The Palestine Laboratory (3 Feb, 2024 panel discussion at the Jaipur Literature Festival, 2024)
Speakers: Antony Loewenstein, Navtej Sarna, Charles Glass and Kai Bird in conversation with Suhasini Haida.
As the world reels under the current conflict between Israel and Palestine, an informed panel discussed the complicated history of the conflict, the present developments and their likely impact on the region.
Diplomatic Editor of The Hindu, Suhasini Haidar added, “…death toll that is already crossing 25,000 and closer to 30,000 at the time we speak…as a journalist you’re used to seeing a lot…but … (what’s) new is to hear is the UN Secretary General speak up about an area as a graveyard for children because of the daily bombardment…”
Jewish journalist Antony Loewenstein, empathised with Palestinians and felt that the Western world’s support for Israel, which was gradually diminishing, was a wake-up call, and that he believed that one democratic state was a solution. Author Charles Glass expressed his concern on the plight of Palestinians in Gaza, lack of essentials, due to ongoing Israeli attacks.
Kai Bird believed that events of 7th October have changed fundamental Jewish sensibilities of security and America’s influence on the on-going conflict.
Source – Media release from the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series Jaipur Literature Festival, 3 February, 2024.
