Is Israel’s War Unjust? | Mark Oppenheimer vs Raja Halwani

Brain in a Vat

Join us for an intense debate featuring Mark Oppenheimer, who defends Israel’s war as just, and Raja Halwani, who argues Israel’s war is unjust. The debate covers historical contexts, moral principles, and the roles of both Israel and Hamas, aiming to provide nuanced insights into one of the most challenging global issues of our time.

[00:00] Introduction to the Debate

[01:08] Raja's Opening Statement: Israel's War is Unjust

[11:13] Mark's Opening Statement: Israel's Right to Self-Defense

[21:37] Raja's Rebuttal: Addressing Misconceptions

[27:34] Mark's Rebuttal: The Reality of the Conflict

[32:10] Cross Examination: Raja Questions Mark

[47:45] Debating the Justification of War

[48:39] Israel's Response to October 7th

[49:59] Military Options and Intelligence

[51:11] Idealistic Solutions and International Cooperation

[52:21] Transition to Open Discussion

[52:48] Questioning Israel's Conduct in Gaza

[56:16] One-State vs. Two-State Solutions

[01:04:07] Legitimacy and Rights of Israel

[01:07:48] Hamas Ideology and Anti-Semitism

[01:10:37] Civilian Casualties and Proportionality in War

[01:18:07] Historical Context and Atrocities

[01:19:57] Gaza: Open-Air Prison or Ghetto?

[01:27:39] Closing Statements