Who is Itamar Ben Gvir?
Plus, a 1999 Al Pacino movie explains what is happening at '60 Minutes'
This is a special two-fer edition, focusing on two important recent stories, and shoehorning in one of my favorite films.
A doubleheader of a far-right Israeli minister and Al Pacino in one newsletter!
Only at The Weekly Slop.
“Let’s bomb the food reserves in Gaza”
Too often when people talk about the current status of the state of Israel, a reasonable-seeming and almost token response will be to state some vague sense of disagreement with its current prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
This offers a person a chance to parry a notion that their support of Israel is not without considerate thought of the nuances of the country itself.
On the face of it, this is a bit farcical. Think of a time you had an exchange with someone who “disagrees with Trump” as a precursor for you to take them seriously, while actually voicing their support for much of what Trump is doing.
But digging deeper, there is a larger issue with sticking to something so tissue thin. Outside of underscoring a reluctance to confront reality, it also obscures the larger underpinnings that are trying to scratch to the surface.
I noticed something similar to this when people I know were unfamiliar with the name Itamar Ben Gvir.
Ben Gvir is the far-right Israeli minister of National Security. He’s made headlines marking his visit to the United States recently, that has resulted in scores of protests that have followed him from place to place.
He has also been convicted in Israeli courts of incitements to racism and support for terrorist groups.
Perhaps the easiest way to understand Ben Gvir is his support and admiration for the extremist, Jewish supremacist, Meir Kahane. That extremism can be seen as early as his teens. Ben Gvir once bragged on Israeli TV about stealing the hood ornament off of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s car. He stated that since they were able to get to his car, they can also reach Rabin himself.
A few weeks later, Rabin was assassinated.
He is also a big supporter of Jewish supremacist, mass murderer, Baruch Goldstein, who killed 29 Palestinian worshipers at Hebron’s Ibrahimi Mosque/Cave of the Patriarchs, hanging his photo in his living room (in a West Bank settlement).
Ben Gvir has said his rights in the occupied West Bank are more important than that of Palestinians, has advocated for bombing food depots and aid centers in Gaza, wants to build a synagogue at the Aqsa Mosque complex, defended teenagers accused of burning alive two Palestinian parents and their baby in a 2006 attack in the West Bank, and was seen celebrating the attack of the same family at a Jewish extremist wedding.
This is just a small sampling (there’s a lot more disturbing details to list) of the man who under his office’s authority, has the ability to control much of the occupied area of the West Bank, from shielding and encouraging settler violence against Palestinians, to directing Israeli police to protect settlers and attack Palestinians.
This is the man the United States and Republicans welcomed.
Some have tried to minimize Ben Gvir’s influence on Israel. This is a mistake.
Recent polling shows that 70% of Israelis support Trump’s proposed ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza. 39% percent say the response in Gaza has “been about right” and 34% say it has “not gone far enough.” Only 19% said the attacks have gone too far.
Ben Gvir is increasingly not only symbolizing Israel’s present, but is crafting its future.
A Critical Film on Journalism
I’ve already disclosed to you that in a better political environment, I’d probably be more invested as a media critic of our news leaders.
I’m also a voracious film watcher, particularly if it’s directed by Michael Mann and if Al Pacino is slotted in the cast.
Which brings us to — in my view — the best film on the state of journalism, the 1999 classic The Insider.
It’s a star studded cast, featuring terrific performances by Russell Crowe and Christopher Plummer.
The plot of the film (based on a true story) follows a former tobacco executive-turned-whistleblower, attempting to reveal the industry’s secrets and cover-ups. A substantial part of the film is centered on an interview the whistleblower gives to CBS’s acclaimed news program 60 Minutes.
Some mild spoilers on this true story; it is revealed that CBS corporate is seeking a merger with another company, which is put at risk when the whistleblower interview is aired and they are then sued by the tobacco industry. So CBS corporate begins to interfere with the news divisions and its editorial independence.
Sound familiar?
As I covered before in my critique of the news industry capitulating to Trump, CBS’s parent company, Paramount, is currently seeking approval from the current administration’s run FCC. They are also facing lawsuit from Trump regarding how they edited an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris.
All signs point to the Paramount rolling over and settling with Trump.
Longtime executive producer of 60 Minutes, Bill Owens, just announced his resignation from the show, stating that he had "lost independence from corporate,” according to sources.
