intro 01:15 How has the knesset responded to you 03:40 What kind of home and society did Ofer live in 07:30 Brainwashing in Israeli society 12:30 being conscripted into the Israeli army 14:25 being the first person imprisoned to refuse to serve 17:00 Studying in London influence of Yeshayahu Leibowitz 19:30 How “Judaeo Nazism“ was born 21:45 Losing friends on October 7th and Israel's brutal reaction 24:45 Fascism becoming mainstream in Israel and police brutality 28:00 We are “in the midst of a cold civil war“ 30:30 Climate in Israel before October 7th - protests 33:00 How the government is using Gaza to make Israel an autocratic state 36:00 The subjugation plan 39:00 How would you have responded to October 7th if you were PM 41:57 Cassif's vision for a solution 44:30 What to do about settlers and right of return 48:29 Gaza, Rafah and international pressure 50:30 Netanyahu is a “psychopath“ 53:30 Biden's double standards 55:30 Factors that determine a “wider operation in Gaza“ 58:30 Netanyahu is terrified about the ICJ 1:00:30 how does international pressure impact Israeli society 1:03:00 False claims of anti-semitism 1:05:00 Will Israeli society have a reckoning 1:07:25 How the society is being split 1:10:05 Justice for Gaza - How? 1:13:15 Let's hope there is no wider operation against Rafah Subscribe to our channel: Subscribe to MEE Telegram channel to stay up to date: Middle East Eye Website: Follow us on TikTok: @middleeasteye Follow us on Instagram: Like us on Facebook: Follow us on Twitter:
