Defending Israel - Bernard-Henri Lévy January 5, 2009

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French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy discusses "Zionist antisemitism" and other radical opinions regarding Israeli government. Levy argues that the government of Israel is more diverse and inclusive of anti-Zionist opinions than has been generally portrayed by the international media.

This excerpt is taken from a debate between philosophers Bernard-Henri Lévy and Slavoj Žižek on the modern Left. For the complete video, visit: http://fora.tv/2008/09/16/Violence__the_Left_in_Dark_Times_A_Debate

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Bernard-Henri Levy, France's "rock-star philosopher," and Slavoj Zizek, the Slovanian "Elvis of cultural theory," will scrutinize the totalitarianisms of the past as well as those of the future, as they argue for a new political and moral vision for our times and investigate the limits of tolerance.

Does the advent of capitalism cause more violence than it prevents? Is there violence in the simple idea of the neighbor? asks Zizek in Violence: Six Sideways Reflections.

Are human rights Western or Universal? How is it that progressives themselves-those who in the past defended individual rights and fought fascism-have now become the breeding ground for new kinds of dangerous attitudes? asks Lévy in Left in Dark Times: A Stand Against New Barbarism - New York Public Library

Bernard-Henri Levy is a philosopher, journalist, activist, and filmmaker. He was hailed by Vanity Fair magazine as "Superman and prophet: we have no equivalent in the United States." Among his dozens of books are American Vertigo, Barbarism with a Human Face, and Who Killed Daniel Pearl? His writing has appeared in a wide range of publications throughout Europe and the United States. His films include the documentaries Bosna! and A Day in the Death of Sarajevo. Levy is co-founder of the antiracist group SOS Racism and has served on diplomatic missions for the French government.