Mohammed El-Kurd: Palestine | Lex Fridman Podcast

[@lexfridman]

Here are the timestamps. Please check out our sponsors to support this podcast. Transcript: lexfridman.com/mohammed-el-kurd-transcript 0:00 - Introduction & sponsor mentions: - Factor: factormeals.com/lex50 and use code lex50 to get 50% off first box - SimpliSafe: simplisafe.com/lex to get free security camera plus 20% off - BetterHelp: betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off - Babbel: babbel.com/lexpod and use code Lexpod to get 55% off - House of Macadamias: houseofmacadamias.com/lex and use code LEX to get 20% off your first order 2:18 - Palestine 26:47 - Hate 40:18 - Antisemitism 48:14 - Peace in the Middle East 55:11 - West Bank 1:05:20 - Hamas 1:15:08 - Two-state solution 1:30:58 - Jerusalem 1:37:41 - Role of the US 1:39:31 - Ghassan Kanafani 1:50:16 - 2024 Elections 1:51:25 - Poetry 2:00:45 - Language 2:09:14 - Hope

[@JD-jl4yy]

Thank you for doing what you do Lex

[@kika-ge5qr]

Thank you Lex. As far as you not fearing anyone, great. There are some that do not deserve the time due to crimes and lies.There is enough of that bs.🌿

[@emmag2234]

Did you ask him why the Palestinian's condition for peace is the ethnic cleansing of all Jews on any territory that they would have sovereignty of? Do you not think that is the REAL reason why there is no peace in the Middle East and not the fact that Jews live in the West Bank???

[@ef1288]

Sheikh Jarrah was called Shimon HatZadik before the 1948 war the Arab league declared on Israel’s first Day of Independence. Then when Jordan occupied Judea and Samaria and changed the name to the West Bank to erase our history and did the same with Shimon HatZadik and changed the name to Sheikh Jarrah. They also killed 600 Jews and expelled the rest so that it was all ethnically cleansed of Jews. Then Jordan put the Arabs in the Jewish owned hoses and said that had to pay a nominal rent but the Arabs didn’t want to pay the rent so it ended up in courts for several years. Jordan also destroyed 56 synagogues and wouldn’t let us pray at Temple Mount which is the holiest site in Jerusalem. They still won’t let Jews pray there but they let us walk around it at certain times a couple of times a week 😢 this is so complex you really should speak to a historian

[@waelaltalaa]

Thanks for doing this, I was hoping you would interview Azmy Bshara, I'm pretty sure that would be a very interesting conversation!

[@peterroth5287]

Crazy that I have lived into adulthood and never heard these perspectives. I was nodding along when Netanyahu was on because I had heard all of that framing again and again...when I listened to this I just had my mouth open in dismay. I feel very upset that this is happening. Thanks for hosting him and publishing this.

[@אביליפשיץ-ל4ע]

The Jews must take over the land, this is what God commanded Moses. The land belongs to the Israelites. Thus God promised their fathers [Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel)] it is written in the Koran. The Palestinians are infidels. They are doing against the Koran. The Palestinians should leave the country to 22 Muslim countries they want. They disbelieve in God's command!! The Jews do not need to listen to the Koran because God gave them the Torah thousands of years before Islam!! The Jews believed in God before Muhammad!! The Koran was intended for the foolish idolaters who buried their daughters in the ground and would pray to statues and the sun and the moon. The Jews are the chosen people of all nations!! And this is also written in the Koran. Even if the Jews sin, they are better than the Muslims in God's eyes, because God loves them like a father who loves his beloved son!! This is what is written in the Torah, and this is how God commanded the greatest of the prophets Moshe ben amram ben Kohath ben Levi ben Jacob ben Yitzchak ben Avraham a.h.

[@getrippt]

The question is, who is to be believed and which is embellishing their story to further their agenda or cause. I’ve found it more and more difficult to know which way to lean on any particular subject unless I’m part of it or have experienced it. I can understand both sides of their arguments at times. There’s something about this guy that puts me off though. He’s using a lot of sjw buzzwords. Calling Jews racist, colonials, comparing themselves to the natives Indians in America, etc. if you only heard this guy speak, you’d never believe Israelis are attacked often also.

[@caleb-glennmarcus6887]

@@getrippt It's very easy to find out who to believe. Simply look at videos and documentaries made, and statements put out by B'Tselem, Middle East Eye, Abbie Martin, Amnesty International, the UN, and Jewish Voice for Peace, just to name a few. Also, please don't be offended by words used in the correct context, simply because you can't relate to said context. To someone living there, it's not a buzzword, it's their life. Empathy, always. Oh, and he's calling Zionist Jews, the ones who chant "D3ath to the Arabs" racist...

[@suadahedzic5000]

@@getrippt Israeli attacks constantly and say they defend themselves. But if Palestinians attack, it is unacceptable. They should just be quiet about what is happening to them

[@suadahedzic5000]

@@getrippt You can find a video where Zionist Jews are interviewed. After watching it, I had no other word for them than racist

[@bevklayman4158]

This man is a treasure. And this interview should be shared as widely as possible. I am a 73-year old Jewish American woman who grew up in the segregated South. I can say unequivocally that Mohammed El-Kurd is 100% correct and clear in his explanation of the true Israel-Palestine situation. Some similarly enlightened Jewish thinkers have referred to Israelis such as Netanyahu, his administration and supporters as 'Judeo-Nazis". I do not cringe from this description; I embrace it because it correctly encapsulates the reality that the historically oppressed (Jews) have become the oppressors. This must be acknowledged in order for there to be a liveable future for all. Perhaps the average Israeli today is like my Jewish family in Louisiana in the 1950s and 1960s. They were benignly racist and did not consciously connect their history with that of black people in the U.S. We all need to wake up.

[@wavingcat5]

Bless you. I have deep regard for Jews like yourself. Your perspective carries more weight, like Norman Finkelstein.

[@maramjaber9016]

Allah bless you my Jewish sister. We love Jews but oppose Zionism.

[@calinative5302]

Oh you are virtue signaling. Attack another nation and get whooped

[@bocchithean-cap3404]

Note that this woman is probably dead now

[@bevklayman4158]

Are you talking about me? Uh, no, I'm still here.@@bocchithean-cap3404

[@knowledgeispower6726]

Wow, he doesn't have a citizenship???? That's like when the Irish weren't citizens in their own country during the English occupation! It's truly mind-blowing that countries which like to claim they are civilised have this going on under their control!!!

[@kjw6383]

That's why Irish support Palestinians. They well know about British colonialism.

[@ConorJTobin]

The Irish people have long held a huge amount of sympathy for the Palestinian cause for this very reason. 🇮🇪🤝🇵🇸

[@MissnewsReporter]

We love the Irish people god bless Ireland and the strong,amazing people of Ireland.❤🇵🇸🇮🇪🍀

[@ValerieGriner]

Quite a few people who live there have NO CITIZENSHIP...that's part of the apartheid nature of this "state."

[@TheShacharZiv]

As far as I know, East Jerusalem Palestinians can apply and get full citizenship if they want it. I think most don't want it as it would seem as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause. Personally, I feel Palestinians should take any opportunity for more civil rights, and maybe that would lead eventually to liberation but there's probably much I don't know about it.

[@farhatatefi8816]

His voice and every word of him is full of unimaginable pain and sorrow😢

[@bettyslama5284]

and hatred and rage and anger, hence he can't be a reliable witness of history. He's distorting everything and is outrageous in his demands from his ennemis. He mocks the Jews Bible and religion which shows he never made the slightest effort to understand the other side and come up with a mature compromise.

[@ondrejmayer]

​@@bettyslama5284did you listen to his story? He has every right to be outrageous. His home was stolen.

[@rayan5150]

@@bettyslama5284this is like saying people who witnessed and were victims of the holocaust first hand are not reliable. What an absolute BS.

[@osvaldoramirezcastillo]

@@bettyslama5284 boy, you have so much hate in your heart and mind you can't think straight. Worse, you have no sense of what compassion is. I feel sorry for you and your family

[@osvaldoramirezcastillo]

@@rayan5150 I think your brain stoped working before this interview even started

[@alvillanueva3953]

Since Hamas attacked Israel few days ago, I started searching about Israel & Palestine in the internet. I am saddened to realize about how much I don’t know about this conflict and suffering. A lot of the things I learned are mentioned by the guest.

[@jbunstoppable5074]

I have a similar story and understand what you are trying to convey While traveling in my hometown in the 90s, I met a person with a unique tattoo on their arm. I asked them about the tattoo's significance. They said...this tattoo represents my journey of survival. I didn't understand and I asked for more details. Their response is I am a Holocaust survivor. They had a mixture of solemnity and resilience in their demeanor. Listening to this, I now understand the profound meaning behind the tattoo and appreciate the importance of preserving the memory of Holocaust survivors. Thank you for sharing your story…

[@Primordial...]

They're about seven centuries too late Jerusalem was already there before they were ever there it never was theirs there has never been a history of theirs no claim.

[@davidfayfield6594]

Well should we then give America back to the Indians ?

[@Bobochee]

​@@davidfayfield6594Indians?! That's says everything you need to know about you as an uneducated person.

[@VeronicaThibodeaux]

@@jbunstoppable5074 The Palestinians should not be made to pay for the Halocaust. Germany has already paid, maybe it is time we all quit paying. The world can remember and learn but that includes the Israelis as well.

[@martinlatvian5538]

My family went to Jerusalem and as well to Palestinian territory. We did stay in Israelian home and in Palestinian home few days later. What I did notice is that Palestinians are more welcomming and kind and less dogmatic. Palestinians were more generous even tho they have 100 times less the gave everything to welcome Us as guests. Meanwhie Israelian family were more cold and introvert and had many religious rules in their house. It was not cozy. The Palestinian family gathered all the fire wood and food and fuel they had and said: "Lets go for a ride into the desert make a bonfire cook and drink tea. Lets have fun!"

[@wavingcat5]

That sounds so beautiful. It’s incredibly touching in light of how hard they are struggling to be seen as human. I love that you shared this story.

[@nasnus999]

Many thanks for sharing your experiences 🙏 . Palestinians never get fair press 😒. So much injustices against Palestinians 😔.

[@PakSoerja]

"my ability to write is far more superior in Arabic than in English", said the man who has been so eloquently expressing ideas in English better than even most english native speakers could ever do... Makes me wonder the nuances we have been missing from this already very nuanced discussion... I hope that this conversation could spark more honest and fruitful discussions on the issue of Palestine/Israel and that one day everyone can find a solution. Like always, it's been a joy to listen to Lex's Podcast. Thank you, Lex.

[@Fivetimesthree]

There are clips of he and his sister, Muna, speaking in Arabic and I wish you could understand them. Poetic and there is a fierceness and dignity in their words.

[@jbunstoppable5074]

I have a similar story and understand what you are trying to convey While traveling in my hometown in the 90s, I met a person with a unique tattoo on their arm. I asked them about the tattoo's significance. They said...this tattoo represents my journey of survival. I didn't understand and I asked for more details. Their response is I am a Holocaust survivor. They had a mixture of solemnity and resilience in their demeanor. Listening to this, I now understand the profound meaning behind the tattoo and appreciate the importance of preserving the memory of Holocaust survivors. Thank you for sharing your story…

[@MrAlccosta]

Jim Crow was legal. The apartheid in South Africa was legal too. Legal does not mean it is right

[@dfostar6971]

When I was a teenager in the 80's, I met a person with a beautiful accent. I asked him what country he was from. He said...I have no country. I didnt understand and I said everyone come from some where. His. response is I am a Palestinian. He had pain and sadness in his eyes. Listening to this...I now understand what he was trying to day. Thank you for giving this guy a voice to speak.

