Professor Roy Casagranda on Palestine occupation

Summary

The video script delves into the historical complexities surrounding the creation of Israel, questioning the British mandate's role and the United Nations' decision to partition Palestine. It critiques the favoritism towards Jewish settlers over the indigenous Palestinian population and draws parallels with moral dilemmas, like the trolley problem, to underscore the ethical quandaries in geopolitical decisions. The speaker also touches on the irony of religious and ethnic ties, the plight of refugees, and compares the situation to apartheid, emphasizing the ongoing human rights issues and the international community's complicity.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The British Mandate for Palestine was established after World War I, not as a direct act of creating a state for Jews but as a result of the League of Nations sanctioning Britain's control over the territory.
• 🗳️ The United Nations played a pivotal role in the establishment of Israel by voting to partition Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Britain abstaining from the vote despite having veto power.
• 🏞️ The British opposed the partition plan and did not support the creation of Israel, focusing efforts to prevent Palestine from forming as a state, which inadvertently led to Israel's establishment.
• 🌍 The creation of Israel was met with international objections, particularly from the Arab world and some European countries, but was strongly supported by the United States, the Soviet Union, and France, which influenced the outcome.
• 🤝 The sympathy towards the Jewish people after the Holocaust was a significant factor in the international community's acceptance of the creation of Israel, despite the displacement of Palestinians.
• 🏡 The concept of creating a state for one religious group at the expense of another's rights raises ethical questions, as it led to the displacement and suffering of the Palestinian population.
• 🌐 The script suggests an alternative historical 'what if' scenario, proposing that if the international community was serious about creating a Jewish state, it could have been done in a location that did not displace an existing population.
• 🔄 The irony of the situation is highlighted by the fact that many Palestinians are of Jewish descent, and the establishment of Israel has led to a complex religious and ethnic dynamic.
• 🏢 The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is compared to other historical and contemporary situations of displacement and forced migration, such as apartheid South Africa and the refugee crises in the Middle East.
• 🌐 The script concludes with a critique of the current situation, likening it to apartheid and suggesting that the international community's actions have created a long-lasting and deeply problematic situation.

Q & A

What was the role of the British in the establishment of Israel?

The British were involved through the Palestine Mandate after World War I, which was a territory under British administration. However, it was the United Nations that voted to split Palestine into two states, Israel and Palestine, after World War II, with Britain abstaining from the vote rather than supporting the partition.

Why did the British not support the UN's decision to split Palestine?

The British did not support the UN's decision because they believed it was a mistake and protested against it. They even tried to prevent both Israel and Palestine from forming, but their efforts were more focused on preventing Palestine from forming, which ultimately led to Israel's establishment.

What was the international response to the creation of Israel?

While there were objections, particularly from the Arab world and some European voices like Great Britain, the support from major powers such as the United States, the Soviet Union, and France was significant. This support made it difficult for objections to prevent the establishment of Israel.

Why was there not a mass protest movement against the creation of Israel similar to protests against the Vietnam War?

There was sympathy for the Jews after the Holocaust, and some believed that a Jewish state would offer them protection. This sentiment, along with the support from powerful nations, may have contributed to the lack of a mass protest movement against Israel's creation.

What is the moral dilemma presented in the script related to the creation of Israel?

The moral dilemma discussed is the idea of creating a state for one religious group at the expense of the people already living there, drawing a parallel to the moral question of sacrificing one person to save many in a hypothetical scenario.

Why were the United States and the Soviet Union supportive of Israel's creation?

The support from the United States and the Soviet Union was influenced by various factors, including sympathy for the Jewish people post-Holocaust and geopolitical strategies. Their support was significant enough that it was difficult for other nations to oppose the creation of Israel.

What is the irony mentioned in the script regarding the Jewish descent of Palestinians?

The irony is that many Palestinians are of Jewish descent and ethnically more Jewish than the European and American Jews who established Israel. This creates a complex situation where those with a stronger Jewish heritage are in conflict with those who practice Judaism or identify as Jewish.

What does the speaker suggest as an alternative to the current situation between Israel and Palestine?

The speaker suggests creating a secular, democratic state with equal rights for all, regardless of religion. This would involve integrating Israel and Palestine into one state where all citizens have equal rights.

What is the situation of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and West Bank according to the script?

