WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.080 --> 00:00:06.040 It's Nightside with Dan Ray. I'm Easy Boston News Radio. 2 00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:09.480 Welcome back everyone. There's a lot going on in the 3 00:00:09.519 --> 00:00:15.240 world right now. Obviously we have the Russian Ukraine War 4 00:00:15.759 --> 00:00:17.960 and the headlines whether or not there's going to be 5 00:00:17.960 --> 00:00:20.519 a ceasefire, whether or not they're going to have a 6 00:00:20.600 --> 00:00:24.440 limited ceasefire. All of that, we have USAir strikes against 7 00:00:24.519 --> 00:00:30.359 the hoody rebels in Yemen, and also of course always 8 00:00:30.399 --> 00:00:37.359 concerned about the nation of Iran, and now the hostilities 9 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:41.240 between Israel and Tamas have been renewed, with ing with 10 00:00:41.399 --> 00:00:45.200 us tonight to talk about that. Delighted to have the 11 00:00:45.240 --> 00:00:49.119 Israeli Consul General to New England, Benny Sharoni with US 12 00:00:49.560 --> 00:00:54.679 Consul General. Welcome back to night Side. The war against 13 00:00:54.719 --> 00:00:57.359 Tamas is continuing. How are you this evening? 14 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:01.840 Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Dan, good evening, giving 15 00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:04.920 to you, good evening to the listener. So good to 16 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:08.719 be here once again. I really appreciate your opportunity to 17 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:11.920 have another chat with you, and the audience keeps on 18 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:16.519 reminding me why I enjoy radio so much, so I 19 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:18.120 really did your opportunity. 20 00:01:19.079 --> 00:01:19.200 Well. 21 00:01:19.239 --> 00:01:21.359 I think that the great part of BRO radio is 22 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:25.200 it's a much more intimate form of communication than television, 23 00:01:25.239 --> 00:01:28.200 because most people realize that, Okay, you can sit in 24 00:01:28.200 --> 00:01:30.879 front of a TV and listen to what the commentator says, 25 00:01:30.920 --> 00:01:33.000 but and you can talk to the TV, but no 26 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:35.760 one else is going to hear you. People have an 27 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:39.159 opportunity to call and ask you questions, and you've been 28 00:01:39.159 --> 00:01:42.879 great in the past. So we ask everybody, whatever their 29 00:01:42.920 --> 00:01:45.719 point of view is, to be respectful and understand that 30 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:50.000 you represent the government of Israel. And I know that 31 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:54.359 Israel finds itself once again in this horrific place where 32 00:01:54.680 --> 00:01:56.760 where they have to defend themselves, and there's a lot 33 00:01:56.760 --> 00:01:59.159 of people around the world who want to criticize Israel 34 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:03.400 when Israel does try to defend themselves. And so let's 35 00:02:03.400 --> 00:02:07.640 start off with just so people can understand what happened 36 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:11.639 Tuesday morning. Tuesday morning, I guess the peace talks are 37 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:16.800 so called potential peace talks were still underway, and Israel 38 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:23.719 struck coms and obviously made a decision that that they 39 00:02:23.800 --> 00:02:27.639 had to do something to move this situation towards resolution. 40 00:02:27.879 --> 00:02:30.919 Is the way I perceive it. Am I right or 41 00:02:30.919 --> 00:02:32.919 wrong on that? And if I am wrong, feel free 42 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:33.479 to correct me. 43 00:02:34.319 --> 00:02:36.159 I think you are hundred person correct. I think this 44 00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:39.280 is an a correct reflection of the situation. But before 45 00:02:39.319 --> 00:02:41.439 we jump into that, I want to just share with 46 00:02:41.479 --> 00:02:44.960 you that as we speak right now, the people in Israel, 47 00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:48.439 in Jerusalem, in many other cities are running again to 48 00:02:48.520 --> 00:02:51.960 the shelters because Israel is again in the last couple 49 00:02:51.960 --> 00:02:55.719 of minutes under attack. This time Missie is coming again 50 00:02:55.800 --> 00:02:58.560 from the hoodies in Iran. And this is you know, 51 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:01.639 it's another demonstration of the work of Iran and its 52 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:05.560 proxies in the Middle East. Just another demonstration and either 53 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:09.919 reminder or the frat and the challenges and the bad 54 00:03:09.960 --> 00:03:12.639 intentions of so many actors around Israel. 55 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:15.520 So so that is it. That is let me just 56 00:03:15.560 --> 00:03:18.560 make sure I understand that. So even as we are speaking, 57 00:03:18.680 --> 00:03:24.719 obviously it's uh it's now Thursday morning, uh in in 58 00:03:25.120 --> 00:03:25.840 the Middle East. 59 00:03:26.360 --> 00:03:26.560 Uh. 60 00:03:26.759 --> 00:03:31.280 And as Israel Israelis are sleeping tonight, Uh, there are 61 00:03:31.479 --> 00:03:39.240 there are rockets being fired from Iran by sorry from Yemen, 62 00:03:39.520 --> 00:03:42.599 sorry from Yemen. Oh. I didn't realize that the hoodies 63 00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:45.879 could reach is So there I always thought of there. 