Judging Freedom - Alastair Crooke : Netanyahu's War Against Israel.

Episode Date: October 27, 2025

Alastair Crooke : Netanyahu's War Against Israel.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Limited time, new customer offer for the first three months only. Speeds may slow above 35 gigabytes on the unlimited plan, taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details. Hi, everyone, Judge Andrew Napolitano here for judging freedom. Today is Monday, October 27, 2000, and 25. Alastair Crook will be with us in just a moment on Benjamin Netanyahu's war against Israel. And Donald Trump's wrecking ball to the international economic norms. But first, this. History tells us every market eventually falls. Currencies collapse. And look at where we

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dot com today austere welcome here my dear friend always a pleasure uh to start the day in the week off with you thank you for accommodating my schedule before you we get to your very very interesting column on Trump's challenges to the international economic order. I want to ask you a few questions about Israel. Do the Israelis consider the Gaza war to be over? I think a lot of them are really aghast that it seems to be over. Now, whether it over permanently is an open question in Israel. But many of them are saying, you know, well, where's Hamas's humiliation? Where's its defeat? We wanted to see it completely distraught on its knees. And it's not happened. And, you know, is this it? Is this a victory then? And so there is a great deal of

soul-searching about that. But of course, there is a sense that in Israel that, well, you know, always Israel is capable of waiting out the Americans. And that's what they will try and do. And that they will go back then to a clearing. It's very, it's very obvious that, you know, that Israelis don't have any sense that, you know, that, you know, there have been war crimes or a genocide or anything of that nature that is being committed in Gaza. In fact, a poll just completed shows that 61% of Israelis would say, I think a 64 actually, would say there are no innocence in Gaza. Therefore, they're all, this is just a military matter. We are delivering a military message.

It is a sort of, if you like, a very heavy mowing of the grass, 50 to one. And they have to understand this is every one that Israeli that was killed on the 7th of October. We are taking 50 lives. If they have women and children, so be it. It doesn't matter. But I think this has a really important connotation. Because it suggests that, you know, with this, I mean, they see Gaza, and one commentator put it very succinctly, our duty was to exhaust our anger in Gaza and show the entire world what happens when you attack Jews. And that's what he said. It was about a sort of psychosis and a mourning for Israel.

Israelis, but they don't mention Palestinians. They don't mention what happened. It's as if the only people who were alive in Israel were the 20 remaining hostages. And that the Palestinians were not, are just not seen and not, and the consequences of them coming out of their imprisonment and their hostages being released with many of them injured and showing signs of maltreatment, if not told. torture. These are not mentioned. You won't hear this word, war crimes or, if you like, genocide mentioned in Israel, because it is all, if you like, the question of this was inevitable, this has happened. Now we can move on. Now we have settled the process. We'll have a period of short period of quiet. But it means. effectively there is no longer any possibility that Israel's will extricate themselves from the moral abyss into which they have been sliding. They wake up, they will wake up one day and say let's put an end to apartheid, the occupation, the malicious domination of another

people. I don't think this is going to happen given their present frame of mind. And that That means one thing that the war will continue, it will go on, because they don't see any reason to bring it to an end, firstly because Hamas is not destroyed. There's a huge paradox now. Hamas is supposed to disappear, disarm and be removed from the scene, and yet it's the principal negotiators that they're dealing with. So how do you square that? They can't.

the second and third stages of this have been not delineated or thought through at all. And so eventually, you know, Whitkoff and Kushner will leave, and they will leave behind this American sort of headquarters just near Gaza. But, I mean, you know, no doubt Israel, if they want to, will find the pretext for restarting the war. then certainly Gavir and Smotrich and others on the right, and many Israelis, as I say, the majority want the ethnic cleansing of Gaza to be completed. Is there angst and consternation among the Israelis because the Americans negotiated directly with Hamas and because Donald Trump said he's thinking, I don't know how he could do this,

I guess you'd have to just tell Netanyahu to do it. He's thinking about ordering Mr. Barguti to be released. Oh, I'm not sure that they will release Bargoti. They may, but I personally will doubt it there's been pressure for so long. But as I say to you, I mean, unfortunately, I think Bargouti has been severely damaged by long periods in self-confirm. And, you know, you don't come out of that as a normal person. So, I mean, it's possible, but I think it's unlikely just for his symbolic value. Ned Njahu is riding high on this in the polls.

