Israeli Knesset Member: Gaza Crisis “Could Not Happen” Without U.S. Support | Amanpour and Company

Left-wing Israeli lawmaker Ofer Cassif is a passionate opponent of West Bank settlement, and of Netanyahu's handling of the war. Cassif strongly believes a political solution is needed. He joins Michel Martin to explain why, and how, he survived a recent effort to impeach him.
Originally aired on March 20, 2024
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Amanpour and Company features wide-ranging, in-depth conversations with global thought leaders and cultural influencers on the issues and trends impacting the world each day, from politics, business and technology to arts, science and sports. Christiane Amanpour leads the conversation on global and domestic news from London with contributions by prominent journalists Walter Isaacson, Michel Martin, Alicia Menendez and Hari Sreenivasan from the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center in New York City.
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[@bkm2797]

Ofer Cassif is a balanced human being, he loves his culture and still has the courage to stand with those that are being brutalized. Let's hope that more Israeli Jews stand for a two state solution and learn to live in peace.

[@brentdubecalgary5084]

the have said no to a 2 state since forever these people only want to kill non muslims and have since the founding of muslim faith was founded

[@elainegmorrison]

They don't. They'd have to give up their ill-gotten booty and they only want a peaceful occupation. Ask them. Tell me if I'm wrong. I'm not. Only Tel Avivians are willing to give up the rest of Israel. Everyone else is worried about their own homes on annexed land.

[@zaidasedien2808]

Thank you, Cassif, for speaking out, I pray for your protection, much respect, South Africa 🇿🇦

[@nickdanesh9179]

This man should move to Russia or south Africa they have Democracy . Just trying to make a name .

[@user-ic4ce8xb5v]

​@@nickdanesh9179 He was born in Israel. We should all strive for a united Israel-Palestine where all people live in harmony and nobody has special privileges. This probably requires dissolution of all current political entities there, however.

[@dissidentwolverine]

India calling and claiming itself to be the largest democracy in the world has dalits to deals with who want their democratoc freedoms and not to be labelled as second class citizens and shunned. Disgusting crap from MODI and his mind games. @@nickdanesh9179

[@waynevanrensburg8037]

Australian in South Africa at the moment. Cassif is supported here and there

[@DennisJack-we9sq]

This is why I love Israel, this man wouldn’t be alive if he speaks like this in an Arab country or Russia

[@Justiceme107]

Poor palestinians! They have been immensely suffering from 75 years. As miko peled said, israel is a pariah.

[@scalarnai]

The US sponsors have blood on their hands.

[@elizamilkowski6967]

you forgot to mention hamas and hezbolah

[@waynelee7871]

@@elizamilkowski6967 yes fighting for the oppressed.

[@abbyyanow5811]

Bravo to Ofer Cassif for his courageous stance.

[@jozef2630]

They have some point, But the majority of this point is out of line.

[@SaccoMabowles]

Ofer Cassif is proof that heros and angels can be born amongst demons and cowards.

[@rosemaryflynn5289]

I congratulate Ofer on his intelligent stand on this situation. What a rational human being and humanitarian

[@hughquigley5337]

I saw Ofer Cassif's interview with the Majority Report as well. Fantastic and inspiring person. Thanks for elevating his voice!

[@judykinsman3258]

Calling Israel a democracy is such a sick joke!

