Why do so many on the Left side with Hamas - Prof. Jonathan Rynhold

Summary

The script discusses the complex issue of why some people who support human rights might side with Hamas, despite its controversial actions. It suggests that this alignment may stem from a postcolonial and Marxist worldview, where people judge morality based on which group one belongs to, rather than individual actions. The speaker argues that this perspective leads to an oversimplification of conflicts, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and calls for a more nuanced understanding that separates radical activists from moderate liberals.

Takeaways

• 🤔 The speaker questions why people who believe in human rights might side with Hamas, suggesting it could be due to a lack of information, naivety, or something more sinister.
• 🧐 The speaker points out that even though some individuals may not be overtly anti-Semitic, they still use anti-Semitic tropes and conspiracy theories, which can be harmful.
• 💡 It is suggested that the inclination to side with Hamas might be influenced by a group of highly educated, motivated activists with a postcolonial Marxist perspective.
• 🌍 The postcolonialist view frames the world as a clash between the 'first world' and the 'third world,' with Israel being seen as part of the oppressive 'white and strong' group.
• 🏛 The speaker criticizes the postcolonial approach for undermining the principles of liberal democracy by focusing on group identity rather than individual actions and beliefs.
• 📚 The postcolonialists' radical views are exemplified by quotes from Joseph Harker and John Moleno, which emphasize group identity over individual behavior and opinions.
• 🔍 The speaker notes that these radical views are not widely held by the public but are propagated by a small, dedicated group with influence in universities and civil society organizations.
• 🗣️ The speaker argues that the postcolonialists blur the lines between mainstream liberal discourse and their more radical views, which can mislead the public.
• 🛡️ The speaker calls for isolating and confronting key activists while engaging with more moderate liberals to expose the extreme values of the postcolonialists.
• 🕊️ The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing the complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the need for two states to live in peace and security.
• 📢 The speaker suggests that by highlighting the two-sided nature of the conflict and the need for mutual respect and recognition, one can challenge the postcolonialist narrative.

Q & A

What is the speaker suggesting when they mention 'Kamas'?

The speaker is likely referring to 'Hamas', a Palestinian political organization, but has misspelled it as 'Kamas'. The context suggests a discussion about support for Hamas and its implications on human rights and anti-Semitism.

Why does the speaker believe the general public may side with Hamas?

The speaker suggests that the general public's inclination to side with Hamas could be due to a combination of naivety, ignorance, or a more sinister form of anti-Semitism, rather than a well-informed stance.

What does the speaker identify as a form of anti-Semitism that is not violent but still harmful?

The speaker identifies a form of anti-Semitism where individuals may not engage in physical violence but use anti-Semitic tropes, conspiracy theories, and imagery, which can be just as harmful even if not accompanied by physical aggression.

What is the core belief of the group that the speaker identifies as supporting Hamas?

The speaker identifies a group of highly educated and motivated activists inspired by a Marxist postmodern, or more specifically, postcolonialist view of the world, which frames conflicts in terms of the first world versus the third world.

How does the speaker describe the postcolonialist perspective on morality?

The speaker describes the postcolonialist perspective as one where morality is judged by which side you are on, rather than by individual actions or beliefs, emphasizing group identity over individual behavior.

According to the speaker, what is the fundamental basis of a liberal democratic society?

The speaker states that the fundamental basis of a liberal democratic society is the belief that individual actions matter, which is in contrast to the postcolonialist perspective that focuses on group identity.

What does the speaker suggest is the key to responding to the postcolonialist narrative?

The speaker suggests that the key to responding is to isolate and confront the key activists, while also engaging with the softer liberals, driving a wedge between the two groups by exposing the extreme anti-democratic and anti-humane values at the core of the postcolonialist approach.

Why does the speaker believe it's important to show that there are two sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

The speaker believes it's important to show that there are two sides to counter the narrative that focuses solely on Israel as the 'strong' and 'wrong' side, and to promote a balanced discussion about achieving peace and security for both sides.

How does the speaker view the role of Hamas in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

The speaker views Hamas as an independent political force in the conflict that should not be erased from the discussion, and criticizes the postcolonialist approach for failing to acknowledge Hamas's role.

What is the speaker's position on the possibility of peace between Israel and Palestine?

