Jon Stewart weighs in...

[Micah Schuurman]

The Interview

It is in two sections.

[Tom Grainger]

The good Doctor is a slick advocate for Fatah as reasonable types trying to just get along....... but you know those Israelis*
Jon Stewart tried to weigh in but the issues slid off like a fried egg in a teflon lined pan. Good comedy though & poor Anna it seems is still not happy as I found the following:


Jon Stewart Needs Letters of Support for having Dr. Barghouti and Anna Baltzer on “The Daily Show”.
Anna Baltzer



October 30, 2009

From Anna Baltzer, one of the guests on the show:

Dear friends,

Last night Dr. Barghouti and I were on "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart talking about Palestine.

The show was overwhelmed with angry emails and phone calls prior to the appearance, and up until the last minute it seemed like they might cancel. During the taping the show had it's only heckler in 11 years. The entire staff was very nervous and may come to regret the monumental decision (and not make it again) as they will surely be inundated now that the show has aired.

That is why it is CRUCIAL that the show receive letters of support from anyone who appreciated the interview.

PLEASE take a moment to give a quick thank you to the Daily Show. I'm sure they will likely be affected by numbers rather than length, so it's OK to make it short, but spread the word to others! Be sure to put "Thank you" in the subject, and maybe Dr. Barghouti & my names. Fill out the form here: http://www.comedycentral.com/help/questionsCC.jhtml

(make sure to choose The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as your topic). You can also try calling 212-468-1700.

Many of you who watched the show on TV noticed that everything of real substance that I said was edited out. The major issues cut out were (1) the U.S. role in aiding Israel, (2) the lack of adequate coverage in mainstream U.S. media, and (3) the Palestinian-led movement for Boycott / Divestment / Sanctions (BDS) to nonviolently pressure Israel to comply with international law.

The full, un-cut interview is available on the Daily Show homepage www.thedailyshow. com and will eventually be moved to:

Part I: http://www.thedaily show.com/ watch/wed-october- 28-2009/ exclusive--- anna-baltzer- -- mustafa-barghouti- extended- interview-pt- -1

Part II: http://www.thedaily show.com/ watch/wed-october- 28-2009/ exclusive--- anna-baltzer- -- mustafa-barghouti- extended- interview-pt- -2

It's worth watching and comparing with what they allowed said in the TV version.

Regardless of the cuts, this was a huge step for the movement (and Dr. Barghouti's left-in parts were excellent, in my opinion). If you agree, do make your letters positive, even if you decide to mention the disappointing discrepancy between the full interview and what was aired.

I believe the interview wouldn't have happened three years ago. Times are changing. Keep on keepin' on...

Anna

PS. I launched a new version of my website in time for the show, in case you're interested:

www.AnnaInTheMiddle East.com


* " The neighbourhood bully" Bob Dylan ( look it up on You Tube)

[Micah Schuurman]