[@onedwinone]

I understood from history that the Roman's re named Israel as Palestine and that the " Palestinians " were no more than nomadic Arabs

[@onedwinone]

I understood from history that the Roman's re named Israel as Palestine and that the " Palestinians " were no more than nomadic Arabs

[@serpentines6356]

Well, I met some Palestinians one time. They weren't whining away about having no country. They were a wealthy family, bankers, having a great time at their family wedding in the U.S. They were happy, and generous. Whining away that Israel accepted the land deal, won the war, and created a good country, just doesn't cut it with me.

[@serpentines6356]

​@@onedwinone "Palestinian" was a political move cooked up by Yasser Arafat. Or, something like that. I don't remember all the details. Not important to me really.

[@sinatra222]

At least he is honest. Many people today falsely claim that Palestine is a country.

[@eriksoderberg4828]

"There is a lot for me to do before I can tend to the needs of my occupier" Fantastically sobering statement. I really hope more People are given equal rights.

[@pikapi6993]

what is fantastic about this statement? It only gives a reason to the other side to be equally concerned about themselves

[@gmallory]

​@@pikapi6993get a life stop undermining and deflecting you zio bots are annoying

[@samaldacamel8003]

@@pikapi6993 who the fuck cares about the invaders lmao

[@MrZERK7]

The other side who is bent on opressing and confiscating land until they own the whole of Palestine. If they don't worry about themselves, then what is left to do?

[@אביליפשיץ-ל4ע]

The land belongs to the Jews. Al kura'n sura 5

[@shtrudlica]

I know only 8 days passed, but I would say this is for now the most underrated video on the channel...hope it gets a bigger reach

[@BHRxRACER]

probably throttled

[@asteroidhunting7340]

The guy he is interviewing is a wack job, but yea lex was great

[@bossmanali]

​@@asteroidhunting7340Israeli bot 🤣

[@Who.is.kidding.who.]

@@asteroidhunting7340 can you please explain what exactly makes him a wack job???

[@sanizlati5406]

@@asteroidhunting7340 such a discgrace and a sad figure, you are…

[@shahryarkabir]

Wonder how many brilliant Mohammed El Kurd’s lives have been cut short never to be heard again.

[@seanfitzgerald4207]

fascinating discussion. really making me think.....the part where Mohammad said that the idea that this is a thousands year old primarily religious conflict between Muslims and Jews is a distraction from actual issue of property rights and sovereignty

[@خالد_الشيباني]

Absolutely, Muslims never really cared about Jews more than they cared about Christians or other religious groups before the Nakba. In Palestine and else where, People lived in their communities and neighborhoods and governed them selves using their own laws in the Ottoman Empire. Empires really don’t care about much more than taxes and so as long as you do that, you are fine. The issue came when European Jews wanted to establish a Jewish Zionist state and given the actual discrimination they faced from Christians and Europeans in general, they projected that unto the Muslims. And so ironically Semitic Arabs became anti-Semitic.

[@jonbbbb]

@@خالد_الشيباني that's a blatant lie. In the Ottoman empire, Jews were prohibited from settling in Palestine. It's one of the issues that led to informal settlements and lack of clarity over who actually owned land.

[@towntwo451]

@@خالد_الشيباني Ever heard of Dhimmi status habibi? Jews were always persecuted and dehumanized by Arabs.

[@SzTz100]

@@towntwo451 The Dhimmi status ended in 1869. In any case, I don't think it's right to kick people into refugee camps. I want to disagree with you that Arabs persecuted Jews since Islam is kind of a copy of Judaism.

[@خالد_الشيباني]

@@towntwo451 You mean the status where you govern yourself by your own rules, laws and courts and live peacefully never worrying about fighting wars, while the ottomans recruits Muslims in the next neighborhood to fight, for a tax? I would take that anytime of the day. Not to say that there is no discrimination at all but nothing specific to the jews. In fact the group most discriminated against are Balkan Christians who were forced to conscript to the imperial army. This is just to put things into perspective and not to condone the ottomans. The only time when Christians and Jews were subject to Ottoman law was when there was a dispute with a Muslim which did not happen often given that each people lived in their own communities and neighborhoods. Yes there is dome discrimination against Jews and Christians, it is not pretty (to our modern standards) but certainly much better than what Palestinians live through (3-class system, no freedom of movement, no personal laws and courts, and under constant occupation) or obviously what Jews lived through in Europe. I am not advocating for going back to that but for Palestinians (Including Christians) things have been getting worse since the Zionists started the project of establishing a solely Jewish state in a place that inherently for 1000s of years was multi-cultural. I think the only way forward is a one-state solution were everyone is given equal right but Israel does not want that because there are more Palestinians than Jews and so it wouldn't be a majority Jewish state.

[@xxgunnery]

This one made me emotional... the world is messed up, I am so sorry for Palestine

[@asteroidhunting7340]

Crazy to me how anyone could sympathize with someone like this. It’s like, you are being told what to believe without even thinking about it for yourself. This guy is the epitome of immaturity and the reason why Palestinians are where they are today. The multiple times lex tried to get any sort of accountability of of this guy or the Palestinian people in general… he had none of it, there was absolutely no accountability for the actions taken or the actual history of the land, he mentioned that he does not listen to Israelis or there perspectives, does not even entertain them. This guy is a wack job and admitted to hating Israel and the Jews, and sees Hamas and the destruction and doctrine they have as legitimate, he sees the Palestinian authority as washed, the times they try for peace is nothing to him, he contradicts himself left and right, “oh yea Israel can have a state of there own, just not in my front yard” while he considers all of Israel his front yard… like… he is exactly who he preaches against! I applaud lex for staying so composed when trying to get any sense of accountability out of him and the Palestinians. Bravo.

[@reereeasia333]

@@asteroidhunting7340troll

[@xxgunnery]

@@asteroidhunting7340 Yeah you bring up some good points but I still feel that Palestine is the country being occupied and that Israel are the agreesors. I don't know a lot of the history here, but I am very worried about the level of US financial support for Israel considering they are taking land from Palestinians and not peacefully

[@palestinabaddie]

💗

[@YotamAlbalach]

@@xxgunnery Well its a good thing to seperate your feelings from the historic events that took place. Israel wasn't and isn't the aggressor in this conflict, regardless of how anyone "feels". A few examples, their side never agreed to any compromise or peaceful solution in the entire history of this conflict, while Israeli leaders have. This is even before any war broke, any occupation, before anyone was removed from their home, in the 1930s an attempt was made to negotiate a division of the land to a re-established Israel, and give the arabs a state for the first time in that territory, their arab leaders didn't even want to negotiate. In 1947 (still pre-war or occupation or expulsion) the UN proposed a partition plan, accepted by Israelis, rejected by arabs, and immediately followed by a declaration of war. He tells about his and his family's personal tragedy, and let's not diminish his suffering, but also thats not the full picture, and if you have the full picture it changes the perspective. After arabs denied any negotiations and rejected any peaceful solution and instead decided to wage war, they enacted on their decision very shortly after, attempting to kill and/or expell any jewish settlements and take as much land as they can, and Israel naturally retaliated. About a fifth of the arab population was peaceful, and their local leaders had an agreement with Israel that they won't take up arms against it, those arabs got Israeli citizenship immediately following Israel's forming and were full rights citizens for the first time in their history. Muhammed's family unfortunately didn't live in those communities Israel knew won't hurt their citizens so they were expelled, and funny enough he ended up in Sheikh Jarah, which was a mixed neighbourhood where the entire jewish population was also expelled by the arabs, very likely he lived in a home previously owned by Jews. Yes, expulsions are obviously bad, but they happened on both sides, though more on the arab side, but not due to some moral imbalance, instead its because they lost a war they should never have started. Yes he lives under occupation (that started in 1967), but it is a direct result of this conflict not ending. Once this conflict reaches a peaceful solution, the occupation will end. Ending the occupation before peace will be achieved will mean the conflict aggrevates with more casualties, which will always mean much more palestinian casualties than Israelis. Palestinian society simply doesn't want a two state solution that includes a Jewish state. The closest they got, was in the 90's peace talks when even after being offered Gaza, more than 90% of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, they declined. Following those peace talks the leadership (the PLO lead by Arafat followed by Abbas) lost the support of the Palestinian people simply for trying to negotiate, and today only hav ethe support of around 30% of the population, while Hamas has the majority of support. Hamas publicly declared a no peace, no negotiations, no recognition policy, and if by some crazy miracle you get them to negotiate with Israel, the people will just abandon them and move on. Palestinians are victims of their own bad decisions. And as long as their prominent voices are people like Muhammed who like he admits, "has hate in his heart" this conflict isn't going anywhere.

[@Emsallamvdie]

When al Kurd said: every time im looking at my life from a bird eye view i say what a circus” i started laughing like crazy… god bless him for his resilience and humor

[@usversusthem_band]

most people feel that way...that's life.

[@asteroidhunting7340]

Crazy to me how anyone could sympathize with someone like this. It’s like, you are being told what to believe without even thinking about it for yourself. This guy is the epitome of immaturity and the reason why Palestinians are where they are today. The multiple times lex tried to get any sort of accountability of of this guy or the Palestinian people in general… he had none of it, there was absolutely no accountability for the actions taken or the actual history of the land, he mentioned that he does not listen to Israelis or there perspectives, does not even entertain them. This guy is a wack job and admitted to hating Israel and the Jews, and sees Hamas and the destruction and doctrine they have as legitimate, he sees the Palestinian authority as washed, the times they try for peace is nothing to him, he contradicts himself left and right, “oh yea Israel can have a state of there own, just not in my front yard” while he considers all of Israel his front yard… like… he is exactly who he preaches against! I applaud lex for staying so composed when trying to get any sense of accountability out of him and the Palestinians. Bravo.

[@HeartFelt520]

this is the same guy writing long comments with similar context to other messages.. @@asteroidhunting7340 as of right now his other hateful comment is a reply to someone named "xxgunnery" almost as a bot

[@sakura142]

@@asteroidhunting7340 and that ladies and gentleman, is priviledge speaking right there. ever wondered what a first hand experience it would be ,to have rockets reverbrating your house, men fortified with arms storming into your home and the sound of boom going off like the gong of a clock ,every minute every hour. Its crazy for you to sympathize with him simply because you're incapable of it. Its the constant trauma, the FEAR and uncertainty of whats going to happen. You wont last a night with that and we're talking about whole lives. be thankful you don't have his experience. If he begrudges a state that normalizes violence and that which is unable to get to a solution , I DONT BLAME HIM. period.

[@MrBl3ki]

@@sakura142 Ignore the Zionist parrot.

[@ThenniKal]

Love this part 42:48: There is such an exceptionalism for Palestinians. We're not allowed analogy, we're not allowed expression. We're not allowed armed resistance. We are not allowed peaceful resistance, we're not allowed to boycott because that's anti-Semitic. We're not allowed to do anything. So what are we allowed? Maybe Netanyahu can send me a manual he's happy with. Love you so much Mohammed. You're closer than a brother to me. Hope to meet you in a free Palestine!

