#341 — Gaza & Global Order | Making Sense with Sam Harris

Intro

In this episode of “Making Sense with Sam Harris,” Sam Harris engages in a thought-provoking conversation with historian and public intellectual, Yval Noah Harari, about the current crisis in the Middle East, specifically focusing on Gaza and its implications for global order. They explore the failure of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the role of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the ethical and geopolitical complexities of the ground war in Gaza. Harari also shares his perspective on the prospects of a two-state solution and the need to address the failing global order to avoid further violence and disorder worldwide.

Main Takeaways

The Crisis in Gaza and Global Order

• Sam Harris and Yval Noah Harari discuss the current crisis in the Middle East.
• They talk about the failure of the IDF on October 7th and Netanyahu’s contributions to the crisis.
• They also discuss the ethics and geopolitical implications of the ground war in Gaza, as well as the rise of global anti-Semitism.
• Recent events in Ukraine and Israel/Palestine signal a failing global order that could lead to more violence and disorder around the world.

Netanyahu’s Role and Policies

• Netanyahu’s 14-year rule resulted in immediate military failures.
• Appointing people based on personal and political loyalties, not competence, weakened Israel’s institutions.
• Netanyahu’s policies weakened moderate forces among Palestinians and strengthened Hamas.
• Israeli Defense Forces were spread thin due to pressures from within Netanyahu’s coalition.
• Lesson to be learned: voting for a popular strongman can have dangerous consequences for the entire nation.

The Role of Hamas and Extremism

• Netanyahu’s government is based on an alliance with extremists who want Israeli control of the West Bank.
• Hamas intervened to prevent a peace treaty between Israel and Saudi Arabia, opposing any peace process between Israel and Palestine.
• Disarming Hamas is necessary for any chance of peace in the future.
• Religious extremist groups intentionally undermine relations between Israelis and Palestinians and try to foil any chance for future peace.

The Two-State Solution and Anomalies

• The two-state solution was meant to solve the anomalies of Israel’s right to exist, the occupied territories not claimed by any country, and the situation of eternal refugees for Palestinians.
• Without disarming Hamas, there will not be any peace in the region.
• Israel’s war aim should be to restart the peace process with Palestine and give them a different future.
• Israel won two defensive wars but is still treated as an aggressor and denied the security buffer claimed in those successful acts of self-defense.

Religious Fanaticism and Global Challenges

• Religious extremism is the biggest reason for the horrendous cycle of violence in the region of the world.
• The Muslim community worldwide is combustible and provocable on the basis of pure religious symbolism.
• The destruction of a building in the Muslim community on the basis of religious symbolism would be a provocation that would overturn this period in history.
• The Muslim world needs to perform an exorcism on itself to reduce the level of religious fanaticism present.
• There is an ambient level of religious fanaticism that is totally at odds with a pluralistic civilization in the 21st century and needs to be addressed.

Summary

The Crisis in Gaza and Global Order

Sam Harris and Yval Noah Harari delve into the current crisis in the Middle East, particularly focusing on Gaza and its implications for global order. They discuss the failure of the IDF on October 7th and Netanyahu’s contributions to the crisis. They also explore the ethical and geopolitical complexities of the ground war in Gaza, as well as the rise of global anti-Semitism. Recent events in Ukraine and Israel/Palestine highlight the failing global order, which could potentially lead to more violence and disorder worldwide.

Netanyahu’s Role and Policies

The discussion sheds light on Netanyahu’s 14-year rule, which resulted in immediate military failures. Harari points out that appointing people based on personal and political loyalties, rather than competence, weakened Israel’s institutions. Furthermore, Netanyahu’s policies weakened moderate forces among Palestinians and inadvertently strengthened Hamas. The Israeli Defense Forces were spread thin due to pressures from within Netanyahu’s coalition. This highlights the lesson that voting for a popular strongman can have dangerous consequences for the entire nation.

The Role of Hamas and Extremism

The conversation addresses the role of Hamas and religious extremism in hindering peace efforts. Netanyahu’s government is based on an alliance with extremists who seek Israeli control of the West Bank. Hamas actively intervened to prevent a peace treaty between Israel and Saudi Arabia, opposing any peace process between Israel and Palestine. Disarming Hamas is seen as a crucial step towards achieving peace in the region. The discussion highlights how religious extremist groups intentionally undermine relations between Israelis and Palestinians, thwarting any chance for future peace.

The Two-State Solution and Anomalies

The two-state solution is explored as a potential solution to the anomalies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It aims to address Israel’s right to exist, the occupied territories not claimed by any country, and the perpetual refugee problem faced by Palestinians. The discussion emphasizes that without disarming Hamas, peace in the region remains elusive. The goal for Israel should be to restart the peace process with Palestine and offer them a different future. Additionally, the conversation highlights the irony of Israel being treated as an aggressor despite winning two defensive wars and being denied the security buffer it claimed in those acts of self-defense.

Religious Fanaticism and Global Challenges

The conversation delves into the challenges posed by religious fanaticism, particularly in the Muslim community. The Muslim world is described as combustible and easily provoked on the basis of religious symbolism. The destruction of a building in the Muslim community based on religious symbolism is seen as a potential trigger for widespread unrest. The discussion emphasizes the need for the Muslim world to address the ambient level of religious fanaticism that is incompatible with a pluralistic civilization in the 21st century.

Conclusion

This episode of “Making Sense with Sam Harris” provides a thought-provoking analysis of the crisis in Gaza and its implications for global order. Sam Harris and Yval Noah Harari explore the failures of the IDF and Netanyahu’s policies, discuss the role of Hamas and religious extremism, and highlight the importance of the two-state solution. They also address the challenges posed by religious fanaticism in the Muslim world. The conversation serves as a call to action for addressing these complex issues and working towards a more peaceful and just future in the region.