64 00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:50.960 I know that they're supplied by Iran, but how long 65 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:53.439 it is that that's that's a longer distance, or maybe 66 00:03:53.479 --> 00:03:55.360 I don't know the map of the Middle East as 67 00:03:55.360 --> 00:03:57.599 well as I should. How long does it take to 68 00:03:58.039 --> 00:04:01.479 fire a missile from from Yemen, which obviously is a 69 00:04:01.560 --> 00:04:03.479 failed state at this point, into Israel. 70 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:07.439 It depends on the missiles. Those you know, varies in 71 00:04:07.639 --> 00:04:11.400 in in range and in power. Some of them it's 72 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:13.240 a matter of vowels, some of them it's a matter 73 00:04:13.319 --> 00:04:17.279 of minutes. But again, you know, we are witnessing another 74 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:21.319 another attack in Israel as we speak. But but I 75 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:22.839 want to I want to come back to the thing 76 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:25.480 that you currently ask and you started with, and this 77 00:04:25.519 --> 00:04:29.360 is the ongoing situation with Hamas in Gaza. What happened 78 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:33.480 earlier this week was the war actually was never seized. 79 00:04:33.560 --> 00:04:37.240 We had a cease fire, and we speccessfully completed the 80 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:41.720 first phase of the release of some of the hostages 81 00:04:41.759 --> 00:04:47.079 based on the agreement that was achieved earlier. Now, during 82 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:50.160 the last two weeks or more than two weeks, there 83 00:04:50.199 --> 00:04:56.160 have been new attempts to negotiate and try to come 84 00:04:56.199 --> 00:05:01.720 to an understanding about the release of further hostages. Those 85 00:05:01.720 --> 00:05:06.279 are attempts mainly by the United States and new special envoys. 86 00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:10.079 Now two different offers put on the table by the 87 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:15.000 United States were denied were not accepted by Hamas. Two 88 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:19.240 offers that Israel did accept Once I think we reached 89 00:05:19.240 --> 00:05:22.959 an understanding that Hamas has no intention, no intention of 90 00:05:23.079 --> 00:05:26.600 moving further. With release of more hostages, we had no 91 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:30.600 other option to resume the military campaign. I we need 92 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:33.879 an ad on top of that. During the time the 93 00:05:33.959 --> 00:05:36.560 last couple of weeks where there was a cease file, 94 00:05:37.240 --> 00:05:42.000 Hamas actually continued on the basis to rebuild its terrapictabilities, 95 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:49.720 to rebuild depots of arms and ammunitions, to recruit new people, 96 00:05:49.800 --> 00:05:52.639 to train new people, to prepare for another round of 97 00:05:52.759 --> 00:05:56.839 violence and escalation Israel. Now, since that is the issue, 98 00:05:56.959 --> 00:06:00.959 we have no other alternative but to go active fighting 99 00:06:01.079 --> 00:06:03.800 and make sure that we do whatever can be done 100 00:06:04.439 --> 00:06:08.480 to bring back the Israeli hostages. Fifty nine of them 101 00:06:08.600 --> 00:06:12.759 still being held in captivity in Gaza, at least half 102 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:17.319 of them alive. They are held in horrible, horrible conditions, 103 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:22.480 subjects to starvation, mental abuse, physical abuse, will in black 104 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:28.680 valolation of the international rogue. This resuming the military campaign 105 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:31.199 fully coordinated with the United States, and I think it 106 00:06:31.319 --> 00:06:34.639 reflects a joint understanding of what needs to be done 107 00:06:34.680 --> 00:06:38.279 at this stage in order to make sure that the 108 00:06:38.360 --> 00:06:43.360 hostages will come back and we can take care once 109 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:45.519 and for all with Hamas and Gaza. 110 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:52.160 The hostage has now been held more than I'm guessing 111 00:06:52.199 --> 00:06:56.160 it's more than five hundred days at this point, it's 112 00:06:56.199 --> 00:07:00.920 been a year almost. Yeah, And as the best estimate, 113 00:07:01.959 --> 00:07:03.920 I think that the number that I've seen is that 114 00:07:03.959 --> 00:07:09.000 they believe that there are fifty nine people still in captivity, 115 00:07:09.079 --> 00:07:12.519 either dead or alive. Is that the number that Israel works. 116 00:07:12.279 --> 00:07:17.279 With that is correct, That is correct and a coordinating 117 00:07:17.319 --> 00:07:21.720 to our knowledge, at least half of them I'll steal alive. 118 00:07:22.399 --> 00:07:26.040 Half of them are dead, and unfortunately some of them 119 00:07:26.199 --> 00:07:30.439 were taken alive and well melded by Hamas during their captivity. 