Today’s topics include a discussion with Elie Pieprz and Alan Baker, reflections on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and lessons from the week’s Torah portion.
First, Elie Pieprz, a one-time political consultant in the US and the founder of ivoteisrael.com, joins VOI’s Dov Lipman to analyze the performance of the Republican presidential candidates in the first primary debate. They listen to audio from the event and discuss whom to consider voting for if selecting a candidate based on his or her stance on Israel.
Next, Dov hears from former Israeli Ambassador to Canada Alan Baker — an expert in international law — who says Israel need not worry about the Palestinian case being presented to the International Criminal Court. Baker lists the reasons why this claim will be dismissed: The Palestinians do not have a state; there is no proof that Israel is responsible for the arson in the village of Duma; and a court prosecutes individuals, not countries. Baker also explains why Israel has the right to force-feed hunger-striking prisoners.
Then, Dov fields a listener’s question regarding his comments that we must learn from the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Dov clarifies that he was not suggesting Israel deploy a bomb, but that it should learn a lesson about when “disproportionate” action must be taken to save lives and end conflict.
Finally, Dov offers two lessons from the weekly Torah portion, Re’eh. In this portion, Moses uses terminology teaching that all individuals must be aware of the impact their actions have on the broader population. Also, the term “which God has chosen” is repeated numerous times in reference to the Temple Mount, teaching us how to view that holy location. listen now