Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia: Old fears, new threats? | Head to Head

In this episode of Head to Head, Mehdi Hasan challenges Robert S. Wistrich, one of the world's leading scholars of anti-Semitism, on why he thinks criticism of Israeli policies is a modern manifestation of historical anti-Jewish hatred.
Is anti-Zionism a new form of anti-Semitism? Are boycotts driven by prejudice or principle? And is a criticism of the Palestinians and the Muslim world Islamophobic?
In front of the Oxford Union audience, and with the help of an expert panel, we discuss the complex relationship between legitimate criticism of Israel and illegitimate racism.
Joining this discussion are:
• Hannah Weisfeld, the founder, and director of Yachad, a pro-Israel, pro-peace movement.
• Jonathan Arkush, the vice-president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
• Richard Kuper, the founder of Jews for Justice for Palestinians.
• Sharif Nashashibi, a Palestinian commentator and former advisor to the UN
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#AlJazeeraEnglish #Facism #HeadtoHead

[@sun2020able]

Al Jazeera is getting better than BBC nowadays

[@davideckhart1123]

They are both Jewish owned. They work together.

[@ihsanfida1725]

david eckhart Stupud, Al Jazeera is owned by Qatar

[@udith]

@@davideckhart1123 What an idiot🤦🤦🤦

[@anonralph7081]

@Jhon Jhony go raibh sé ag obair ar an dáta sin

[@YES-sy8mb]

Both are propaganda

[@arslanakhtar3435]

I'm a Muslim (non Arab) but you can't compare anti-Semitism to Islamophobia : of course Islamophobia is monitored by the Western élite for obvious geo political interests, but anti-Semitism has always been more radical, not only the pogroms, Shoah, ... but it was a "racial" hate - today, if a Muslim abandons his religion and criticizes Islam afterwards, he (generally, she) becomes a superstar overnight thanks to the neo-con media. With Jews, like in Germany, even when their grandparents converted to Christianity out of fear/persecution or in order to have good jobs (like Karl Marx's father, a lawyer), they're STILL Jews, and are hated as such. There's no escape for them. I hope though that Muslims/Arabs will be able to live peacefully with Jews in the Middle East, because, as much as they'd like to hate each other, the future lies in their cooperation, and not with genocidal Europeans.

[@wolfy789]

Arslan Akhtar I really like your comment. I read it after i posted mine.

[@avnerleon9727]

Dusk vex Judaism is the religion like Islam...jews is the ethnicity like arabs. when you putt both words is a mess...a Jew that practice Judaism will be called: a *jewish jew* or a *jew jew*?

[@avnerleon9727]

Dusk vex yep... we have muslim arab and atheist Jew...but how would you call a religious Jew: a *jewish jew* or a *jew jew*? is a messy thing...

[@avnerleon9727]

Dusk vex is possible...Jew is a reference to the people of Judea...so they are a people...the same way today you can mention the Palestinians the jews represent a people. is a word game.

[@inder19852000]

Arslan Akhtar For Islamophobia, media is ofcourse to be blamed which focuses on terrorists from Middle East. At the same time how far are muslims engaging in their respective societies to dispel this negative impression about Islam? Why are muslims who are very vocal about palestinian issue goes mum when it comes to ISIS? Islam like Christianity in the past needs a theological reform. Quran contains verses which supports violence against non-muslims. Muslims should understand reform should come from within. There should be more room for intellectual discussion within Islam.

[@personalinvestor2143]

I always like debates of all kind, its a good thing people are coming together and debate.

[@RamSadeh]

Mohammed TheMapler Yes i agree

[@hishamahmed21]

Yesss❤️

[@AadilKhan-vv8zv]

The professor is just twisting his word, he doesn't give any answer.... ...

[@shuttlefeather]

Professor Robert Wistricht died May 19, 2015

[@RangaNayanajithSilva]

If you ask him to repeat what he said surely he would say it is PROBLEMATICAL...

