Gideon Levy: Israeli journalist on the protests erupting in Tel Aviv

Israeli protestors have taken to the streets of Tel Aviv angry over the Israeli Government's plan to occupy Gaza City.

Latest opinion polls show around 70 percent of people in Israel oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan for military control in Gaza City.

World leaders have condemned Israel's take-over plan and an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council is due to be held in New York tomorrow.

Israeli journalist Gideon Levy says there's a great number of protesters on the streets, but people in Israel are divided over Netanyahu's plans.

"There is the other camp which continues to support Netanyahu and will continue to support him...so the protest is very impressive, but it does not have a lot of effect."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News Talks at Bay.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Protests on the streets of Tel Aviv overnight as Israel's
display anger Israeli's I apologize Israeli's display anger against Benjamin Nhanya,
whose plans to occupy Gaza City. Global leaders have also
condemned the move, with an emergency meeting at the UN
Sick Security Council called for tomorrow. Israeli journalist Gideon Levy
joins me. Now, Good morning.

Speaker 3 (00:34):
Gideon, Good morning, Francisca.

Speaker 2 (00:37):
So, as I mentioned protests on the street, what does
the general feel of the Israeli people.

Speaker 3 (00:44):
Oh, it's mixed. I mean those who are in the
streets are still protesting, But we have to remember that
as what he's divided. There is the other camp, which
chare continues to support Nathania and will continue to support
him to very solid the political base. So the protest
is very impressive, but he does not have a lot

(01:09):
of effect. He can continue.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
World leaders have condemned the move. I mentioned the emergency
meeting of the Human Security Council tomorrow in New York.
Is that likely to have any impact on Nignyahu.

Speaker 3 (01:24):
No, as long as he has the green light from
Donald Trump, he can totally ignore all the rest voices,
especially when they most of them don't take measures, they talk,
they condemn. But he knows to ignore those things. But
he got there. What is really most important is that
Donald Trump say clearly publicly. Also, it's up to Benjamin

(01:48):
Antonio to decide. In this case, he has a green
light and he will continue.

Speaker 2 (01:55):
What is his end goal here? What is he trying
to achieve?

Speaker 3 (02:02):
The ad also says that it's all about his political survival.
I am not sure. I'm sure his political survivor is
very important and vital for him, but I think that
there is also an ideological goal. It makes things much
worse because I think that by the end of the day,
his goal game is a total ethnic cleansing of the

(02:25):
Gaza Strip, pushing all the inhabitants of Gaza to the south,
making Gaza unlivable, which happened already, and then giving them
the option either to stay in concentration camps or to
leave the Gaza Strip. This might be the endgame, and

(02:47):
in this case we are facing an ethnic cleansing it transfer.

Speaker 2 (02:54):
How long would that take? Do you think it in.

Speaker 3 (02:59):
It depends much on the reaction of the international community.
It depends on the effects on the ground. Nobody can tell.
I'm not sure it is totally possible because until now
there's not one state who is ready to absorb any
kind of exiles from Palestine, from Gaza, not to speak

(03:25):
about two point three million people. I don't think that
this program is possible or achievable, but the fact that
this is the idea is outrageous enough.

Speaker 2 (03:39):
What do you think of What do you think is
going to stop him going a hit here? We've mentioned
the international pressure where it comes down to President Trump.
What about pressure from Israelis.

Speaker 3 (03:59):
I wish there would have been a stronger pressure from Israelis.
I wish it would remain an issue with waily society
will solve by itself, But unfortunately I don't see it happening.
It's now twenty twenty two months of an illegitimate war,
at least in its last stages. It's for sure not

(04:21):
the legitimate. It is a genocide, and I don't see
the Israly society standing against it. These arely societies protesting
for the release of the hostages, which is a very
pressures thing and of getting rid of Natanielle. I don't
see the same sense of struggle against the genocide. And

(04:46):
this is the worst of all.

Speaker 2 (04:48):
That was Israeli journalist gat In Livy joining.

Speaker 1 (04:51):
Me there for more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rutken.
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