120 00:07:31.160 --> 00:07:33.560 Yeah. And I know that you at this point have 121 00:07:33.720 --> 00:07:37.199 debriefed the hostages who have come home, and I can 122 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:40.040 imagine the stories that they have told. And I also 123 00:07:40.160 --> 00:07:43.720 assume that a lot of the atrocities that have been 124 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:46.600 committed against the hostages who have been released and the 125 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:50.519 hostages who are still there has not been made public, 126 00:07:50.600 --> 00:07:53.680 and understandably so, because as long as there are hostages 127 00:07:53.720 --> 00:07:59.040 in captivity, you do not want to endanger them, which 128 00:07:59.079 --> 00:08:04.120 shows the desperation that Israel must field to renew this 129 00:08:04.199 --> 00:08:07.600 assault on Hamas. Let me ask you this, if I could, 130 00:08:07.959 --> 00:08:13.040 how badly is Hamas as a military organization? I have 131 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:17.199 to assume that it's been badly degraded at this point, 132 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:21.759 that maybe it's using it some time here in the 133 00:08:21.800 --> 00:08:29.839 ceasefire to rebuild itself. But is there a public judgment 134 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:35.759 given by Israel. Has fifty percent of Hamas's military capability 135 00:08:35.799 --> 00:08:38.639 been degraded or is it even more than that number 136 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:39.559 at this point. 137 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:42.639 I don't want to speak about numbers, but I think 138 00:08:42.679 --> 00:08:45.200 it is fair to say that the vast majority of 139 00:08:45.240 --> 00:08:50.879 the military capabilities have seriously downgraded due to the successful 140 00:08:50.919 --> 00:08:56.600 military Israeli campaigned. But having said that, they still maintain 141 00:08:56.679 --> 00:09:01.480 some capabilities. And we know from previous experience that if 142 00:09:01.720 --> 00:09:04.519 we are not going to do anything, then Hamas is 143 00:09:04.559 --> 00:09:08.399 going to take its time in order to rearm, regroup, 144 00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:14.759 gain some new ammunitions, and just prepare for another round 145 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:18.480 of escalation, another round of violence with the people of Israel. 146 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:21.879 We know that for sure, we can see that happening 147 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:26.639 as we speak. We cannot allow that situation to continue. 148 00:09:27.039 --> 00:09:34.960 Hamas must be taken completely off. Hamas Regen cannot continue 149 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:39.440 in any way in Gaza, neither its military capabilities. There 150 00:09:39.480 --> 00:09:42.559 is no hope. There is no future for the people 151 00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:47.360 of Gaza with the continuation of Hamas in Gaza. That 152 00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:49.759 Hamas must be taken out of the equation. 153 00:09:51.559 --> 00:09:54.519 My guess is the Israeli Console General to New England 154 00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:59.600 Council General Benny SHARONI will continue with our conversation. Be 155 00:09:59.639 --> 00:10:02.360 happy to take some phone calls if you like. Six one, seven, two, 156 00:10:02.360 --> 00:10:05.519 four to ten thirty six one seven, nine three one 157 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:09.039 ten thirty. When we get back, we can talk about 158 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:14.639 where the negotiations go from here. We know what has happened. 159 00:10:14.679 --> 00:10:19.519 There was a ceasefire UH and it had held relatively well. 160 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:25.799 There are still negotiators. I assume that if there is, 161 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:28.720 if there are not negotiations going on, there are still 162 00:10:28.759 --> 00:10:33.720 negotiators who are in contact and well, we'll ask the 163 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:38.159 Console General about that and what we can expect in 164 00:10:38.200 --> 00:10:40.759 the days and the weeks ahead. We'll be back on 165 00:10:40.840 --> 00:10:43.720 nightside with my guest, Israeli Console General Benny Charoni to 166 00:10:43.720 --> 00:10:45.799 New England. He's the Consul general to New England, not 167 00:10:45.879 --> 00:10:48.399 just to Boston, not just the Massachusetts, but to all 168 00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:50.360 of New England right here on Nightside. 169 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:54.399 Right after this, now back to Dan Ray live from 170 00:10:54.440 --> 00:10:58.480 the Window World Nightside Studios on WBZ News Radio. 171 00:11:00.759 --> 00:11:03.440 I'm delighted to be joined by the Israeli Consul General 172 00:11:03.480 --> 00:11:08.559 to New England, mister Benny Sharoni, Mister Consul General, is 173 00:11:08.600 --> 00:11:13.559 it fair to say, for most of our lives, certainly 174 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:17.399 yours as an Israeli and me as an interested American, 175 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:20.639 we have heard politicians talk about a two state solution. 