The script describes the Gaza Strip as a 'concentration camp' and the West Bank as a series of 'ghetto pockets,' indicating a dire situation for Palestinians living in these areas, who are often refugees displaced from their homes.

How does the speaker compare the situation in Israel and Palestine to apartheid in South Africa?

The speaker compares the treatment of Palestinians, particularly those in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, to the apartheid system in South Africa, suggesting that the situation might be worse due to the additional elements of a blockade and internal exile within their own country.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ The Creation of Israel and British Mandate

The paragraph discusses the historical context of Israel's formation, emphasizing the British role in the establishment of the state. It explains that Palestine became a British mandate territory after World War I, and the League of Nations sanctioned this. The United Nations later voted to split Palestine into separate Israeli and Palestinian states, with Britain abstaining from the vote despite having the power to veto. The speaker criticizes the decision to create a state for one religion at the expense of the local population, drawing parallels to the displacement of Native Americans. The paragraph also touches on the lack of mass protest against the creation of Israel and the geopolitical dynamics of the time, including the support from the United States, the Soviet Union, and France.

05:01

🤔 Ethical Dilemmas and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

This paragraph uses a thought experiment involving a train and a moral choice to lead into a discussion about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The speaker suggests that the situation in Israel and Palestine is similar to the ethical dilemma presented, where the decision to create a Jewish state led to the displacement and suffering of Palestinians. The paragraph explores the idea of creating a secular state with equal rights for all, but notes that such a proposition would be met with resistance as it would result in Jews becoming a minority. The speaker also points out the irony that many Palestinians are ethnically more Jewish than the European and American Jews who established Israel, and criticizes the current situation as being akin to apartheid.

10:01

📊 Demographics and the Humanitarian Crisis

The final paragraph delves into the demographic realities and the humanitarian crisis in the region. It discusses the forced migration of Palestinians, comparing it to the apartheid in South Africa, and suggests that the situation in Israel might be worse due to the blockades and restrictions on movement. The speaker highlights the refugee crisis not only in Palestine but also in neighboring countries like Jordan, which has been significantly impacted by the influx of Palestinians, Syrians, and Iraqis. The paragraph concludes with a call for a more equitable solution that respects the rights and dignity of all people in the region.

Keywords

💡British Mandate

The British Mandate refers to the administration of Palestine by the United Kingdom under a League of Nations mandate following World War I. In the video, it's mentioned as a historical context where Palestine became a British mandate, which set the stage for later events leading to the creation of Israel. The mandate system was a way for the League of Nations to manage territories after the war, often with the intention of preparing them for independence.

💡League of Nations

The League of Nations was an international organization established after World War I to maintain world peace. It sanctioned the British Mandate for Palestine, as mentioned in the script, which gave Britain the authority to govern the region. The League's role in the Palestine issue is significant as it represents the international community's involvement in the region's governance and eventual partition.

💡United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation. In the video, it's discussed how the UN voted to split Palestine into separate Israeli and Palestinian states after World War II. The UN's decision is a pivotal moment in the video's narrative, as it led to the establishment of the State of Israel and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

💡Partition

Partition, in the context of the video, refers to the division of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states by the United Nations. The script describes how the UN's decision to partition Palestine was controversial and led to the current geopolitical situation. The term is central to understanding the historical events that the video discusses, as it directly resulted in the creation of Israel and the displacement of many Palestinians.

💡Holocaust

The Holocaust was the systematic genocide of six million Jews during World War II, orchestrated by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. The video mentions the Holocaust as a reason for sympathy towards the establishment of a Jewish state. The Holocaust's impact on global politics and the creation of Israel is a significant theme, as it influenced the international community's support for a Jewish homeland.

💡Zionism

Zionism is a political movement that supports the establishment of a Jewish homeland in the historic land of Israel. The video discusses interactions with a Zionist friend and the movement's role in advocating for a Jewish state. Zionism is a key concept in the video as it represents the ideological underpinning for the creation of Israel and the ongoing debate over the state's legitimacy.

💡Palestinians

Palestinians are the Arab inhabitants of the region that includes present-day Israel and the Palestinian territories. The video discusses the plight of Palestinians, their displacement, and the struggle for self-determination. The term is central to the video's narrative as it highlights the human impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the complexities of the region's history.