[@khanomeir97]

Mehdi hassan is a great Muslim speaker. What an intellectual individual.

[@MM-by6qq]

Say mashaallah 😬

[@nevillethomas1525]

Israel is in fact a domineering project which was approved in the First Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland, in 1897, when nationalist Jews decided to occupy Palestine.

[@carljohnson2194]

Mashallah

[@aibansharailyngdoh8608]

An asshat

[@howtotieatie5845]

People like you are the real problem. You bring relgion in every undesirable scene.

[@lorenzofranco8406]

I'm not a Muslim, BUT, Islam is, single-handedly, the most beautiful religion. They say that Islam is not a religion for a woman but people just don't know how high a pedestal Islam puts women on. Once, a man came to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and said, "O, Messenger of God! Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship?" The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Your mother." The man said, "Then, who?" The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Then, your mother." The man further asked, "Then, who?" The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Then, your mother." The man asked again, "Then, who?" The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Then, your father."

[@kaptainkafir6231]

Lorenzo Franco men have full custodianship over women in islam. men can choose freely on whom to marry, if at all & how many up to 4. women don`t. they are denied to take 4 husbands if they so please. there`s a fuzzy thing if it comes to consent to marriage and the male custodian has more or less the final word. they can`t move freely in society. it`s not even a golden cage. it`s just a cage. beautiful indeed, if you`re a misogynist.

[@lorenzofranco8406]

Kaptain Kafir A man, in Islam, can marry any God-believing woman (whether it be a Jew or a Christian), and, a woman, in Islam, cannot do this due to one reason. Contrary to popular belief, Islam believes and recognises justice, not equality. Allah made a woman different from a man and a man different from a woman. They're not the same.

[@kaptainkafir6231]

Lorenzo Franco equality is justice. even in between themselves genders differ. assuming you`re black and an arab supremacist denies you the basic human rights based on his personal beliefs, wouldn`t you tell him to fuck off?

[@lorenzofranco8406]

Kaptain Kafir Equality is not justice, my brother. That is a big misconception. I'm from Germany. Yes, I'm black, but, not an Arab.

[@kaptainkafir6231]

Lorenzo Franco at no point did a assume you were an arab. this was merely an example wich you apparantly didn`t get. there is a name for a system which treats certain individuals different from others based on ideological reasons. it`s called fascism. wenn morgen ein gesetz rauskommen würde,( basierend auf einem archiaisch germanischen götterkult) welches dir als schwarzen untersagt dich frei in der öffentlichkeit zu bewegen. wäre das fair und oder gerecht?

[@mattgracie348]

This is the best debate Mehdi has hosted. Really loved listening to this. Thank you, Al Jazeera!

[@killa234532]

Really surprised by Robert Wistrich's performance, he didn't seem to make one good coherent point. He himself was Conflating Jewishness and being an Israeli throughout the programme

[@rogerlephoque3704]

He was a sick man at this time and clearly not firing on all cylinders. He died of a heart attack in Rome the following month.

[@maxk888]

Medhi hassan without fail is always able to make every one of his guests go " ............... er er er........" medhi your an intellectual genious

[@vincentabisa2954]

medhi hasan always asking the right questions. what is legitimate anti-zionism?

[@kazakhseven]

The fact is that Islamic and Jewish people believe in the same prophets and are the closest. Arabs are descendants of Ishmael and Jews are descendents of Isaac. Both were sons of Abraham, therefore both Jews and arabs are semitic.

[@cyberanon2463]

Yes I don't know why antisemitism only applies to jews when all abrahamic religions are semitic. Arabic is also a semitic language

[@nathanter7622]

There is NO SUCH THING AS ISLAMOPHOBIA. There is muslim-hatred, but no ISLAMOPHOBIA

[@lastpokemon]

+Nath Anter Its a new word .. deal with it.. I mean what the heck.. if you are affraid of something then you have phobia.. I have Islamphobia myself and I'm from a Muslim culture....