176 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:24.080 It seems to me that any hope for a two 177 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:28.720 state solution has now finally over. Is that fair to say? 178 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:34.039 I think looking at what is happening around Israel in 179 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:37.639 the last couple of years, looking at what Israel has 180 00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:41.159 to deal with it, looking at the threats around US, 181 00:11:41.799 --> 00:11:45.360 I can understand why there was hardly any appetite from 182 00:11:45.399 --> 00:11:51.480 the Israeli side to engage in something that is far 183 00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:57.159 from you know, bringing a promise of safety and stability 184 00:11:57.200 --> 00:12:00.279 for the people of Israel in the future. We all 185 00:12:00.360 --> 00:12:03.559 witnessed what happened. We will disengage from Gaza more than 186 00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:09.159 twenty years ago, and instead of you know, utilizing that 187 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:13.440 that opportunity, we ended up instead of the other side 188 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:16.759 utilizing that opportunity in order to build something substantial. Though 189 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:20.639 we ended up from you know, suffering the worst attack 190 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:25.720 ever in Israel coming from Gaza. So I hard for 191 00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:29.559 me to see how in the near future we will 192 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:35.840 be in a place where we can move toward something 193 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:40.399 unless unless you know, Israel can feel one hundred percent 194 00:12:40.440 --> 00:12:43.240 safe in secure, which is really not the case. 195 00:12:44.600 --> 00:12:49.559 Is there any estimate as to how many residence citizens 196 00:12:49.639 --> 00:12:55.039 of Gaza are still in Gaza? Have any of them left? 197 00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:57.120 I mean, you look at the pictures of the rubble. 198 00:12:58.200 --> 00:13:01.919 Gaza has been destroyed. There's no question about that. It's 199 00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:07.240 been a very effective military campaign. Where are these people 200 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:09.480 going in the short run of the long run and 201 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:11.879 where does the Israeli government feel they should go? How 202 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:14.039 can they live there under these circumstances. 203 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:16.720 Most of the people are still there. There are some 204 00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:20.399 people who left during the last year and a half, 205 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:22.639 that the vast majority of the people in Guds are 206 00:13:22.679 --> 00:13:26.720 still there. And the most important, the most problematic element, 207 00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:31.440 is that Hamas is still there. And this is this 208 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:33.919 is what needs to be addressed. This, this is this 209 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:36.759 is the top priority. This is the most urgent thing 210 00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:43.279 from an Israeli perspective, Hamas cannot stay there. We have 211 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:46.960 a responsibility to do whatever can be done in order 212 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:51.600 to make sure that October seven will never happen again. 213 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:59.159 And that means Hamas has to the leadership at least, 214 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:04.320 and its leadership structure has to leave. Is it is 215 00:14:04.360 --> 00:14:09.919 it possible to rebuild Gaza? If if if Hamas leadership left, 216 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:14.399 is it even possible to rebuild Gaza while an entire 217 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:17.440 population of a million people or whatever the number is 218 00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:19.919 are trying to live there. I don't see how that 219 00:14:19.960 --> 00:14:24.159 can be done, even if Hamas leadership left, How can 220 00:14:24.440 --> 00:14:31.679 how can that area be reconstructed with with people living there? 221 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:34.799 I'm looking at pictures. I mean, I don't understand how 222 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:37.639 that could even happen. 223 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:42.279 It's true, it's a big challenge and it's a complicated 224 00:14:42.679 --> 00:14:48.480 uh and there's no quick solution to that situation. There 225 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:51.320 are a couple of ideas. One of them, or the 226 00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:54.120 leading idea, was one that was presented recently by the 227 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:57.559 President of the United States. Israeli is in a position 228 00:14:57.600 --> 00:15:01.440 that this a person is interested in meeting Gaza. You 229 00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:05.480 know that person can do that. But I don't think 230 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:08.159 that we are in the phase already of looking at 231 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:12.279 the solution of the future Gaza. We are still now 232 00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:15.240 in the active phase where we have to deal with 233 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:20.759 the situation where Hamas continues to control Gaza. So there 234 00:15:20.840 --> 00:15:25.559 cannot be no rehabilitation, no rebuilding of Gaza. As long 235 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:28.879 as Hamas there, we cannot move, none of us to 236 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:31.759 the next phase. As long as the current situation in 237 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:35.440 Gaza is the way it is now, well. 238 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:38.320 I totally understand. I don't even understand how it can 239 00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:43.879 be rebuilt if once once Gaza, once Hamas leaves and 240 00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:50.480 they just seem to want to sacrifice themselves and the 241 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:55.799 people of Gaza, who are probably suffering as much as anyone. 