The speaker believes that peace is possible but emphasizes that it requires recognizing the legitimacy of both sides and addressing the extreme views that hinder progress towards peace and security.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 The Complexity of Anti-Semitism and Postcolonialism

This paragraph explores the perplexing phenomenon of individuals who advocate for human rights yet find themselves sympathizing with Hamas. The speaker questions whether this stems from a lack of information, naivety, or a more sinister force such as anti-Semitism. It is suggested that while the general public might be influenced by ignorance, there is a deeper issue at play. The discourse then shifts to postcolonialism, a Marxist-inspired ideology that frames conflicts as a clash between the first and third worlds, positioning Israel as the oppressive 'white' and 'strong' entity. This perspective, the speaker argues, undermines the principles of liberal democracy by prioritizing group affiliation over individual actions and beliefs, leading to a distorted view of morality where support for the 'weak' is automatically valorized, regardless of the actions of the supported group.

05:01

📚 Postcolonialism's Influence on Public Discourse

The second paragraph delves into the impact of postcolonial theory on public discourse regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It highlights how a small but highly motivated group of activists, with significant influence in academia and civil society, propagate this ideology. These individuals often obscure their radical views by aligning them with mainstream liberal positions, creating confusion and blurring the lines between legitimate concerns for Palestinian civilians and more extreme narratives. The speaker emphasizes the need to expose and confront these activists while also engaging with more moderate liberals to differentiate between the two groups. The goal is to highlight the extreme values inherent in the postcolonial approach and to foster a balanced debate that acknowledges the complexities of the conflict, rather than reducing it to a simplistic dichotomy of oppressor and oppressed.

10:01

🕊️ The Pursuit of Peace Amidst Conflicting Narratives

In the final paragraph, the focus is on the challenges of achieving peace in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly when narratives are heavily influenced by postcolonial ideologies. The speaker argues against the notion that all responsibility lies with Israel, emphasizing the need to recognize the threats faced by the country and the importance of mutual recognition and respect for peace to be possible. The paragraph calls for a shift in the discourse, from one that demonizes one side to one that encourages a dialogue about the actions and policies of all parties involved, including Hamas. It stresses the importance of viewing the conflict as a matter that requires two states to coexist peacefully and securely, rather than as a one-sided issue of power and oppression.

Keywords

💡Human Rights

Human rights refer to the basic rights and freedoms to which all individuals are entitled, including the right to life, liberty, and security of person. In the context of the video, the term is used to question how individuals who advocate for human rights can side with Hamas, given the latter's actions that may infringe upon these fundamental rights. The script implies a disconnect between the principles of human rights and the support some people show for Hamas.

💡Naivety

Naivety is a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment, often leading to a simplistic or overly trusting view of situations. The video suggests that some members of the general public may side with Hamas out of naivety, not fully understanding the complexities of the conflict or the implications of their support.

💡Anti-Semitism

Anti-Semitism is hostility or prejudice against Jewish people. The script discusses a form of anti-Semitism that manifests in supporting Hamas, not through physical violence, but through the use of anti-Semitic tropes and conspiracy theories about Jewish control and influence. This form of anti-Semitism is subtle and often goes unrecognized by those who hold these views.

💡Postcolonialism

Postcolonialism is a theoretical framework that examines the effects of colonization on societies and cultures, focusing on the power dynamics between the colonizers and the colonized. The video describes how postcolonialism can be used to justify support for Hamas by framing the conflict as a struggle between the powerful (Israel) and the oppressed (Palestinians), regardless of the actual behaviors or ideologies of the parties involved.

💡Marxism

Marxism is a social, political, and economic theory originated from the works of Karl Marx, focusing on class struggle and the historical development of society. The script mentions a Marxist perspective as one of the ideological underpinnings of postcolonialism, suggesting that the conflict is viewed through the lens of a clash between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, with Israel being seen as the oppressive bourgeoisie.

💡Liberal Democracy

Liberal democracy is a form of government in which representative democracy operates under the principles of liberty, equality, and the protection of human rights. The video argues that postcolonialist views undermine the foundations of liberal democracy by prioritizing group identity and collective struggle over individual actions and beliefs.

💡Determinism

Determinism is the philosophical belief that all events, including moral choices, are determined completely by previously existing causes. In the context of the video, determinism is used to describe the postcolonialist view that individual actions are not significant because they are predetermined by the social structures that maintain the power of the ruling class.