The polls are showing a positive element for this, for him. And he's really feeling quite smug and pleased with himself because he thinks he's slowly defeating all of the charges against him, because he's waging this war of attrition against, you know, the state that is trying to, if you like, judge him for various crimes of bribery and corruption. And he is just pushing back and pushing back. And, of course, Trump mentioned the possibility of a pardon. But it seems that Nanyahu doesn't want to pardon. He wants to be completely absolved of this.

So he can go forward and win the next elections and stay on until, you know, well, until he can't, basically. But he needs to stay in power in office as the prime minister in order to prevent these prosecutions, which seem to be serious and aggressive when they're allowed to resume. You know, I'm not sure of that. I've always said to you that I think, you know, don't underrate Netanyahu's ability to survive when everyone has been, you know, sort of saying, well, you know, he's about to go and it's about the public is going to remove him. I think, you know, his attrition against the judicial system, they're not pursuing it that toughly.

And the key thing, the real change, is that he has managed to get a change. the head of the security services shin bed and the shin bet will not you know is not going to cooperate with the justices on this so he may just get through and have the charges against him either dropped in return for for some some sort of agreement it's hard to say at this point but at the moment he's very very confident that that's where it's going to go that he will get through and that he can, if you like, crush the forces that are trying to prosecute him and eventually put him into prison. Why did the United States cancel the Trump-Pooten meeting in Budapest?

Well, you put it in terms of why did the United States cancel it? I don't think it was the United States per se. that cancelled this meeting. It was, if you like, the cadre of billionaires and others that decide these things. And quite clearly, I mean, because, you know, it was very abrupt and very clear. They said, no, you're not going to have an agreement with Russia.

You're not going to do that. And in fact, what we've seen in this, in this time, and I mean, from Russia, Putin has come to the conclusion, and this is what I hear from the elements that the attempts to establish now a relationship between Russia and the USA, as he puts it, practically failed. So Demetriov was sent to the U.S. over this weekend. he was in the U.S. this weekend. You'll remember he's ahead of the special of the, if you like, sovereign fund in Russia. And an economist who can speak American.

I mean, that's why he was there. You know, he knows how to deal. He's worked in America, worked in the bank in America. And he is valued by Putin and quite trusted. But the reports we get and hear from out of this is that even he could do nothing. The anti-Russian sentiment in Washington is too strong and that there are too few independent figures left there. And also, it was noted, it was the same, that Hexseth showed absolutely no interest in a dialogue. dialogue with Balusov, who is the Russian defense minister, made it clear that he considers

Russia's strategic adversary who must be fought. And yet Belusov, in the Russian view, is also figure who could play a very positive role in the current situation. But it's not going to happen. The word, you know, clearly Trump was told this isn't going to happen. We're not going to let you do this. And so this has happened. And for Russia, I think that, you know, Putin was very, very angry at the sort of switch, what he saw and calls capriciousness on the part of Trump. I mean, he's very careful with his language, always. Now, people say that, of course, I mean, some people say, well, you know, these sanctions on these two major oil companies in Russia. You know, on earth-shaking, they are serious, but not grave.

That's true. I mean, they're not going to change the balance, although, again, in this situation, we had the Treasury Secretary just saying that, that basically the Dmitryov is just a liar. They are having a huge effect on Russia. Well, you know, okay, time will tell. But the point is, it's a red line. I know there is a narrative that it isn't a red line

because Tomahawks weren't far. But it is a red line in the sense that the understandings that derive from the meeting in Alaska were twofold. One part of it was that Trump would hold back on the pressure for sanctions on Russia. And the second, but the real red line for Russia was that Trump was insisting on a frozen conflict. And as you know, and we all know, that has always been a no-go for a red-red line for Russia. So there's a question now about whether it's worthwhile having more meetings. And the, the, the, the, the, uh, uh, demitri of some answer, mission to, to America over this weekend,