[@muanesy9275]

What an amazing out-of-this-world Interview! A breath of fresh air; Lex Fridman's amazing style of allowing the guest to talk uninterrupted is rare in the media. I was mesmerised all through the 135 minutes by the flow of intelligence, passion and humanity coming out straight from the heart of this ordinary Palestinian.

[@jonmariegarlan9170]

Mohammed EL Kurd has the exquisite ability to wrap his words gently around your heart. Holding back the tears❤ Palestine needs you, as does the world. Extraordinary, soulful, sweet, beautiful.

[@micaelaoherron5659]

He might be an "ordinary Palestinian" but he's an extraordinary human. He's only 25 years old and is a poet, writer, and incredibly brilliant!

[@jazmin1932]

Great guest with great mind… To Lex: pressing on Mr. El-Kurd’s feelings of anger or talk of “peaceful” approach against a military occupation are pointless and actually misplaced - given the pain and suffering he is expressing… Asking the violated to express feelings against the violators is mind boggling…

[@PatrickFaustino]

Kudos Lex. Please bring him back, now that his plight is even more relevant and support is gaining. Prove to us that you are really willing to listen to everyone. Bringing him back now will be even more important.

[@marwamima9857]

Moh: They are Killing me Lex: Do you have hate in your heart ?

[@MarcBeuchat]

Lex, I had an experience when I lived in Israel that I wish could be a vision of the future. I'm a Swiss-Australian-American. I lived in Israel for 9 years and fathered two children there with an Israeli woman. I had a red Israeli ID equivalent to Palestinians but because I was living with an Israeli, I had a good working visa that permitted me to work and travel in hi-tech. When I separated from the mother, I was treated as any Palestinian - restricted work rights, restricted travel. They made it impossible for me to earn a living to support my family. I tried to make it work for a year but was left with no choice but to leave the country. I relocated to America with my company and eight years later became a proud American citizen. When I lived in Israel, there was a period that I didn't have a drivers license and needed to take public transport. I found myself sitting on the mini-buses traveling in and out of Tel Aviv. That was the first time I sat beside Palestinians and had the pleasure to discover their side of the story. The Palestinians I met are give short duration permits to enter "Israeli" to work. I remember one old man tell me that all he wants is to be able to take his family to see the places where he grew up, but because Israel limits the ability of young males to exit the occupied territories (they are profiled as potential terrorist risks) this old man was never able to make his dream come true. Incidentally, I have travelled through the West Bank and was shocked to see how the IDF controls the movement of the Palestinian population. One day, I was traveling home on the train from Tel Aviv. In the aisle next to me were two business men talking in Arabic. And I was transported back to the 10 years that I lived and worked in Switzerland when I travelled on the trains and it was not uncommon for your neighbors to be speaking Swiss-German (I lived in the French part of Switzerland and never learnt German). In that moment, and reminded of the story of that old Palestinian man, it seemed to me that Israel could be just like Switzerland if they put aside the racial discrimination. Certainly there are cultural differences, but that is also true of Switzerland. The reason I find Switzerland a great comparison is because it is a small territory like Israel with diverse cultures, languages and politics. Unlike Israel, it has found a way to thrive as a republic for 700+ years. My hope for my children who live in Israel is that the Palestinians and Israelis find a way to live together as a single nation. But my rational side tells me that what I felt in that train listening to the business men chatting in Arabic is an untenable dream because the racial associations are still too entrenched. Rather than considering themselves as a people of a nation, they still insist on considering themselves as a race. Sad but true. Marc

[@z90u6r200]

the problem is most plastanians want to kill Israelis, when allowed free elections they vote for Chamas who wants to destroy israel and use suicide attacks against citizines, men women and children. if it werent for arab violance, Gaza could become Singapore, and Israel would have granted free movemnet for Plasentians. Israel cannot do that as long as so many call for Israel destruction and Jihad against Israel . they call themselves freedom fighters but what they do is take as many lives they can , forcing Israel to retaliate.

[@pauldorfman701]

It’s common sense why Israel limits travel Palestinians committed many terrorist acts. If your an Israeli citizen you can travel as you please if your Palestinian you can’t. If you don’t like it get a job in Palestine. The problem is palestine squanders their money the us and everyone gives them on weapons and war. I have no sympathy. The Israelis have you everything you wanted under bill Clinton and at the last minute asked for more and refused the peace deal. That was the best you were goi g to get. Israel should take land every time a Palestinian commits terrorism they should take 1 square mile of palestine.

[@adamdabdoub]

people arent used to finding out that israel treats alot of people bad, not just Muslims or Palestinians.

[@americandreamer6092]

The difference being the Swiss Germans aren’t trying to kill the French or Italians. You are a small minded insect.

[@Lagolop]

Maybe they could if the arabs would cease murdering Israeli citizens. The arabs have had ampoule opportunity to make their lives better but you know what they say, arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. The arabs have FULL rights and FULL protection under Jewish law. All they need to do is stop murdering people.

[@LaithAlkhalili]

I hope you don't get canceled for this Lex, huge respect for giving the audience the opposing narrative.. Mohamed did great utilizing the platform and I hope viewers finally understand what is happening at Palestine..

[@asteroidhunting7340]

Crazy to me how anyone could sympathize with someone like this. It’s like, you are being told what to believe without even thinking about it for yourself. This guy is the epitome of immaturity and the reason why Palestinians are where they are today. The multiple times lex tried to get any sort of accountability of of this guy or the Palestinian people in general… he had none of it, there was absolutely no accountability for the actions taken or the actual history of the land, he mentioned that he does not listen to Israelis or there perspectives, does not even entertain them. This guy is a wack job and admitted to hating Israel and the Jews, and sees Hamas and the destruction and doctrine they have as legitimate, he sees the Palestinian authority as washed, the times they try for peace is nothing to him, he contradicts himself left and right, “oh yea Israel can have a state of there own, just not in my front yard” while he considers all of Israel his front yard… like… he is exactly who he preaches against! I applaud lex for staying so composed when trying to get any sense of accountability out of him and the Palestinians. Bravo.

[@crs1474]

@@asteroidhunting7340exactly! Glad others noticed this also.

[@bossmanali]

​@@asteroidhunting7340 Israeli bot 🤣

[@bestoddlysatisfyingshorts8729]

​@@asteroidhunting7340you are funny

[@Who.is.kidding.who.]

@@asteroidhunting7340 Lex asked Mohammad and he got an answer! You may not ike the fact that the answer wasn’t tooting the tunes of israel and it’s supporters but that’s doesn’t mean he’s wrong…only that you refuse to see the criminal actions and injustices committed by a tyrannical-brutal-government from inception!!!!!!!!!!!

[@yvealeciasmith]

This is a good example of someone dealing exceptionally well with ongoing trauma that they cannot escape from. There is a limit to what you can ask of someone emotionally in this position - it is possible to forgive what's in the past, to move on to different feelings, but when it's happening in the present, when it keeps persisting, and the threat of more is always there, that's not a healthy option. Before anything else can happen, the pain needs to stop being inflicted.

[@David-yo8fv]

Israeli here, the pain goes both ways. Blowing civilians up in bus stops in the name of religion doesn't aid efforts to peace

[@yvealeciasmith]

@@David-yo8fv I wouldn't dispute for a second that the pain goes both ways.

[@admiralhyperspace0015]

@@David-yo8fv in the name of religion? this sort of talking point exposes your agenda. Why aren't people doing that in such proportion anywhere else in the world?

[@omarmafia234]

Exactly!

[@omarmafia234]

@@David-yo8fv I feel you. But you have the power to stop the occupation, end Apartheid, and the pain will stop both ways. The same happened in South Afirca, Colonial Algeria, and many other places. Let‘s end this pain for everyone!

[@cv-broker9925]

Kudos Lex! You have a gained a new level of respect from me after giving this man a platform to tell the truth about whats going on in the area.

[@richardmayer541]

Seconded

[@daMillenialTrucker]

His truth is not the full truth, he's biased as those are his people. This conflict is deeply complicated but the Israeli government does treat these people like 2nd class citizens but the reason they do is because they don't trust the palenstinans and there's a long history showing as to why they don't. The palenstinans act like savages towards the Jews, not all but alot do. Idk how you would even begin to fix this problem other then both sides wholeheartedly agreeing to stop the conflict between each other. Both sides are equally wrong and equally guilty but I think it's time for change because I have seen interview after interview of millennial Israelis and millennial Palestinians who don't want this conflict to go on anymore and they want to live in peace, so it's the Gen x and boomers that are keeping this conflict alive on both sides.

[@spz598]

​@@daMillenialTrucker1:30

[@GorillaTVe]

@@daMillenialTrucker what israel is doing in gaza is savage and justifying it as complicated is just as savage.

[@tbreedlove2747]

So, it’s okay to treat others like animals. Israel has a nuclear bomb, high tech military, support and money from the West. Yet, Israel was unable to stop Hamas at the secure borders for 6hrs. Hmmm. Israel has to “mow the lawn”. ie terrorize the Palestinians periodically. This has been happening for 75yrs. Israel is loosing the support of the world. We see what they are doing.

[@helas33]

This is such important media content that literally didn’t exist on the mainstream internet before Lex began this journey. I have nothing but respect and admiration for you Lex

[@micbear9334]

You're referring to Palestinian perspective? That did not and still does not exist on MSM but has been on internet and KZbin alike since their inception.

[@helas33]

@@micbear9334 yes it’s been there if you went searching, but it still wasn’t as easily accessible as Lex has made it here

[@boomgoesdynamite4177]

Palestinians consume the majority of the news cycle LOL are you high?

[@anj000]

It is still not a "mainstream internet". None of my friends know who Lex is. A this point this video has only 300k view. It should have 300 million, but people are frankly dumb and do not care.

[@boomgoesdynamite4177]

@@anj000 arab colonizers cosplaying as jews should get 300 million views? Let's forget palestinians were invented by russia and trained in russia.

[@nicehorn5250]

Thanks for doing this after the Netanyahu podcast, Lex is committed to fairness and balance 💪

[@dadybad08]

Was hoping that didn’t go unnoticed. I think it’s so important to have both sides and not fan-girl just one side of the story

[@rennyskiathitis8178]

He had the antizionist side on first actually.

[@elip8311]

Oy vey 😂

[@swingrope]

Both him and Nethanyahu suck and Lex didn't push back nearly as much as he should've on both. I get it, he wants to keep his questions mild so he can keep getting high profile people

[@patriotsforisrael3610]

*The Jewish claim to Jerusalem:* King David, King Solomon, The Temples, Capital Of Kingdom Of Judeh, The direction Jews pray, Hundreds of mentions in Scriptures, 2000 years of mourning, Mentioned many times in daily prayers, Subject of thousands of Psalms, poems, songs, works of art, coins, stamps. *The Muslim claim to Jerusalem:* A flying horse. 🙈

[@janehan1153]

I love Lex’s romanticism. But here you can really see his limitations. He does not yet have empathy for the oppressed. That is especially evident when Mohammed gives the Jim Crow example. I can feel him defending his humanity against Lex’s seemingly innocent questions (the way black american celebrities had to defend their humanity to white interviewers back in the 60’s). In this interview, Lex has the perspective of the oppressor trying to justify the oppression. His characterization of MLK turning the other cheek is the whitewashed interpretation, dismissing the rage that fueled that social justice movement (the way anger always fuels social justice). But I believe in Lex’s ability to grow. We all need to. ❤

[@just4music687]

I'm so glad someone said this! Thank you xoxo

[@damnitalexis]

I have finally woken up and started educating myself on the historical plight of the Palestinians and the illegal occupation and oppression of Palestinians by Israel. Thank you Lex for this very educational and enlightening interview with Mohammed El-Kurd. I have immense respect for him and I applaud you for giving him a platform.

