“Prospects have never been better for settling the Israel-Palestine conflict,” argues Norman Finkelstein, the controversial scholar and author of The Holocaust Industry and Method and Madness.
But after more violence, yet another round of failed talks and 20 years of Israeli land annexation, is the two-state solution really still an option?
In this episode of Head to Head, Mehdi Hasan challenges Norman Finkelstein on his proposal for resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict, and explores whether he has changed his tone on some of his more incendiary criticism of Israel.
Once described as an ‘American Radical’, Finkelstein has also been branded by some a liberal Zionist, for his opposition to the one-state solution and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, which he vehemently describes as “a cult.”
But does the BDS movement violate international law, and does it really aim to dismantle the Israeli state?
Joining the discussion are Salma Karmi-Ayyoub, a leading Palestinian activist and human rights lawyer in London; Jeff Halper, the director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions in Jerusalem; and Oliver Kamm, a writer and journalist at The Times and The Jewish Chronicle newspapers, and outspoken supporter of Israel.
Norman Finkelstein photo courtesy of Don J. Usner
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The fundamental problem in a two states solución is demographic. Modern Jewish families have very few children whilst Palestinians have several children, some reaching the dozen limit. Only orthodox Jews venture into having large families, and they are not very popular. In a two states solución within a democratic framework, Palestinians would over rule the Jewish community, and this conflict dates back to Abraham and his two sons, Ishmael and Isac, the Palestinian and the Jewish nations respectively.
This “conflict” only goes back to the founding of Israel. Prior to Israel being founded, everyone lived together fine in that time. The Jewish ethnostate is the problem.
Garbage bro, stop taking sides piers and look at the facts.
A whole lot of utter fools in the audience
Nope only Israel whole West need to boycott whole west.
Agree
From river to sea this the only flag you see 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱
🤮
Dr Norman is gem ❤no body can ever beat him on this issue
Finkelstein argues in a logical and factual manner with specific knowledge in so many avenues of this topic. Yet, all the people and news guy can do is get mad and use ad hominems.
Norm sits at the right hand of god. All others look on.
What I don’t like About Mehdi is that he interrupts a lot. Why not let him speak. Even if I agree with Mehdi, I just wish he stops interrupting.
If only they could divert the Jordan river somehow to devide the two nations , like the Welsh did with England !!
Like Russia have with China. ..
I support the 1 state solution, which is what Palestinians want. But I did understand his position. He is saying lets get something realistic and achievable now. But the reality is Israel will never agree. Israel will bring an end to themselves by their own hand.
yeah i was going to say. Israel has made too many enemies.
I was born muslim raised in america and understand congress and other western nations have been paid off by israel.
But I understand as an american that aside from providing weapons america will never enter this war.
And the thing is weapons arent about to win israel this war. Their behaviors (and to be fair their european heritage) has garnered enough hatred through the muslim empires. Between hezbollah, hamas, iran, the houthi, the turks I got a feeling israel will get leveled entirely. Feel bad for the civs that want peace.
The crazier thing is the west wont bat an eye. behind closed doors the politicians will probably sigh a breath of relief. Its like if loan sharks were to go out of business. In the most extreme case some will be upset that they lost their euro settlement in the middle east. But honestly they could probably just garner further relations with the saudis and maybe get more politicians on saudi staff (doubtful). But If i were a western nation I would probably just let Israel go. They way out of bounds when it comes into falling in line with NATO and the UN They’ve made too many enemies that can flatline them now as well.
If the west wants oil that bad in 2023 its probably better to deal with the muslim nations and offer actual negotiations instead of constantly bending the knee to israeli money.
Dr. Norman is no different in his approach and attitude as : Neville Chamberlain had in dealing with Hitler . Hitler wrote in his book what he planned to do . Today is no different , only the persons and lands are different , but the goals are the same . Hamas , Hezbollah, and Iran tell Israeli and the world very openly, get rid of the Jews PERIOD . A two state solution is rejected by God in Joel 3: 2 . Israeli will very soon be given by God of Israel , the land from the Nile River to the Euphrates River .