[@candacemildred9906]

and yet here is a dissenting voice in the cabinet. In Gaza their heads dont remain on their body

[@user-ul9is6nn1v]

It would be crazy to call it like this

[@markhammer643]

In many respects Israel is a victim of *too much* democracy. What??!! When it was first established, they aimed for the most democratic arrangement possible, and went with proportional representation. Unfortunately, they set the vote share required to have a seat in the Knesset too low, and while that minimum requirement has been gradually raised to around 3.5% over time, it has still resulted in Israel never having had anything *other* than a coalition government. The current government i(prior to Oct.7) s a coalition of around 11 parties. Netanyahu's Likud party only has 32 out of 120 seats, with a hodgepodge of far right and religious nickel-and-dime parties filling out his coalition to a 64-seat majority. Unlike Hamas, that haven't held an election for 16 years, Israel has held 5 elections since 2019. Gaza is ruled by the Hamas military junta, while Israel is so democratically besotted, they can't keep a government together. It's probably the electoral exhaustion, and shared horror of Oct.7 that has allowed the current government to remain in place since 2022. In my view, it is the crazy-quilt of successive administrations that has resulted in such bad policy decisions by a succession of Israeli PMs (and I had the honour of meeting two of them: Ben-Gurion and Meir). While admittedly a fictitious TV show about a different country, watch a few episodes of the excellent Danish political drama "Borgen" to get a feel for the difficulty of managing a cabinet comprised of members of parties other than your own (Denmark has also only had coalition governments, though with considerably fewer parties than Israel). I have no sympathy for Netanyahu, but he's forced to accommodate some serious nutbars in his cabinet, and yield to some views likely further right than his own (if that was possible) to achieve coalition stability. But probably one of the nastiest side-effects of the many coalitions is that, by virtue of being in the Knesset and having a bully pulpit, these far right parties have fostered a sense of legitimacy among the most strident and violent settlers. Just imagine if the Proud Boys had a half-dozen seats in Congress. Dare I say it, I see echoes of "manifest destiny" among some Israeli factions.

[@Trutsetyoufree755]

You came from democratic country

[@user-ic4ce8xb5v]

​@@candacemildred9906 that's just a myth people repeat to justify atrocities against Palestinians. this might surprise you but the region had centuries of peace between christians muslims and jews who all think quite differently

[@bijanabadi3993]

"If Israelis don't want to be accused of being like the Nazis, they simply need to stop behaving like Nazis" - Norman Finkelstein

[@contact594]

"Anti semitism is part of the human condition, everyone is anti semitic" Norman Finkelstein

[@aigaoliveira3278]

Ok, parrot.

[@buzoff4642]

@@aigaoliveira3278 aiga, trolling?

[@factchecker6674]

Yep, Norm with his appeal to emotion argumentation…

[@FaiezCader]

They are

[@user-ds4iz7gw8w]

A brave and honourable man who speaks the truth

[@PLe-studio]

Thanks to him and other great Israelis with golden heart, humanity still has hope.

[@lizArizona]

We believe in you as a good leader and voice of reason.

[@sul5707]

Here's a courageous man!

[@SaccoMabowles]

The cowardly majority of Izrelis see him more as dangerous. It's sad that the best people always suffer for the glimmers of justice left in the world.

[@Threeangels1976]

​@@SaccoMabowlesu r 100% right.

[@SaccoMabowles]

@@Threeangels1976 unfortunately. Kind of thing i'd be happier to be wrong about.

[@nadinenturo7553]

​@@SaccoMabowlescawordly because they don't support terrorists?!!

[@SaccoMabowles]

@@nadinenturo7553 cowardly because every single one of them is a coward. They're also lazy and gross, and it's why the place is sustained, managed and full of child predators.

[@FFP1948]

Cassif is a hearo in a society that lacks such.

[@Jad55]

Much respect to Ofer, a very courageous man!

[@Independent-Thought]

History will look well upon Ofer Cassif……

[@dianaszilagyi5688]

God bless this man !!!..❤

[@ruthbechtold378]

Thank you for this interview and thanks Mr Cassif for speaking up against this genocide, perpetrated by the state of Israel. It is clear that a peaceful coexistence will never be achieved by Israel under the circumstances. How can a people who suffered though the holocaust do this to another people ?

[@7135HOLLY]

And all of the other peace offers the Palestinians received going back to 1936 when they could have had 80 percent of the land and said NO. This conflict has nothing to do about land. Wake up - you've missed the plot and are uninformed. Try watching some Einat Wilf videos - she was from the Israeli left and served in Knesset more than 10 years ago. She was all for a two state solution at the time.

