It is a rush transcript. Copy is probably not in its ultimate type.
NERMEEN SHAIKH: Two staffers on the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., have been shot useless final night time exterior the Capital Jewish Museum. That is D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith.
PAMELA SMITH: We consider the taking pictures was dedicated by a single suspect, who’s now in custody. Previous to the taking pictures, the suspect was noticed pacing forwards and backwards exterior of the museum. He approached a bunch of 4 folks, produced a handgun and opened hearth, placing each of our decedents. After the taking pictures, the suspect then entered the museum and was detained by occasion safety. As soon as in handcuffs, the suspect recognized the place he discarded the weapon, and that weapon has been recovered, and he implied that he dedicated the offense.
AMY GOODMAN: Israel’s International Ministry recognized the taking pictures victims as 30-year-old Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim. They each labored on the Israeli Embassy and have been about to be engaged. They’d been attending a non-public occasion on the Capital Jewish Museum. In keeping with one of many organizers, the occasion centered on advancing humanitarian assist efforts for Gaza. Authorities arrested 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, who was filmed shouting in assist of Palestinians as he was being detained.
ELIAS RODRIGUEZ: Free, free Palestine! Free, free Palestine! Free, free Palestine!
NERMEEN SHAIKH: The journalist Ken Klippenstein posted what’s believed to be a manifesto by the alleged gunman, Elias Rodriguez. Within the doc, he praises Aaron Bushnell, the U.S. Air Drive one who self-immolated final yr in an act of protest exterior the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. Rodriguez wrote, quote, “Aaron Bushnell and others sacrificed themselves within the hopes of stopping the bloodbath and the state works to make us really feel their sacrifice was made in useless, that there is no such thing as a hope in escalating for Gaza and no level in bringing the warfare dwelling. We are able to’t allow them to succeed. Their sacrifices weren’t made in useless.”
AMY GOODMAN: We go now to Tel Aviv, the place we’re joined by the Israeli journalist Gideon Levy, an award-winning Israeli journalist, creator, columnist for the newspaper Haaretz, member of its editorial board. Gideon Levy’s newest guide is titled The Killing of Gaza: Reviews on a Disaster.
Thanks a lot for being with us, Gideon. In case you may first reply to the killing of those two staffers, a pair, who walked exterior of this American Jewish Committee occasion on the Jewish Museum in Washington final night time?
GIDEON LEVY: I imply, this incident may be solely condemned. Nothing that Israel is doing can justify such a homicide. It was a homicide. And sadly, additionally, this sort of violence is not going to deliver the Gaza warfare to its finish. So it’s tasteless. It’s legal. It’s tragic. Two younger folks being murdered, it doesn’t serve something, and it must be condemned and never justified by any, any, something. Nothing can justify it.
NERMEEN SHAIKH: And, Gideon, for those who may simply discuss what the preliminary response in Israel has been and whether or not you anticipate something taking place as a direct consequence of this homicide?
GIDEON LEVY: No, I don’t anticipate something specifically linked with this homicide. However the basic ambiance in Israel begins to be realizing that due to the warfare in Gaza, Israel is popping right into a pariah state. Folks begin to digest it, begin to perceive that there shall be a value for all of the crimes, for the mass killing, for the destruction. And the longer this warfare will go on, the extra injury shall be made additionally to Israel. Firstly, the primary injury is clearly to the true, direct victims in Gaza, but additionally Israel goes to pay a value for working this warfare for thus lengthy, with so little justification, legitimacy or objective.
NERMEEN SHAIKH: Effectively, Gideon, for those who may discuss your newest column, “Israel’s Army Leaders Are Not ‘Solely Obeying Orders.’ They Might Have Stopped the Gaza Bloodbath”? In case you may elaborate on what you say within the piece?
GIDEON LEVY: Certain, certain. There’s a tendency, primarily amongst my associates within the Zionist left or within the central left of Israel, to place every thing on the shoulders of the federal government, which is true to do, however to provide some immunity to the military, as if the military continues to be the outdated holy cow of Israel. I can not settle for it, as a result of, lastly, the youngsters, virtually 1,000 infants — are you able to think about your self? — virtually 1,000 infants in 19 months, not to discuss the 17,000 kids, they have been killed by troopers. They have been killed by pilots. They have been killed by individuals who should take accountability for this. Sure, the federal government decides concerning the coverage, and the federal government must be blamed for such a coverage. However by the tip of the day, we can not say it’s solely the federal government, as a result of the military did it. There are virtually no refuseniks on this warfare, which is kind of shocking. There are some, however only a few, and, for certain, not public ones. And all of the others are committing a legal coverage, a coverage with a black flag on it, a coverage which it’s very clear doesn’t meet any of the articles of the worldwide regulation. And due to this fact, to say, “We don’t assault the military. We don’t criticize the military. It’s solely the federal government,” is admittedly doing our life too simple. Sure, the military may be very standard in Israel. We now have to interrupt this militarism as soon as and for all and say, “Sure, the federal government is to be blamed, however so does the military.” Everybody who took half on this massacre must be taken accountable.
AMY GOODMAN: Gideon Levy, we thanks a lot for being with us. We hope to get again to you subsequent week. Apparently, the Israeli authorities goes to carry a convention subsequent week in Jerusalem on antisemitism, attended by ministers from member states of the Worldwide Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. This because the opposition Israel Democratic Get together head Yair Golan condemns the Netanyahu authorities’s siege of Gaza throughout an interview with Israeli public radio, saying, quote, “Israel is on its solution to turning into a pariah state amongst nations, like South Africa was, if we don’t return to performing like a sane nation. And a sane nation doesn’t wage warfare towards civilians, doesn’t kill infants as a passion, and doesn’t give itself the goal of expelling populations.” Once more, these the phrases of Yair Golan, who’s with the opposition Israel Democratic Get together.