was really to establish whether Trump was completely co-opted, um, and therefore unable to move. And apparently the answer that, that they have is, is yes. So, Dimitri of his job was really just to point out to the United States, one, that Ukraine is facing a complete encirclement of its troops, 5,000 in one place in Kupyansk, and 5,000 in Pocrofts. They are cut off, they are completely encircled by Russian troops. And he also, I think last week I mentioned it to you, he also raised this question. of the new missile, Revesnik, which is a nuclear-powered nuclear engine missile that can stay aloft almost indefinitely can move, it can go at low altitude or at high altitude, and can attack any part of the United States. So I think this was the message he was giving

saying, you know, well, you're too late. I'm afraid. because it seems that there's a major defeat coming with these 10,000 troops that are encircled, and the other cities of that defensive line are also vulnerable, also vulnerable too. So it seems very difficult to see, I mean, you know, where would Putin go? I mean, what would be the point of negotiations at this thing? I mean, there's no point to it. would think, with the situation. And they're very angry, and Russians are very angry about it. I mean, people say, oh, well, you know, Putin's under pressure, and he'll have to do more. You know, actually, their anger is not directed so much of Putin. Yes, people, everyone would

like to see the war end sooner than later. But the anger is directed at Trump and the United States for what he is doing. So I think it's hard to see. I don't see any basis really for taking negotiations forward on this. The powers that be the dark forces that are behind Trump have clearly said, no, you are not going to have a relationship between the United States and Russia. And therefore, the consequences of this is likely to be escalation.

I don't know what sort, but I think, you know, they will have to take the message that was delivered by Dimitri this weekend about the Burritsnik quite seriously. This is, in addition to the Eresnik, we can reach any part of the European landmass. You know, where's the leverage today? You know, I think, you know, General Kellogg and Rubio believe that America has leverage. But I don't think America has leverage. In fact, I don't think they've got anything to say, really, at this point. They've made their choice. Their choice is no negotiations on terms that are even reasonably acceptable to what has been agreed in the past.

in 2022 and Istanbul. And so I think we're going to see an escalation. And don't forget, I mean, the other part of this, everything is connected. Everything is, this is part of the Third World War. I mean, it's an asymmetric war. Part of it is financial. Part of it is bullying. Part of it is military.

But this war is expanding. And of course, China were watching very carefully what is happening in Russia and drawing its own conclusions for its negotiations. I want to play a clip of, excuse me, Foreign Minister Lavrov on the demands for the ceasefire. And what Foreign Minister Lavrov says is the acknowledgement on the part. part of the EU that during a ceasefire, there would not be, not be a pause in re-arming Ukraine. Chris, cut number 11. Then as of spring, about that time, they started saying immediate ceasefire without any precondition. And they continue to sing this song until now.

Ruta, Macron, by the way, Macron, when they shifted to this logic, ceasefire, stop the killings without preconditions, and then, then we'll see how it goes. And Macron was asked whether this cessation of hostility, ceasefire, includes the pause in providing weapons to Ukraine. He said, no, it does not. No preconditions at all. So when President Trump, after Anchorage, bluntly, bluntly, publicly stated that in his conviction, it is not a ceasefire, but a sustainable, durable peace, which, as he said, must be a long-term peace, a very long-term. And another quotation, we are not talking about a two-year peace, and then we end up in this mess again. When people now say nothing but a ceasefire, immediate ceasefire, and then history would judge.

It's a very radical change. This Russian view of President Trump would be a lot more sanguine if Trump didn't change his mind all the time, and if Trump's words were credible. And if he had some... if you like, agency in the whole process. And that's what Russia doubts that he has any. The decision wasn't made. I mean, you could see how it happened.

Suddenly it was all canceled after an initial call in which Rubio and Lavrov spoke. And Lavrov gave the same line that we've heard every month since 23 at that foreign. ministry where Putin has laid down the minimum terms. And yes, the other thing is that the West is playing this, you know, as if it's just a matter of a sort of jigsaw puzzle, you take this bit of territory, we give you that piece of territory, and it's all about territory.

