This interview features former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and former Palestinian Foreign Minister Nasar al-Kudwa discussing the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. Olmert explains his shift from supporting Israel's initial defensive war to condemning its expansion under Netanyahu, citing the lack of clear objectives and the cost of lives as "crimes." Both guests express deep distrust of Netanyahu, accusing him of prolonging the war for personal political gain and facilitating Hamas's rise. They decry the actions and rhetoric of certain Israeli ministers, which they argue are isolating Israel internationally. Despite the dire situation, both vehemently advocate for a two-state solution as the only viable path to peace, dismissing a one-state solution as a "disaster." Olmert even calls on President Biden, and notably, Donald Trump, to forcefully intervene to stop the current Israeli military operations.
Exploring the Israel-Palestine Conflict: A Call for a Two-State Solution
0:00 Introduction of Guests: The interview features Ehud Olmert, former Israeli Prime Minister, and Nasar al-Kudwa, former Palestinian Foreign Minister, both advocating for a two-state solution despite current challenges.
0:25 Olmert's Stance Shift: Olmert initially supported Israel's counter-offensive after October 7th, acknowledging international consensus and describing Hamas's actions as "unforgettable and unforgivable."
2:02 Condemnation of War Expansion: Olmert accuses Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu of violating agreements and expanding the war since March 18th. He states that the majority of Israelis do not support this expansion due to its lack of political or military objectives and high human cost, deeming it a "crime."
3:02 Al-Kudwa's Agreement & Focus on Goals: Al-Kudwa agrees with Olmert's assessment, opting to focus on broader political goals rather than debating legal definitions like "genocide," but emphasizes the need for accountability and justice.
4:02 Netanyahu's Self-Serving Agenda: Olmert states he doesn't trust Netanyahu, accusing him of prioritizing personal political interests over national interests. He believes Netanyahu wants to prolong the war to avoid accountability for the October 7th failures and even facilitated Qatar's financial support to Hamas.
6:16 Condemnation of Annexation Goals: Al-Kudwa condemns talks of mass deportation and views Netanyahu's goals as prolonging his premiership, recolonizing Gaza, and continuing to annex the West Bank. He calls on the international community to intervene to prevent the destruction of the post-WWII international system.
7:56 Israel as a "Pariah State": Olmert warns that Israel is becoming a "pariah state" due to the rhetoric of "messianic terrorist ministers" like Ben Gvir and Smotrich, whose statements about "wiping Gaza" alienate traditional international allies who even assisted in defending Israel from Iran.
9:56 US Role and International Unity: Al-Kudwa considers the US an important, though not always trustworthy, player. He calls for a bloc of countries, starting with unified Arab nations, to lead the push for a political solution.
11:54 Direct Appeal to US Presidents: Olmert directly appeals to President Biden to publicly tell Netanyahu to "stop it." He controversially suggests that only former President Trump has the influence and attitude to truly make Netanyahu listen and halt operations.
13:18 Unwavering Support for Two-State Solution: Both Olmert and al-Kudwa firmly believe the two-state solution is the only viable path, rejecting a one-state solution as a "prescription for disaster" and a "victory" for one side, not a compromise.
14:14 2008 Proposal as Blueprint: Olmert reaffirms his 2008 proposal with Mahmoud Abbas, including a detailed map (which Abbas declined), as the current blueprint for a future peace agreement, expressing optimism that peace is closer than anticipated.