[@brentdubecalgary5084]

why do muslms want to kill everyone who isnt muslm learn about the hatred of jews in the koran

[@waynelee7871]

Watch Abby Martin of the Empire Files. One of her documentary " Gaza fights for Freedom" should have been given an Oscar. 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸​@@7135HOLLY

[@lordfedjoe]

​@@7135HOLLY are you not ashamed yourself?

[@contact594]

Never again....

[@pejmansehatpour7838]

Great to hear someone with some sense.

[@MendeMaria-ej8bf]

There are humanitarians everywhere, even in the Israeli government as we can see.

[@user-ry6xf1kv8g]

Amazing guy. Thank you for the interview!

[@lizArizona]

Thank you Knesset member

[@vaclavkubicek2970]

Netanyahu, Gallant, Smotrich, Gvyr and Gantz straight to jail.

[@dadaimiza]

"Should we be unable to find a way to honest cooperation and honest pacts with the Arabs, then we have learned absolutely nothing during our two thousand years of suffering and deserve all that will come to us." -Albert Einstein on Israel

[@contact594]

Einstein’s commitment to the Zionist cause did not waver in his later years. Indeed, in the very days before his death in 1955, Einstein was writing a speech for radio to celebrate Israeli Independence Day

[@amareto5772]

Thank you Cassif. Your voice matters.

[@yanaeccles4088]

A beautiful interview,thank you Miss Amanpour .🙏🏾

[@bilal4067]

Finally; courageous man

[@isetfrances6124]

It’s wonderful to see Good sense, compassion come from there. ❤

[@BobQuigley]

US government has consistently called for two state solution. US has consistently supported one china policy for 52 years. US today is the most irresponsible nation on earth. We're only 4.1% of the 8 billion precious humans today. Yet we and our allies supply 85% of all weapons. We've been involved in hundreds of conflicts including three hot wars since September 11. Millions dead double that wounded. 39 million refugees. Several nations in ruins across greater middle east. Civilization is in trouble. Man made catastrophes are accelerating. War is unthinkable at this time. We've abandoned diplomacy statesmanship negotiations pragmatism compromise. Replaced them with threats sanctions theft of sovereign wealth embargos war. We must have peace.

[@zakgault4209]

Indeed, the war crimes committed by supposedly democratic nations is mind boggling. Yet those with favour in the international community never face consequences. Just look at the US interfering in other nations since the 60's.

[@Reikimasterinfja]

President Carter was deeply concerned about Palestine 😢

[@buzoff4642]

And clearly, UN is an utter failure.

[@Joseph-cf2wd]

The post WW2 world order US have built, have been the best years mankind have ever witnessed. Capitalism and Globalization, and a rules based world order (with its obvious limits), spearheaded by west (and led by US), have lifted billions out of sustenance, billions a taste of freedom and many more positive outcomes. Out of all the great powers that have had hegemony since the dawn of civilization, there was none which had more restraint and benevolence than US.

[@drab.rashidwani4453]

Many thanks and slams to you. Cassf.for revealing and supporting the truth

[@BrendaHeeligan]

I’ve just heard that Canada had a vote in Parliament about sending weapons to Israel and the vote passed to stop all weapons and ammunition has been successful.

[@waynevanrensburg8037]

I’m sorry for my thoughts. This man has changed my mind.

[@user-ud5ut6gt5h]

Respect!

[@laleodekon5085]

Thank you for your honest words; may G-d appreciate your your character.

[@malusa9508]

It is not on Netanyaho to decide the day after for Gaza

[@brentdubecalgary5084]

if he is pm yes it is it sure isnt for un to decide

[@rosih.5716]

@@brentdubecalgary5084Then you must also be against the UN partition plan of 1948 which created Israel in the first place…

[@buzoff4642]

@@rosih.5716 I am against it. There would only be one vote that'd count, the Palestinian vote. "We decided to give half of Rosih's house away, they'll be moving in ASAP."