[@nathalieforest8497]

Continu your education. Than you can see

[@annatosza1832]

Same here, feeling a bit ashamed that I knew so little before ..

[@BenjaminGolden-c5u]

You have woken up? You hear one speaker and you have decided?

[@damnitalexis]

@@BenjaminGolden-c5u What makes you think this is the only information I base my statement on? For the last three months I have been educating myself, but compared to the nearly 50 years I was misinformed, or rather, uninformed, yes I have finally woken up. And I will never let myself be deceived again.

[@louannramirez4278]

This kid is full of BS speaking lies and exaggerations. I could site fact after fact to you why this is so. But it’s all there. Go research and read it yourself.

[@sandrawilliams4874]

Lex, thanks for your courage in providing a platform for different points of view. I've never heard a one on one conversation with a Palestinian before.

[@scytheviper2748]

I never gave Palestine much thought until I learned that the oppression of Palestine fits within the guidelines of apartheid. It's pretty ghastly what's going on there, and how it's viewed by the world at large

[@juniperk912]

Lex spoke with Imam Omar Suleiman not too long ago. One of my favorite episodes. Highly recommend.

[@123RM1000]

Well it's because they just make up lies and propaganda. Just like this guy is in the video.

[@123RM1000]

@@scytheviper2748 It is nothing like apartheid.

[@notrealnic]

@@123RM1000it IS literal apartheid by every internationally accepted definition

[@kartezhnay]

I find it hard to comprehend that nation which survived holocaust would act in such a ways towards other nation, Palestinians. None can built a happy home on the ruins of someone else house. It is heartbreaking

[@ekanevidal8]

I find it hard to comprehend that empathy can be selective. Nobody talks today about the fact that more than three mln Jews lost their homes because they were expelled from Yemen, Syria, Saudi Arabia, etc. In 20th Century. Let me remind you that 2 million Arabs live in Israel today. They are Arab-Israelis. So, why are you speaking here about Jews only? Can you name an Arab country where so many Jews live today?

[@liamtaggart57]

Mohammed is diamond in a quarry of pebbles. Journalists nowadays can only aspire to his bravery,honesty and intellect.I hope for his safety 🇮🇪🇵🇸

[@tbishop4961]

He's a liar

[@tbishop4961]

@@garydalessandro2936 what is his name again..? What does his name mean?

[@tbishop4961]

It's a very simple question

[@bocchithean-cap3404]

The places the jordanian gave them were jewish homes the peaceful muslim jordinians ethnically cleansed To qoute a jordanian general "there remains not one jew in the jewish quarter of Jerusalem there can never be a jewish presence here ever again as their ties to this land has been cut​@@garydalessandro2936

[@MissnewsReporter]

We love the Irish people thank you for your support god bless Ireland. ❤ 🇵🇸🇮🇪🍀

[@mariohektorovic2195]

Not only that we are lucky for having lex and his interviews, but all of the generations who come after us. imagine if we could see 3 hour talk with dostoyevsky with these kind of questions. Or tesla, or leonardo da vinci , camus, michelangelo. im so gratefull that someone is doing this and spreading ideas and knowledge FOR FREE. Thank you Lex, and everybody who is part of making this happen, and even those who were pioneers in this kind of media, they planted a Seed.

[@gingermintrose]

I think El-Kurd articulated what Westerners never heard, read, and understood about the conflict and all of its complexities.

[@iffet806]

God bless you and thank you so much for hosting him Lex you really did a fabulous job.

[@Gulchih]

Thank you MOHAMMED AL-KURD! Thanks for educating us so eloquently about this crucial and urgent issue.

[@tbishop4961]

Now get an education on what a kurd is🤡

[@liliannaheitmann3505]

Huge respect to you, Lex! Our world sure needs people like you.

[@Kontraleah]

Wow this is frustrating to watch. I wonder if Lex has changed his tone in Dec 2023. This interview is giving, “but do you condemn Hamas?” You can just see a closer-mind when he’s thinking. I cannot even imagine the depths of frustration as a Palestinian being so universally misunderstood and misrepresented. Free Palestine! 🇵🇸

[@rasalove6669]

I condemn it. I’m palestinian Christian. Our voices are never heard.

[@Nicetrypal69]

It’s so important to listen to everyone’s perspectives and remember we are all human. Wonderful interview Lex, thank you for having him on.

[@HappyFamily-j1q]

He’s a liar, do you see him taking any responsibility? Do you see him talking about how the Palestinians destroyed Lebanon or how evil they were in Jordan? The Olympics terror attacks? Palestinians are the aggressor they operate exactly like psychopaths, playing the victim is wild.

[@globalvillageidiot]

Yes.

[@belalal-badani3163]

Its an eye opening for me. The pain and the struggle Palestinians have endured under settler colonialism. Thanks for this revealing podcast, it made it clearer. Thanks both

[@noorsamen6698]

As a Palestinian who lived my whole life in a refugee camp in the west bank I just want to Thank you Lex for giving us a voice and for choosing Muhammad to be that voice , I have always watched your interviews and been a big fan of your style of courage and not being afraid to talk to anyone about anything , Palestine is such a huge and complicated topic , but once again you have shown your self to have the responsibility to contribute to making peace anywhere that lacks it , you are such an incredible human being and We Love You!

[@שמעוןאייזנברג-צ3כ]

How can you be a refugee if you live in the country you claim to have been expelled from, international laws say you can return to the country you were expelled from, not to the specific village your grandparents lived in

[@vairoalexnder]

@@שמעוןאייזנברג-צ3כ its okay to complain about this person for calling Hemslif a refugee, but you have no problem with the person from Detroit whos living in his grandparent's house, what a hypocrisy!!

[@mohammeded7112]

@@שמעוןאייזנברג-צ3כ Yes without right to move , and with ongoing settlements building against the international laws , and more military bases in Palestine territory , and he doesn't have 10% of right's that any Israeli have while they are living in his land Are you Kidding me ? or you are crazy

[@שמעוןאייזנברג-צ3כ]

@@vairoalexnder If he was born in the United States then he has American citizenship so he should not be considered a refugee either

[@Lagolop]

There is no "west bank" It is the Jewish ancestral homeland and has a REAL name; Judea and Samaria. The only ones responsible for your living in a "refugee camp" is yourselves. The only people in h history to have multigenerational refugees ...LOL.

[@GMC2001]

My uncle is Palestinian. When the European settlers came he and his family were thrown out of their home. He was 4 years old. His Jewish neighbours, who lived in Palestine for generations took him in and brought him up. He went to a Jewish school. He then went to seminary in Rome but gave it up and became a professor at Freiburg university (computer science). He still says he had two Mums and Dads and that the Jews, Muslims and Christians were at peace before

[@marcrolle4601]

"European"😂

[@towntwo451]

All Arabs would benefit from being integrated into modern Jewish society, good point

[@grimgrimey]

​@@marcrolle4601yep that's right european Skippy...exactly where the settlers should be expelled back to.

[@low_vibration]

@@grimgrimey right after all the arabs get the boot too

[@jacobvandijk2184]

@@grimgrimey That's not realistic to expel Tel Aviv and the rest of Israel to Europe. It's sad this guest isn't able to advocate for peace talks. It's like the only answer is to attack. Jews have been attacked, too, Israel is not going to give up its nation. I'd get completely on board if he advocated with PLO to limit entirely the Israeli settlements and open relationships with neighboring countries.

[@stansmith1114]

I have more respect for lex freidman every day.Watching you makes me happy for years to come some of the most influential people will have to stand face to face with lex and I feel comforted knowing lex will make them face some of the many questions we all have and keep them accountable.

[@markstewart4501]

...that look when people realize the Israeli is a Fascist outfit on a wolf. I am sympathetic to those that are trying to practice their Jewish belief, but have Zionism causing them grief through genocide upon the Palestinian people. Evil dresses and acts as if a God directs them as well.

[@asteroidhunting7340]

I mean… lex tried multiple times to get any sense of accountability out of this guy and there was zero… like zero…

[@econ6610]

​@@asteroidhunting7340because there was none needed. This guy is victim of European invading jews' settler colonialism....much like Ashkenazis were victims of nazis

[@asteroidhunting7340]

@@econ6610 only a victim because his grandpa started and lost 3 wars against them, trying to exterminate them for 80 years now. Now they elected hamas to represent their people, who this guy sees as freedom fighters, an internationally recognized terrorist organization, who’s sole mission, as stated in there policy, is the destruction of Israel and genocide of its people. How can israel make peace with that? Their only option is to push them out in current events. If the Palestinian authority can regain control, there is hope for co existence…. But most Palestinians, including this interviewer as he himself stated, see them as irrelevant. 🤷‍♀️

[@markstewart4501]

@@asteroidhunting7340 accountability? A foreign country wins a war and gets to own the invisible lines that you live in. This foreign country then sales your land to some European's that use their version of 'santa claus for adults' holy book to...bulldoze your home, destroys your ability to get basic needs like water, sewage, electricity, hospitals, and makes you walk (with a gun pointed at you) on the non-paved parts of any sidewalk or road. In addition, the military capabilities of Israel are such that Palestianians are toddlers getting beat up by daddy. Any fighting back is answered in hundreds to 1 deaths. The info YOU want is to divide and works against peace...possibly because you consider your 'Santa Claus' to be the "REAL" Santa. Your type of evil is belligerence and magical myth power.

[@zaheerpatel448]

Just watched this after everything thats happening in Gaza, makes you understand the everyday struggle of Palestinians and have definitely witnessed their resilience that Mohammed talks about at the end!

[@threeofeight197]

I remember learning about the formation of Israel after WW2 in school. Even then I remember wondering how it was fair to correct one injustice by enacting a new one. They say the reason was to correct the injustice against the Jews but I wonder if it was really just a ploy to create our own ally in the oil rich region… I hope one day the state of Israel can become a true democracy and Muslims, Jews and Christians can share the land in peace. 😢

[@764marcelo]

Funny thing,when Lex asked about his pattern of phrasing sentences in English sounded poetic,right there and then i realized: so that's why I felt compelled to listen to this Beautiful Human being. Articulated and adequate not to mention unapologetic. Love this creature!

[@asteroidhunting7340]

Crazy to me how anyone could sympathize with someone like this. It’s like, you are being told what to believe without even thinking about it for yourself. This guy is the epitome of immaturity and the reason why Palestinians are where they are today. The multiple times lex tried to get any sort of accountability of of this guy or the Palestinian people in general… he had none of it, there was absolutely no accountability for the actions taken or the actual history of the land, he mentioned that he does not listen to Israelis or there perspectives, does not even entertain them. This guy is a wack job and admitted to hating Israel and the Jews, and sees Hamas and the destruction and doctrine they have as legitimate, he sees the Palestinian authority as washed, the times they try for peace is nothing to him, he contradicts himself left and right, “oh yea Israel can have a state of there own, just not in my front yard” while he considers all of Israel his front yard… like… he is exactly who he preaches against! I applaud lex for staying so composed when trying to get any sense of accountability out of him and the Palestinians. Bravo.

[@bossmanali]

​@@asteroidhunting7340Israeli bot hard at work copy and pasting 🤣

[@aj_and_ej]

@@bossmanali but is the bot wrong?