242 00:15:55.879 --> 00:16:00.919 The amount of damage that has been been done to Gaza, 243 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:06.320 to the physical structure of Gaza is immense. Is I 244 00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:08.480 don't want to open up another front here, but I'm 245 00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:11.000 but I don't get an opportunity to talk with someone 246 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:14.399 who is his knowledge of this as you what is 247 00:16:14.440 --> 00:16:17.080 going on in the West Bank at this point? Is 248 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:20.519 that situation quieted down a little bit? I know there 249 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:24.320 was some activity a few weeks ago which bothered me 250 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:27.440 when I saw what was going on. Has that is 251 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:29.480 that a situation under control. 252 00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:34.159 Yes, it's it's it's a bit better than than the 253 00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:39.120 last couple of weeks. But this is that is not 254 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:42.440 a guarantee that that you know, this is going to 255 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:46.200 be a situation. And we we know how from us 256 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:50.519 continue from its presidence in uh in Gaza, and we 257 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:55.440 know how he ran from each place. Are trying to 258 00:16:55.480 --> 00:16:59.000 exert its influence in the West Bank, you know, the 259 00:16:59.639 --> 00:17:04.200 mobile people to fight against Israel, and we are doing 260 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:06.359 our utmost to make sure that that is not going 261 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:10.759 to happen. I think the last is really the last 262 00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:13.279 thing that the Israeli needs and the last thing that 263 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:16.359 the people of the West Bank need is to see 264 00:17:16.359 --> 00:17:22.799 the West Bank turns into another arena for for a 265 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:24.759 fight like what we witness Congaza. 266 00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:29.119 No question, there's no question about that. What I what 267 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:31.440 I'd like to do, mister consent General, is take a 268 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:35.400 break and invite callers to join us. And it is 269 00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:41.000 such a dilemma. I hope that the Israeli people will 270 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:43.200 stay strong. I know that there's a lot of concern 271 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:47.880 about the lives of the hostages, and it seems to 272 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:50.680 me to be it is it's truly a Rubik's cube 273 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:59.599 about how much military uh activity can be conducted to 274 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:05.039 one to simultaneously destroy hamas while at the same time 275 00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:11.799 free the hostages. I know it's an incredibly difficult circumstance 276 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:15.039 for the government of Israel. I'm going to open up 277 00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:18.200 phone lines and invite people to join the conversation. We're 278 00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:20.400 going to take a very quick Newsbreaker'll be about two 279 00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:22.480 or three minutes, and we'll be back with phone calls. 280 00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:25.960 My guest is the Israeli Consul General to New England, 281 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:29.680 Benny SHARONI. He describes to us tonight what is going 282 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:35.960 on in Israel. There are rockets being fired on Israel 283 00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:40.319 from hoodie rebels in Yemen. I hope the United States 284 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:45.720 can deal with that pretty effectively from offshore and take 285 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:50.079 that threat out in its entirety. That I think would 286 00:18:50.119 --> 00:18:54.920 be a very proper tactical thing for our military to do, 287 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:59.200 and to do it effectively. Your comments are welcome, Your 288 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:02.440 questions are well. I have a couple of lines, one 289 00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:05.920 at six one seven thirty and one at six one 290 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:09.200 seven ninety. We're going to take calls as they come in. 291 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:12.559 Feel free to join the conversation. The Console General will 292 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:16.440 entertain your questions and comments back on Nightside. Right after this. 293 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:24.720 Night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's news radio. 