On a cold and wet autumn evening in the east end of London, people have packed into the main lecture theatre room of Amnesty International to hear the journalist Gideon Levy speak about his new book – the punishment of Gaza. British journalist Jon Snow was delighted to host the exceptional journalist and would have done so anywhere in the world. The worst the situation gets the better it is as all journalists love to ask tough questions – opening thought from our host.

Gideon was amazed to see so many people in the audience as the same evening could not have taken place in Tel Aviv as people would not show up. Amnesty is perceived as an anti Semitic organisation as it regularly condemns Israel and other nations for human rights abuses.

Gideon talked about feeling at times ashamed to be an Israeli. He grew up as a typical Tel Aviv boy who went to school, joined the army where he found a love for radio and return to civilian life with a journalistic career. The real drama of Israel is happening in its own backyard and he would like to see more Israeli journalists around him.

The Israeli patriot believes his journalistic career is for a better Israel and not for anyone who is against Israel. Gaza is the place that he loves but prevented to enter since 2006 when no Israeli journalist is legally allowed to go in there. Who really wants to know what’s going on in Gaza?

There is a turning point in the public opinion of Israeli violence and oppression as part of the world is sick and tired. Israel does not seem to be learning anything by using force as the first option and dismissing any criticism as anti-Semitic. In a committee meeting looking into the aftermath of the flotilla incident, the leader of the IDF stated that next time the IDF will use snipers.

Israeli’s are not monsters and are the first to help in disasters around the world. What has happen is the creation of the first brutal occupation where the occupier feels so good about themselves. The IDF have become the most moral army around the world – where the occupier sees itself as the victim which justifies becoming more and more brutal. Moral, ultimate victim, what we are doing is acceptable and can be done by the most moral army in the world.

There have been 42 years of occupation without any doubt, where Israelis are taught and trained to think that the Palestinians are not human beings. This dehumanisation process ensures that Palestinians are not seen as equal human beings. The media play their part by reporting the death of dogs instead of the people who were killed at the same time. The problem of self censorship and not bothering the reader with troublesome stories is a contributing factor. Any world pressure pushes Israeli’s to more nationalism and more internalisation.

Life in Israel is wonderful and Tel Aviv is one of the most vivid cities in the world. However if three Israeli’s are in a room, you would have a hard time getting them to agree on anything. Israel is a divided society with many different layers in the society which are deeply racist. Gideon cares about a just society from the inside and not the outside. The international community should raise their voice as it does affect what is happening with every criticising effort. Israel is occupation addicted and needs to be freed from active addiction.

There are two types of prison, one is where the guards are inside the prison and the other is when the guards are surrounding the prison. Israeli’s choose to be an occupying force as if they wanted to stop it; it would have been by now. Utopia will not work (one state solution) as we are living in one state right now and it’s not working.

More journalists need to be living in the occupied territories to report anti-demolition stories and devote their lives to the job. 1948 the historical injustice for the Palestinian people with the ethnic cleansing. If it had stopped then we could have opened up a new chapter but what happened in 48 is still happening right now. The Israeli people should be trying to correct some of the wrongs that have taken place, however logic and Israeli policy does not go hand in hand.

Peace needs and has to be brought together with enemies not just friends. The failure of another negotiation cycle may result in another violent cycle. Hopefully the changes will be a wake-up call for the Israeli society. The democracy is very fragile and we should be asking what the situation means for the Israeli people.

Currently the political system is in favour of the majority, what about the rights of the minority as two people can vote against one person. There are no checks and balances, the Supreme Court is weaker, NGOs are delegitimized and the media are not reporting the real stories. Political discussion about what is happening is being closed down.

The condition of apathy is extremely dangerous; nobody cares about it and doesn’t concern me. People should take a moral responsibility for what happened in 48, mentioning the ‘Nakba’ is becoming illegal in Israel. Refugees should be allowed to live where ever they like and rehabilitate their lives. This would be a real solution to their lives.

Gideon finishes his talk and takes some questions from the floor. The room divides into partisan positions with people shouting, jeering and hissing when certain people are talking from the floor. Some of the contributions follow which should add to the discussion around the issues raised in Gideon’s talk.

The South African Supreme Court judges called the situation much worse than Apartied on a visit to a refugee camp.

For the good and for the bad Israel is being treated differently for being a part of the west which holds a heavy price.

The attention on Israel is unprecedented as every issue is blown up into an international crisis.

The boycotts are being called for by the Palestinians through NGOs are about the goods not the country.

The lively crowd needs to be in Israel fighting for the cause.

Families in Israel drove to the hillside to watch Gaza burning.

Jews around the world follow Israel blindly without any alternative voices.

Goldstone is a Zionist who is perceived in Israel as anti-Semitic.

Be realistic, all the sympathy is well meaning but there have been no real political advancements and people are not gaining their lives back.

Half of the settlements are on private lands.

One must be realistic enough to believe in miracles.

We don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel apart from the locomotive coming straight towards us.