[@brentdubecalgary5084]

@@rosih.5716the un today isnt the same and the founding of modern israeli has been predicted for over 2000 years the un isnt a org to get advise from its corupt

[@rosih.5716]

@@buzoff4642I actually agree with you! It should be up to the Palestinian people to decide, and only up to them. Definitely not anyone from Isr@el!!! Their brutal dominance and oppression must finally end! The sooner, the better!

[@NS-mz8gq]

And now the world knows that Netanyahu has to be sent to the international court otherwise we live in a dystopian world where some can do whatever they like.And US is one of those so I am torn because I live in the west and I always believed that we are doing things for the betterment of humanity.And now slowly I am shown that there is evil done by my side and I am supposed to close my eyes because it doesn’t affect me.

[@contact594]

Like Bush was? or Assad?

[@buzoff4642]

@@contact594 Yes.

[@marybranning8392]

Excellent.

[@almaisic-spahovic5683]

Thank you Mr Ofer Cassif for your courage and humanity.Your final remark is very powerful

[@behavioraldesign]

I agree with him that the settlers need to be controlled, as they're not just an obstacle to piece, but a provocation for conflict. It also undermined the hops of Fatah leadership emerging as a symbol of what an alternative path could look like.

[@brentdubecalgary5084]

fatah is no different than hamas

[@waynelee7871]

Most of the violent settlers are dual citizens from the US. They love gun violence.🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@sofarsogut]

Ofer Cassif seems to make good sense

[@peacelover7000]

People like this gentleman, gives some hope for a future Palestinian state side by side with Israel.

[@jessd4048]

One imagines there was a lot of public support for Jim Crow, Internment and the trail of tears - popularity has nothing to do with justice.

[@buzoff4642]

Which would be a bad assumption. Ruthless tend to dominate, precisely because they're willing to cross moral lines that others will not.

[@SilverSprings1997]

Cassif is a bright light in a very dark place, and the ONLY hope for peace in a country plagued by their own hatred and desire to carry out the same crimes once committed against them. Netanyahu, Smotrich and Ben Gvir MUST go!

[@ryuuguu01]

Good Interview.

[@maherbader]

All the US government know this and choose to ignore it.

[@mannixisle]

Mark Twain said, “It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.” Ofer Cassie is one of the rare ones.

[@latifahmedi5525]

Thanks a bunch of your courage and bravery

[@jasonalaimo4787]

WOW!!! So informative!!

[@tahiabladna]

Thank you ofer cassif.👍👍👍

[@Sonzoul1]

This was just amazing to hear (in a negative way i mean). He is saying that it was the dream of the Israelis that Hamas commits something similar to what they have commited so that they could use it against them. Hamas is also thinking that if we do a crazy attack on Israel and make some noise then we will have a chance to negotiate about our lands. When people say that Hamas does not care about the Palestenians or the lands; I am curious why and what are the purposes of Hamas?

[@waynelee7871]

Stop the Genocide. Watch Abby Martin of the Empire Files. Israelis are brutal occupiers. 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@buzoff4642]

The supposition is that if Hamas gave a rat's hiney about Palestinian, they'd bring this to a stop by giving back the hostages. Palestinian have been suffocating from an Israeli chokehold, for decades. The Hamas attack was merely the trigger for Israel to accelerate its genocide. Israeli knew this was coming. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJy7e6p7p9Jreq8

[@chanz5499]

Thank you. Truly a brave man!

[@karimfalahahwazi1779]

Thank you sir for being honest and brave to speak out you have a place in heaven

[@luanhasa-nh4mi]

Thank you Mr. Ofer Cassif for support of humanity in gaza and westbank in this war . God bless you and your family for being honest.