Everyone watching this , just Imagine now , The Lord and only Saviour Jesus Christ watching these Humans debating / Arguing over his land that he gave to the Jews and when he returns ( 2nd. Advent ) what will he do . I’ll answer that , the Battle of ARMAGEDDON. Then he will REIGN for a 1 ,000 years from Jerusalem, with a ” Rod of Iron .”
Mehdi Hassan shows himself to be unable to rise to the occasion. His antics are pathetic.
Time to arrest Netanyahu!
the criticism of norman is just since neither a one state or a two state solution is practicak would norman say their should have been a french and arabic algeria? utter madness
Sir Norman Frankenstein was striving for the freedom of Palestinian & a impeccable voice against oppression for a long time. Though i noticed him recently from the ongoing genocide on Palestinian & Israelis barbarism lead me to sir Norman. Palestanian issues made me worries about our so called humanitarian leaders hypocrisy & double standard on Palestine issue. I also ashamed of myself for being helplessly witness the most horrifying & atrocious massacre on the people of Gaza i am really ashamed for being helpless but how could our leaders slept at night when they are also involved in child slaughtering some may ask how ? By not protesting against savages like Israel.
What we are urging today sir Frankenstein was suggesting the same solution 8 years ago basically sir was 8 year ahead of us in terms of thinking
There already was boycott by Arab states, then secondary and ternary boycotts. What happened to these boycotts? Ha-ha-ha…
OMG THIS GUY PREDICTED GAZA BOMBARDMENT IN 2023, BECAUSE EVERYTHING BAD STARTED ON 7/10
❤isrEl.had
His.chance.but.mess.up.what.does.he.expect
The problem is free land, there is huge money to be made evicting Palestinians and it makes settlers a powerful interest group.
One state is the morally right solution, whereas the two state is a concession that countries do regarding Israel to stop them from massacring Palestinians. Jeff Halper was right when he said the 2 state consensus is not static, is an equilibrium that can change rapidly, such as the context in which I’m writing this. Finkelstein is taking a more pragmatic approach, he thinks more like a scientist 2+2=4. His opinion is not right or wrong, is a matter of strategy. I respect him for his good disposition to debate even if I prefer pushing for a one state agenda. Israel has no right to exists as a country. Israeli jews, on the other hand, will have a right to exist peacefully, equally and without retaliation in Palestine or wherever they want to.
Loser
Question so why did those people leave Israel or if they didn’t leave were the taken and if they were taken who took them because of the Palistians have been there then why do the other people think they belong when biblically there clearly don’t belong
During English occupation of India after it was clear that the English were finish in India The representative of the colonizer ask Gandhi what is that you won’t us to do? Gandhi just looked at the general and said simply pickup your tools and live India!!therefore sense the UN has the map of the 1967 accord the Zionist simply pac there tools and live Palestine period this mascara must stop now it is sickening it is fascistic. Dr Norm you are so on point-in every issue and so principled I Respect you with all my Heart I wish you can be the president of the world
I don’t mind Mehdi that much but he asked more awful questions than good ones
Why are white people even there
4:08 Man has been to the Moon
And Palestine will be One Again
Israel Will Be None AGAIN
…this feels like my old man and me, looking at two sides.