[@chickenmelike]

+lastpokemon Phobia implies irrational or disproportionate fear. Do you have irrational or disproportionate fear of Islam? Do you see the difference between arachnophobia and lionphobia? One is a real thing, the other does not exist.

[@lastpokemon]

chickenmelike Yes I do have phobia of all religions

[@UKgamer87]

I wonder if Robert Wistrich is going to put his new skill of conflating on his cv lol

[@habirton]

He died a month later after this debate :( (Assuming this was filmed in 4/2015 and not just uploaded then).

[@shaheedchoudry6911]

What a hypocrite this professor is. He kept on changing goal posts on each question as pointed out by a guest.

[@sirlordhenrymortimer6620]

Islam is the biggest hypocracy

[@lahoreaskari2651]

@@sirlordhenrymortimer6620 What is the hyprocracy "Sir"? Let me hear it. By the way, do you have any relation to Sir Henry Mortimer Durand who drew the Durand Line?

[@sirlordhenrymortimer6620]

@@lahoreaskari2651 yes ,how come you know. He was my great great grandfather from my father's side. Mortimer is the title that my family earned , which means protector of the land in Saxony , he was a great servant of the empire . As for hypocracy , isn't Moslem created their own land Pakistan due to their religion ,Islam in the subcontinent.

[@Ahmed_815]

Well that's Zionism for you.

[@gunner8144]

The professor is a slippery man. Making money of selling lies in a book!

[@ImplosiveCatt]

This professor needs a healthy dose of Norman Finkelstein.

[@MariCharalambous1]

my thoughts exactly, very well said.

[@B.Precision]

Controlled opposition?

[@hishamahmed21]

Ew

[@Extra-dg7uv]

Well he died a short while after this interview, sooo...

[@ajeeli524]

I must applaud Robert S. Wistrich on retracting some of the things he had said before in his book which, on the contrary to what some people may say, shows tremendous personality strength.

[@Bavafa1]

Hardly, he failed to remember and own what he said seconds ago in the show and requested to watch the video to confirm and consistently avoid it to commit to write another paper to clarity his old views.

[@hstoufik100]

Much love and respect for you Mahdi Hassan .. enjoying all your debates. Thank you and may Allah bless you brother

[@saadamiens]

the real threat are violent people, haters are everywhere and has nothing to do with religion or nationality or race, if you are a violent person you will be a violent politician, a violent ceo, a violent religious person, a violent house keeper, a violent cab driver, prefix violent and name whatever you want, the disaster is when those people get power, we should learn that from human history in all the world and all past civilization, those who build and who brought things to humanity were not haters, because they are occupied to build and an occupied mind is an open mind that create that innovate, you will never ever find a violent person or a hater with a creative and beautiful mind, because they put all their energy to hate and fight, which is of course easier than to think and solve complex problems.

[@fairlinda1]

Sharif Nashashibi is referred to as a 'Palestinian.' This is untrue. He was born in Kuwait. Time and time again, Arabs proclaim themselves to be 'Palestinian' when they are born outside of Israel in Arab states.

[@neoseyes]

If you cant criticise someone its because they are unable to observe themselves. Its called psychopathy.

[@moldovananti-zionist6276]

I totally agree with what the lady at 45:50 have said

[@omarfaruk6020]

well said .. May Allah bless you Mehedi Hasan

[@carljohnson2194]

Mashallah

[@questionthinkponder9197]

Excellent.

[@globalshift8382]

It's hot debate.......well done All the participants 🤝

[@mrt7333]

Usually im very against al jazeera, but this video made me slightly change my opinion. Good work.

[@freeyourmind6931]

Does anybody else find professor Wistrich very sneaky with his answers, either answering in a way which basically wastes time so that the camera is taken off him, or conceding to the logical arguments that Mehdi presents, i.e. When at the end the lady asks him to write about his 'change of mind' he made throughout the show, and when Mehdi asks if he will write about it, Robert answers by saying you can always trust him to change his own mind! WTF? How can one take someone seriously that will say he will always change his mind.