And it's not about territory at all. It is about the prime conditions is about Russian security. want security guarantees, and they can only see those security guarantees by having their neighbor, not a member of NATO, that it is neutral and it is deradicalized. And they are pursuing that. And the public is with them because they understand what the Europeans are suggesting, a frozen conflict, and then it will be followed by security. guarantees, oh yeah, which means NATO will come in and rearm the Ukrainian force, what's left of it, and will pursue it, pursue that, and there will be in three years time, Russia will be called

upon to expend more blood from the ones that they've already expended up to now. And the public don't want that. They don't want a war in two or three years' time, which is what the Europeans are planning. Quite openly and plainly, that's what their view is. They want to destroy and weaken Russia. And that is why Trump received a very clear no coming from, if you like, that Akada in the permanent power that lies behind Trump. And he was told his and we all know that he's deeply indebted to some of those people. We saw that very clearly during the Knesset meeting when, I mean, Trump said, you know, oh yes, you know,

Sheldon used to come. He'd demand, he'd bring up and say, I'm coming in, and I want things from you. And of course, what did he want? He wanted, actually, well, his widow wanted, suggested that Rubio, who doesn't like Trump, should be the vice president. Trump said, no, no, no, but he can be secretary of state

and also the national security chief. I mean, this is what, you know, this is what Russia understands that Trump, you know, is in this area without any real agency or ability to change matters. So is there any point in negotiating or going into the negotiation when all of the team has lined out behind us, no, and said, no, we have to put more pressure on Russia. They know it's not going to get Putin to a ceasefire.

I mean, the idea that this is going to cause a sort of regime change in Russia is just not plausible. The economy is, as they suggested, the gap in understanding. of Trump's team between the Russian understanding of their own economy and their situation is huge. So I think there's really, this is, you know, we are going to see a new phase to this, what I described to you earlier, just this third world war starting this asymmetrical war.

It may become kinetic in certain parts with the Ukraine. I don't know, although it's difficult to see, exactly what they're going to do. And as I just mentioned, I mean, there are 5,000, if you like, Ukrainian soldiers encircled in one place and 5,000 in another in for Crofts. And Putin said, look, we must make arrangements so that they can come out and surrender and live. Because if they don't, they will be killed. So he's offered them. He's given them time to to get out. I don't know whether they will, well, Zelensky will allow them to do that, but Putin made it very clear that that was the provision. So, you know, this is a huge change

in the war too. I mean, I'm not saying this is the end of it. I'm just saying this is a really substantive move forward. So, you know, I don't see, you know, Trump can't wind that back and go back, you know, the question will be, you know, lines, line of contact? Well, where is the line of contact now? On the other side of the NEPA, perhaps, Mr. Trump, I don't know. We'll see, because they are now on the other side of the NEPA or Russian forces in Herson and in other parts. Last subject matter, Alstair, when President, Trump arrived in South Korea, either last night or this morning, he was met with a surprise

from the new Prime Minister of Japan. What did she do that the U.S. didn't expect? She, as soon as she took office, she'd been expected to be pro-American, pro-armament, and, if you like, pro the war against China. And she went and talked to all of her corporate leaders. And they said, listen, Madam, we cannot Japan, cannot sustain another trade war. And so she gave a speech to the parliament and to the public, saying, no, we have to balance. We have now, China is no longer the enemy. I mean, this is huge.

China is no longer the enemy and that we're going to try and get a trade area between China, Japan, and South Korea. Of course, this is enormous. This would change it. I mean, she said a common currency area, clearing area between China, Japan, and South Korea. And they're discussing that. now at their meetings, at ASEAN. Of course, it'll take time, and the West will do its best to make sure it doesn't come into being. But it was a moment after the Second World War. And after all that, that a Japanese prime minister

could indicate that she did not see China and was not prepared to be a pawn in America's attempt to pressure China. Wow. Excuse me. Fascinating stuff. And of course, a lot more to come. Alistair, thank you very much. Thank you for your time this morning. Thank you for your usual astute analysis of all of this clearly and articulately explained. All my best to you, dear friend. Thank you so much, Judge. Thank you. Look forward to seeing you next week. Coming up later today at 10 o'clock this morning, Ray McGovern, at 10.45, Professor Jeffrey Sachs at 1130. Not sure where he is, but we'll find him.

Larry Johnson, Judge Napolitano for Judging Freedom. Thank you.