OH…… COME ON……❗️❗️❗️❗️
LET THE WORLD BE THE REAL JUDGE TO SPEAK OUT ON THE GREAT INJUSTICE OF GREAT BRITAIN NOT PLAYING FAIR IN FAVOURING OVER ISRAEL MORE ….. THAN PALESTINANS PEOPLE ❗️❗️❗️❗️
HOW CAN THEY CALLED IT …..PLAYED BY. INTERNATIONAL LAWS ❗️❗️❗️❗️❓️❓️❓️
WHAT KIND OF LAWLESS ACT WAS THAT TO BE CONSIDERED AS…..LEGAL ❓️❓️❓️
GREAT BRITAIN NEVER GAVE PALESTINE A VOICE OR EVEN TO SPEAK OUT OVER THE ISSUES ON DIVISION OF LANDS…….. WAY BACK BEFORE 1950s ❓️❓️❓️
IT WAS DONE IN GREAT DISHONESTY AND IN GREAT COLUSION WITH ISRAEL ❗️❗️❗️
WAS THAT CALLED…… PLAYING BY INTERNATIONAL LAWS DISPLAYED OUT WHEN LANDS BELONGING TO PALESTINANS WERE ROBBED AND STOLEN ….CONSIDERED AS LEGAL ❓️❓️❓️
HOW COULD LAWS FAVOURING MORE TO ISRAEL….THAN TO PALESTINANS ESPECIALLY LANDS RIGHTFULLY BELONGED TO THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE ❓️❓️
STEALING OF LANDS………ARE ALWAYS DEAD WRONG ❌️❌️❌️❌️❗️❗️❗️❗️
AND GREAT BRITAIN IN CAHOOT WITH ISRAEL ❗️❗️❗️
UTTER BULLSHIT ❗️❗️❗️
GREAT BRITAIN FAVOURED ISRAEL TO LORD OVER THE PALESTINANS PEOPLE…..STOLE LANDS BELONGING TO THE PALESTINANS….AND HAD THE AUDACITY TO SIMPLY GAVE ISRAEL THE POWER OF AUTHORITY OVER PALESTINE ❗️❗️❗️.
WHERE WERE PALESTINANS VOICE ❓️❓️❓️
FOR 75 FREAKING LONG LONG YEARS OF SUFFERING AND MISTREATMENT BY ISRAEL THE BARBARIANS…….POOR PALESTINANS LIVING LIKE MISTREATED DOGS ❗️❗️❗️❗️
SO MUCH THANKS TO GREAT BRITAIN AND HER DESPICABLE WAYS TOWARDS PALESTINANS…..FAVOURING ISRAEL OVER PALESTINANS ❗️❗️❗️
WHAT EVER GENOCIDE HAPPENING TODAY…..GREAT BRITAIN IS ACCOMPLICE OF ISRAEL TO THE CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY ❗️❗️❗️
GREAT BRITAIN ….IS HEAD OF COMMONWEALTH NATIONS …IS UTTERLY DESPICABLE AND INSANE TO SUPPORT BARBARIC ISRAEL EXTERMINATION OF WHOLE PALESTINANS RACE FROM THE FACE OFF THE EARTH ❗️❗️❗️❗️
GREAT BRITAIN SEEKING GREAT RESPECT AMD INTEGRITY FROM COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES ….MUST NOW ACT IN GREAT HONESTY TO RETURN STOLEN LANDS BACK TO PALESTINANS ❗️❗️❗️❗️
ISRAEL CANNOT SIMPLY GO ON GREAT GENOCIDE
…..IT IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL TO KILL INNOCENT CHILDREN UNDER SO CALLED INTERNATIONAL LAWS OR WHATEVER LAWS ❗️❗️❗️❗️
……..WHAT A REAL JOKE TO STEAL, TO KILL, TO PLUNDER ALL IN THE NAME OF ,LAW❓️❓️❓️❓️
WHAT KIND OF BARBARIC COUNTRY DID THAT ❗️❗️❗️❗️👹👹👹👹
question around 38:10 Boy was he right it did get a lot worse.
I have boycotted Israeli goods as a response to Israeli massacre in Palestine. When powerful nations are undone, it is my small gesture of solidarity with the Palestinians. I feel great to be a part of ‘no to Israel’ movement as my protest against a rouge nation
Norman is a fair minded humanitarian. Big respect.
1888 i think the talk of an Israeli state began
1945 ish 7million jews killed
1948 enough power to steal Palestine with america and Britain’s help which are the 2 countrys who want this 1 sided massacre to continue, which is very succipious in my eyes and ive always said zionists are the grandchildren of the natzis
😢😢😢
Would be good for Al Jazeera to have Norm back again.
I love Norm, I’ve learned more from him, on how to argue for the Palestinians, and mostly the truth, than any others. Besides, he is hilarious!
This man is a rock of knowledge,logic,and commonsense.
Talk some serious BS.
If palestine is not a state.isreal is not a state.
sick idiot
Norman made yet another so called “expert’ interviewer look a fool.