[@masudulhassan6233]

Thanks the news.

[@2ysur]

Excellent program.

[@threedeafears]

***** yeah. that's what i always say to people. Some episodes are true gems..

[@2ysur]

I've never seen the program before, I don't think, and I watch Al Jazeera regularly. This host is brilliant. Is he a barrister or attorney? I'm not sure I've seen that level of sophistry before, on the spot, so well executed. I almost felt sorry for the Israeli professor, having to backtrack so many times in one sitting.

[@affan354]

***** The host's name is Mehdi Hasan. He is a British political journalist, broadcaster and author.

[@SanctreMalleus]

***** sorry but this host debated Richard Dawkins and said that he literally believes that Mohammed flew into heaven on a winged horse PHYSICALLY! His elocution may be fine, but beware, even those that speak well can still be complete and utter morons.

[@affan354]

SanctreMalleus Just because he believes that doesn't mean he's a moron. If you can't disprove something happened, don't insult those who believe it, because it only reveals your narrow-mindedness. Atheists and their self-righteous views SMH. This host is many times more intelligent than you.

[@majidbenyounes3433]

The Prof was very poor and disappointing He needs to rewrite his previous books.., very poor indeed

[@abuhamzakhan8672]

Fantastic

[@connortilson7141]

This is Brilliant ❤

[@KaziMukitul]

Nice debate

[@josephmoriarty1693]

Jew, Muslim, Christian, Atheist. Why don't we drop these labels of division and call ourselves what we ALL are, human? Instead of bickering over the things that divide lets talk about the things that unite us. Until people let go of the sins of their fathers this hatred will always exist. Much love all you "humans" out there.

[@UKgamer87]

prohuman 80 That's great on paper but when certain groups are targeted with propaganda and illegal wars labels help to identify which one. Sadly there's always a new group that's convenient to hate and demonise.

[@josephmoriarty1693]

Uk Gamer People get to chose who to hate. If you follow media propaganda then you are no more than a puppet. The only choice you need to make is that of love. Don't pick up and continue the fight that just gives power to the few. Unite as one species.

[@cobaltbomba4310]

His book has been edited after the show.

[@ismailmustafa2649]

How comes the professor looks the same as GGG the boxer? Otherwise Mehdi you have done your part that will always be remembered head to head truly shows clearly what is right and wrong to those with sober mind's

[@kimjongun5946]

6:42 it is subtle

[@ranvorms2242]

Although I agree with the professor that anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism, he is a poor representative of this position. Not every criticism of the Israeli government and its actions is anti-Semitic, but to say that of all the peoples in the world with the right to self-determination you oppose only one, and that is that of the Jewish people (what Zionism really is), there is a problem here.

[@mayahamarneh9604]

But anti zionists are against the political views and actions on israel , that has nothing to do with Judaism

[@ranvorms2242]

@@mayahamarneh9604 You need to understand between criticism and calling for the destruction of the country. To criticize certain actions of a country is legitimate and necessary. Many Israelis and Jews disagree about the actions of Israel. It does not make them anti-Semitic or anti-Zionist. As in the UK there is no problem in criticizing things that happen there / because of their government. The same is true in Israel. It does not make anyone anti-anything. But to call the erasure of Britain from the map, while you have no problem with the existence of other countries it is hypocrisy and hatred. Critisism is legitimate, none disputes it, but to say that of all the peoples in the world with the right to self-determination you oppose only one, and that is the one the Jewish people (Which is basically what Zionism is all about), it's antisemitism. Hope you understand

[@shaankhan1347]

@@mayahamarneh9604 yes yes exactly ! Why do they play with words ?

[@offroadsandlimits]

An expert on antisemitism? He cannot even acknowledge most of the European Jews who have occupied Palestinian homes aren't even Semitic, so criticising them isn't really antisemitism.