[@jaa24327]

@@aj_and_ej yes he is

[@smeza3391]

​@@asteroidhunting7340Israeli settlements are on top of Palestinian homes. That's theft dumbass

[@stevenmcshane9439]

I never make comments normally but this gentleman is so well articulated and speaking about a cause that the world needs to wake up to. In the USa you are numb to what these beautiful people are subject to and brainwashed,”.They have been deprived of every human right. Why does the world standby while this happens? I and Ireland stand with the rest Palestinian people, this does not matter about religion . Give these people there land back, give them there own ability to thrive, give them access to water, give them access to electricity, give them access to the sea to swim to trade to sail. ✌️✌️ 🇮🇪 🇵🇸 . I want o say so much more to educate people but we are oblivious to what is happening to this beautiful people. Stop the apartheid. Love and unity ❤

[@dernawey]

So well written.

[@jeannedarc5521]

Nothing but love and admiration for the people of Ireland 🇮🇪 ❤

[@davispruett8583]

Rome pre occupied the land before them, does Rome have a right to it? Unfortunately the problem is way more complicated then “give it back” who do you give it to?! Who has the rights to the land?

[@amjadaskari4759]

As a Palestinian you exactly explained what I need !! We are living in big jail without any rights. We can see them enjoying our land but we can't do anything. Let me tell you that we are suffering because of Britain and France who are still supporting the occupation.

[@vivicohen199]

@@jeannedarc5521 ABSOLUTELY!! 🍀🍀🍀💝

[@koenhughes9267]

This young man is the full package, he's lived through the various morbid conditions of the conflict and yet rationally articulates all facets of grievances and arguments, that effortlessly desist any potentially frivolous and unconcerned anecdotal assessments, commonly propagated by the majority of the worlds mass media. By the by, he also has got to be one of the most outrageously handsome guys I've ever seen in my life.

[@louannramirez4278]

Grow up!

[@koenhughes9267]

​@@louannramirez4278I will, I'm hardly going to grow down am I.

[@lulusp1023]

Yes. Exactly.

[@Mumbowjumbow]

Lex thank you for providing a perspective that our mainstream media has fought hard to cover up

[@Predilus]

This is what journalism is all about, show the world how it is on all sides.

[@georgbuck18]

But it lacks a solution. Both Netanyahu and Al Kurd are obviously telling stories out of their perspectives. But there is truth somewhere, and it is probably a compromise in the middle

[@FiryaFYI]

0 experts on the situation and history of the land, is hardly "all sides" imo.

[@FiryaFYI]

@@feralspacetiger6221 Dont confuse journalist with debatist. just because you see mainstream media do "gotcha" interviews does not mean there is something wrong with letting people speak their truth.

[@victor38542]

@@feralspacetiger6221Lots of different types of journalism. Reporting is neutral (eyes and ears on the ground), investigative has an angle, political/militant too, etc. Go back to the root of the word. What is it to journal? Simply write your piece, every day or week. “Journalists” by trade are those who write the journals of society, they simply chronicle what happens, subjectively so. Standards hold ethically for instance (eg don’t lie! not in your own, not as a trade!) but professionally they pile up as you move up the food chain, as any other sector. Not all journalists need to, nor should, adhere to the NYT standards of old (when it was more than a mere propaganda piece).

[@dinapolishuk1716]

How can I reach Lex to speak to the Jewish lived perspective.

[@jademat31]

This video, in light of what is going on right now, makes this interview even more poignant. It just breaks my heart what is happening to those in Gaza and the west bank.

[@maximbaazov]

Don't support terrorists and let them run your government.

[@jbunstoppable5074]

I have a similar story and understand what you are trying to convey While traveling in my hometown in the 90s, I met a person with a unique tattoo on their arm. I asked them about the tattoo's significance. They said...this tattoo represents my journey of survival. I didn't understand and I asked for more details. Their response is I am a Holocaust survivor. They had a mixture of solemnity and resilience in their demeanor. Listening to this, I now understand the profound meaning behind the tattoo and appreciate the importance of preserving the memory of Holocaust survivors. Thank you for sharing your story…

[@jademat31]

@jbunstoppable5074 I would suggest reading the tattooist of Auswitchz, it's an extremely moving book.

[@Str8OuttaFrayser919]

cry more

[@kurtcameron7562]

They brought it on themselves as a state they were offered deals multiple times

[@nahumflores7182]

Thank you for interviewing Mohammed El-Kurd to talk about the issues of Palestine, as a viewer I learned a lot from this interview. Now a days that we are seeing the genocide that the Palestinian people are suffering, talks like these are important to contextualize this situation. The world should fight against any form of colonialism!

[@aanchaallllllll]

2:27: 🏠 Mohammed el-Kurd discusses the forced expulsions and settler expansion happening in Sheikh Jarrah, a neighborhood in East Jerusalem. 10:30: 🏠 The Palestinian people are facing evictions and home demolitions in Jerusalem and the West Bank, as part of an ongoing Nakba (catastrophe). 21:26: 🔥 The speaker discusses the ongoing oppression faced by Palestinians and the historical context of the Israeli occupation. 32:54: 🔥 The interviewee discusses the misconception that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is solely religious and highlights the secular nature of Zionism. They refute the claim that anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism and criticize the use of these labels to silence political opposition. The interviewee also challenges the exceptionalism surrounding the Israeli regime and expresses their frustration at the lack of options for Palestinians to resist. They argue that the violence in the conflict should be understood within the context of foreign occupation. 44:47: 🗣 The speaker discusses the challenges faced by Palestinians and criticizes the power dynamics and double standards in defining terrorism and violence. 55:31: 🔥 The interview discusses the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, the recent military invasion of Jenin, and the ongoing violence and displacement faced by Palestinians. 1:06:35: 💬 The speaker discusses the violence in Palestine and the portrayal of Palestinians as terrorists, emphasizing the need for Palestinians to be seen as human beings with a full range of emotions. 1:17:38: 🗣 A Palestinian journalist discusses the Israeli government's use of flowery language to mask their policies and actions, and challenges the notion of an existential threat to Israel. 1:28:04: 🔍 The lack of diversity in the Israeli political spectrum limits the vision for a peaceful future in Jerusalem, as the Israeli Supreme Court is complicit in perpetuating injustices against Palestinians. 1:38:09: 🗣 The speaker discusses the negative role of US foreign aid to Israel and the lack of concern from American citizens about funding apartheid in another country. 1:49:12: 📚 The speaker discusses various topics including activism, the Palestinian diaspora, American politics, poetry, and the power of humor in the face of tragedy. 1:59:31: 💔 The speaker discusses the coping mechanisms used by their family and neighborhood to deal with the harsh reality of living in Palestine, and highlights the misrepresented image of Palestinians in media. They also talk about their process of crafting words and the challenges faced in writing about Palestine in English. They criticize the press for its poor coverage of Israel and Palestine, and express the psychological impact of living under occupation. Despite the challenges, the speaker finds hope in history and believes that injustices eventually come to an end. 2:10:04: 💪 The speaker finds hope in the inevitability of justice and admires the resilience and stubbornness of the Palestinian people. Recap by Tammy AI

[@dravayjain1288]

Are you one of those Hindus who has fallen for Abdul……shame on you….these Muslims have no regard for you as a hindu or as a female….they want you to convert to Islam and be their sex slave in ISIS….so be careful who you support.

[@darrellwinter9487]

Thank you.

[@54032Zepol]

Gracias

[@ChanIzKineske]

Are you bot? If yes then write "no"; If no then write like a human being; Thanks for your contribution, it is a good trick for better learning(memorisation), this format like 2h+ dialogues(aka podcasts) was never before an object of perception, and human brain is not really developed for this kind of content. I hate it when I find a good stuff like this, just to forget 2/3rds the next day. Your method is probably doing wonderfull job, and keeps your memory much more intact than just listening to content and never making comment, I sometimes get so excited to hear that inclusive information with the high value of another human being, that I get totally apsorbed - high emphatetic state, but when try to remember can't correctly reassemble the words but the feeling is still the same - only change is in the volume, sometimes feeling get overwhelming and another it just tickles. I wrote this in hope to build a stronger memory for this man perspective, because it is such a rarity to hear this side of the war. The shadow leaders don't like free information exchanges, censure is now everywhere+, including internet.

[@chad9017]

Wow! I really am impressed. All the important points I'd probably have to watch this 10 times to be confident about breaking it down. Maybe not all the important points but really good.

[@yoservs]

thanks for keeping your podcasts balanced, Lex. this is one of your best interviews

[@kassa2681]

It is really heartbreaking how people in the middle east have so many similar stories about the struggles of the Palestinians and so little of the people of the west have any clue about what is going on in this part of the world. The stuff he described, while beautifully put, are general knowledge to us.

[@acorn8170]

And it's only one side...there are good reasons why Israel does what it does to keep these people in check...the whole world is thinking Israel is being evil to the Palestinians and don't know why...most of them become terrorists and are taught from birth to hate Jews all through the world not just in Israel...just because the devil knows how to charm a snake doesn't mean he isn't evil...wolves in sheep's clothing

[@candykane4271]

Funny but I know of more Jews being shoved out of Arab countries than Arabs being shoved out of Israel.

[@AggieL48]

Absolutely exhilarating and heartbreaking. The world is a better place with this young man in it. The long arc of history will bend toward the justice that is so deserved.

[@nivrotem3639]

He’s a filthy liar with every bone in his body, and you fell right into his show. Most of the things he said are lies.

[@BenjaminGolden-c5u]

Very, very one-sided and wrong on many things.

[@ValerieGriner]

Yes...very one-sided on behalf of IsRaHell because Zionists run ALL mainstream news outlets. Just compare the number of Israeli deaths to Palestinian deaths. Just WHO is being exterminated("ethnically cleansed")? The whole world(in general) is beginning to see what Zionism is all about!@@BenjaminGolden-c5u

[@CanadianJan]

A tremendous thank you for this podcast. Hearing from Palestinians directly on this issue is so important, especially in North America where it has been sorely lacking in the media, politics and even our education system for decades. Regardless of which side any individual is on in this conflict, we need to hear all perspectives.

[@redflame4558]

Absolutely. I couldn't agree more. This sore of an issue has been festering by the minute... until more than a whole century has past... & longer. *& the world just sits by & watches it.* Some nations take action. (But not always the appropriate one. & often times, they just wind up making things far worse.) To not acknowledge the horrible experience of what it means to be a Palestinian under Israeli rule, or living in an apartheid state, is a negligence on humanity's part. I disagree w/much of Israel's actions. (Especially under far right rule.) *HOWEVER, I still support them (& the Israeli people) in their right to be a nation.* I just wish I could support their actions, but can't. That doesn't mean I can't separate the people from their govt. You can disagree w/a govt & still love its people. As an American, I can't stand the actions (especially the foreign policy) of my govt sometimes. But, as divided as we are, I still love my fellow American. It's the exact same kind of distinction that's necessary & required here, as well.

[@low_vibration]

@@redflame4558 who was the first king of palestine?

[@camaro6810]

@@redflame4558 very well said, I feel the same exact way but you articulated it better than I could

[@redflame4558]

@@low_vibration Is your Google machine broke? 🙄 Look... if you can't be genuine, why even bother? It helps no one. (But, I take it that you're not really about that anyway.)

[@redflame4558]

@@camaro6810 Thank you! Very much appreciate it.

[@Krath1988]

This is one of those openers that sent shivers down my spine; both yours and your guests. Thanks for doing what you do Lex!