If I was a powerful figure in a world whose setup did not IMPRESS ME😂, which is the case, as my perspective purports as a believer in Christ; I would submit and do, the following. DO NOT FOCUS ON A MANMADE SOLUTION, WITH THE SAME TIRED WRONG ATTEMPTS TO FIX A SEEMINGLY ELUSIVE CORRECT FIT. It’s like a Rubic;s Cube. I’m going to parse my solution as follows. Donald Trump came to his position as President with EXPERIENCE in ” the world.” Despite the high I Q, and control over the military, he faced the DUG IN ENEMY OF SATAN’S LAIR. The lair that took the life of President John F. Kennedy. The world’s ownership by evil lay in worldwide pedophilia as a key to find the golden fleece. But the U S MILITARY was also LONG corrupt at the top. The world’s underworld plotted against exposure for hundreds of years. THIS TIME however, the ALMIGHTY WILL of God is in place. MANY KNOW HOW THE BEAST SYSTEM OF EARTH HAS WORKED , but is now fighting with it’s last breath. That system has been operating out of Europe successfully through the devil’s manifested power in Rome, London and Belgium. That manifested COPORATION is a ‘ spiritual entity, ‘ which has been MILITARILY encountered since early in Trump’s Presidency. The final arrow against this rnemy, lies in retrieving the golden fleece, which is the BREAKING AND TAKEDOWN OF THE BEAST SYSTEM GOLD IS THE COMMODITY INTENDED BY GOD TO ESTABLISH ORDER in civilization. It has been the worshipped and resultantly stole object of the world;s adversaries. This included First Knox in the Unjted States. Kept secret from all us Americans. In the course of eventual busting up of the satanically entrenched strongholds worldwide , of the oedophilia, much torture and killings of children was uncovered across the globe. More than the American military assisted in the rescue war against a literal devil. Removing Trump was vital to the sustaining of the Beast System; which is monetary. DIVERSiAN HAS BEE😅N THE TACTIC USED ON YOU, THEWORLD’S PEOPLES.. This includes, not suprisingly, Israel. It has been the convergence of the powers of lighht and darkness; with the darkness successfully posing as the light. Buttressing this millenium long charade has been the inclusion of participation of the United States, in a major role in the evil running of our world. The best PR kept you in the dark America. The solution to the post reveal of the Beast System and the beginning of God’s installation of a repriev for humankind’s worship of the devil’s system is going to encompass the solution to the Arab-Israeli War. Importanty, it will not be voluntary on the part of the participants. This installation of God;s system on Earth, will have the returned gold given to all people for their enjoyed existence by their creator. A religious institution imposter in world history is going to be exposed as the evil enablement and I trinsic lead in the deception of the world’s peoples. The truth shall be known and the nation’s shall assume their intended coexistence. Much remains presently covered, about to soon be unveiled. Shocking can;t describe it. The good version of financial control shall be shown to the world, the Global Reset. It will immediately solve the Middle East debacles if the ages and the straying of tge rest off the world from their God given rights and purposes on this Earth.
Is it time for Joe Biden and his pro-Israeli advisors to step down?
Is there any Palestinian political party that doesn’t call for killing Jews?
BOYCOTT!!! Try to help Palestine with your money instead.
Finkelstein is brilliant !
Israel snd US décisions should not be imposed on Palestinians
18:00 We can recognize Israel’s right to statehood, but not their right to be an apartheid state.
It seems as if it would be logical to develop best and worst case scenarios for both a one and two state solution and objectively look at how best to achieve the positive cases and avoid the worst of the negative cases — and then make a determination on what path to take for one or two states?
It’s illegal to boycott Israel in the United States. They passed a law to that effect in violation of the US Constitution.
And im surprised to that point where i see a triangle with in eye on us dollar
What does it represents
Thanks.
“Most Zionists Don’t Believe That GOD Exists, But They Do Believe He Promised Them PALESTINE.” — Ilan pappe
An Israeli said, “What separates a Palestinian from animals?” A Palestinian responded, “The Wall.”
After decades of supporting Palestinians. Now, I am boycotting Qatar and other groups that profit from the Status Quo. The last thing the these Palestinian multi-millionaires want is PEACE.
