Jon Stewart argues Netanyahu would have to 'bomb himself' for endangering Jewish people
With "Jewish Currents" editor-at-large Peter Beinart, Stewart reflected on how he is condemned by other Jewish people as a "bad Jew" for speaking out about the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Stewart said Jewish people often think of themselves as the underdog, but, "What happens when David becomes Goliath?"
He derided pro-Israeli commentators for denying the conflict is a genocide, arguing it is "purposeful starvation."
"I feel like a crazy person. I feel like I'm watching something that is so self-evidently inhumane and horrific," he added.
Stewart argued that the ongoing conflict is not only a moral hazard, but hazardous to the existence of Israel itself.
"And to be told that I have to shut up because I risk the Jewish state by speaking out? I would say the opposite," he said. "I think they're putting the likelihood of a surviving Jewish state much more at risk with this type of action."
"I think they're the ones that are being anti - if you want to define - [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, with that definition of antisemitism, would probably have to bomb himself," he added.
Beinart, for his part, claimed that Palestinians "behaved like Gandhi" by participating in "overwhelmingly non-violent" marches in Gaza seven years ago, alleging that the U.S. supports Israel shutting down peaceful protests.
"When they do non-violent boycotts, we criminalize the boycotts. When they go to the International Criminal Court, we sanction the International Criminal Court," he added, referencing the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and President Donald Trump's sanctions against the ICC for issuing an arrest warrant for Netanyahu.
Beinart appeared to insinuate Hamas' October 7 terror attacks were understandable in light of all this.
"We essentially send the message to Palestinians that non-violent protests, that ethical protest resistance, doesn't work. And that makes it easier for Hamas to commit the crimes that they did on October 7," he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
27 minutes ago
- UPI
U.S. envoy airs plan as protesters demand return of hostages
1 of 3 | U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visit Gaza on Friday as part of a fact-finding mission to see firsthand the operations of the U.S.-Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Photo via U.S. Ambassador to Israel/UPI | License Photo Aug. 2 (UPI) -- The United States is demanding the release of 50 remaining hostages Hamas has held in Gaza since 2023, as protesters held a rally in Tel Aviv's "Hostage Square" on Saturday. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff announced the United States has formulated a plan to return all of the remaining hostages, The Washington Post reported. President Donald Trump "now believes that everybody should come home at once, no piecemeal deals," Witkoff said during the meeting that was recorded and televised in Israel. He told the families that prior cease-fire agreements required exchanges of some hostages for Hamas prisoners being held in Israeli jails. "That doesn't work, and we've tried everything," Witkoff said about U.S. efforts to release hostages who were captured when the U.S.-designated terror organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad attacked Israeli civilians without provocation on Oct. 7, 2023. The attackers killed about 1,200 Israelis and others, and kidnapped about 250 more. An estimated 30 of the remaining 50 hostages likely are dead, and Witkoff said U.S. officials want half of the remaining 20 hostages released on the first day of a cease-fire, followed by the rest shortly thereafter. Witkoff also said Hamas is ready to disarm and release hostages, but many of the families' representatives are concerned several of the living hostages would not be released if they are not among the first group to return to Israel. Hamas denied it is willing to lay down its arms and said it only would do so upon recognition of a Palestinian state, the BBC reported. Several officials in Arab states during the past week have called on Hamas to lay down its arms and end its control of Gaza. Witkoff met with representatives of about 40 of the hostages' families for two hours after attending a protest in Hostage Square earlier Saturday. The protest occurred after Hamas and Islamic Jihad earlier this week released video footage of hostages Rom Braslavski and Evyator David, along with images of starving Palestinian children, according to a CNN report. International pressure to end the war in Gaza has increased amid reports of Gazans being killed while seeking food at aid sites run by the U.S.-and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The United Nations says at least 1,373 Gazans have been killed while trying to get food and other humanitarian aid since the GHF began distributing meals in late May. Hamas and others blame Israel for the deaths, but Israeli and GHF officials say Hamas is attacking aid workers and killing Gazans who seek aid that it cannot control.