[@anna-tn8mg]

Oh, yes, what not to love about Soviet kitsch.

[@anna-tn8mg]

Yes, I love Hitler too...

[@PepeNuclear]

@@anna-tn8mgexplain

[@patriotsforisrael3610]

The Jewish people are *indigenous* to Judea - Land of Israel. 🕎🙌 After over 2 millennia of forced exile, persecution, and genocide, the *(re)establishment* of *Jewish sovereignty* in our *ancestral homeland* is a remarkable story of *national liberation.* Jewish claims to the land are far more than biblical accounts. Our *religion, language, culture, holidays, rituals, liturgy, history,* and even the words Jew and Jewish are all inseparable from *historical Judea* and our collective longing to *return to the Land of Israel.* The land of Israel is where Jews became *a people* and the *oldest monotheistic faith.* It is where Jews *achieved sovereignty* before losing it and regaining it several times until much of the *indigenous Jewish population* was either killed or forced into exile following the *Roman Empire’s* brutal suppression of the heroic *Jewish revolt* in the second century of the Common Era. Though the Romans subsequently *renamed the land* Syria Palaestina, the Jewish people *never left* our homeland physically or spiritually. *Archaeological evidence* of Jewish life can be found in more than *30,000 sites* in Israel with antiquities dating back centuries. Even when we were massacred and persecuted by Christian Crusaders, Arab and Ottoman *invaders,* the British-led Jordanian Arab Legion, or more recently Hamas suicide bombers and rockets, our attachment *never* wavered. It is in this same land where Jews miraculously *revitalized* the Hebrew language, *rebuilt* the institutions necessary for independence, *re-engaged* in rituals that are uniquely observed in the land of Israel, *redeveloped* the land and the economy so that by several magnitudes the Jewish and non-Jewish populations grew, and offered refuge not just to the remnant which survived the Holocaust, but also millions of Jews fleeing persecution from the Muslim Middle East, Ethiopia, and the former Soviet Union. Today, Israel is a *rich tapestry of diverse citizens,* including over half of Jewish Israelis who identify as Jews of color and 20% of whom are Arab citizens. *Peace Not Hate!* 🇮🇱💙

[@GrantLeeEdwards]

@@anna-tn8mgweird response. this guy is fantastic. not so sure about Lex but he says “I’ll go anywhere to bring the world together in love” so he must be a great and humble humanitarian. 🙄

[@shotarokaneda7525]

As a South African i am equally frustrated at the coddling of people that stole land and homes. They also had the same talking points during apartheid. Glance over the victims not having land rights and civil rights and think about the poor😐oppressors. Its like something does not click when it comes to seeing them as humans🤦‍♂️

[@leon19736]

You sounds like a brainwashed. Nobody stole homes. When you start genocidal war and lose you lose territories. It was always took place in the history. Arabs would massacre all Jews had they won in 1948 as their leaders openly declared.

[@shadesofpurple7283]

You should read a book or two. Apartheid is NOTHING like what is happening to Palestinians. Apartheid ended 30 years ago and these people are suffering right now. Stop pissing on people who are actually struggling instead of trying to make yourself a victim of something that has ended long ago

[@kevinkeller1046]

This guy is so impressive in his clarity and knowledge, especially his ability to deliver his perspective with such tact. Thank you for sharing this, the asymmetry of this "conflict" is most apparent in the heavily curated bias that western people are shown across all media. Amazing video!

[@jbunstoppable5074]

I have a similar story and understand what you are trying to convey While traveling in my hometown in the 90s, I met a person with a unique tattoo on their arm. I asked them about the tattoo's significance. They said...this tattoo represents my journey of survival. I didn't understand and I asked for more details. Their response is I am a Holocaust survivor. They had a mixture of solemnity and resilience in their demeanor. Listening to this, I now understand the profound meaning behind the tattoo and appreciate the importance of preserving the memory of Holocaust survivors. Thank you for sharing your story…

[@GorillaTVe]

@@jbunstoppable5074 the holocaust of palestinians is now carried out by the israelis.

[@sugarglider8927]

JPB said: "Ask yourself, could any other representative of the given narrative tell me the same thing? If the answer is 'yes', then you are not talking to the real human being behind the mask(s)." I understood this mild paraphrasing of JBP's words to point to Jung's words: "People don't have ideas, ideas have people."

[@jbunstoppable5074]

@@sugarglider8927 A counterargument to Carl Jung's statement, "People don’t have ideas; ideas have people," but individuals do have agency and the ability to actively generate, choose, and modify their ideas and beliefs. In this view, people are not merely passive recipients of ideas, but they actively engage in the process of forming and evolving their thoughts. While external influences and ideas can certainly impact a person's thinking, individuals still have the capacity to exercise critical thinking, question existing beliefs, and consciously shape their own ideas. It emphasizes the role of personal autonomy and free will in the formation of one's worldview. Overall, the idea that individuals are entirely "possessed" by ideas and underscores the role of individual agency and responsibility in shaping one's beliefs and actions. In short excuses can only go so far there is a point where you have to pick up your pants and take responsibility unless you want to stay as a child forever, grow up!

[@EdVed206]

@@jbunstoppable5074 Thank you for comment. Super interesting to think about. This is a wonderful explanation and now I very much want to read more of Carl Jung.

[@Aseriesofprimespunctuated]

Imagine living in someone’s home while they are on the street in front of you, and being ok with that.

[@satoshihunter]

And imagine the people, who are watching it and know deep down inside their hearts that it's a plain injustice, turn a blind eye and even justify their actions.

[@JupiterMoon777]

​@@satoshihuntereven worse... they portray you the victim as the aggressor. It is really hard to be a Palestinian. ✌✌✌✌✌✌✌✌

[@dannizytnik5377]

Imagine you are wrong and they actually live at their home. Keep crying

[@leon19736]

Israel is a country of law with independent courts. You can't take some one home. court will not allow this. Israeli court system is respected among Democratic Western nations. May be , just may be it is their home by law? And they live legally in their home?

[@yazankbaili654]

​@@leon19736 They built it. It's their house. I don't care what westerns think about it. 😅

[@benseguenimehdi9664]

Hats off to this young man. He managed to say all that needs to be said while staying calm and composed despite how horible he must feel. And thanks to Lex Fridman for the opportunity.

[@gmallory]

Also English is his second language and he was very articulate

[@asteroidhunting7340]

Crazy to me how anyone could sympathize with someone like this. It’s like, you are being told what to believe without even thinking about it for yourself. This guy is the epitome of immaturity and the reason why Palestinians are where they are today. The multiple times lex tried to get any sort of accountability of of this guy or the Palestinian people in general… he had none of it, there was absolutely no accountability for the actions taken or the actual history of the land, he mentioned that he does not listen to Israelis or there perspectives, does not even entertain them. This guy is a wack job and admitted to hating Israel and the Jews, and sees Hamas and the destruction and doctrine they have as legitimate, he sees the Palestinian authority as washed, the times they try for peace is nothing to him, he contradicts himself left and right, “oh yea Israel can have a state of there own, just not in my front yard” while he considers all of Israel his front yard… like… he is exactly who he preaches against! I applaud lex for staying so composed when trying to get any sense of accountability out of him and the Palestinians. Bravo.

[@gmallory]

@@asteroidhunting7340 ah yes undermine and deflect. Look at the bibi interview no major pushback if anything lex deflected from diving into more what mohammed was saying

[@asteroidhunting7340]

@@gmallory this interview happened after the Bb interview….

[@Jophus19]

He managed to say “erase Israel from the map” in a very nice way, no accountability for Hamas’ crimes or genocidal intentions…never again

[@doridefransisco9181]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🍉🍉🍉 Please have LOWKEY on the pod he is an amazing man and his voice is so important.

[@Asma_Mushtaq]

That would be absolutely incredible.

[@Gulchih]

The fact that most commentors are thanking Lex for this interview rather than the voice of this interview Mohammed al Kurd, tells you what you need to know about the brown man not being allowed his voice, not even being considered a critical thinking being.

[@annaszeliga1030]

Eye-opening interview. I wish more people viewed it.

[@steph7614]

Share!! 🇵🇸 Free Palestine ☮️

[@appletree6741]

I wish people knew who el-Kurd really is: “We must normalize massacres as the status quo.” - Mohammed el-Kurd, pro Palestine march in London. (google it)

[@avicenna1977]

An unexpected learning from this scientist is that seeking truth is an act of courage and speaking it can be an act of defiance necessary for breaking free of the self-imposed delusional shackles that bind the hearts and minds of people. A huge thank you to Lex for both his courage and defiance - and also for giving a platform to such a eloquent, wise and reslieint young man who wears his scars with grace if not movtivation to live a life of agency and purpose to give a voice to those whose voices have been silenced.

[@asteroidhunting7340]

Crazy to me how anyone could sympathize with someone like this. It’s like, you are being told what to believe without even thinking about it for yourself. This guy is the epitome of immaturity and the reason why Palestinians are where they are today. The multiple times lex tried to get any sort of accountability of of this guy or the Palestinian people in general… he had none of it, there was absolutely no accountability for the actions taken or the actual history of the land, he mentioned that he does not listen to Israelis or there perspectives, does not even entertain them. This guy is a wack job and admitted to hating Israel and the Jews, and sees Hamas and the destruction and doctrine they have as legitimate, he sees the Palestinian authority as washed, the times they try for peace is nothing to him, he contradicts himself left and right, “oh yea Israel can have a state of there own, just not in my front yard” while he considers all of Israel his front yard… like… he is exactly who he preaches against! I applaud lex for staying so composed when trying to get any sense of accountability out of him and the Palestinians. Bravo.

[@bestoddlysatisfyingshorts8729]

​@@asteroidhunting7340this bot is everywhere copy pasting the same comment

[@vivicohen199]

@@bestoddlysatisfyingshorts8729 Correct. The bot has a large bottom which it's desperately trying to wedge into the thread with monotonous regularity.

[@JeniferNech]

Lex, I thank you so much for this. I wish we could talk instead of war. I am touched, moved, and inspired by your speaker.

[@asteroidhunting7340]

Crazy to me how anyone could sympathize with someone like this. It’s like, you are being told what to believe without even thinking about it for yourself. This guy is the epitome of immaturity and the reason why Palestinians are where they are today. The multiple times lex tried to get any sort of accountability of of this guy or the Palestinian people in general… he had none of it, there was absolutely no accountability for the actions taken or the actual history of the land, he mentioned that he does not listen to Israelis or there perspectives, does not even entertain them. This guy is a wack job and admitted to hating Israel and the Jews, and sees Hamas and the destruction and doctrine they have as legitimate, he sees the Palestinian authority as washed, the times they try for peace is nothing to him, he contradicts himself left and right, “oh yea Israel can have a state of there own, just not in my front yard” while he considers all of Israel his front yard… like… he is exactly who he preaches against! I applaud lex for staying so composed when trying to get any sense of accountability out of him and the Palestinians. Bravo.

[@nurcozma6661]

@@asteroidhunting7340 you wrote that from long island, dont u?

[@aj_and_ej]

@@nurcozma6661 why Long Island can you hear the accent? Maybe 🤔 from UAE 🇦🇪

[@JupiterMoon777]

​@@asteroidhunting7340Accountability?! Palestinians were living minding their own business when they got flooded with European Jews wanting to erase Palestine off the map (and they did) and create a new state on their living space taking their homes, lands, and freedom. Palestinians did not go fight anyone, they were intruded upon. Palestinians did not start this fight. Now go shove your accountability where the sun don't shine.