Mahdi Hasan I don’t like the way you constantly interrupt Mr Finkelstien, let him make his points I’m interested in what he has to say.
History has shown that the Jews were being treated well under the Muslim occupation & under the Roman Empire ruling many Jews were being annihilated & so forth when the Romans were all embraced Christian faith. The British government is the cause of the present situation when deciding to allow the Jews to settle in the state of Israel in 1948 & allowing the recognition of Zionism to form a state in Palestine. The British government has made many bad mistake when they surrendered their colonies, for example killing & annihilated all the aborigines in Australia & befriend the Communist Party in Malaya when they fought against the Japanese & allow the Chinese & Indians to become citizen in order to solve their problems they created. They don’t want the indigenous people to be in total power like the aborigines of Australia & the Malays in Malaya. Think about it.
I’m sorry this is a completely cherry picked snow job of a supposed debunking of a map that illustrates the reality of land being denied to the indigenous peoples and given to a group of foreigners backed by the British empire.
Stormin Norman!
Norman Finkelstein is glorious! Thanks for sharing.
It’s highly impolite to interrupt Prof. FINKELSTEIN.
What a legend and wonderful man he is.
He always have time to help showing and defining the truth.
Just Iconic
Exelent information thank you
LONG LIVE ISRAEL
The fact that they’re boycotting Israel makes them believe that Israel is a state !
If US and Europe really desire for ME if not world peace they must impose upon Israel the collective political decision of the international community. And they must state point blank that Israel stands alone without external support from any state if it rejects 2 state solution..
Professor Finklestein is so smart and handsome 😍 ❤
Why does nobody talk about the oil and gas that’s been found in gaza and west bank? This war is about Israel greed for someone elses possessions.
Can’t stand people who constantly interrupt whoever is speaking regardless of who it is. It robs the audience of the full concept or idea that is aborted in order to answer something that can be answered fully after the statement had been made.
Im just watching this now for the first time, and my first impression is what a jerk Medhi Asan is or was. His style was so beligerante and obnoxious, that I had to stop watching. It seems that Medhi was trying to prove that Normal is a fool? good luck with that! Medhi was so aggressive, he wouldn’t allow Norman to even complete his answers and had an aggressive tone from the outset. I thought Medhi was better, more fair, and open minded, but after watching this, I place him with mainstream media pundits that are on a corporate agenda it seems. 3 cheers for Finklestein for even appearing as a guest.
Thank you Dr. Norman Finkelstein. Good thinker. International Law needs to be observed. The world is now watching. We aren’t ignoring Palestine anymore. US needs to get their act together and represent Americans and not Israel. US needs new management. Not Biden. Not Trump. Not AIPAC these settlers need to leave US if they disobey international law. No longer Americans.
Shame on John Kerry. Elitist.
Interviewer needs to let Norm complete his answer. Disrespectful.
Anti Zionists is not the same as antisemitism
From an Islamic point of view, boycotting is not encouraged, because it was not done by the Prophet (upon whom be peace), and it can make life difficult for many people , not just the enemy.
Well my country have their own product this boycott help local business we feel at ease not supporting war.. Our country didn’t boycott but most of our people did..
BOYCOT ISRAEL ? YES!YES!YES!
Norman
Why would you want to move israeli settlers. If they want to live in new Palestina state , let them be. Why do you have to move population, you just have to give them all rights, among others also to vote their representative in palestinian parliament. If they obey palestinian laws not a hair should be missing from their head, and the same should hold for palestinians in Izrael. Then there would be no more wars .
But no. in 21 century they want their little pure ethnicly cleansed tribal state
A two state solution would be AGAINST INTERNATIONAL LAW, for a two state solution goes clearly against the Right of Return which is enshrined in International Law.
And no TREATY BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS can take away any INDIVIDUAL’S rights, according to INTERNATIONL LAW: specifically, The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights!
Enough said! There is NO argument against THIS.
+++++
In case anyone doubts this, here are some relevant texts:
QUOTE
Supporters of the right of return assert it partly based on the following sources:
• “Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.” Article 13(2), Universal Declaration of Human Rights (10 December 1948).