[@juliarichter6987]

Is it helpful to talk about Nethanjahu losing his power, the one thing he seems afraid of?

[@psyconobserver3610]

Ofer Cassif thank you

[@marianmiller2802]

I hear Netanyahu say in 2022 that he did not see a 2 stay salute.

[@brentdubecalgary5084]

wasnt gaza a hamas state so what happened

[@roystonmason9125]

your evil people moved there @@brentdubecalgary5084

[@buzoff4642]

@@brentdubecalgary5084 Gaza and West Bank have been tormented by Israel, for decades. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJy7e6p7p9Jreq8

[@MagdiNonDuality]

Great interview More is needed.

[@damienflinter4585]

Another Assange? Sanity i$t verboten.

[@WheelyArt]

"it’s very hard to see a villain when you look in the mirror " spot on.

[@sambaxrock]

Thank for your courage Mr Cassif. You will remember you as one of the few in power that stood in the right side of history.

[@njayaram3741]

Thank you, Mr Cassif! Long May You and Your Voice be Alive!

[@patward1610]

Boycott Power Is the Best Weapon against GENOCIDE / BOYCOTTER POUVOIR EST NOTRE MEILLEUR ARME contre GÉNOCIDE \ IL POTERE DEL BOICOTTAGGIO è la nostra MIGLIORE ARMA contro il GENOCIDIO / EL PODER DEL BOICOT es nuestra MEJOR ARMA contra el GENOCIDIO \ O PODER DO BOICOTE é a nossa MELHOR ARMA contra o GENO

[@intheshell35ify]

I try to be informed. I try to not judge. I hope the jews presiding over this atrocity get to meet God face to face so they may answer for their brutality. Worst thing hitler ever did was empower the jews to do whatever without consequences.

[@7135HOLLY]

yeah we know the Palestinians are so peaceful themselves. They went to Jordan and killed King Abdullah of Jordan decades ago. They went to Lebanon, turned into what was a Christian majority country that was stable, Beirut was the Paris of the Middle East and was the financial capital of the Middle and is now nearly bankrupt, Muslim majority, thanks to them. There were a few hundred thousand Palestinians in Kuwait as refugees. They sided with Saddam Hussein in the Gulf War and Kuwait threw out every last Palestinian in the country. Pease loving people........

[@Petal4822]

Hamas can unconditionally surrender and release the hostages whenever they want the fighting to stop.

[@waynelee7871]

​@@7135HOLLYat least they don't commit genocide. 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@Stevef2022]

@@waynelee7871Of course they do - genocide is intent. They committed an act of genocide on October 7th, but are now upset that Israel has retaliated strongly. FAFO.

[@roystonmason9125]

the others have a better history? UNHOLLY @@7135HOLLY

[@baselt6552]

Very important to hear sane voices like that , the fact a genocide is ongoing for 160 + days is unimaginable and not good for the USA or Israel image at all.

[@mannixisle]

Ofer Cassif cuts to the chase: 16:02 “To say invading Rafa is wrong is an understatement: it’s going to be a carnage.”

[@haroldsimmons7608]

It's about time,Ms Amanpour glad to see you're back 😊😊!

[@Valkyri3Z]

He does not pull any punches. Respect.

[@barbaraward9007]

What I really find so offensive is the strident tone the interviewer is taking with this gentleman. It was almost like she wanted to disprove him or challenge him on every point.

[@Pax2023]

Unfortunately we don't have members in the US congress with similar honesty and conviction.

[@raylotfi1318]

Thank you, Amanpour for Outstanding report.

[@sandrajensen497]

Great respect to Ofer Cassif for his courageous stance against this genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza.

[@Threeangels1976]

Go Offer, Go Offer🎉🎉r🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@humanitesfmira4181]

Thanks to much for your humanity Mr Cassif ❤🙏❤️

[@santichatterjee7284]

Kudos Ofer🎉long live❤keep telling the truth🎉🎉🎉

[@MagdiNonDuality]

I support this gentleman’s understanding.

