'Old-school liberal' Bill Maher clashes with The View's Sunny Hostin as he asks pro-Hamas protesters to 'go live in Gaza'
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Bill Maher and Sunny Hostin were at odds during the May 21 episode of ‘The View’. The comedian argued with the co-host about Israel’s war in Gaza, as well as the far left’s stance on the issue. During the interview, Maher called pro-Palestinian demonstrators in the US “pro-Hamas,” and said they should be allowed to live in Gaza for a day.
"And I'm not talking about while the war is on," he clarified. "I mean before the war. Trust me, you would go running and screaming and begging to live in Tel Aviv, a place that has your values." When Maher said he would describe himself as an "old-school liberal," at one point in the show Hostin bluntly said, "You've changed, though."
Bill Maher defends Israel's war on Gaza
Sitting at the Hot Topics table along with co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Joy Behar, and Alyssa Farah Griffin, Hostin asked Maher, "Are you at all concerned about the innocent civilians that have been collectively punished and murdered, largely children and women? Are you at all concerned about the fact that the International Criminal Court just today issued a subpoena for Bibi Netanyahu?"
Maher dismissed the ICC's move as "ridiculous," stating, "It's a war ... They (Israelis) were attacked and they are defending themselves. Now this is a war, do you think Hamas needs to be destroyed? This is the question."
Maher's stance was similar to that of the United States government which has strongly criticized the ICC for targeting Israeli officials alongside Hamas leaders for war crimes.
When Hostin agreed that "Hamas needs to be destroyed," Maher continued, "They are a terrorist organization who say openly that they want to commit genocide on the Jewish people, on the state of Israel ... they've started 5 wars since they were given that land back. They could have chosen to turn that place into any place they wanted to, and they took a lot of money from international communities that they spent on bombs and guns and building tunnels."
"So if they need to be destroyed, how do we do that? It’s a war. I don’t know how to do that, and you don’t know how to do that," he observed, pointing at Hostin.
"Aren't you concerned about innocent lives?" the co-host inquired again, leading Maher to respond, "Of course, everybody is. But that's what happens in a war. Here's a way to stop that, stop attacking Israel." The statement was met with applause from co-hosts Sara Haines and Alyssa Farah Griffin, as well as the audience.
Bill Maher explains why 'woke' policies could get Trump reelected
Earlier during the segment, Hostin expressed displeasure with Maher's use of the term "woke," saying, "The term 'woke' in my view has been co-opted by the right and weaponized and bastardized. So I was surprised to hear you use the term because historically, it has been used ... by the Black community to note that we must be aware of social injustices. So why is that a bad thing?"
.@billmaher explains why he's said "woke" policies on the left could get Donald Trump reelected and gives his take on the college campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war. https://t.co/cVclFZQmjA pic.twitter.com/SWVTmaj3JL
— The View (@TheView) May 21, 2024
"It's not a bad thing," answered Maher, explaining, "Originally, that was absolutely a great thing - alert to injustice... But words do migrate. Now I'll use any term you want because maybe that is a word that is triggering, so let’s not use that word. Want to call it the super far left?"
When countered with "What about the super far right?" Maher acknowledged that they were undoubtedly the bigger threat.
"Don't tell me that the left hasn't changed. I'm old enough to remember when it was the conservatives who hated the Jews," he shared, adding that it was a joke.
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