[@sbroslan]

it becomes a debate of definition...

[@goodvibes.464]

well done mehdi

[@evelinaellend7750]

Robert wiestrich is from Kazakhstan ❤️

[@moby786]

Key point 7:55

[@MultiFusko]

Man he knows about Srebrenica. But not only Srebrenica, the whole country had the same experience inside the 3-year agression

[@Bliinks12]

this guy died less than a month after the release of the video.

[@JuicyCharon]

I thought anti-semitism was prejudiced against Jews and Islamaphobia was a fear of islam. Correct me if I'm wrong but one is against a people and the other against an ideology. How does Islamaphobia make a person racist?

[@ibaspelk8826]

Don’t try use logic here.

[@irshadlateef952]

No offence, the Professor does'nt know his elbow from his knee!!!!

[@worldpeace8299]

Imagine for one second that when the Palestinian journalist Sharif nashashibi was asked to comment on the argument that criticism of the Israeli state was disproportionate with the actions of other states throughout the world - and thus bringing into question the real motives of those making the criticisms - that he answered by saying "Yes, of course, and it is obviously because they are Jews, and not because of their brutal treatment of a people (identifiable by their appearance as Arab) that also inhabit the land but that are not classified as semitic. And might I just add: Well done on the use of accurate terminology in reference to the 'war in Gaza" and not what some have erroneously called a "siege" on a defenceless people." - Imagine. In idea at least I am all in favour of intelligent debate. But a real problem arises when one of the debaters - as in this case - is merely making an assertion, and is allowed to continue making that assertion in the face of actual defeat in the argument. Perhaps if he put his fingers in his ears and yelled loudly, "I can't hear you!" then we might be allowed to declare an actual victory. Sometimes debate is not the best means for moving forward. Sometimes debate might merely be the means by which what deflects actual culpability and avoids paying for one's crimes.

[@HaHaLooLoo]

we love you mehdi!!!!!!! you are gods gift to earth!

[@VemiX1000]

I am binch watching these. Thus far the vast majority of these discussions are very well done. The guests on the bench are always for and against the topic with the exception of Russia.

[@rudatheboy]

Im watching them back to back myself, brilliant debates

[@cyberanon2463]

On the russian debate, there was one guy on the panel defending them

[@Aizyv]

This guy was really stupud used to contradict himself. Should have invited a more clever person for debate

[@thealligator918]

I agree, mehdi should be replaced

[@cyberanon2463]

@@thealligator918 lol what? Mehdi owns this show

[@adamchannel2258]

Arabs & Jews are very close both in religion & gentics also both Semitic :hatred of Israeli Jews has nothing to do with race or religion ; but injustice

[@ibaspelk8826]

What about the hatred of not Israeli Jews??

[@AadilKhan-vv8zv]

You didn't need to be anti semitic to support palestine but yoi have to be islamophob to support israel.. That's the truth..

[@ibaspelk8826]

No

[@Bavafa1]

Well worth repeating and remembering "You are devaluing the meaning of anti-Semiticm and the very threat that it poses"

[@salamisfamagusta2918]

Thank God that there are people they can be sensible and not bigoted like Melanie full of hatred

[@aroxsimona8164]

Can they please stop using Muslim and Palestinian interchangeably?? :(

[@boxer1639]

What a slippery guy, literally drenched in snake oil

[@oldishandwoke-ish1181]

How is guy considered an "expert"? He is incredibly partisan.

[@90ifrah]

Denial is the new intolerance

[@NavedHasan12345]

Who made this guy a Professor?!

[@ssx47]

Anti Jewishness is that a thing ? This debate is welcome but it's philosophical argument . Hope we get a briefing of the condition of pace in Philistine

[@andreasnilsson3242]

For peace Israeliens Palestineans i suggest Rudy Rochmans videos and the channel on youtube Ask an israeli / ask a palestinean a question.

