To. Do you want to add anything . I mean, its its sobering and sobering and i mean, the good news other day, some good news, i suppose is a very low bar. But durbin did step forward and call for a cease fire but the fact that so have not even done that. I mean your larger political analysis is of the situation there just call for a call for a cease fire at this seems to be a bottom. So i want to share something that share through others at on november 4th, the demonstration in washington, d. C. , and then segway to questions after that. So as people know, there was a massive mobilization in washington november 4th. Many some people this room may have gone. Many people know went and groups that i work with the rising Majority Movement for black lives, blacks for palestine and scholars for social justice were there and i offered a statement and some reflections that i want to share with you. And then we will open it up for questions. But its titled a black feminist statement of solidaire and of the people of gaza and the struggle for free palestine. Who are my people . This crucible moment of war and genocide. As we witness the dirty process of ethnic cleansing unfold before the of the world, who are my people as tiny brown children are bombed in Southern Gaza as flee their homes following the Evacuation Route prescribed by their bombers. Who are my people as my friends gives birth in total darkness in city and incubators are shut down as the power is cut off hospitals throughout the strip. No food, no water, no fuel. Just bombs and all. Tzara. Whole buildings are leveled. Apartments where families cooked meals, lovers made love. Children play games and girls dance with their friends are all gone now. There is a hole in the heart of jabu jabalya refugee camp. That hole is a bomb crater beneath which unknown and unnamed bodies are entombed. A broken man cradles his daughter, whose little has also been broken. A woman wails for the loss of her son. Nobody have been found. Who are my people in this crucible moment of violence and destruction in the name of defense. I was born a black woman and i became a palestinian, wrote our beloved sister, the feminist june jordan. In that simple quote, she essentialist notions of identity and blood and belonging and challenges us all to be bigger than that. Who are your people . Ella baker would ask visitors and stranger. Who claims you . And who do you claim in this world . And most importantly, who do you stand with in times of crisis . Despair. We do not need dna tests or genealogy searches to know who are people are in this moment. If i choose to stand on the of freedom, my people are oppressed. People all over the world. People who are suffering under varied and varied and violent forms of injustice and oppression. From haiti to hebron. From birmingham to bethlehem, from shot to prison. Northern israel to stateville prison. In central illinois. I claim as my people, those who are standing up to occupation, dispossession, hetero patriarchy and white supremacy, colonialism and settler colonial wisdom, antisemitism and islamophobia, environmental pillage, carceral violence and authoritarianism. My people are those Truth Tellers and Freedom Fighters of the world, those speaking truth to power in dozens of languages, silent vigils by the women in black on street in barcelona and tokyo. In madrid. Saying no to war and occupation iswhat. The queer palestinian Freedom Fighters saying the liberation of palestine must also include them. Courageous voices inside the halls of power, refusing to be silenced. Rashida. Cory. Ilhan, we are with you because you are with us and passionate jewish protesters that shut down Grand Central station in new york city and the statue of liberty insisting not in our name. And that never again means again for anyone. So so. So we will open it up for questions for nathan and omar and if people just your hand i think we have a floating microphone phone please. Oh, youre going to borrow a microphone. Okay. Were going to really share . And i just invite you to your questions. You know, succinct. I know we have a lot of feelings about this and youve been listening patiently. I really appreciate your discussion. I was in palestine a year ago and its really i mean, just to see whats going on, the incredible tolerance of the palestinian people, the fact that, you know, i remember hearing a story about how they tear down about 99 out of 100 houses of the palestinians. The palestinians will go to court and the courts will be stacked against them. And they its amazing the tolerance of it. And its amazing. There are more rebellious types of actions. Im wondering if theres any i come from a jewish background, went to israel in 68 and i was a zionist in those days. Ive learned a few things since then, but the question i have is, did the israelis i mean, i know there are some israeli laws that get it. I think what is it that, solum and some other groups, but is there any like chance that . The average israeli come around and realize nationalism and racism will not work and. Theres no chance for them to have having a double having a22 state solution aint going to work. You have a swiss cheese situation. The west bank, right. So so they need to have one state living together. Is that ever going to work or is it going to take generations . It seems like it will, but whats the chances of that . I like to think is a chance, but i dont know. Thanks. We want take a step. So theyre going to take a couple of at a time just to get more people. I think. This woman right here had a question and somebody back there. I ive been to west bank four times in the last years and on the last two visits, we settlements and to our groups surprised they were filled with america. So my question is do we know how many dual citizens are in and on the west bank and what does what their impact on this conflict. Can you one more okay. One more. They juggle three questions right. Hi. Thank you, nathan. Im a big fan of your book. The only language they understand was influential for me, and i wanted to ask a question in relation to that. You argue in book that