Western Double Standards & The Question of Criticism: Israel & Hamas

The Beirut Banyan

POINT COUNTERPOINT - a new miniseries for The Beirut Banyan podcast. An exchange on political affairs impacting Lebanon and the Middle East, from a unique vantage point in Beirut. Co-hosted by Bashshar Haydar (professor of philosophy at AUB) and Michael Young (senior editor at Carnegie’s Middle East Center and editor of Diwan) - Beirut-based analysts sharing their nuanced perspectives while honing in on particular disagreements. Moderated by Ronnie Chatah. Episode 1 hones in on two issues: (1) Western double standards vis-a-vis foreign policy and humanitarian intervention, and (2) the question of criticism during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Stay tuned for more episodes later this summer. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:05 (Part 1) Western double standards 7:06 Liberal democracy 13:14 Nationalism 18:20 Intervention 24:05 Public opinion 30:33 Massacres & double standards 38:18 (Part 2) Question of criticism & Hamas 42:38 Justification vs political objectives 48:48 Accountability 52:28 Hamas calculations 56:55 US engagement