Zionophobia - with Judea Pearl

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Do most people misunderstand the true nature of Antizionism?

Dan sits down with renowned computer scientist and public intellectual Judea Pearl to understand why he coined the term “Zionophobia.” Pearl argues that Antizionism is not simply policy criticism but a rejection of Jewish collective sovereignty.

Pearl shares his personal story, that dates back to the founding of Israel, and explains how the murder of his son, Daniel Pearl, and the violence of the Second Intifada have reshaped his thinking about Israel, identity, and moral clarity. 

The conversation spans failed peace efforts, the politics of language, the meaning of indigeneity, and Pearl’s warning that Israel’s greatest long-term vulnerability may be the erosion of bipartisan American support.

Read Judea’s book Coexistence and Other Fighting Words

In this episode:

03:00 - From AI pioneer to Zionist advocate

24:00 - “Zionophobia,” not anti-Semitism

29:00 - Terrorism, moral asymmetry, and the Carter controversy

35:00 - Education as the true battlefield

38:00 - Why peace efforts failed and what was misunderstood

41:00 - Indigeneity, sovereignty, and competing narratives

44:00 - The bipartisan question and Israel’s strategic future

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Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo