Milan () – Brandishing the weapon of anti-Semitism to cover up internal scandals, using Israeli citizens and foreigners who have been in the hands of Hamas for more than a year to pursue its military objectives and step on the accelerator of war, transforming Israel into a “pariah state” . Gershon Baskin, Israeli political activist, founder of IPCRI (Israel Palestine Creative Regional Initiative) and columnist for the Jerusalem Postone of the greatest experts on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, does not spare very harsh accusations against the current government. But neither does it make concessions to the Palestinian front, whose main task should be – when the truce is reached – to prepare the ground so that elections that have been “postponed for too long” can be called. However, these priorities collide with a “very weak” international community that is waiting to see what the first steps of an “unpredictable” Donald Trump will be. As mediator and protagonist of the release of soldier Gilad Shalit, who was in the hands of Hamas for almost five and a half years, and as a member of the Palestinian-Israeli delegation recently received by Pope Francis, Baskin brings to the fore the emergence of hostages, who “should have been free a long time ago.
Below is the interview he gave to :
Let’s start with what happened recently in Amsterdam, with the clashes between Israeli fans and local pro-Palestinian activists. President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of “Jew hunting”, of “pogroms”. Do you share it?
I think there are a number of different issues that intertwine. On the one hand, there is a growing anti-Semitic reaction taking hold in the world, but what has happened is more linked to what Israel is doing in Gaza and Lebanon. Events that contribute to fueling the anger of Muslims and Arabs around the world, but which is not necessarily directed against Jews, but rather against Israel [como país]. But there is a danger of putting criticism of Israel and the phenomenon of anti-Semitism on the same level, when they are two very different concepts.
In this climate of war and growing radicalization, can – and how – be critical without being accused of anti-Semitism?
Definitely! I myself maintain a critical position towards Israel, even though I am Jewish and certainly not anti-Semitic. I hold a very critical opinion regarding what is happening, regarding the terrible events that are being verified. I am firmly convinced that Israel is committing war crimes, but I think it is equally important to note that Hamas is also committing war crimes, and Hezbollah itself has committed war crimes.
The fact is that the issue of anti-Semitism has great value and, therefore, it should not be manipulated for political or war purposes.
Clear! I think it is dangerous and does a disservice to Jews around the world when [el gobierno] of Israel places the criticism leveled at it with the serious issue of anti-Semitism.
In your opinion, is it possible that the government has “used for its own benefit” what happened in Amsterdam to cover up the emerging scandal around the controversial Feldstein case and the “Bibi-leaks”, with the Israeli hostages “sacrificed” on the altar? of war?
I think it is absolutely possible, because we are in the presence of a government – that of Israel – that uses and manipulates the facts and gives free rein to the propaganda machine to spread poison and foment divisions within Israeli society and throughout the world. . The government carries out actions that are absolutely unacceptable, but at the same time it wants and tries to divert public attention from these events.
What do you think about the “Bibi-leaks” issue and the political – and war – game that seems to have been played out at the expense of the hostages?
Netanyahu was at the head of the government on the fateful day of October 7 [de 2023, cuando se produjo el ataque de Hamás a Israel] and he was primarily responsible for fueling Hamas for years, he was responsible for everything that had happened since he came to power. However, he has always refused to take the slightest responsibility for the events, and fought to prevent the creation of a commission of inquiry into the events of October 7. In a normal democracy, the chief executive would have resigned the next day; However, Netanyahu’s insistence on clinging to his seat along with his cronies and the right-wing fanatics who support him and his corrupt government shows that he is capable of anything. They do not want to take any responsibility, while they destroy the country, its economy, Israel’s ability to defend itself, the reservist soldiers in service for more than 200 days, the victims among the military… all this exceeds the threshold of tolerance.
The statements made today by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who wants total control of the West Bank by 2025, also fall within this same perspective.
Sure! They are turning Israel into a “pariah state”, forcing the international community and even Israel’s friends to deal with the country in a way that they themselves do not want. Israel’s friends in Europe do not want to turn us into an enemy, but this is the direction in which the leadership is taking us. In this picture there is a predominance of the “messianic” vision of events, the same one that considers October 7 as a “miracle” in some way inspired by God to be able to continue the policies of control and domination of Israel, expel the Palestinians and conquer all the land. They are crazy, but they believe they are acting in the name of God.
In the past, you played a leading role in the release of soldier Gilad Shalit, do you think there is room today to negotiate the release of the Hamas hostages?
At this moment, the fate of the hostages [israelíes y extranjeros] That they are still in Gaza is secondary to the Israeli government and to Netanyahu himself, who if he really wanted to bring them home he could have done it a long time ago. The price should be the withdrawal of the army from Gaza, but the prime minister refuses to take this step. And the war in Lebanon would even end, as a direct consequence of the end of the conflict in the Strip.
On the opposite front, Hamas appears to have opened itself to the presence and collaboration with Fatah in the Strip. Could this be a positive step?
No, I don’t think so. It’s a late decision. I think Mahmoud Abbas cannot go to Gaza, nor can the Palestinian Authority. Not only because Hamas cannot continue to control Gaza in any way, but also because international aid is needed for the reconstruction of the Strip, just as international peace-keeping in the region is essential. Gaza needs a government linked to neither Fatah nor Hamas, a third force with Palestinians who can prove they are responsible. One of the priority tasks for the near future is to make Palestinians choose; it is necessary to prepare Gaza and the West Bank for elections that have been postponed for too long. Unfortunately, at the moment the international community is very weak, now we have to wait and see if anything will change with the return of Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States. Everyone seems nervous because they don’t know how he will behave [el próximo ocupante de la Casa Blanca]but even Trump probably doesn’t know that at this point. Without a doubt, what is needed is greater international participation.
What do you think of the “Trump factor”?
That it is too early to say and that Trump is too unpredictable to be able to express an opinion today.
Returning to Israeli society, is there increasing radicalization after a year of war?
I don’t think the problem is the greater radicalization of society. I think it’s more divided, and people are more anxious and scarred by the trauma they’ve suffered. And in the absence of any positive step in the perspective of the peace process and negotiations, public opinion adapts to this reality that surrounds it. And the same goes for the Palestinian side. People have accommodated themselves to a narrative in which war prevails, to the collective trauma related to October 7. A change is needed, which must also come from the Palestinians. And to begin to heal the wounds, the release of the hostages is the necessary first step, although it will take decades, in addition to a new government and a new leadership. Many young people in Israel today do not see a future here.
Regarding the “Abraham Accords”, could there be a new recovery to the point of putting Israel and Saudi Arabia back at the same table?
Saudi Arabia is, without a doubt, the most important country in the region and can use its great influence in a more determined and decisive way than in the past, but here it also remains to be seen how it will move taking into account the new leadership in the United States. Joined [con Trump]. It must also be said that 70% of Saudis are under 30 years old and thanks to social networks they see what is happening, the reality of Gaza, and that is also why at the meeting [ayer entre los países árabes] Muhammad bin Salman was somehow forced to use the word “genocide” to refer to the Strip.
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