• The Geneva Conventions of 1949.
• United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3236 which “reaffirms also the inalienable right of the Palestinians to return to their homes and property from which they have been displaced and uprooted, and calls for their return”.
• United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 affirms the necessity for “achieving a just settlement of the refugee problem”.
Although the status of Palestinian nationals/citizens after the creation of the State of Israel has been much debated, _established principles of state succession and human rights law confirm that the denationalization of Palestinians was illegal and that they retain the right to return to their places of origin._ [EMPHASIS ADDED]
END QUOTE
I hope everyone understands that the Israelis are occupying people’s from the very beginning. Please talk about what has to be done in the peaseful settings.
Bebe king of terrorists
A brilliant mind
It’s a settlement occupied by Israel terrorist
Why is it your answer is and all ways has been to attack
Nothing is a accident
How cheap by constantly using this anti semitic lavatory
Created by tge Zionest…the pharos
I don’t understand how there could possibly be a one state solution. It seems to me that in one state, the Israelis would be afraid that the Palestinians would gain control over the Jews, and the Palestinians would be afraid that Israeli Jews would continue to have control over their (Palestinian) lives, each side being afraid of being their rights denied to them.
Palestinians abandoned their prospect for 2 state since Oct 7.
Time to get moving.
There are many things that Norman says that I could not agree with more. He is an extraordinary advocate, erudite & admirably uncompromising when pushing back against the wall of misinformation regarding Israel. BUT more than once Ive seen him falter when challenged by someone raising a very valid & thoughtful point. He sometimes comes off condescending & evasive. I am so grateful to Mehdi Hasan for contesting Normans arguments for a 2 state solution in the way that he did, & criticism of the BDS. I did not find Normans response convincing. I dont know why people clapped. And he navigated Normans wordy sidetrack well which is not easy!
You cannot negotiate with Israel. It is a country built on lies and only lies and evil can come from Israel. They must give back all the land to Palestine
Many times a chiwawa barking. Pretending to be a pitbull and again, giving a warning/barking?,.,.,.
You can, I won’t!
Will you hand over all the Israeli inventions you possess when you boycott israel, or refuse to buy the next invention when it hits the market?
We certainly will not boycott Israel😊. We will do all we can to support them. You’ve made your choice. You can either bless, or curse. That’s everyone’s choice, but it doesn’t stop there. Israel are in for the long haul. They’ve been at it for 3000 years. Empires have come and gone in that time. Israel are still with us!
KAPO
He’s the real and great man in history ❤❤
I’M CURIOUS … if Palestine is their true homeland then WHY DID THE CURSED ZIONISTJEWS CONSIDER OCCUPYING Italy, a part of America, Uganda, Kenya, Northern Australia, Suriname, Madagascar, area of Japan, area of the USSR & sooo many more other countries BEFORE THE ZIONISTS CHOSE TO INVADE & OCCUPY PALESTINE???? If Palestine was their true homeland, Y DIDNT THOSE NASTY PEOPLE JUST GO TO PALESTINE 1ST?? Y CONSIDER OCCUPYING AND STEALING OTHER PEOPLES COUNTRIES??? If my religion told me that a certain place or country was my true homeland then I would have just went straight to what was promised to me…I wouldn’t have considered any other countries to steal and invade! No..Palestine DOES NOT BELONG TO THE CURSED PEOPLE! Never have! And NEVER WILL!
One state solution called Palestine is currently being restored
I don’t understand why theres a race so weak that theres a word anti semistism specially for them, I am chinese but theres no such word as anti chinenism for us
I love how Norman Finklestein gets everyone rattled. He’s so smart and intelligent.
I plan on h hosting a Podcast & one of my topics is going to be promoting “REAL” multiculturalism=mixing the races,religion’s etc…this is the ONLY way for ultimate change NOW & in the FUTURE!…The old heads have been maintaining& promoting division for financial & personal gains…ONE God & we’re ALL children of the Creator!
Single non Jewish men/tents go into the Jewish neighbourhoods & pick up a Jewish girl, or meet them at Universities etc…Start breeding with them & do your part to “Change The Narrative”. And change the faces at the dinner table!.