Democracy Now! Thursday, January 8, 2009 :: Norman Finkelstein Debate

Today's Headlines

• Palestinian Toll Passes 700; Around One-Third Children
• School Bombing Toll Reaches 46 as Israel Retracts Claim of Militant Fire
• Red Cross Condemns Israel for Blocking Access to Bombing Site
• Lebanese Militants Fire at Northern Israel
• Fighting Suspended for 3-Hour Aid Delivery
• EU Backs Egyptian Ceasefire Proposal
• UN General Assembly to Meet on Gaza Attack
• Jewish Canadian Women Occupy Toronto Israeli Consulate
• Senate Dems Reverse Opposition to Burris
• Bush Hosts Obama, Ex-Presidents at White House
• Officer in Oakland Transit Shooting Resigns; 15 Protesters Arrested

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  Former Amb. Martin Indyk vs. Author Norman Finkelstein: A Debate on Israel's Assault on Gaza and the US Role in the Conflict

  The Israeli assault on Gaza is entering its thirteenth day. Some 700 Palestinians have been killed, with many thousands more wounded, and a humanitarian crisis is mounting. Ten Israelis have died, four by “friendly fire.” A ceasefire has not been reached, and the offensive continues. We host a debate between Martin Indyk, the former US ambassador to Israel and Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs during the Clinton administration, director of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution and author of, Innocent Abroad: An Intimate Account of American Peace Diplomacy in the Middle East, and Norman Finkelstein, author of several books, including The Holocaust Industry, Image and Reality of the Israel-Palestine Conflict and Beyond Chutzpah. [includes rush transcript]

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  Battle Within SEIU Comes to a Head with Executive Board Vote on Future of One of its Largest Locals

  We look at the latest on a major battle within one of the country’s largest labor unions, the Service Employees International Union. SEIU’s executive board is meeting today to decide whether to dismantle one of its largest locals, California’s 150,000-member United Healthcare Workers West, by merging all or part of it into a new California affiliate. Critics of the proposal say SEIU president Andy Stern is trying to push ahead with the move despite overwhelming opposition from local members. [includes rush transcript]