Following Owens resignations, 60 Minutes correspondent, Scott Pelley, made a startling live-on-air rebuke of Paramount, stating they had been attempting to interfere in the program’s news coverage, specifically naming stories focused on the war in Gaza and the Trump administration.
The fact that those two stories at the center of this controversy connect neatly to the actions of the Trump administration is perhaps one of the least subtle signs the universe is attempting to provide us.
With that said, Pelley did say that ultimately the news division did not succumb to corporate pressures on their coverage, but with the resignation of Owens, who is to say what will happen next for the program?
If you have time this weekend, look up The Insider and you’ll see a compelling film that does not paint a very favorable portrait of our corporate-run media.
US Slop
Civil Disobedience
Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi released from ICE detention - CBS News
NYPD investigating woman attacked by pro-Israel group of men - CNN
Students are Winning in Court Against Trump’s Deportation Regime - The Intercept
Israeli minister called 'war criminal' in extraordinary row with protesters during US visit - Sky News
Trump Administration
Three US citizen children, one with cancer, deported to Honduras - BBC
Wisconsin judge arrested in immigration case retains top conservative lawyer - Reuters
U.S. Economy Shrank in First Quarter as Imports Surged Ahead of Tariffs - WSJ
US job growth slows marginally in April; unemployment rate steady at 4.2% - Reuters
Kennedy Issues Demands for Vaccine Approvals That Could Affect Fall Covid Boosters - New York Times
New research contradicts RFK Jr.'s claim that severe autism cases are rising - NBC News
Stephen Miller Unveils Bizarre New Attack on Birthright Citizenship - New Republic
New Oklahoma curriculum includes pro-Trump conspiracy theories - Popular Information
Upheaval in Washington Hinders Campaign Against Bird Flu - New York Times
Waltz out as national security adviser and tapped for UN ambassador - CNN
Poll: Americans view labeling people antisemitic as more often used to delegitimize political opponents and critics of Israel; 53% of Americans view Israel unfavorably - Brookings
More News
The group chats that changed America - Semafor
‘60 Minutes’ calls out ownership on air - Politico
How China Armed Itself for the Trade War - Foreign Affairs
Bernie Sanders defends 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour from Slotkin criticism - NBC News
Jeffries Wants Dems to Put an End to the El Salvador Trips - The Bulwark
A last-minute GOP amendment to an antisemitism bill is a blatant giveaway - MSNBC
Why Your Vet Bill Is So High - The Atlantic
World Slop
Gaza and West Bank Crisis
Gaza kitchens warn food will run out, after two months of Israeli blockade - BBC
UN official calls Israel’s Gaza aid blockade ‘cruel collective punishment’ - PBS
The Starvation of Gaza - The American Conservative
Israeli drones hit Gaza aid ship in international waters, NGO says - France 24
The Settlers review: A showcase of the grim reality of West Bank life - The National
A settler shot a Palestinian father in the leg. Soldiers arrived to detain his son - +972 Magazine
Israel
Netanyahu calls defeating Israel’s enemies the ‘supreme objective,’ not freeing hostages - CNN
Israeli military strikes near Syria’s presidential palace - NBC News
Israel fires largely controlled after mass evacuations - BBC
More News
Pentagon May Have Drawn on Anonymous Social Media Accounts in Planning Deadly Yemen Attack - Drop Site News
$64 million US fighter jet falls overboard while avoiding Houthi attack - Politico
Damascus strikes deal with Druze leaders after deadly sectarian clashes - AL- Monitor
US-Iran talks postponed, new date depends on US approach - Reuters
Rwanda responds warmly to Trump request to take noncitizen deportees - Washington Post
The U.S.-Ukraine Mineral Deal Adds More Questions Than It Answers - World Politics Review
Leave me a comment with your views and any stories I missed.
As to Gvir: he’s a monster. So are Netanyahu and Trump. Yes, of course Hamas too. Israel might be winning a war in Gaza and in the West Bank but risking losing the world’s respect and support. Talking about movies, No Other Land comes to mind….
Nowadays we don’t need to go to the movies anymore.. Reality is, if disgusting and scary, also fascinating and as entertaining as a good movie. Loved the connection you noticed between The Insider and Paramount/60 mins!