[@UKgamer87]

Al jazeera really need 4k cams

[@yeyintmoe4688]

Most people don't have 4k TV or 4k smart phones, don't need 4k

[@UKgamer87]

Ye yint Moe People said that about 1080p tvs a few years ago. Prices drop and people buy them. I have a 4k monitor and think it would be awesome to watch head to head in 4k. Also alot of youtubers use 4k recordings.....

[@earthlingcrusader1529]

I've never understood how "Jew" is a Racial Classification.

[@spacethegas]

bob is backpedalling throughout this. he is a joke. the palestinian fella was far more compelling.

[@loguetownpirate8091]

I wonder if any have considered that the cause for the rift between Muslims and the rest of the western world are not necessarily predicated on ideas that are holistic - such as nationality or race - but rather stemming from an accumulation of failed friendships that occur on the individual level. Most notably the rift created between those who consume alcohol and those who do not. Being an outsider of either culture (I am an Asian) I have seen this phenomenon break or make friendships since in the west it is considered an social lubricant, while in Islam it is considered to be unhealthy. Neither are wrong, but the basic stance over alcohol has painted each other as someone they cannot even consider having a friendship with even before they really get to know them, which in return perpetuates the international brand-war that exists today. I do not believe that what I am saying now can resolve any problems that we have today with regards with Israel-Palestine problem, but I wonder how I can make a difference in my immediate area however small that contribution might be.

[@muzikschannel4860]

I'm not Jewish but I felt this debate was a Jew bashing debate

[@ibaspelk8826]

Yes it was.

[@neoseyes]

They drew no conclusion.

[@habesha6883]

He didnt come prepared 😂

[@worldpeace8299]

isnt the anti-semitic claim regarding Israel just clutching at straws? Who knows, perhaps the people of Israel, in their ignorance, or in some form of self-denial, genuinely think that peoples concerns over their governments behaviour can only be an anti jewish thing?

[@RamakrishnanSRM]

Let's talk about homophobia in Islamic countries first. Shall we?

[@globallyblack5208]

Robert S. Wistrich is a born diplomat. answering what suits the interview. SMH He should just admit he is wrong and is diverging from the issue.

[@greylonewolf8750]

'Antisemitism and Islamofascism' is a much better title to showcase the reality.

[@deanzilberstein6812]

Mehdi Hasan is a brilliant interviewer, however, he takes a legitimate, dry and shallow concepts of criticism towards Israel, and simply, unapologetically ignoring the actual case in which things are happening around the world; especially in Europe today; Jews are attacked and blamed for actions by a country half the world away from them, calls all around the Arab world for the Genocide of Jews, the ban of Jews - not only Israelis from entering their own countries, etc. I mean I get what he was trying to say, but as always, he found a way to NOT LISTEN to what the person he interviewed had to say by not letting him finish a decent sentence, and by engaging in shallow, widely accepted view of Israel. What a waste of a fresh, new and challenging POV on the matter.

[@WoenselTuning]

how is this guy a professor? lol

[@worldpeace8299]

the human race stands divided against itself. when one knows that one does not take a side, but rather seeks to understand how such a state has come about.

[@AA-ku1ee]

So graceful in calling out their bullshit. Keep going Mehdi!

[@davidhynes7850]

Where did they get that plonker who is interviewing from?

[@rubenverheij4770]

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed is king.

[@MrCmon113]

That's the most ironic title I've ever seen. XD You could as well write "Antisemitism and Naziphobia: Why aren't people fond of Jews and Nazis?"

[@farazzal]

ffs just make jerusalem an international city.

[@rubenverheij4770]

The End Justifies The Means

[@wovokanarchy]

Big difference between South African apartheid and accusations of Israeli ''apartheid.'' SA's apartheid was based on the separation of people based on race, whereas Israeli's policies is based on the threat of violence and terrorists attacks in Israel. The two are not similar.

[@AliHassan-xk6wu]

Mercurial?