294 00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:29.440 My guest is the Israeli Console General to New England, 295 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:34.440 mister Benny SHARONI we have full lines, mister Console General, 296 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:36.880 so let's let's have that and see what people have 297 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:40.599 to say or ask. Let's start off with Jeff in Newton. Jeff, 298 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:43.599 you are first on Nightside with Console General SHARONI go 299 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:44.319 right ahead, Jeff. 300 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:46.400 Hey, Dan, I was on your show a couple of 301 00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:49.119 times last year. I'm the guy with the hostage fence 302 00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:50.680 that wanted to call in to say hi. 303 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:56.160 And oh, absolutely, as absolutely, I hope that fence has 304 00:19:56.200 --> 00:20:00.400 not been bothered. I was at the the big rally 305 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:02.480 in front of your house, Jeff, so great to hear 306 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:03.119 your voice. 307 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:06.359 No, thank Kadam. Hasn't we put up some orange balloons 308 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:08.000 for the b buses a couple of weeks ago to 309 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:12.119 keep the story alive? But just wanted to comment a 310 00:20:12.119 --> 00:20:14.240 bid on my perspective on what's going on with the 311 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:14.880 gods of war. 312 00:20:15.240 --> 00:20:17.559 And I said, by the way, Jeff, Jeff, before you do, 313 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:20.119 have you met have you met the Consul general? 314 00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:23.359 And O yes, he came turned the day of the rally, 315 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:25.119 he came by our house and spent a couple of 316 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:26.240 months with us. 317 00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:32.200 Say hi to him, go and say hello, and and 318 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:34.119 then whatever question of comments you want to make. 319 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:37.680 Yeah, hi, mister mister Herney, thank you for the amazing 320 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:41.160 job you're doing representing forces of good in the world 321 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:42.079 and in the Middle East. 322 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:44.240 You know, the comment is just. 323 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:48.440 And thank you for calling for you. I just visited 324 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.480 using over the weekend. 325 00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:54.880 Oh wonderful, wonderful. Yeah, I just you know, my comment 326 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:58.279 is kind of sort of as an amateur American student 327 00:20:58.319 --> 00:21:02.519 of history, and you know, wars can end in three ways. 328 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:04.839 Side A can win, side B can win, or can 329 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:08.279 go on forever. And I don't think anyone wants a 330 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:11.400 terrorist to win. And the going on forever wars just 331 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:15.519 belongs to suffering. So you know, hopefully what ISRA will 332 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:18.480 have the power to do now is to create a winner, 333 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:22.640 because both sides lose, or civilians of both sides lose 334 00:21:23.119 --> 00:21:25.720 when you prolong it when one when one player has 335 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:28.880 to fight with their hands behind their back, and it's 336 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:31.079 kind of the sad reality of the world. But I 337 00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:34.279 think everyone will be better off if for once and 338 00:21:34.359 --> 00:21:36.960 for all, the terrorists can be rooted out, and then 339 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:39.039 you know, whether it's Trump's plant, I don't know how 340 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:41.759 we list it, is there something else or or whatever 341 00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:45.559 it is. You know, then hopefully, you know, Hamas can 342 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:47.720 be replaced and one one has a chance for a 343 00:21:47.720 --> 00:21:52.200 better future. But so long as you know, we allow Hamas, 344 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:56.119 or the world sympathizes and allows Hamas to stay alive, 345 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:57.839 no one's going to have peace, at least of all 346 00:21:57.880 --> 00:22:01.079 the Palestinians that people claim to care about. So I 347 00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:03.279 just think people need to think about this. I'm taking 