💡Refugees

Refugees are individuals who have been forced to leave their homes due to conflict or persecution. The video mentions Palestinian refugees, who were displaced during the creation of Israel and the subsequent conflicts. The term is significant as it underscores the humanitarian aspect of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the ongoing challenges faced by displaced populations.

💡Gaza Strip

The Gaza Strip is a self-governing Palestinian territory that borders Egypt and Israel. In the video, it's described as a 'concentration camp,' highlighting the dire living conditions and the restrictions on movement for its inhabitants. The Gaza Strip is a focal point in the video's discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, symbolizing the ongoing struggle for Palestinian autonomy and rights.

💡West Bank

The West Bank is a Palestinian territory bordering Israel and Jordan. The video refers to it as a 'ghetto,' indicating the segregated and controlled nature of the area. The West Bank is a key term in the video as it represents another region of significant tension and dispute between Israelis and Palestinians, with issues of settlement expansion and autonomy at the forefront.

💡Apartheid

Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa, which the video draws a parallel to the Israeli treatment of Palestinians. The term is used to criticize the perceived inequality and segregation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, suggesting that the situation may be as severe or worse than South Africa's historical policies of racial separation.

Highlights

The British Mandate for Palestine was established after World War I, not as a direct act of creating a homeland for Jews, but as a result of international agreements.

The United Nations voted to partition Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states after World War II, with Britain abstaining from the vote.

Britain did not support the UN's partition plan and protested against it, highlighting the complexity of their stance on the issue.

The creation of Israel and the dissolution of Palestine resulted in a significant demographic imbalance, with more Palestinians than Israelis.

The speaker questions the morality of creating a state for one religious group at the expense of the existing population.

The speaker points out the lack of mass protest against the creation of Israel in comparison to other historical events like the Vietnam War.

The United States, Soviet Union, and France were in favor of the creation of Israel, which influenced the UN's decision.

The speaker suggests an alternative proposal where the United States could have provided land for a Jewish state, highlighting the irony of the situation.

A moral dilemma is presented to illustrate the complexity of decision-making in situations with no clear ethical answer.

The speaker argues that the creation of Israel has led to a precarious situation for Jews, contrary to the idea of providing safety.

The majority of Palestinians are of Jewish descent, which adds an ironic twist to the conflict.

The current situation in Palestine and Israel is compared to apartheid South Africa, with some arguing it may be worse.

The speaker discusses the forced migration of Palestinians, which may be one of the largest in history, surpassing that of apartheid South Africa.

Jordan's population demographics have been significantly altered by the influx of Palestinian, Syrian, and Iraqi refugees.

The speaker concludes by emphasizing the ongoing refugee crisis and the need for a more nuanced understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Transcripts