[@lepermessiah1969]

One of these men believes in flying horses...

[@rejencann7411]

With wings. In a place not on earth. Stop being immature.

[@faz1991]

Always thought Mehdi Hassan was a fantastic speaker and debater even since i saw him on those simpleton debate shows like 'sunday morning live' and 'the big questions' (which can be interesting, but are so poorly put together by choosing speakers who are often ignorant). I love that he's doing big things like in Oxford Union.

[@Here0s0Johnny]

mehdi hasan is not a neutral interviewer but more of a interrogator/commentator. i'm not sure this format is supposed to be like this (a debate)... i certainly would find his tactics very annoying in 'interveiws' with other people. i like this debate because the interviewee is well-spoken enough to keep up with mehdis rhetoric and doesn't fall into the traps mehdi is setting up.

[@owais2128]

+1REVINT he did a very good job at acknowledging his mistakes and bigoted views of the past.

[@putatdaun]

See the other head to head interview morron. Mehdi act same way to other guest also. Its a head to head debate format so take it as it is. People will find any excuses when they failed to make a solid point.

[@Reckless-mindfulness]

he got smacked! in the language of the younglings, he got reckt!!!

[@NaharDElorem]

Jeeeeez he doesn't even let him speak or finish his sentence!! Aggravating on a HIGH level and also very rude!

[@freedomplayer95]

i find it really frustrating that we keep locking up on terminologies rather than just looking at the actions itself. But what really grinds my gear is Mrs. Weisfelds suggestion of not compairing numbers. I agree that in some cases its meaningless but in some cases it has to be done. especially by the judging nations. For example the death numbers on either side. There is a significant difference and one should ask themselves what if it would be the other way around? Especially if they are supporters of the israeli state. Would'nt they demand the whole world to mourn for at least 20 years? To me its utterly disrespectful to all the innocent people who have left their lives. Also i can understand why there is such an increase in anti semetic attacks by fanatic muslim people. If you as a palestinian lose friends and family members by the israeli govenment of course you will build up hatred towards jews. Let me tell you why. The whole israeli govenment advertises that everything it is doing, its doing for the jews because they are acting on behalf of Judaism. So for a Palestinian to sit their in agony and knowing that apparently everyone in israel is supporting this, since nobody dares to speak up, builts up hatred toward israel. And since israel is representing itsself as a Jewish state acting they way jews what it to be, you start to hate jews. I know this is stupid and ignorant but in a time like this, it is incredibly hard to think straight. You just lost your familie and mayba you got injured yourself. (Quick side note here in Germany e.g. 9 out of 10 anti semetic attacks are from right wingers. From the Neonazis. And those are racist white european people who feel frightend by so called invaders). So what i acctually what to say is that every jew in the world and also every supporter of israel should think about what that israeli state really is doing to the Jews. Jews are being put into a ugly nasty murderes and egoistic spot! which they arent !! I am 100% certan that most jews dont like what israel is doing on their behalf but unfortunatly we have reached a point in which even as a jew you get called anti semite. THAT IS REDICULOUS!!! And one quick point to my western friends. If later it turns out to be genocide indeed and murder and unfair what israel did. Trust me! The israeli govenment and also your own govenment (if they supported israel) will make you as a citizon responsible for this. They will tell you that everything they did was beacause of its citizons. They wont even think twice about keeping the guilt. They will just try to dust it under the floormatt

[@aswinramachandran]

as an anchor mehandi hasssan is good and he always can give a 3rd person point of view, till it come to Islam. When it comes to islam and other middle eastern countries which is promoting him, he has a closed mind set. I wish he should question Islam and its idealogy more to make the world more peaceful place

[@TheUnique69able]

+aswin ramachandran islam was not the topic of discussion

[@aswinramachandran]

I know that the topic is not that of islam. I made that statement considering the other speeches made by him and the general undertone of his speeches when considering from my view point

[@owais2128]

+aswin ramachandran A journalist is entitled to have his own views and beliefs as long as he gives the other person equal opportunity to defend their views. In this programme he challenged Robert on his bigoted writings and propaganda. It's his job to expose the flaws and hypocrisy, and Robert acknowledged his mistakes.

