In this episode, we speak with Professor Thane Rosenbaum about his book Beyond Proportionality: Israel’s Just War in Gaza, a sharp critique of how international law, media narratives, and moral language are applied to Israel in times of war. Rosenbaum argues that the concept of “proportionality” is often misunderstood and selectively enforced, creating a double standard that places unique constraints on Israel while obscuring the realities of terrorism and asymmetric warfare. We discuss his experience publishing and promoting the book in today’s climate, and how it intersects with rising anti-Zionist sentiment in the West. He explains why anti-Jewish propaganda and pro-Palestinian activism have been so effective, unpacks the legal and ethical challenges surrounding proportionality in armed conflict, and offers his perspective on how antisemitism should be confronted today. The conversation also explores what the future may hold for Jewish life in the United States. (A special thank you goes out to our friend David Shahverdi for making the introduction.)
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• Bio: Thane Rosenbaum is a law professor, legal and Middle East analyst, novelist, essayist, talk show host, and Distinguished University Professor at Touro University. He is the author of numerous books of fiction and nonfiction, including Beyond Proportionality: Israel’s Just War in Gaza; Saving Free Speech … from Itself; Payback: The Case for Revenge; and The Myth of Moral Justice: Why Our Legal System Fails to Do What’s Right. He edited the anthology, Law Lit: From Atticus Finch to “The Practice”: A Collection of Great Writing About the Law. His novels include, How Sweet It Is!; The Stranger Within Sarah Stein; The Golems of Gotham; Second Hand Smoke; and Elijah Visible. He writes a weekly essay for the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles, for which he has received the Louis Rapoport Award for Excellence in Commentary, and the Rockower Award for Excellence in Cultural Criticism. He is a Contributing Writer for the White Rose Magazine, and has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, CNN, and the Daily Beast, among other publications. He is the Legal Analyst for CBS News Radio, a Senior Political Analyst for the Jewish TV Channel, and is a frequent guest on cable news shows on such topics as national legal affairs, constitutional law, conflicts in the Middle East, global anti-Semitism, terrorism, human rights, moral justice, and Holocaust memory. He is the founder and creative director of the Forum on Life, Culture & Society (FOLCS.org), a not-for-profit dedicated to hosting smart, witty and entertaining public programs to live and virtual audiences on the important topics of the day. He also hosts The Talk Show at the 92NY, where he has played a similar role in moderating conversations with governmental leaders, opinion makers, journalists, and award-winning artists for nearly 30 years.
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• Get his book here: https://a.co/d/0ewJXB6r
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Disclaimer: This episode includes candid discussion of war, terrorism, and the moral and legal framework of armed conflict, with strong language and references to wartime brutality. Some portions include disturbing descriptions of violence; listener discretion is advised. The views expressed are those of the guest and are intended as legal, historical, and moral analysis, not advocacy of violence toward civilians or any population.
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