it was the British that um made Israel

for the Jews from Europe right

technically no what happened was the

Palestine became a British mandate after

World War I mandate in other words

conquered territory mandate is the

euphemism for we conquered this um what

the league of AR the I'm sorry the

the League of Nations which was the you

know the precursor to the UN sanctioned

what Britain had done what the what

happened was at the end of World War II

the UN voted and Britain abstained

Britain did not vote for they they could

have vetoed it they had veto power so

they could have just said no but they

they abstained which then meant that

they they didn't exercise their veto

even though they didn't exercise a yes

and what the UN did was they voted to

then split Palestine into an Israel and

a Palestine and they could do that

because it was technically British like

it belong to Britain Britain did not

enforce the split Britain Britain

protested and said we are against this

we think this is a big mistake what what

ended up happening was the British then

decided because they disliked it so much

that they were going to try and prevent

Israel and Palestine from forming the

problem was is they they put their

emphasis on preventing Palestine from

forming so Israel ended up becoming

coming into existence and Palestine

ended up be just disappearing I mean in

a way except for the fact that there are

two times as many Palestinians as

Israelis and this is a long festering

oozing wound that the world itself s

inflicted on itself because it decided

that it wanted to create a state that

served only one religion at the expense

of the people who are already living

there I don't understand how they were

allowed to make a nation like just split

a nation that was already occupied and

put people there what do you mean that

do you know where you

live yeah there were Native American

here like yeah that was the old days Oh

you mean how could you do it 1948 and

the aftermath of World War II when you

would think we would have learned a

lesson about doing stuff like that or at

least people would object you know uh

there was there were objections um the

Arab world for example objected um there

were there were even some European

voices that weren't happy about it like

Great Britain um having said that the

United States in the Soviet Union were

and France were very much in favor of it

and because they were very much in favor

it was hard for anybody to stop it in

1948 nobody was going to say no to the

United States and the Soviet Union it

just couldn't happen it was beyond

people's comprehension because you never

hear about a being a big deal like when

people Pro protested Vietnam here you

never hear like people protesting the

creation of Israel there wasn't a a mass

protest movement in in the first world

for the creation of Israel um and and it

was because people had Sympathy For What

had happened to the Jews and some people

were thinking okay maybe if they get

their own state they'll be able to

protect themselves I I I I I mean that's

really flawed logic right because if

anything what they've done is they've

just sort of located themselves in one

place and then put themselves in this

really horrible precarious situation

that could potentially put them at more

risk not less risk there were already

people there like they could have put

him in an island or something where

there was no people well yeah I mean

like I when I get in conversation with

Zionist I have a Zionist friend who

keeps saying well the Arabs could well

how much land were the Arabs giving why

can't the Arabs be generous my immediate

response is why wasn't the United States

generous why not New York and

Connecticut or something you know or New

Mexico and Arizona which were actually

asked for the Zionist movement at one

point asked the United States if it

would be willing to give up Arizona and

New Mexico and create a Jewish State and

the United States said no but but we're

willing to let you do it in Palestine so

like we're willing to be generous with

other people's stuff but not our own um

there's

this it makes me think of this study and

and I I don't know if I'm right about

this but so let people are asked and I

really to do this right I should ask you

but I'm not going to um the people are

asked to to solve this moral dilemma so

there's a railroad track with people on

it working there are five people working

on it and they can't hear anything cuz

they're making so much noise and they

can't see anything because they're

facing the wrong way but coming down the

track headed straight towards them is a

train and it will kill those five people

when it hit hits them cuz it's going so

fast H having said that you happen to be

right next to a train track lever and

you can change what track the train goes

on and there's a the other track has one

person on it so if you pull that lever

the train goes over and kills one guy do

you pull the lever so answer

it no yes there's one person saying no

and I see a bunch of people nodding

their heads any no other NOS uh are you

an L yeah maybe like because it would be

selfish to do it what it would be

selfish um no actually selfishly I would

say no you would say no

because because if you pull a lever

you're responsible for the death if you

don't of the one person right if you

don't pull the lever okay Destiny

isn't just the two of you but does

anybody else a know or is I'm on the

fence you're on the fence you say yes

yes yes yes yes says by the way I'm a

yes I pull the

lever okay so now most people say yes

the vast majority of people say yes I'm

glad though that you had that

conversation because it was really good

now we're going to change the scenario

slightly same thing five people can't

hear can't see train barreling straight

at them you're on a bridge I don't know

where this bridge came from you're on a

bridge over the workers and there's a

guy standing next to you all all you got

to do to stop the train from hitting

those people would be to flip the guy

standing next to you off the bridge

because as he falls to his

death the workers will notice and the

train will notice and the the workers

will be able to get out of their way and

then the

train no okay see okay so so that's

everybody says no right and and the the

question is is it because you're

touching the guy or is the lever your

remote and people are then and they

don't know the answer I think that's the

answer the answer is you could have

thrown yourself why didn't you throw