[@aswinramachandran]

I am not only mentioning about this interview, i felt so. He is good, no questions about that. But when it comes to problems in islam or some one supporting some wrong doing ( Muslims or muslim country) according to me he try to justify them and pathetically failed many time

[@owais2128]

Please give an example. I have seen him criticising the extremist Muslim groups many times.

[@umarazad8682]

I think there seems to be a very strong ideology among the learned community that anti Zionism is always equated to being anti Jewish. It's like calling people who oppose Islamic state to be all out Islamophobes. While you always find individuals in both the communities who are anti Zionist anti Jewish and anti Islamic state Islamophobes. But in my point of view it's extremely careless to make such a generalization amongst either community. Because at the end of the day both Jewsim and Islam being highly cultural religions and basing a whole country on a religious principle will present political problems. Take Saudi Arabia or Pakistan for an example. Calling out the political criticism as being anti religious weather muslim or Jewish is wrong on a moral level. And is being used both by the muslim and jewish extremist to legitimize inhumane activities.

[@pavilionman64]

If you search for the most Islamophobic books on google most of them are by Jewish or Israeli authors. If you look for the most anti-Semitic books most of them are European authors. That's a "problematic" fact.

[@andytye4750]

This debate was meaningless as the speakers were trying to be politically correct. To understand the whole situation see the comment section or engage them in a private chat.

[@iqmalfarhanb.ismailismail2135]

Now,why not make anti-Christianity

[@sleeplessintokyo]

Great debate as usual! Thanks AlJazeera. We need more.

[@Addakhel]

And Mehdi whips the ground with another bigot.

[@pietrosantorsola1475]

it is funny to see mehdi hasan talking about anti-semitism when he is one of the main open journalists in the world to have an anti-setimitic rhetoric

[@tahahagar7664]

Hes anti zionist, stop trying to silence ppl

[@ibaspelk8826]

@@tahahagar7664 Anti Zionism is antisemitism in a see through disguise.

[@creddesignmatters6855]

‘Gotcha’ type questioning, which Mehdi Hasan seems to rejoice in, when discussing very complex matters, reminds me of my hippy (and very clever) friends from the 60’s (we can change the world types) - it is pointless and in the final analysis shows how naïve he actually is… FRANCIS: We're get in' in through the underground heating system here, up through into the main audience chamber here, and Pilate's wife's bedroom is here. Having grabbed his wife, we inform Pilate that she is in our custody and forthwith issue our demands. Any questions? COMMANDO XERXES: What exactly are the demands? REG: We're giving Pilate two days to dismantle the entire apparatus of the Roman Imperialist State, and if he doesn't agree immediately, we execute her. MATTHIAS: Cut her head off? FRANCIS: Cut all her bits off. Send 'em back on the hour every hour. Show them we're not to be trifled with. REG: And of course, we point out that they bear full responsibility when we chop her up, and that we shall not submit to blackmail! COMMANDOS: No blackmail! REG: They've bled us white, the bastards. They've taken everything we had, and not just from us, from our fathers, and from our fathers' fathers. LORETTA: And from our fathers' fathers' fathers. REG: Yeah. LORETTA: And from our fathers' fathers' fathers' fathers. REG: Yeah. All right, Stan. Don't labour the point. And what have they ever given us in return?! XERXES: The aquaduct? Understand?

[@angryreader8857]

Nice and balanced, though I hate the current use of anti-semitism meaning only Jew hatred. Arabs and Jews shared a genetic history, and Arabs are semitic

[@andys2151]

World peace starts from free strong PALESTINE 🇵🇸

[@ibaspelk8826]

No

[@justanormalguyhere2408]

What have this to with this?