Very excited to have Dr. Einat Wilf on The Lonely Podcast. Dr. Wilf is a public intellectual, and the author of several books, including The War of Return and We Should All Be Zionists. She has a B.A. from Harvard, an MBA from INSEAD in France, and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Cambridge University. She is a former member of the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) with the Labor Party and served as an advisor for former President Shimon Peres and Yossi Beilin, who is considered to be the architect of the 1993 Oslo Accords. After witnessing the bloodbath that washed over Israel during the second Intifada in the early 2000th, Wilf started questioning her beliefs about a viable two-state solution and more broadly, what is it that the Palestinians really want. In this conversation, we explore many topics including why the “West” is unable to admit that the majority of the Palestinians never supported a two-state solution, how societies in decline use anti-zionism to divert from their problem and scapegoat the Jews, what Jews, Zionists, and Israelis should do to counter Anti-Zionist hate, what Oct. 7th did to the Israeli psyche, Israel’s existential threat, whether we should qualify the war as against Hamas as opposed to against the Palestinian narrative, and much more. Einat is a fountain of knowledge with unique expertise on this particular and complicated topic and has a very important voice that needs to be amplified. It was a true privilege to speak with her in person in Tel Aviv. To support us, please share this podcast with your friends and family to help spread the word. TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) - Introduction (02:55) - The Misconceptions About the Conflict (06:43) - How Dr. Wilf Changed Her Mind About the Conflict? (11:36) - Dr. Wilf's Aha Moment (15:00) - Why The Western World Insists on a Two-State Solution? (17:30) - Westplaining (19:23) - How We Can Shift The Narrative? (22:28) - How Did We Lose Academia? (25:00) - How The Soviets Created Anti-Zionism (30:00) - "We Can't Have Nice Things Because of Jews" (32:30) - How Societies in Crisis Blame The Jews (36:00) - Can We Save Academia? (38:00) - The Genius Of Making Zionism Toxic (40:40) - What is the Pound Of Flesh Dynamic? (44:00) - The Decline Of Jewish Organizations On Campus (47:30) - How To Counter Anti-Zionism? (50:40) - Understanding Where Anti-Zionism Goes (57:00) - Should We Be Surprised By Oct. 7th? (59:15) - The Palestinian Idea Of a Violent "Return" (61:30) - Do Israelis Understand The Palestinians? (64:30) - Why Did The Arabs Oppose Israel? (68:00) - Israel's Existential Threat (73:30) - Should We Qualify The War As Against Hamas or Against The Palestinians? (75:00) - What Should be The Goal of This War? (78:30) - Comparing Gaza To Japan of 1945 - The Potsdam Declaration (81:30) - Are We Blowing The International Response Out of Proportion? (87:00) - How Would The Americans Respond To An Israeli Firm Stand? (89:00) - A Positive Note
Very excited to have Dr. Einat Wilf on The Lonely Podcast.
Dr. Wilf is a public intellectual, and the author of several books, including The War of Return and We Should All Be Zionists. She has a B.A. from Harvard, an MBA from INSEAD in France, and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Cambridge University.
She is a former member of the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) with the Labor Party and served as an advisor for former President Shimon Peres and Yossi Beilin, who is considered to be the architect of the 1993 Oslo Accords.
After witnessing the bloodbath that washed over Israel during the second Intifada in the early 2000th, Wilf started questioning her beliefs about a viable two-state solution and more broadly, what is it that the Palestinians really want.
In this conversation, we explore many topics, including why the “West” is unable to admit that the majority of the Palestinians never supported a two-state solution, how societies in decline use anti-zionism to divert from their problem and scapegoat the Jews, what Jews, Zionists, and Israelis should do to counter Anti-Zionist hate, what Oct. 7th did to the Israeli psyche, Israel’s existential threat, whether we should qualify the war as against Hamas as opposed to against the Palestinian narrative, and much more.
Einat is a fountain of knowledge with unique expertise on this particular and complicated topic and has a very important voice that needs to be amplified. It was a true privilege to speak with her in person in Tel Aviv.
To support us, please share this podcast with your friends and family to help spread the word.
TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) - Introduction
(02:55) - The Misconceptions About the Conflict
(06:43) - How did Dr. Wilf change her mind about the conflict?
(11:36) - Dr. Wilf's Aha Moment
(15:00) - Why The Western World Insists on a Two-State Solution?
(17:30) - Westplaining
(19:23) - How We Can Shift The Narrative?
(22:28) - How Did We Lose Academia?
(25:00) - How The Soviets Created Anti-Zionism
(30:00) - "We Can't Have Nice Things Because of Jews"
(32:30) - How Societies in Crisis Blame The Jews
(36:00) - Can We Save Academia?
(38:00) - The Genius Of Making Zionism Toxic
(40:40) - What is the Pound Of Flesh Dynamic?
(44:00) - The Decline Of Jewish Organizations On Campus
(47:30) - How To Counter Anti-Zionism?
(50:40) - Understanding Where Anti-Zionism Goes
(57:00) - Should We Be Surprised By Oct. 7th?
(59:15) - The Palestinian Idea Of a Violent "Return"
(61:30) - Do Israelis Understand The Palestinians?
(64:30) - Why Did The Arabs Oppose Israel?
(68:00) - Israel's Existential Threat
(73:30) - Should We Qualify The War As Against Hamas or Against The Palestinians?
(75:00) - What Should be The Goal of This War?
(78:30) - Comparing Gaza To Japan of 1945 - The Potsdam Declaration
(81:30) - Are We Blowing The International Response Out of Proportion?
(87:00) - How Would The Americans Respond To An Israeli Firm Stand?
(89:00) - A Positive Note
Dr. Einat Wilf’s Books:
The War of Return: How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace - https://www.amazon.com/War-Return-Indulgence-Palestinian-Obstructed/dp/1250252768
We Should All Be Zionists: Essays on the Jewish State and the Path to Peace - https://www.amazon.com/We-Should-All-Be-Zionists-ebook/dp/B0B9NBNF4D?ref_=ast_author_dp
Dr. Einat Wilf on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/EinatWilf