yourself if you're so adamant about

saving those Five Guys why are you

sacrificing Bubba here when you could go

and I think that's the real reason the

people who said yes in the first

scenario say no in the second is they

don't want to die and it's morally gross

to sacrifice the guy standing next to

you but the researchers said they

couldn't figure it out I'm pretty sure

this is obvious I'm pretty sure that's

the answer and and I and that that's the

thing that I don't get about the United

States in our policy towards Israel okay

if it's such a good idea why don't we do

it here let's give the Israelis a

Homeland here that'll be Jewish only and

if you're not Jewish you have to get

out and when you put it in those terms

suddenly it becomes maybe not so

desirable and then then the other one is

the other question is Palestine

obviously had nothing to do with the

Holocaust we're obviously doing this in

part because of the Holocaust why don't

we put it in Germany

then why didn't we carve off a chunk of

Northern Germany and call it new Israel

we could hurg could have become New

Jerusalem and just give him Northern

Germany right that only seems fair

especially since what most of the Jews

that we're talking about were either

American Jews and most of them were of

German descent or they were European

Jews and most of them were of German

descent right there's a reason why

Yiddish was the dominant Jewish language

anguage in Europe Yiddish is just German

with a Jewish accent and some Hebrew

words Yiddish is also awesome Language

by the way um some of the coolest words

ever are yish but anyway it's a

different story didn't they wouldn't be

close to Jerusalem and all okay but then

but then you say well so then it's a

religious thing but most sists will go

no this isn't about religion he's like

well if it's not about religion then why

do you want to be so close to Jerusalem

clearly it's about religion but then

it's but then they say no I'm I'm an

atheist or I'm a secularist Jew and I'm

I'm a Zionist it's like well then why

did it have to be Jerusalem this was our

homeland this was your Homeland you're

2,000 years

old I don't understand here's the twist

the majority of

Palestinians are of Jewish descent and

are ethnically more Jewish than the

European and American Jews who went and

created Israel so every time a

Palestinian is murdered by an Israeli a

person who's more Jewish is killed by a

person who is less Jewish it's true that

the Israeli is actually practicing

Judaism or as a secular Jew and it's

true that those those Palestinians are

Christians and Muslims who who have

whose ancestors converted from Judaism

to Christianity and Islam but it's just

a weird ironic twist I mean it just it's

bit it's embittering how ironic it is it

just doesn't make any sense and and

here's the problem I don't think I said

this plainly last time so say it and I

and then I'll let you go cuz I'm way

over but I'm sorry I let let me just do

this the problem is if you said okay

we're going to create a new a new state

and it'll be secular it's not for one

religion anymore it'll be a

democracy secular and they'll be rights

for all

minorities and uh by the way mamar

Gaddafi actually suggested calling it

istin Israel and Palestine

istin so sounds terrible to me but

whatever I don't care what you want to

call this thing call it Israel call it

Palestine call it is call it Israel

Palestine with a Hy foration like your

parents did with you I don't care

whatever it is that makes you happy but

if you did it suddenly there' be 13

million Palestinians who are Christian

and Muslim I think it's like 10 10%

Christian 90% Muslim and then there'll

be six million Jews so the Jews would

become an instant minority in that state

and they don't want that to happen

that's why they're fighting the

Palestinians they're not fighting the

Palestinians because the Palestinians

are attacking them the Palestinians

aren't attacking them they're fighting

the Palestinians because they don't want

to have Palestine integrated with them

because they'll instantly lose their

majority there are actually 7 million

Palestinians living in Palestine and

Israel but five million are confined to

the concentration camp that that we call

the Gaza Strip it's just a concentration

camp and then the ghetto that we call

the West Bank it's basically a bunch of

little ghetto pockets and and and so by

doing that what the Israelis have done

is they've created a situation where the

natives are in internal Exile right

they're they're still in Palestine

they're just not in their homes their

homes are in hia or or or yafa or

Jerusalem and so they're displaced

inside their own country as a majority

but with no rights to citizenship it

it's this is like the most nasty thing

since apartheid Israel apartheid South

Africa it might might be worse than

apartheid South Africa in some ways and

I mean so fact it is when you think

about it because at least in the case of

apartheid Israel there was I'm sorry I

keep doing that apartheid South Africa

there was no blockade preventing the

Import and Export of goods into black

neighborhoods right CU white people were

making money off of the black PE the

black population so you wouldn't do that

there was the same mass migration effect

three two and a half to three and a half

million ah I just realized something so

so I even said this in class earlier

so I've been the history I Learned was

the largest forced M Mass migration in

in human history was South Africa when

it became AP partide forced two and a

half to three and a half million blacks

to move out of white neighborhoods and

and by the way and Asians too the the

the Indian population was also separated

out well uh the vast majority of the 5

million Palestinians living in Gaza

Strip in West Bank are themselves

refugees forced out of the rest of

Palestine so that's actually probably a

bigger population because I I would be

surprised if it was more than one and a

half million people were actually from

those two places I bet three and a half

million were are are actually displaced

refugees um anyway it's not the only

Refugee crisis we have we also have now

the Syrian refugee crisis and Iraqi

Refugee crisis Jordan the last time I

checked and I don't know how accurate

these stats are Jordan is like 25%

Jordanian now it's it's something like

60% Palestinian 25% Jordanian and the

fif the remaining 15% are Syrian and

Iraqi I mean this is

incredible anyway all right I'm over so

any other questions