A couple more comments re the debate the other night between Anthony Weiner and Brian Baird at the New School. From a smart friend who watched it here:
Baird was remarkable–particularly the answer near the end where he concedes Weiner might have been exposed to danger had he traveled to Gaza; the way Baird thinks aloud and does not sacrifice complexity. The subtext of Weiner’s remarks, even his physical posture–arms rigidly folded, looking the other way, etc.–seems to be to have been this: “It is ignoble for Jews to be asked to accept ‘terms.’ From anyone. So the U.S. support of Israel imposes no obligation on Israel and confers no right to request cooperation by the U.S.”
Even more unstated/unconscious: “It is right for Israel to dictate terms to a weaker authority in negotiations between unequals; also, to choose whom to negotiate with. Given the overwhelming reality of anti-Semitism, this imposition when it comes from Israel is nothing but justice with the necessary precautions.” His ignorance about the borders was shocking; symptomatic, too, that he regards his ignorance as irrelevant. This should have been a moment for someone to step in and rehearse the finding of international law.
And this is from Ziad Jilani at ThinkProgress, reprising the Brooklyn congressman for his shocking assertions on Thursday night in New York. Full post at the link. Excerpt:
At one point during the debate, Weiner began to say that the West Bank was more relatively prosperous than Gaza in part because there is no Israeli occupation there (although there is an enormous blockade). [NYT’s Roger] Cohen pointedly asked Weiner if he was really serious in claiming that Israel is not currently occupying the West Bank, which is the position of the international community and the United States. Weiner repeatedly insisted that there was no occupation there, even going as far as telling Cohen he agreed that there was “no IDF [Israeli Defense Forces] presence there”:
WEINER: You can see a difference in the development in the West Bank with 11 percent year over year growth, with no Israeli occupation there either, with increasing access to checkpoints —
COHEN: What about area C, D,
WEINER: Hold on, maybe this would be helpful
COHEN: No occupation in the West Bank, did I hear you right?
WEINER: Yes.
COHEN: Have you been to the West Bank lately?
WEINER: Yes.
COHEN: You didn’t see the IDF there?
WEINER: In Ramallah? No. In Nablus? No. Now can I tell ya there might be some people in this room who think Jerusalem is occupied.
COHEN: Well hold on a second there, let’s stick to the West Bank. You’re saying there is no IDF presence there?
WEINER: No.
