Owen Jones | Ariel Bernstein | Former IDF commander Israel soldier, fought in Gaza, speaks out

Owen Jones

Ariel Bernstein is a former IDF combat soldier who fought in Gaza in 2014.

Now he campaigns for peace and against the occupation.

This is one of the most fascinating interviews l've done - he tells me about his experience in Gaza, about dehumanisation, Israel's wartime propaganda - and where this is all heading.

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Owen Jones
Title on YouTube | This Israeli Soldier Fought In Gaza. Now He Speaks Out

Shaheen

Bernstein

Operation:

My brother‘s keeper

What became known to be the bodies but were kidnapped teenagers.

Doing missions as a commander it really bothered me, and I started questioning the missions were doing, but Hamas started shooting rockets from Gaza, and we were told were preparing for an invasion.

Entering Gazza was already complicated for me, because I wasn’t sure if I believed in it, and what were doing.

Jones

Dehumanization

Q. What occupations do to occupiers.

How many Israeli citizens have come to see Palestine and whether that can ever shift, and how, because that level of dehumanization is required to sustain this level of oppression and occupation?

Bernstein

I think, naturally, after seeing what happened after 7th of October, not only soldiers, but everyone in Israel might want to have this revenge.

Bernstein

This narrative;

It’s either us or them.

There is no space for both of us on this land.

There is a lot of people who believe that, between the river and the sea.

It goes to our government and many people in the opposition. It’s also true to the Hamas, and the kind of ideology they serve.

Once you believe, there is no space to live peacefully in the land or at all.

You have to turn to dehumanization because it’s either us or them.

It means that one of us either needs to be exterminated or transferred out.

To accept that idea it is quite difficult.

Dehumanization is really helpful for holding onto that narrative, which is probably the majority of the Israelis.

I hope not.
I hope I am wrong.