[@benitomoralesjr1142]

They are not out of the desert yet!

[@monaaburayyan2217]

Cassif is great -as usual - but he made his points clear and voiced his strong opinion despite the interviewer who kept trying to walk back his language and kept redefining/reframing what he said. Unbelievable! Even when Israelis are critical of the atrocities Israel commits against the Palestinians, the American mainstream media tries to tone down this criticism until it’s whitewashed. Unreal. Thankfully human beings like Cassif exist to TRY and push back.

[@miguelzip]

Thank you for your clarity and humanity. Much respect sir.

[@semratahtaci9474]

Thank you🤲🤲🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@vaclavkubicek2970]

Stop arms deliveries; deliver food !!!

[@Bill-ed1hr]

Did anyone question this? Israel existence depends on US support

[@mckoz523]

Other people need to exist also.How dare ISRAEL massacres 40k+ of innocent Palestinians with US support.

[@buzoff4642]

It certainly is the obvious question, isn't it. They're genocidal bravado, funded by the US for decades. For all the BS flap over US citizens on welfare, Israel fed billions, for decades.

[@pajazitajroe4534]

You are telling the truth this been happening for decades.

[@santichatterjee7284]

Amanpour should have more such people in her show if she wants it to survive. This is my view from India

[@azzakeith6758]

Thank you for being objective about the situation and being human and standing for both Palestinians and Israelis

[@kennethjohnson676]

Finally some common sense coming out of Israel. The government has been going in the wrong direction for many years.

[@stocktonthompson]

From 🇩🇪 with ❤.

[@lauracastor3713]

Thank you, Amanpour and Company for inviting Ofer Cassif onto the show and to giving him a voice. He is polite in calling the Biden administration's words and actions on Gaza "cognitive dissonance." I have come to see more like Orwellian doublespeak. How can Biden, Schumer and company shake their fingers at Netanyahu even as they keep vetoing UN Security Council resolutions, even as they keep sending more weapons to Israel?

[@user-th2ve7ck3v]

תודה רבה❤

[@oswaldullman2145]

Thank you Ofer Cassif, for speaking out in favor of basic Humanitarian norms. I wish more Americans and Israelis would do just that.

[@Justiceme107]

The palestonians have been facing oct 7 every day since1948. Hamas is just victims of oct 7's committed by Israel against palestinians.

[@buzoff4642]

News blackout on Israel abuse, for decades, burst onto the public forum, by Oct 7.

[@richardrosebealprestonjohn3144]

Spot on!

[@markparsons5677]

Why are there not more reasonable and objective people like this in charge? What does it say about societies around the world that our leaders are more and more extreme and "reasonable" people like Ofer are increasingly marginalised.

[@barbaraschumacher3861]

What a courageous, intelligent man!!!

[@cn9630]

HOW PERFECTLY "TELLING"❗️❗️❗️

[@dissidentwolverine]

A crime is a crime especially when it involves war crimes and crimes against humanity should never go unpunished at any cost as no one is above the law. Why are some countries on this planet allowed to get away with cold blooded murders.

[@buzoff4642]

Rich people are powerful.

[@brendatenorio5721]

She equates polls and majority opinions with correct and just outcomes.

[@paulbeel8358]

By the reasoning of your question, Hitler would get a pass because the majority of Germans voted for him. The majority of Israelis currently support genocide. Does that mean genocide is suddenly okay?

[@lucreciadela.espriella4098]

Thank you. Divine Justice for Palestinians in Palestine.

[@shalimar1792]

This man should b the next PM.OF ISRAEL...

[@ajari4626]

PLEASE HAVE MERCY ON THE PALESTINES😭😭😭😭😭!!!

[@yogiine]

This is going on here too. Politicians who dont support Israel in this are removed. Norway.