[@JupiterMoon777]

​@@asteroidhunting7340And Hamas was created by Israel. Go brush up on your information. I highly recommend you read "By Way of Deception" written by an ex-Mossad agent, from the mouths of babes!!! Wake up!

[@justice9221]

What a fantastic interview. I cant believe this kid is 25 years old....

[@admiralhyperspace0015]

I think Americans should hold their media accountable before commending Lex to do a bare minimum of job. Lex wasn't this confrontational to Netanyahu but he was to Mohammad. But he handled it well because he was right, if he was this hard to Netanyahu, he would have no leg to stand on. Your moral standards are too low when it comes to Arab lives that simply letting them speak is a revolutionary act. When it should be an obvious default. Hold your media accountable, Americans. Label then Anti-Palestinians and racist. Then I would respect your moral standards.

[@Eng_Simoes]

This type of comments is why I have trust issues

[@admiralhyperspace0015]

@@Eng_Simoes Hi, sorry for your struggle. Are you okay?

[@Eng_Simoes]

@@admiralhyperspace0015 livin' the dream

[@bdhtubal]

He really is a poet. poet [ poh-it ] a person who has the gift of poetic thought, imagination, and creation, together with eloquence of expression.

[@selinainsel6198]

The pen is mightier than the sword.

[@loveviolence8528]

Will you be angry if someone's killed your family and started living in your home ?

[@unknownunknown2576]

Absolutely 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@sabrinamimid5848]

So much pain and exhaustion in his voice. So much respect for you Mohammed

[@ThePearl0507]

My heart bleeds.. so eloquent and reasonable despite the Tyranny keeping you all in our heartfelt Duas 🤲🏼

[@257rani]

Duas 🤲

[@257rani]

❤True cannot be hidden ❤It's now revealing to the World, ❤

[@JasperElvenSky]

Kudos for these interviews, and for listening to both sides, to all sides, and letting them speak their perspectives, Lex. You're awesome, mate.

[@mohanadelsakka1644]

Just another amazing interview lex. The last question about “hope” .. the way you put it and the response from alkurd has just touched my inner soul as never before .. brilliant

[@asteroidhunting7340]

Crazy to me how anyone could sympathize with someone like this. It’s like, you are being told what to believe without even thinking about it for yourself. This guy is the epitome of immaturity and the reason why Palestinians are where they are today. The multiple times lex tried to get any sort of accountability of of this guy or the Palestinian people in general… he had none of it, there was absolutely no accountability for the actions taken or the actual history of the land, he mentioned that he does not listen to Israelis or there perspectives, does not even entertain them. This guy is a wack job and admitted to hating Israel and the Jews, and sees Hamas and the destruction and doctrine they have as legitimate, he sees the Palestinian authority as washed, the times they try for peace is nothing to him, he contradicts himself left and right, “oh yea Israel can have a state of there own, just not in my front yard” while he considers all of Israel his front yard… like… he is exactly who he preaches against! I applaud lex for staying so composed when trying to get any sense of accountability out of him and the Palestinians. Bravo.

[@3asi99]

@@asteroidhunting7340 no matter how hard you will try to twist the truth , the truth is more powerful and will always come out. free Palestine.

[@yingkenney3507]

Suggest to read the history. Israel ppl lived in palatine land for thousands year. They were first ones to live there. This is their land. Native Americans lived in NA for thousands. Do we return the lands back to them? It is not what you are living there now. Has to respect the history. Why Israel ppl and palatine ppl live on the same land and become one country to reduce the constant non-solution conflicts for ppl’s peace and lives

[@unapologetickitty]

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” - Kahlil Gibran

[@fahimamolly4087]

Lex , your kind introduction at the begining is a rare gesture on western social media . You being a young generation viewing the world with a better lens . We immensely admire you and support you .

[@tracybailey680]

Thank you, Lex, for bringing Mohammed's voice to us. Excellent, illuminating and inspiring interview - thank you for sharing your insights Mohammed

[@asteroidhunting7340]

Crazy to me how anyone could sympathize with someone like this. It’s like, you are being told what to believe without even thinking about it for yourself. This guy is the epitome of immaturity and the reason why Palestinians are where they are today. The multiple times lex tried to get any sort of accountability of of this guy or the Palestinian people in general… he had none of it, there was absolutely no accountability for the actions taken or the actual history of the land, he mentioned that he does not listen to Israelis or there perspectives, does not even entertain them. This guy is a wack job and admitted to hating Israel and the Jews, and sees Hamas and the destruction and doctrine they have as legitimate, he sees the Palestinian authority as washed, the times they try for peace is nothing to him, he contradicts himself left and right, “oh yea Israel can have a state of there own, just not in my front yard” while he considers all of Israel his front yard… like… he is exactly who he preaches against! I applaud lex for staying so composed when trying to get any sense of accountability out of him and the Palestinians. Bravo.

[@amranaadan1112]

Simply beautiful. Well done Mohammed for telling it like it is. You have done your people proud. Thank you Lex for listening and platforming Mohammed.

[@annbell8748]

“Like God is some Real Estate Agent…” A knockout punch aside. He peels this onion without spilling a drop…

[@reinerbraun9995]

respect to lexfridman he is really trying to make the world a better place ❤

[@camillemousse]

Thank you for having on this Palestinian man to explain his story and opinions. I have listened to your Jared Kushner and Netanyahu interviews as well. Really appreciate your questions. Great service you are doing. I will be looking to see your other interviews. Also, you have long interesting interviews which gives us so much more understanding of the subject matter.

[@Gulchih]

He's not "the Palestinian man". He has a name.

[@saleemsaleem-wi1rf]

Thank you Lex for giving the chance for the Palestinian narrative to Be heard specially from the young generation like Mohammad Please keep the provocative good work

[@Danielle-zq7kb]

27:40 Lex - I really like your interviews, but I don’t recall you asking Netanyahu in your interview whether he had hate in his heart. Were you afraid he would lie or were you afraid he would tell the truth?

[@just4music687]

exactly!

[@emilyrose7943]

Extraordinary interview. When I hear the emotion in the voice of this highly intelligent man, I cried. Their homes stolen, children killed. Why was this ever allowed. I am crying for those people ❤

[@trollnerd]

The literal exact same things happened to Jews in the West Bank during the 48 war, some of which had families which went back 20 generations. The reason why you are only upset about the Palestinian side is because Israelis don't go on radio shows and cry about our dead. We mourn our dead, we grieve for them, and then we rebuild. The Palestinians don't rebuild. They're still crying 75 years later about the same thing.

[@gabrielrichard4318]

Two wrongs don’t make a right

[@trollnerd]

@@gabrielrichard4318 unfortunately this goes against the Palestinian philosophy. They view conflict as generational. Their grandfather lost a war, so now they have to win the war to avenge him

[@leon19736]

Hde supports Hamas and Islamic Jihad. He support war till destruction of Israel. He call terrorists that killed Israeli civilians heroes. He justify rocket attack of Hamas on Israel. Israel killed very small number of inocent civilians. Majority of killed children were terorists that tried to kill Jews.

[@Swarming1020]

@@trollnerd the sheer cruelty and malice visible in your comment speaks more profoundly than the particular words you chose.

[@asmaferchichi8922]

As a North African, I'm sorry that we are continuing to fail the palestinien cause. It's all chants about it when it comes to political campaigns in our countries, but once elected, none has the power to do so, we barely struggle with the french colonial leftovers. I am deeply sorry for Palestinians, but also I a m proud that we were a part of the global campaign fighting against the homes' demolishing in Sheikh Jarrah back in 2020/2021. There's still hope for independence and free Palestine 🇵🇸!!

[@palestinabaddie]

From the river to the sea Palestine will be free.

[@stoggsherfnik4569]

Why does being from north Africa make your opinion extra special?

[@jeannedarc5521]

North Africa such as Algeria 🇩🇿 was occupied by the French for over 150yrs. That’s why!

[@asmaferchichi8922]

@@stoggsherfnik4569 why does a simple introduction trigger you?

[@asmaferchichi8922]

@@jeannedarc5521 except I'm from Tunisia 😅

[@itskrude]

Why do people comment to spam thanks to Lex. Every video he posts, the comments appear spammed with repeat "thanks" to Lex. I find it unfortunate that with the deep conversations, including this one with El-Kurd, the comments are not filled with meaningful conversation. 🤔

[@RS-lv4]

Exactly they could be discussing the brutality of the occupation, settler colonialism and genocide in Palestine but all the top comments are just 'Thanks Lex' like my god we get it but you can talk about much more important stuff

[@_sayan_roy_]

Thanks for pointing it out. It seems as if they are boomers in suburbs of America who got their intellectual curiosity fix which they haven't got anywhere before in their lives and don't have anything else to add, or, bots. TBH, Gen Z and millennials might have written the same but in a different cringey way, like "Can we just appreciate the fact that Lex just talked 3 hours with .... ?", like they do in Mr.Beast and Sidemen videos.

[@noduslabs]

What did you want to discuss? Let’s start it in this thread then.

[@itskrude]

@@noduslabs I actually found it very interesting to consider that Israel weaponizes the past as an excuse to react extremely towards Palestine. I'm not Jewish or Muslim and for decades American news is focused on the handful of rpg rockets that Hezbollah launch into Israel. Over those same decades, Palestine has shrunk significantly. I think it's difficult to ignore what El-Kurd says about Israel being created during (or at the end of the) colonial/imperialist era. I don't really understand why Nazi Germany and people currently today in US have an issue with Jews other than needing someone to blame for their misfortunes. But I do understand why Palestine and other countries in that region would have an issue with Israel. People want to say it's complicated, it's complicated because it's one of those last remnants of the British empire they tried to hand over to a minority of jews. I watched Benjamin Netenyahu in the previous interview use the excuse of a people SAYING they want Israel to not exist and therefore he is ACTUALLY making another country not exist.

[@jadkadan8041]

this !!!

[@Dave-ng8qf]

You're a good man Lex, and you're doing great things with your internet presence. Would be great to get Rabbi Dovid Weiss on your podcast. Keep up the great work!

[@YaQ1988]

Do it Lex! Burn all bridges with your jewish heritage. You like different viewpoints - take it all, give them a platform to speak at your channel! From wikipedia: Yisroel Dovid Weiss - activist, and spokesman for the worldwide religious group Neturei Karta. In 2006, Weiss faced criticism for attending the International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust, known for promoting Holocaust denial.

[@hajarel7601]

The hope part made me so emotional , what an inspirational young man ! I wish him a lot of success and for Palestine to be free . Thank you Lex , this has been highly educational .

[@motherofone979]

I hope you realize what freeing Palestine actually means. It means no Israel and at the very best the expulsion of Jews. "From the river to the sea Palestine will be free." With this "inspirational" young man talks about "occupied Palestine" he is talking about Israel not Gaza or the West Bank. But maybe you did know all this and support it

[@shoponadimellc3413]

That’s a lie! He absolutely did not say that! That phrase literally describes the land they live or once lived and the way it is geographically! I’ve heard it explained by Palestinian ppl also he asked him about that part! He even said they coexisted in the past together until the 1948 state and what would you like him to say sure I would love to live next door to Israeli forces that kill my family for fun ! Sure ! The propoganda from ppl is real

[@Danielle-zq7kb]

@@motherofone979 That’s not what the phrase means and we know historically that Jews, Muslims and Christians lived in relative peace in Palestine for over a thousand years - so we know that it is possible. Palestine was a haven during the Inquisition and other Pogroms in Europe for Jews fleeing Europe.