israel often changes course, moves towards reconciliation with palestinians or ending the occupation, pressure from the United States or, from violence. And i know there are the u. S. Doesnt use its greatest leverage, which is military aid to israel every year, which i think should at minimum be conditioned. But i wonder and ive heard some right ers arguing that israel should stop taking u. S. Military aid. They dont need it anymore. So im wondering if you think that it would even at this point in changing israels actions. So ill take the first and the third kind of together because theyre related. You know, the the my first book is called the only language they understand. And its about the concessions that have been made by and the Palestinian Movement over the course of. The history of this of this conflict and how all of concessions came about through coercion, through the application of force in one way or another, whether was violence or the threat of sanctions or some other mechanism, diplomatic pressure. And i show how every single israeli territory will withdrawal, including lebanon, came under threat of force. And you know, ive been asked a lot about that book since october. Seventh doesnt to october 7th when were looking at perhaps the opposite of israeli concessions were looking at israel in expelling many palestinians from communities in the west bank, eradicating entire communities. And new discussion of establishing settlements in gaza. You know, arent we seeing the opposite of your of your thesis. And i think that the answer is, first of all, its too early. Say these things dont happen overnight. You know, many people credit israels withdrawal from sinai and the Peace Agreement with egypt to. The 1973 war which occurred, you know, several years earlier. I actually think that today think this moment, first of all, is an enormous historical moment. I think it is going to have decades long repercussions for both societies and my belief is that. We will look back on this as a turning point that will result in israel trying to find some new kind of because its very clear to every israeli that returning to the model of managing conflict doesnt work and work. And every israeli an answer from the government of how are we not going to have another seventh . How do we prevent that . And the answer to that question be we raised gaza. We killed tens of thousands of palestinians. Nobody buy that. You know, its happened on a smaller scale several times in gaza. And it didnt bring any peace or security to israelis. And so for the first time, we have a situation in which the palestinian issue is at the forefront of every israeli mind. You know, many of the last elections, the palestinian was at the very bottom of agenda in israel in the protests against the judicial reform, the palestinian was very marginal, was a small group within those protests that was trying to make it a more part of the protests. But they were marginal. And today i think its likely that those kinds of protests are going to resume. And when they do, there will be no denying that the palestinian issue is the issue for israel and and think that already hearing very senior israelis talking about the the necessity of making major concessions not the idea of releasing all palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages which a lot of senior israelis are now calling for. But even you know a former managing director of the main israeli oriented think tank in ss as a general by the name of udi dekel is, now being appointed as a special adviser to the army on planning for the day after and. He said clearly on the record just a couple of days ago, going to have to make major concessions for a broader political vision for the future thats its obvious. So that may to pass it may not but there now among meant of greater openness to thinking of different kinds possibilities that just didnt exist a month ago. With with respect to the question about whether one state or two states is possible. You know, i think that the support israel has all the power relative to the palestinians and the support among israelis for one state has always been infinitesimal. And today its even smaller. So i think that its very hard for me to imagine how you see a path to that. Out of out october 7th. But can imagine other kinds of of arrangements that could come out of out of this. Nathan on a lot of panels together and usually im the optimist and hes the pessimist. I feel like that was more optimistic. The first part answer that i would give. So question about israelis and where they stand. Nathan i have a very close friend had hagai lived the former director at cnn and ive done enough events with him when we when hes asked this question of, you know, where Israeli Society is. He will tell you voices like ours, like the voice of btselem, the human rights community. Nobody listens to us in israeli. Why . Because for years, the right says take more land, kill more palestinians arrest more palestinians, and they face no consequences. So if you can implement an agenda of what the calls jewish supremacy, an agenda of domination of one people over another, and face consequences, why would a rational voter vote for anything but that . So what hagai would say if he was the third chair here with us is he would tell us if you want to give us a chance in Israeli Society, we need that. Going to the third question, real external, so that there are consequences so we can actually have a fighting chance. And let me tell you, ive been in this job for seven years and ive met some of the most activists ive met on this. Are really courageous, brave israeli activists that are fighting every single day human rights defenders. Lets remind folks, you that the day this government came to 27 israeli human rights groups, a statement saying that that the government has been implementing a policy of apartheid towards palestinians 27 israeli human rights organizations. The consensus on apartheid includes Israeli Civil Society organizers. Now, the problem is the group was speaking very, very tiny, and they have real representation in the political