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Charlamagne tha God names surprising 2028 presidential suggestion
Charlamagne tha God is known for making waves as a prominent talk show host — and is pushing for a fellow entertainer to run for president in 2028. The popular face of "The Breakfast Club" radio show suggested "The Daily Show" star Jon Stewart should run as the Democratic Party's candidate in the 2028 presidential election during an appearance on "My View with Lara Trump." "This is going to sound ridiculous, probably, coming from me," he told Fox News host Lara Trump. "I would love to see Jon Stewart run in 2028." Charlamagne emphasized Democrats' need for a "change agent" after former Vice President Kamala Harris' loss to President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, and that Stewart could help the party broaden its base. "If we're talking about a change agent coming from the outside that's really going to shake things up, and somebody that I feel like can speak to all people… he's a celebrity who actually knows what they're talking about," he said. "We've seen him get legislation and stuff passed before — like, we know where his heart is." "He'd be somebody I'd like to see really get in the race and disrupt things in 2028." Charlamagne suggested that "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" host Stephen Colbert should run alongside Stewart on this hypothetical ticket, explaining that he's "not going to have a job." CBS revealed on July 17 that the show would be ending in May 2026, calling the plan to terminate it "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night," per a public statement. Elsewhere in the wide-ranging interview, Charlamagne advised Democrats to look to their governors for other possible 2028 candidates, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. "They actually have a track record, right?" he said. "You can go look at their states to see what they're probably going to end up doing on a national level." The headline-making personality also did not rule out a Republican candidate earning his vote in the next presidential election. He cited former South Carolina Gov. and former U.S. Amb. to the United Nations Nikki Haley as someone who he would consider supporting. "Traditional conservatives are going to take the Republican Party back," he said in part. Charlamagne also reviewed Trump's first six months in office, predicted Harris' political future and discussed New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's policy proposals and whether he agrees with socialism. Watch Fox News host Lara Trump's full interview with Charlamagne tha God on "My View with Lara Trump" on Saturday, Aug. 2, at 9 p.m. ET.
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
Sunday shows preview: Trump economy reverberates amid tariff uncertainty
President Trump's economy reverberated this week amid tariff uncertainty, the weak job report on Friday and the subsequent firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) commissioner, Erika McEntarfer. The Department of Labor (DOL) on Friday reported that the U.S. added just 73,000 jobs in July. Additionally, the job numbers for May and June were adjusted downward, cutting down the original tally by 258,000. The country added 19,000 jobs in May and 14,000 in June, far below the original reports After the dismal jobs report, Trump ordered McEntarfer to be fired, accusing her of manipulating previous reports and vowing to find a replacement that will be 'much more competent and qualified.' On Thursday, the White House also announced that tariffs on dozens of nations would be implemented on Aug. 7, sending further shockwaves through the global trading system. The import taxes will range from the baseline 10 percent to as high as 41 percent. Trump raised the tariff rate for Canada to 35 percent. The administration also announced trade deals with countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines and South Korea, along with the European Union and the United Kingdom this week. White House National Economic Advisor Kevin Hassett will appear on both NBC's 'Meet The Press' and Fox News' 'Fox News Sunday' where he will likely discuss the latest on the administration negotiations with other countries over tariff deals and weigh in on the latest jobs report. On the foreign policy front, Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and the U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited an aid-distribution spot in the Gaza Strip on Friday, as international outrage over the humanitarian situation in the enclave continues. Witkoff and Huckabee will brief the president about the situation, according to the White House, as Trump earlier this week acknowledged there's 'real starvation' in Gaza, striking a different position than Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has denied those claims. Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Executive Chairman Johnnie Moore will be on Fox News' 'Fox News Sunday,' where he will likely discuss the current flow of aid into Gaza administered by the U.S.-backed organization and weigh in on reports of Israeli military firing at Gazans seeking food at the aid distribution sites. Those and others topics are likely to be discussed on the upcoming Sunday Shows: NewsNation's 'The Hill Sunday': Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin ABC's 'This Week': Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers; former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Doctors Without Borders USA CEO Avril Benoît. CNN's 'State of the Union': Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin. CBS' 'Face the Nation': New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D); U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz; Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan and Canada's ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman. NBC's 'Meet the Press': White House national economic adviser Kevin Hassett and Sen. Alex Padilla (D). Fox News' 'Fox News Sunday': Hassett; Gaza Humanitarian Foundation executive chairman Johnnie Moore; father of co-pilot killed in DCA collision Tim Lilley and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).