💡Legitimization

Legitimization is the act of making something seem right or acceptable. The script discusses how certain postcolonialists may use liberal language to legitimize the control and oppression of the 'weak' by the 'strong', in this case, the Palestinians by Israel, by framing it within a narrative of resistance against colonial power.

💡Zionism

Zionism is a political movement that supports the establishment and development of a Jewish nation in what is now Israel. The video mentions 'Zionists controlling America' as part of the anti-Semitic tropes used by some supporters of Hamas, suggesting a conspiracy theory that Jewish people have undue influence over global politics.

💡State Legitimacy

State legitimacy refers to the recognition of a state's right to exist and govern itself. The script points out that the Jewish nation-state, Israel, is singled out as being illegitimate by some postcolonialists, regardless of its borders, which is a departure from the general acceptance of other nation-states.

💡Peace Process

The peace process refers to diplomatic efforts to resolve long-standing conflicts, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The video emphasizes the need to recognize the complexity of the conflict and to engage in a dialogue that acknowledges the legitimacy and security concerns of both sides, rather than viewing the situation through the simplistic lens of postcolonialism.

Highlights

The speaker questions why people who believe in human rights side with Hamas, suggesting it could be due to a lack of information, naivety, or something more sinister.

The speaker mentions that even though some supporters of Hamas may help in anti-Semitic incidents, they still use anti-Semitic tropes and conspiracies.

The Jewish nation-state is deemed illegitimate by some, regardless of its borders, which the speaker finds puzzling.

The core issue is attributed to a group of highly educated, motivated activists inspired by a Marxist postmodern view, specifically postcolonialism.

Postcolonialism frames the world as a clash between the first world and the third world, with Israel being seen as the oppressor due to its perceived 'whiteness' and strength.

The speaker criticizes the postcolonial perspective for its determinism, suggesting that individual actions and beliefs are less significant than the group one belongs to.

Two quotes are provided to illustrate the radical postcolonial approach, emphasizing group identity over individual behavior or opinions.

The speaker argues that the postcolonial approach is distant from mainstream democratic thinking and can lead to a dismissal of individual actions' importance.

The influence of postcolonial activists is discussed, noting their presence in universities and civil society organizations.

The speaker describes how postcolonialists blur the lines between liberal discourse and their radical views to gain wider support.

The strategy of postcolonialists includes erasing Hamas as an independent political force and framing the conflict solely as a state issue.

The speaker calls for isolating and confronting key activists while engaging with more moderate liberals to expose the extreme values of the postcolonial approach.

Emphasizing the need to show that there are two sides to the conflict and that achieving peace requires recognizing the legitimacy of both sides.

The importance of debating Israeli, Palestinian, and Hamas actions and policies is highlighted, rather than focusing solely on Israel's responsibility.

The speaker stresses that peace cannot be made with a partner who demonizes and dehumanizes the other side, referring to Hamas's treatment of Jews and Israelis.

