"I'm very very unhappy and my heart is broken" by the devastation of Gaza; regarding Iran "I'm not sure whether retaliation is the only answer": former Israeli Justice Minister, Yossi Beilin, to Karan Thapar for The Wire.

..........................................


In an astonishingly honest interview, where he willingly reveals his anguish and pain, Israel’s former Justice Minister has said that he is “very very unhappy and my heart is broken” by the devastation of Gaza which has left nearly 42,000 killed, almost 100,000 injured and practically all of its 2.3 million people displaced.



Clearly suggesting that the retaliation Israel has inflicted on the people of Gaza after 7th October 2023 is exaggerated, disproportionate and unjustified, Mr Beilin said: “Retaliation was needed in a functional way” and its aim should have been limited to the release of hostages and forcing Hamas to leave Gaza.



In a 30minute interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire, Yossi Beilin also says that he is deeply concerned and worried by the way Israel’s image in the West has nosedived. Once upon a time it was an admired country. Immediately after 7th October 2023 Israel had the compassion of the world. Now that compassion has turned to contempt. On university campuses in the West, Israel is despised if not hated. Mr. Beilin says he is distressed and very worried about this.



Speaking about Israel’s repeated promises to retaliate for the 180 missiles Iran fired into Israel on the 1st of October, Mr. Beilin says: “I’m not sure whether retaliation is the only answer”.



In the interview, Mr. Beilin repeatedly criticizes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to accept terms for a ceasefire, which in March/April were promising. Mr. Beilin also says that if the present outline of a ceasefire, worked upon by Gershon Baskin, who earlier negotiated the release of Gilad Shalit, are accurately reported, Netanyahu has made a big mistake not accepting them.



Finally, speaking about the solution to the Palestine problem, which lies at the core of the situation between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah, Mr. Beilin spoke of the same concept of confederation that earlier Professor Bartov mentioned in an interview 12 days ago. Mr. Beilin is one of the authors of this concept, along with Hiba Husseini from the Palestinian side.



I will stop there. I am only giving you the main broad points. Mr. Beilin has spoken with incredible honesty, often allowing his anguish and pain to show as well as his doubts, hesitation and concerns. He represents an aspect or a side of Israeli opinion that we are unused to seeing and hearing. I recommend this interview.

Join The Wire's Youtube Membership and get exclusive content, memberonly emojis, live interaction with The Wire's founders, editors and reporters and much more. Memberships to The Wire Crew start at Rs 89/month.    / @thewirenews