America and Israel: Unconditional Allies?
Americast
BBC
4.3 • 3.1K Ratings
🗓️ 12 October 2023
⏱️ 38 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
President Biden has promised to support Israel with whatever it needs and forcefully condemned the attacks by Hamas on civilians. But what do Americans think about the unfolding conflict in the Middle East?
The Americast team also hears from 2020 presidential candidate and co-founder of the Forward Party, Andrew Yang, on why third parties are important to US politics and what it’s like running for the Oval Office.
HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America editor • Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent
GUEST: • Andrew Yang, 2020 Democratic presidential candidate
GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast
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This episode was made by Rufus Gray with Claire Betzer and Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Philip Bull and the sound designer was David Crackles. The series producer is Daniel Wittenberg. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | So in this moment, we must be crystal clear. |
| 0:09.9 | We stand with Israel. |
| 0:13.3 | We stand with Israel. |
| 0:16.9 | We will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself |
| 0:22.0 | and respond to this attack. |
| 0:23.8 | So you heard it there, pretty unequivocal support for Israel from the US, from the leader |
| 0:28.5 | of the free world, the president of the United States, Joe Biden. |
| 0:31.9 | His message is clear that the United States government will support Israel no matter what. |
| 0:37.6 | And he has added that he urges Israel to stick within the rules of war, but it's very |
| 0:42.4 | clear the US is only one side in this battle. |
| 0:45.7 | Right, very clear that side of it, but the repercussions both for the United States and |
| 0:51.7 | of course for the wider Middle East, anything but very clear. |
| 0:54.5 | So not only does the president have the deaths, the kidnap of American citizens on his hands. |
| 1:00.3 | He also faces, of course, criticism from both sides of the political divide in the United |
| 1:05.4 | States about how he is handling the crisis. |
| 1:08.9 | We are asking on behalf of my family for President Biden, where we are sure his harness and |
| 1:14.7 | right place when it comes to Israel, to do what they can, to make this end for us as |
| 1:20.5 | soon as possible, to become family. |
| 1:23.9 | Hold again. |
| 1:24.9 | And we demand an answer to this government, that the funding that this government provides |
| 1:32.1 | to this state that is killing our people that is using your tax dollars to do so. |
| 1:37.4 | We're in a religious war here, I am with Israel, do whatever the hell you have to do to defend |
... |
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