Transcripts

how can people who believe in human

rights side with

Kamas this is what we're

seeing in the world today is it a lack

of information is it naivity or is it

perhaps something more Sinister is it

anti-Semitism well naivity and ignorance

may be partly responsible among the

general public that don't follow things

closely but even then one has to ask why

does the general public inclination to

side with Kamas one would have thought

that islamists like Isis would not get

sympathy right so what is it then

well there is a kind of anti-Semitism

but it's strange in the sense that the

type of anti-Semitism that we see is not

the type where you get beaten up and hit

in the street in fact

some of the very people who are

supporting Hamas would actually help me

if I was being beaten up by anti-semites

in the street but they use anti-semitic

tropes they talk about Jewish

conspiracies they talk about zionists

controlling America they use images that

Echo the blood liel their behavior is

anti-Semitic even if their conscious

intention is not they discriminate

against the Jewish people everyone can

have a state but only the Jewish nation

state is illegitimate in any borders any

borders

whatsoever so where does this come from

well at its core is a group of Highly

Educated and motivated activists who are

inspired by a Marxist postmodern perhaps

view of the world but mainly Marxist

which is known as

postcolonialism so whereas in Marxism

you have a clash between classes between

the

Bourgeois and the working

class in postcolonialism it's a clash

between the first world and the third

world it's a clash between the

colonizing countries the the

empires and the colonized and the

dominated

and in this struggle on one side is the

class of white and strong people and on

the other side are dark skinned and weak

people and whatever the reality of the

situation from their perspective Israel

is white Israel is strong Israel is

wrong

now in this wider scheme

there's a certain

determinism for

them liberal democracy is kind of an

illusion what people think and how they

behave as individuals is not that

important it's not even that ex

significant

because everything that's said and done

is designed to keep the ruling class in

power and in this case the White and the

strong and this is done by

oppressing the dark skinned and weak but

also by

legitimizing by legitimizing that

control by speaking in a ling liberal

language so what does this mean it means

that for the Post Colonial postc

colonialists they judge morality by

whose side you're on not the way that

each side behaves and what it

believes so if you're on the side of the

dark skinned and the weak you are good

if you are on the side of the white and

the strong you are bad and what this

does okay is it takes away the

fundamental basis of a liberal

Democratic Society which is that our

individual actions matter and I'll give

you two quotes that show you just how

radical and how distant from mainstream

Democratic thinking this postcolonial

approach is so Joseph Harker who was the

assistant editor of the Guardian wrote

in 2002 the following as a black man I'm

bound to suffer prejudices of my own but

I cannot be

racist because in the Global Order of

things I do not belong to the dominant

group in other words it's about which

group you belong to not about your

opinions and not about your behavior and

John moleno of the Socialist Workers

Party put it like this in relation to

Israel and the

Palestinians from the standpoint of from

the standpoint of Marxism and

International socialis M an illiterate

conservative superstitious Muslim

Palestinian pres peasant who supports

Kamas is more Progressive than an

educated liberal atheist who supports

Zionism even critically so now we can

see that it doesn't matter whether you

support Hamas on everything they do or

whether you're liberal it matters which

group you belong to so the question then

is why haven't you

heard about this

Theory well the reason is that actually

only a small percentage of the public

believe this the people at its root are

a dedicated cutter of people a lot of

them have influence in

universities and in Civil Society

organizations like trade unions who may

have a million members but only 20 turn

up to a branch meeting and 19 of them

hold this View and therefore they can

speak in the name of these much larger

uh groups and organizations now they

also have

to speak in a way that hides their core

agenda and their core values because

they know they can't win support this

way so they have to try and blur the

distinction between small L liberal

discourse with which is very very common

in Western societies and their own

radical version so what do they do they

blur the distinctions so a liberal might

say I'm really concerned about

Palestinian

civilians and liberals might say well we

should only use military force as a last

result and you know what if we want to

have peace we need to redress legitimate

grievances these are positions that

liberals will articulate what the post

Colonial postc colonialists will do is

they will blur that into something far

more

radical so instead of talking about

roadblocks as an issue they will say

apartheid roadblocks instead of

discussing discussing the issue

of proportionate Force they will talk

about about war

crimes and most of all they will erase

Kamas they will say it's a war between

the state of Israel and the

Palestinians they will make it seem as

if Hamas does not exist independently as

a political force in this equation so

how do we

respond how do

we

expose what is is going on well we first

of all have to isolate and confront the

key

activists and we have to on the other

hand Engage The softer

liberals we have to drive a wedge

between these two

groups and we need to do this by

embarrassing them and showing and

exposing and

emphasizing the extreme

anti-democratic anti Humane values that

are at the core of their approach and

this means showing that there are two

sides in the conflict it's not about

ending the occupation even if you

believe in ending the occupation it's

about trying to achieve two states

living side by side in peace and

security for both sides once you talk

like that then one can have a debate

about how one goes about that it's not

predetermined by Israel being white and

strong in inverted

commer instead of saying that the

determinant of whether one is reasonable

is are you criticizing Israel we talk

about debating Israeli Palestinian Hamas

Arab actions and policies once we do

that we take away

their

foundation and when they say that it's

all the responsibility is on Israel

because it's the strong side we need to

remind them that Israel is very strong

but it's also extremely

threatened and that it takes two to make

peace one cannot make peace with the

devil he can't be a half devil if Kamas

is demonizing Jews and

Israelis and treating them and treating

us as

beneath even the modicum of decency that

you would give to

animals then they are not a partner for

peace