I'm not clear what you are trying to say. I watched the video that you recommended. The fact that Jews experience terrible injustice in the form of the Holocaust and the fact that they do good things in the world does not excuse the bad things that they do.
The "aid" given to Palestinians as mentioned in the video is hardly worth considering when compared to the systematic refusal of Israel to recognize basic Palestinian rights.
People want me to pity Israel when Israel shows no pity to the Palestinians. I will do my best to empathize with Israel, but I cannot EVER condone injustice.
Regarding Anna Baltzer, can you blame her desire to fight against the wave of negative responses to the show? People who criticize Israel automatically get labeled "anti-Semites" whether the term is deserved or not. When Jews criticize Israel they get labeled "self-hating Jews." There has not yet been a healthy discussion of the situation in Israel/Palestine in main-stream America. The crazies dominate the discussion. Furthermore, to almost everyone outside America (and to a growing number in America too), it is clear which group of crazies gets the most sympathy.
Even though the Daily Show edited out some important parts of the interview (I don't really blame them... time constraints tend to eliminate all but the most essential themes of any interview) I really appreciate the fact that they are talking about the issue at all. That is the light in which I read the letter which you have posted. The people who want to voice the side of the Palestinians (a side which has gone relatively unheard in America) are happy that the mainstream American media is beginning to discus the issue fairly. They want to encourage the Daily Show and thank them for doing the risky thing of listening honestly to the core issues.
As for my personal thoughts. I don't expect everyone to agree with what I say. But, I do appreciate it when people actually listen to what I am trying to say. I think that this is what Anna Baltzer is expressing. She is glad that Jon Stewart took her and Dr. Barghouti seriously even when he disagreed with them. She wants to encourage Mr. Stewart and his associates at the daily show. She doesn't want the good work that was accomplished two nights ago to get drowned out by the crazies (for the crazies like to drown out everything with the sheer quantity of their response rather than the quality of their response.
As someone who seeks truth and justice, I would prefer to encounter one irrefutably sound argument in favor of US support for Israel (which I have not yet found) than the billions of thoughtless arguments which I find daily.
In short, when it comes to arguments, quality should trump quantity and I hope that Jon Stewart doesn't get overwhelmed by the quantity of people who dislike the fact that the Daily Show even invited these people as guests.
Finally, it is worth noting that much of the mail flooded in well before the show was taped. That should tell you a little about the quality of their arguments. They hadn't even heard what was going to be said and they already were positive that they didn't want to hear it.

One final note, you seem to dislike the fact that the doctor is a supporter of Fatah. Who would you rather he support? Is there an option that you would prefer? He is trying to fix Fatah. If you don't like Fatah, you should work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Israel/Palestine such that the Palestinians can feel free to create new more "dovish" parties.
Interestingly, Isreal covertly helped start Hamas because they felt that it would weaken Fatah and the PLO. So, we should be careful how we go about setting up alternatives to Fatah... especially at a time when Palestinians have so little hope and are so desperate to turn to anyone who offers any promise for a better life.

[Tom Grainger]

Whoa there partner ..... I was agreeing that Anna & Mustafa presented their point of view in a very soft sell way which was the whole message to a “progressive” audience. Here we have a nice Jewish girl getting along well with a well mannered Arab fellow so why not in the Middle East ? Therefore it must be all Israel’s fault, which is true in the sense that the existence of a Jewish state in the middle east is very problematic.
I am sure that you and the majority of CRC Justice Seekers ( I assume as we never hear from them ) found the interview to be favourable and any issues from Anna’s memo should be taken up with her. Too bad that she thought that she was short changed !

You are sure that there is not one good reason for the USA to support Israel ? Really ? Wow!

Also I stand corrected as the good Doctor ran as an independent rather than a Fatah candidate. He is on the record for some scathing comments regarding corruption & waste regarding Fatah. He still is very pro-democracy ( like GW & Condi ;-) but in step with Fatah regarding a downsized ‘67 border Israel, full right of return, lots of foreign aid, a fully armed PA militia etc., etc. all within an Islamic Republic Palestinian State with Sharia law ..... how is that pig going to fly I wonder.

What am I doing for Holy Land peace ? Supporting & praying for both Israeli & Arab outreaches & charities, by being informed, by visiting the Holy Land... .both Israel & the West Bank.

I do not give a fig for Fatah as they are corrupt thugs & pimps for foreign aid as their people suffer.
Once again we profoundly agree to disagree and thats ok.

[Micah Schuurman]

Let me clarify my statement regarding US support for Israel. I have not found a single solid argument that accounts for the LEVEL of support that we give them. We give them 3 billion dollars per year in military aid which must be spent on US weapons. There is no good reason for giving them that aid while not holding them accountable for anything. They have on a number of occasions promised to stop building settlements. They have not kept that promise. They have spied on the US. They have used US weapons to suppress Palestinians (those bombs that fell on Gaza and Southern Lebanon were made in the US). I have not found any reason why the US should continue to act as Israel's enabler. That is what I meant by "support." I used the word in the context of my deep belief that the way in which the US supports Israel is damaging to both nations.
Thanks for pointing out the need for me to clarify that statement.