[@sarahk4895]

Please don't spew random uninformed statements akin to propaganda here@@motherofone979

[@JMashouf]

It speaks volumes that Mohammed El-Kurd is a better interview for Palestinians than any diplomat or official from the PA. This was a great episode.

[@alexwu4275]

his words breaks my heart, silently, calmly. call for justice.

[@BrentNally]

20:15 “which calls itself the Israeli Defense Forces even though they’re literally always the aggressor” - Mohammed El-Kurd Was the IDF the aggressor on October 7, 2023 when Hamas murdered about 1,300 innocent civilians? 26:21 “No one has the right to keep an entire population of people in a cage which is what’s happening to people in the West Bank who have no freedom of movement.” - Mohammed El-Kurd I’m curious how Mohammed El-Kurd was stuck in a so called “prison” in the West Bank in Palestine while simultaneously studying to get his masters degree in New York in 2021. I’m also curious how my wife and I stayed in an Airbnb in Bethlehem in the West Bank in 2018 for a week. Either Airbnb is renting homes in prisons or Mohammed El-Kurd is a liar. 30:24 “I was14 years old when I first flew to Congress to speak to congresspeople and to speak at the European Parliament.” How did you break out of “prison” Mohammed El-Kurd? I could go on and on exposing Mohammed El-Kurd’s lies. I have 19 blood relatives who live in Israel and I’ve been to Israel multiple times. These lies are easy to debunk.

[@AiternusCorp]

brah....I thought he seemed shady af

[@SallyEndinberg]

Mohammed has had legit troubles in his life but there's no excuse for blatant lies. Do better Mohammed.

[@George.Gabriel]

I hate liars

[@Lauren.Nally.]

I stayed at an Airbnb in Bethlehem in the West Bank in 2018 for a week with my husband Brent. This is one of many reasons I know the West Bank is not a prison and Mohammed is a liar.

[@aaronwilliamson5784]

Bottom line is Mohammed doesn’t understand how war and laws work. Good luck showing the Israeli government your crusty old documents from the Ottoman Empire and Jordan when neither entity controls the land in what is now called the West Bank anymore.

[@marknoller3778]

Thanks so much for this. The story of the struggles of Palestinians needs to be heard. I'm so impressed with Mohammed and his ability to share his thoughts and stories that we rarely hear.

[@noreenquinn3844]

One good man can save the world. Thank you for your efforts, Lex and Muhammad. May one good man step forward in the Middle East and encourage compromise. We can't take land, houses, etc. to the grave with us. Shrouds have no pockets. Any God ( if one exists ) worth his / her salt says love your neighbour as yourself. Stop fighting over bits of land and things. Love me and your neighbour. Focus on this. Stop interpreting me and judging others. Forgot the land. Think about leaving love and goodwill behind. Focus on leaving a good end to this story. Trust comes through knowing and working with your neighbour shoulder to shoulder (understanding trauma, mental illness, imperfections exist and that these take years / generations of kindness to recover). This means a one state solution. Both sides are unfortunately traumatise in this saga leading to defensive tactics, mistrust, anxiety, trigger happiness. There is no shame ever in humility and peace seeking. Please let the people say no more. We want peace. We love our opposite neighbour. Demand peace! Let the minorities be heard as well as the majority in parliments and law. Let no religion ever enter politics . Only have policies of loving your neighbour and of equality and ensuring basic human rights . Forget everything else. Start again with a new slate. Look at the person as Gods creation, born perfect. Don't look at what people wear etc. Let your good deeds and forgiveness be your legacy Remember we all have baggage. Invite all to your table despite how hard this is going to be. Trust in the power of love. Look up and think with new perspectives. We are genetically programmed to be suspicious of differences so it will be difficult. We also know that exposure can ameliorates this. Maybe as a solution take back the land from everyone and redistribute it by lottery. Have one nation under God with multiple religions, cultures etc.. Have checks and balances in the legal system and over government. If there is a God, let us only give homage to the one who loves us all equally and who's policy is to love your neighbour as yourself. Let each person have a personal relationship with God not a dictated one. Teach wisdom at school. We are all born equal but not with equal ability. Abilities and beauty are for the most part not earned but given freely to be used for the good of all. The strong must help the weak. Peace please.

[@jwurnig]

He says, "yeah I wrote that I want them all to die and I won't apologize for that." And then five minutes later he goes, "they say we're calling for a genocide against them which is complete made up bullshit." Um... so which is it?

[@swingrope]

You have to appreciate when they're honest about their intentions. It's a shame when western leftists are too gullible to see it or maliciously pretend to be fooled by it.

[@swingrope]

@@AreigelSjtols the rage I understand- as all those who have been firsthand witnesses to war could. Using it to guide your political prescription for Palestine not so much. Leading with rage hasn't done much for Palestinians in the last century.

[@gdblesscptamerica1726]

​@AreigelSjtols what my friend here is saying is that this man WROTE that he wanted all of them to die (something that is said by a big majority of palestinians routinely) and then 5 minutes later denied it was true. Soo...

[@swingrope]

@@AreigelSjtols Also what invasion are we talking about? Legal and illegal immigration of Jews to Ottoman and British Palestine? Or the 1948 independence war that Israel didn't start?

[@JahanzebA001]

Provide timestamps?

[@stephenthompson3309]

He mentions Ghassan Kanafani, one of the most notable Palestinian writers, was killed by Israel by a car bomb. I google it. I'm reading Wikipedia. Sure enough, killed by a car bomb planted by the Mossad. Very nasty. His 17-year-old niece was killed in the blast as well. There's more context, though. He was also the spokesperson for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Okay so far. The PFLP had recently committed and taken credit for the Lod Airport Massacre. Oh. 26 people died and 80 others were injured in this massacre. Yikes. Most of them, of course, were helpless tourists, elderly scientists, Puerto Rican citizens, etc.. Interesting detail to glaze over. Photographs have surfaced which showed Kanafani meeting with the 3 Japanese perpetrators of the attack. So.... maybe his assassination had a little more to do with... y'know... that stuff than just... "he wrote something the Israelis didn't like...."

[@stephenthompson3309]

But, of course, this is all the Rules for Radicals playbook. 1. Put pressure on the people in power who you want to overthrow; keep increasing pressure until there's a severe reaction. 2. Cry about how visciously you're being oppressed while the authorities quell dissent. 3. Always downplay or ignore entirely the role you played in escalating the conflict. 4. Refuse to budge or compromise or come to the table until they're going to give you every concession you want. Basically, the whole time you hold your opponent to the standard of perfection (don't ever retaliate; don't ever accidentally kill a civilian; don't put up walls) while you remove all standards from your own side (purposefully kill civilians; livestream beheadings; chant "F*** the Jews" in your protests) because "oppression."

[@ilonawheat5766]

@@stephenthompson3309thank you for the context and this! I started googling before I finished your post.. shaking my head and presuming the worst about the poster, only to be pleasantly surprised!! Glad those with critical reading skills, logic, are still out there.

[@nilepearl1997]

"You have not broken my spirit, I have not yet been defeated" ... Beautiful ! Thanks Lex !

[@peggyobrien3943]

He said it himself that Palestinians are stubborn; yes, to the point of their own destruction! Not admirable 😢

[@ZayShinning]

I hope to live long enough to see some sort of justice for the palestinian comunity…it is appalling and outrageous what is happening and all at the hands of a community that went through a traumatic event itself… 😢

[@asteroidhunting7340]

Crazy to me how anyone could sympathize with someone like this. It’s like, you are being told what to believe without even thinking about it for yourself. This guy is the epitome of immaturity and the reason why Palestinians are where they are today. The multiple times lex tried to get any sort of accountability of of this guy or the Palestinian people in general… he had none of it, there was absolutely no accountability for the actions taken or the actual history of the land, he mentioned that he does not listen to Israelis or there perspectives, does not even entertain them. This guy is a wack job and admitted to hating Israel and the Jews, and sees Hamas and the destruction and doctrine they have as legitimate, he sees the Palestinian authority as washed, the times they try for peace is nothing to him, he contradicts himself left and right, “oh yea Israel can have a state of there own, just not in my front yard” while he considers all of Israel his front yard… like… he is exactly who he preaches against! I applaud lex for staying so composed when trying to get any sense of accountability out of him and the Palestinians. Bravo.

[@ZayShinning]

@@asteroidhunting7340 we all have to admit and somehow agree to having limitations in terms of understanding the nuanses of this complex matter and our own biases at a certain extend, but what should be out of discussion is the inviolability of human life and rights such as not being expelled out of your own house and put in a state of apartheid because that is more convenient to the other side… Israel can use all the propaganda machinery they want, declare legal what is immoral and unfair, use allies and questionable religious pretextes among other things, but what is right will remain right and what is wrong will remain wrong… this guy is just one face out of many palestinians faces and attacking him won’t blurr the obvious…

[@asteroidhunting7340]

@@ZayShinning I do not agree that Israel started anything. If you do research about the conflict, you understand that Palestine and the Arab countries surrounding Israel lost 3 wars to them, that they themselves started… after being offered peace terms and paths to peace… Israel actually gave Gaza/West Bank back to the Palestinians after conquering it due to the war Palestinians started. After Yassir Arafat, signed a peace deal, where he won the Nobel prize for btw, after he died, Palestinians elected hamas to represent there people… an internationally recognized terrorist organization, where on there own doctrine, there sole mission, is the destruction of Israel and the genocide of its people… how can you make peace with that? Israel’s only option is to push them out… unless the Palestinian authority can take back control.

[@summer5145]

​@@asteroidhunting7340how many times have you copied and pasted this comment. You're just embarrassing yourself with your bot comments.

[@leon19736]

Palestinians could have 95% of the tertiary of 67 border in 2000 by peace agreement . Instead they choosed war. WHen you choose to fight Israel to destroy it you must pay the price.

[@limababa854]

One of the most engaging and informative interview. Mohammad El-Kurd was extremely impressive. Thank you Lex Fridman.

[@gekyr]

What an interesting and captivating discussion on a topic which has been difficult and inflammatory to speak freely on, which mostly, as I now understand, has been due to the mass majority of people knowing only fragments of information absorbed either from quick glancing of headlines or biased reporting or fatigue from half stories having been passed down for so long. Mohammed impressed me by how he told stories he himself witnessed, articulated them in a manner that was descriptive enough, yet not offensive or accusatory given the subject matter of these real human stories, but instead given as an account of series of events. All of which linked together and painted a clearer picture. Which, to me, is now clearer than ever that the conflict has actually nothing to do with Judaism or faith. Also interesting realisation on the parallelism of this war with the Russian war against Ukraine, and how differently all of us refer to the participants in a conversation about these wars. It is allowed for one to be referred to a ruthless dictator and war criminal while the Ukrainians have every reason to fight back for similar rights, and only over the last two years. But the other story, that other book, there is a camp that has repeatedly and violently been displaced and only allowed to live under given guidelines for 41x times as long, it’s somehow justified. And any remote start of a conversation quickly leads to antisemitic labelling. Which is totally absurd as the majority of the people who have an opinion on the foundation of such a long conflict which cannot not interest people around the globe would not have a clue on the values or principles of Judaism and therefore it would be impossible to hold antisemitic values. Very touched by the final segment regarding poetry. I found and read a few and the few words left me with nostalgia and feelings of beautiful memories of the past. Well done!