Israelis have a justified reputation as being a blunt and opinionated people, but Dan Schueftan, a political scientist who advised multiple prime ministers, may possess these qualities in a greater dose than most. He is also a shrewd and knowledgeable analyst, and the combination makes this discussion with Pamela Paresky both entertaining and enlightening. There is no solution, Schueftan contends, to Israel’s conflict with its neighbors. But the Jewish state has the ability to improve its situation, above all by fighting its enemies with vigor and fearlessness. Schueftan is no Machiavellian, however; concerns about freedom and morality go alongside his belief in hard power.
Schueftan says some controversial, even outrageous things in the wide-ranging conversation, and I certainly don’t agree with all of it. (How, for instance, does he square his commitment to unilateral Israeli territorial concessions with his belief that Palestinians will try to slaughter Jews no matter what the circumstances?) But I learned a lot from listening, and I hope you will too. (Video, 61 minutes.)
Read more on Quillette: https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=ulw0d6ffYMHsIhoS&v=VH3-h44VRrQ&feature=youtu.be