348 00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:06.000 World War two. You know, imagine if we try to 349 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:08.880 have fight to a tie there, no one would have won. 350 00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:10.559 And at the end of the day, the world picked 351 00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:12.480 it set up after World War Two is a much 352 00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:14.880 It was a much better world, at least up the 353 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:17.960 last couple of years. Maybe. So hopefully Israel will be 354 00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:19.720 able to do the right thing. Hopefully the United States 355 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:23.200 will continue to support and the forces that claim to 356 00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:25.960 be for peace that but just prolong war. You know, 357 00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:28.759 hopefully they'll wake up one day and just see, sometimes 358 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:31.119 wars have you know, the good side has to win. 359 00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:33.839 It's not pretty, but that's you know, that's how you 360 00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:35.759 have progress in the world. You know, I just want 361 00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:38.319 to make sure it gets that point across, because sometimes that, 362 00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:41.720 you know, that sort of calculus is not discussed when 363 00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:45.680 everyone focuses on feelings and pictures rather than on the 364 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:46.680 reality on the ground. 365 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:50.200 God, so general, I'm sure that you agree with Jeff's comments. 366 00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:53.039 Sure, sure, Jeff, thank you very much, and thank you 367 00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:57.720 for raising those important comments. I agree with so many 368 00:22:57.799 --> 00:23:00.759 of the things you just said. I want to add 369 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:04.160 two points on my own perspective on that. The first 370 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:07.359 one is we learn from previous rounds of escalation with 371 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:12.759 Hamas that this is not just enough in order to 372 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:17.359 give Hamas a serious military blow. It needs much more 373 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:20.000 than that. It calls for a root can now it 374 00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:24.200 calls for a deep treatment. The one that can we 375 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:27.519 all be one hundred percent show that Hamas will never 376 00:23:27.559 --> 00:23:31.759 have the ability to take control of Gaza. There's no 377 00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:35.640 There will be no Hamas government of the Gaza Strip 378 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:39.039 and its people. Hamas will not be in a position 379 00:23:39.240 --> 00:23:44.640 to have military or terrorist power there and cannot continue 380 00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:47.880 with making the life of the people of Gaza so miserable. 381 00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:50.640 So this is a priority for us, and this is 382 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:53.480 exactly what we are trying to do right now. The 383 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:57.279 second thing that I would add is we must call 384 00:23:57.400 --> 00:24:01.599 out whoever support Hamas. Let me repeat that, we must 385 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:05.519 call out whoever support Hamas, be those states, be those 386 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:09.519 organizations or entity. It's a global issue. It's not just 387 00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:13.079 the concern of Israel, and I'm happy that Israel United 388 00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:17.160 States are working closely on that. Hopefully the whole international 389 00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:21.079 community will join forces, we join hands in order to 390 00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:26.200 completely isolate Hamas and its supporters, to take the tour 391 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:30.400 from Iran for its support of Tamas and other destabilizing 392 00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:33.079 acts that is doing in the Middle East. So we 393 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:37.599 must all join hands collectively condemn Hamas and make sure 394 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:40.400 that Hamas is taken out of the equation. 395 00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:44.079 Jeff, I appreciate you, Carl, thank you so much. 396 00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:50.200 Thank you, Dan, thank you, thank you, and have a 397 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:50.720 good night. 398 00:24:51.960 --> 00:24:54.519 Let me go to another Jeff, a friend of both 399 00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:58.000 of us, Jeff Robins, who's been on this show. Jeff, normally, 400 00:24:58.079 --> 00:25:00.720 here's a guest tonight. You here's a callie. You, of course, 401 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:05.160