ALMOST UNWATCHABLE: Hawley Asks Nom Over & Over For Take On Anti-Israel Statement, Can't Get Answer

thank you Mr chairman congratulations to the nominees thanks for being here Mr mongi if I could just start with you I just want to make sure I understood your answers to my colleagues in said including Senator Cruz let me let me just read you something I just want to know if you if you agree with this or not this should be simple here's a statement the demand to Center Israel's right to self-defense that's inare scare quotes self-defense erases the colonial context and delegitimizes the Palestinian right to resistance we are in awe of the Palestinian struggle to resist violent occupation removal eraser and the expansion of Israeli settler colonialism do you agree with that yes or no I realize you didn't write it and you may not know who the author is may never have heard of these people before I just want to know does this represent your view yes or no Senator any attempt to justify what happened on October 7th I have absolutely no that's not the context here this is this is talking about any discussion of Israel's right to self-defense erases the colonial context it's calling Israel a colonial state so could we just answer my question do you do you agree with this yes or no Senator I don't claim to be an expert on the Middle East uh I I I don't have the historic or Regional exp sounds like maybe that's a maybe maybe you agree can we do we get a yes or a no it say this is a policy question or a question for forign what I don't that's what I don't understand by the way this was written by the director of the center you sat on the board of that you advised this is the director not some random Professor the director who published it in an open letter so when you say it's a policy what what what's the policy about calling Israel a violent settler Colonial estate wh why is that a policy question Senator that is not an a a statement that I had any involvement with okay good so would you would you condemn it then you say this does not represent your views Senator I have no basis as a Judicial nominee to cost views on the Middle East uh or this this is what we're you're not answering my question I'm asking you whether this individual who said that Israel was a violent settler colonial state I'm just trying to get you to say do you agree with that or not and you have I've asked you now four different times four different ways you're not answering me why is that why can't you just say no I don't agree with this let's try again yeah do you agree with this statement yes or no senator in order to agree or disagree with any statement I need to have a sufficient factual background to assess it so you in other words you you can't say whether or not Israel is a violent colonial state you think that that's that's difficult question got it that is not an issue with which I have any expertise I is the Holocaust also a difficult question does that need context no is that a policy question I am quite happy to address the Holocaust Senator why aren't you happy to address this then why AR you why is it that an individual in the center that you directed who calls Israel a violent Colonial estate those are racist comments why can't you condemn that I don't understand it you you won't answer my questions you won't answer Senator Cruz's questions you wouldn't answer Senator Kennedy's questions I don't understand why this is complicated Senator I'm Pakistani I didn't grow up in the Middle East I didn't either I I didn't either but that doesn't mean that I can't say that somebody who says that a Jewish state is a violent colonialist Enterprise is wrong this isn't a policy question it's a moral question this is a moral issue Senator I am not in a position to make any policy pronouncements about actions in the Middle East does Israel have a right to exist yes should should American Jews be safe in their homes and on their campuses Senator there is no yes or no please spare me the lectures yes or no of course did you advise against this letter you sat on the Advisory Board did you advise against it I never even heard of that letter you how is that possible what did you do on this board for all these years this was years before you left it it's an Advisory board that met once a year to talk about academic research did you not do you not think it's relevant to the setting in the academy that Jewish students might feel unsafe when they have a tene professor who's the director of a center saying that Israel is a violent Colonial estate do you think that may not have an effect on the educational environment Senator I abore abore but you didn't care to look into it may I respond but you've respond I've heard your answers and they're all they're all move over here look over here you're not answering any of my questions and I can't figure out why I I can't figure out why you won't just say that this was wrong so you didn't advise against it you didn't condemn it you didn't look into the sinner's activities do you do you regret that do you regret not at the time taking a moral stand against these frankly racist condemnations of Jewish Americans Jewish people in the state of Israel do you think it was wrong for you to be silent Senator I didn't know anything about it why didn't you didn't you have a moral obligation to know about a center that you sat on the board of for years whose director was calling Jew people colonialist violent settlers do you not have a moral obligation to know and say something that is not the function of an academic Advisory board but I abhor but it is the function of of a responsible jurist and a responsible Citizen and I would just suggest to you that you failed it and your inability to just say this was wrong this shouldn't have been said this this kind of language and rhetoric is what has led directly to to Jewish American students now being called out in on campuses in classrooms told to stand up and go and stand in a corner because they need to feel what it's like to be colonized I'm sure you've seen the reports of this happening across the country this is happening now Senator your time's expired Mr M would you like to complete an answer thank you chair Durban any acts of anti-Semitism or any bigotry including anti-muslim bigotry on College on college campuses is important my children will be going to universities I want them to feel safe and I want the children of my Jewish friends and colleagues to feel safe would you think you'll take a greater interest when your children on campus maybe than you did for the last three years Senator your time has expired uh I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record letter received December 8 2023 addressed to me Senator Graham and all committee members it reads in part on behalf of the 210,000 Advocates of the National Council of Jewish Women I am writing in support of the nominee nomination of Adil mangi to the court of appeals for the third circuit it goes on to say the National Council of Jewish Women believes the Judiciary is best served by qualified judges who were fair-minded and independent reflect the diversity of our nation ad mji is just such a nominee we strongly urge you to move expeditiously to proove this nomination and support subsequent confirmation by the full Senate I am sorry that you have been subjected to the suggestion that you are somehow anti-semitic or insensitive this letter indicates those people who looked at your record feel just the opposite Senator paa thank you Mr chair um you know I've uh been on this committee nearly three years now well first of all let me uh thank and welcome the

Channel: Forbes Breaking News

Views: 687,199

Keywords:

Id: 1Nrer8u8yL8

Length: 7min 57sec (477 seconds)

Published: Wed Dec 13 2023