The Great Misinterpretation: How Palestinians View Israel - Haviv Rettig Gur

"If you don't understand why the other side isn't stupid, you haven't done your homework." This is a great quote, and a lesson that a lot of people ought to learn.

This guy teaches a few dozens of students in class, though it’s also seen by over 100k people. Internet is a powerful tool.

As a non-Jew, I sure appreciated this well-delivered and interesting lecture. Thank you.

As a foreigner who has lived and volunteered in the Palestinian city of Nablus, and also travelled to many other parts of the West Bank and Israel to visit Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and nonreligious friends, I am inspired by the idea offered at the end of this lecture about shifting perspectives on the conflict from a hateful zero-sum game to a tragic conflict with a possible solution. Recognizing valid points, grievances, and aspirations on both sides, with various forms of justice and injustice, and a willingness to compromise, and the recognition of mutual humanity and indeed numerous cultural, linguistic, religious, and historical overlap, then open, compassionate, and well-informed dialogue could actually lead to peace. It gives me a glimmer of hope when there is so little right now. Thanks for this knowledgeable, incisive, thought-provoking, balanced, and entertaining lecture.

Excellent lecture. Having said that, the British defense of El-Alamein wasn't primarily intended to protect the Jews of Palestine but to protect the land route to India, where the Nazis had many sympathizers among the independentists (including Gandhi). The protection of Palestine's Jews was a side effect of this mission.

I’m a non-Jew progressive American and this is the lecture I’ve needed but never knew it. Not just because of your stories, but how it makes me look at my own. Thank you. ❤

Awwww man! I have such deep respect for you Haviv. Your are intelligent, erudite, passionate. I wish every University student in the WORLD could hear you speak 🔥

Abstract This lecture explores the Palestinian narrative of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, highlighting three recurring themes: betrayal by the Arab and Islamic world, the role of imperial patrons in supporting Israel, and the perception of Zionism as colonialism. The speaker argues that these themes, while not entirely accurate, are deeply ingrained in Palestinian history and understanding, shaping their strategies and hindering peace efforts. He concludes by proposing a "coercive nonviolent" approach inspired by Martin Luther King Jr., which acknowledges the validity of both sides' narratives and seeks a resolution based on mutual understanding and justice. Palestinian Interpretation of History * 0:41: The lecture aims to explain the Palestinian perspective on the conflict, emphasizing that their interpretation is not extremist, radical, or wrong, but based on their historical experiences. * 1:22: Three recurring themes in the Palestinian narrative are introduced: * Betrayal by the Arab and Islamic world * The role of imperial patrons in supporting Israel * The perception of Zionism as colonialism. Theme 1: Betrayal by the Arab and Islamic World * 25:40: Palestinians feel a sense of abandonment by the Arab and Islamic world, perceiving their weakness and inaction as a betrayal. * 26:18: This sentiment stems from the Ottoman Empire's inability to prevent Jewish immigration and the subsequent failures of Arab nations to effectively support Palestinians in conflicts with Israel. * 28:02: The speaker cites quotes from Ottoman leaders expressing concerns about the rising tide of Zionism and the potential threat it posed to the empire. Theme 2: Imperial Patrons * 1:07:16: Palestinians view Israel as consistently backed by powerful imperial patrons, initially the Russian Empire due to the influx of Russian Jewish immigrants. * 1:07:42: This perception extends to the British Empire during the Mandate period, then to Germany in the 1920s with the arrival of German-speaking Jews, and eventually to the United States from the 1970s onwards. * 1:11:37: The speaker discusses instances where Arab leaders attributed Israel's strength and survival to external support, such as Egypt's declaration of war in 1948 framed as a fight against "communist atheism." Theme 3: Zionism as Colonialism * 1:24:25: Palestinians perceive Zionism as a form of colonialism, drawing parallels with European imperial projects in other parts of the world. * 1:25:05: The speaker cites a footnote from an Israeli geographer who argues that Zionism resembles colonialism in various aspects but with key differences, such as the lack of a "colonial mother country" and the historical connection of Jews to the land. * 1:26:36: This perception of Zionism as colonialism fuels Palestinian resistance movements and shapes their strategies, including the BDS movement, which aims to isolate Israel on the international stage. Towards a Resolution * 1:31:59: The speaker critiques the "decolonization" rhetoric used by some activists, arguing that it misunderstands the nature of the conflict and reinforces the Palestinian misdiagnosis of Israel. * 1:32:07: He proposes a solution inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.'s concept of "coercive nonviolence," which involves acknowledging the legitimacy of both sides' narratives and seeking a resolution based on mutual understanding and justice. * 1:40:13: This approach requires a shift from a zero-sum mentality to recognizing the "tragic" nature of the conflict, where both sides have valid grievances and aspirations. * 1:42:29: The speaker suggests that by understanding the Jewish experience and the historical context of Zionism, Palestinians can move beyond their current narrative and engage in more constructive dialogue towards a peaceful resolution. i used gemini 1.5 pro to summarize the transcript Token count 25,277 / 1,048,576 =

Great breakdown of history and understanding. I did a ton of research the last 4 months, and this still managed to bring a few very new perspectives I hadn't taken into account or heard anyone mention yet! Thank you. We all need this.

This was awesome. I wish we had video of the previous discussions you have with the group earlier in the trip. Thank you for this. Shalom Shalom U'mevorach

This was outstanding. I knew a lot of the separate events but hadn’t seen them all in context happening sequentially. I really enjoyed that.👍

Among Arabs and Palestinians there is a pervasive myth that almost all Israelis are dual citizens anyways, that they actually belong somewhere else and CAN go somewhere else. A Jordanian roommate in my dorm was complaining about Israel during a discussion and I asked her about her solution to the conflict. She plainly said that all Israeli Jews had to leave Palestine. She justified it by telling that almost all Israelis supposedly had dual citizenship anyways, so that it wouldn't actually be a big problem for them. I think it encapsulates exactly what Rettig Gur enumerated and explained well.

That was a masterclass in presentation of facts and an explanation that that addresses the major points that have been repeated by the ignorant masses for 5 months. Haviv has done his duty in promoting truth, defending Judaism, revealing the weakness of Islam, and showing all the reasons and assumptions that the pro-Hamas population make as rooted in their campaign for injustice. This should be required viewing for anyone who wishes to debate the existence of the state of Israel.

“Our right to defend ourselves from extermination does not give us the right to oppress others. Occupation leads to foreign rule. Foreign rule leads to resistance. Resistance leads to repression. Repression leads to terror and counter-terror. The victims of terror are mostly innocent people. Holding on to the occupied territories will turn us into a nation of murderers and murder victims. We must leave the occupied territories immediately.” -Shimon Tzabarr

Thank you for this analysis and explanation. I have been suffering so much pain from these events and I didn’t understand the depth of these emotions. It is complex. You have helped me so much! Blessings to you

didn't mean to watch almost two hour long lecture rn but omg was that interesting

(clipped from Naomi Klein's book). Hitler claimed it was now Germany’s turn to engage in cleansings and mass relocations on its own frontier. “There is only one task: To set about the Germanization of the land by bringing in Germans and to regard the indigenous inhabitants as Indians,” Hitler said in 1941.

Thank you for sharing this video. So many things I did not know or just didn't put together for perspective.

This was amazing! I needed this.

This was profound and brought an amazing insight to what is happening and more importantly how it might end.