spectrum. There is. No, i mean, before october 7th, october six. If you were to take 120 knesset members, i mean, how many how many would use the word occupied to talk about the west bank . Probably, what, ten, 15 . Like if that, you know, so youre talking about a political. System that doesnt have room for that. But so i have faith, a lot of faith in that group of people that are fighting very courageously. But theyre theyre under attack. I mean, my former israeli had a piece in the New York Times a couple of days ago, michael, Start Talking about how since october 17th, theres now really, you know, in a systematic effort to after voices of dissent, mostly palestinians of israel, but also including israeli voices. There was concern about that even before the events of october 7th. So thats how to answer that. And then just on the the dual settlers, i dont have a long answer dual nationals to say theres not good statistics this. But i think the question again reminds us all of a reality where and its important to always put our place in this thing right that you know somebody who is European Jewish could tomorrow or American Jewish go tomorrow and go to israel, become a citizen and palestinian refugees, which, by the way, are the majority of gazas population. So most people forget 70 of gazas populace nation are themselves refugees who were expelled or forced to flee their homes in 1948. So when israel orders them to leave their home temporarily. Then youll be allowed to return for many palestinians. This harkens back to what they were told 75 years ago, and theyve been stuck with the keys to their home, waiting for them to that. Right. So it means extra it sits extra heavy, but again, a reality in which somebody who hasnt lived there can move and become a citizen while a palestinian who might be gaza, who can see the there from in many cases because a of them lived close by cant go there because of who they are. Right. So we know in israel you know, destroys all these homes and says were going to move them to sinai. Palestinians say, why not move us back to our homes . You know, theyre right there across across across the fences. But its all just a reminder of just keeping in perspective. Last thing ill say on the on the last just about you military aid is just i think to really underscore the point of how us arms sales to israel are there is no other country, the world for which theres no monitoring of the aid. There is no scrutiny, theres no before the aid money goes. All you know were saying when human watch today calls for an arms embargo is treat israel the very way you treat all other recipient use of u. S. Arms. Thats not to say the u. S. Has a great record on that countries, but that is to say that its so exceptional that there isnt even the most basic modal crumb vetting oversight. Sorry, i just i neglected answer that part of the third question. So i just wanted to add, i do think its the case that israel relies wise on u. S. Military aid less than it did in the past. Its undoubtedly true that the israeli economy is much stronger and that that source of leverage is less than it was the past. That said, its very the us. Israel does not want to consider having some other great power patron. It regards it as a Top National Security priority to maintain this tight alliance with the United States and on a technical level, the idea of transferring or with Weapons Systems to a different, you know, patron is a is very expensive thing to do and i will say that its not just the military. I mean, its the vetoes in the security council. Its the behind the scenes pressure. Any some European Parliament wants to boycott settlement goods example the us is working behind the scenes to pressure its allies not to do it and thats enormously valuable and as important as the as the military assistance. Now we have a we have one back there and then two up here. About in 2005. Aaron david miller wrote an article on the united role. He was a piece involved in peace negotiations earlier. And in that he said the United States has never been an honest broker for the palestinians. They have acted as israels over those this succeeding years. Weve seen more and more unconditional support for israel. The arabs, of course, have abandoned the palestinians and europe has moved more to the right. Biden has recently unequivocally supported israel and only under intense pressure, started talking about the needs the palestinians. So the united there most arabs and muslims have lost even faith in america in terms of acting as a broker. So who can do this . And this role in exerting pressure on israel to honor what the Great Organization jewish voices for peace has done in terms of advocating for a jewish state within the 67 borders and fulfilling the promises of the palestinian state that were made decades ago. And only if the United States or some other significant power holds them to account will they ever get their. So and again i just want to give a shout out to jewish voices for peace. Im neither jewish muslims. I love jewish voices for peace. Ive been a member h r w thank you for all you organizations. I get very emotional. Okay, for uttering honoring the humanity of peoples. Thank you. Thank you. So were going to take three, i think were going to do a stack. Thank you for a shout out to jvp. Thank you. I found your book very irritating, but it was the irritations of everyday life and i a myself older i get as some of us can identify that i think. But its a wonderful book and i have ive read a lot of books on the middle east and this is the only one that really gets in to the irritations of everyday life and how the palestinians have to cope with that. So thank for the book. Im wondering if what you think of middle east generally, not just israel, palestine, but the failed states right now of syria, lebanon, iraq, libya, you can probably add to the list, but is the International Crisis group that you worked for, are they monitoring all of that . And i agree. I it feels like were at a turning point. And i wonder if you could talk more that in terms of the region and how is that going to how can arab s