During the eight months of war in Gaza, the issue of hostages has obsessed the Israeli public above all else, but the dramatic operation to rescue four Israelis held captive in Gaza last week – which culminated in the massacre of more than 270 Palestinians – revealed that a ceasefire agreement remains the best option to ensure their safe return.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has paid lip service to the public’s demand to return the captives home, but Israelis realize the issue is a headache for him – it stands in the way of what appears to be his efforts to prolong this war in order to prolong his own political career.
Contributors:
Lisa Goldman – Contributing Editor, New Lines Magazine
Rami Khouri – Distinguished Fellow, American University of Beirut
Joshua Leifer – Author, Shattered Tablets: The End of an American Jewish Century and the Future of Jewish Life
Abdaljawad Omar – Lecturer, Birzeit University
On our radar:
In Jordan, unrest is brewing over alleged state complicity in the war in Gaza.
Producer Ryan Kohls discusses the conviction of Jordanian journalist Hiba Abu Taha, who criticized government actions related to Israel and became the first high-profile target of a controversial new cybercrime law.
Italian governments have always tried to get what they want from the public broadcaster RAI. But since coming to power two years ago, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been accused of making Rai a “mouthpiece”.
Tariq Nafi reports from Rome on the faltering independence of Italy’s national broadcaster and the broader implications for democratic discourse and media freedom in Italy.
Produced by Elettra Scrivo.
With:
“Elena” – Journalist, RAI News 24
“Roberto” – Journalist, RAI News
Francesco Palese – Journalist, RAI News
Nadia Urbinati – Professor of political theory, Columbia University