Transcript of Press TV interview, 21 November 2024

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PressTV: 0:00
Well, joining us now from Brussels is Dr. Gilbert Doctorow, an independent international affairs analyst. Thank you very much for joining us, Dr. Doctorow.

Gilbert Doctorow, PhD:
Thanks for inviting me.

PressTV:
Thank you. Doctor, this is the fourth time that the US has actually vetoed this resolution, And I do have to ask you, were you first of all surprised at all?

Doctorow:
Well, I think it is worth noting that the resolution was introduced, was backed by Bernie Sanders. Because Sanders is an independent, though nominally. Actually he's a Democrat.

The point is that in the US Senate, the Republicans have stood as a block against Palestine and in favor of Israel, whatever it does, whereas the Democrats have been split, and Saunders is a visible sign of that. This was a major factor in the November 5th elections, that the Democrats could not be counted upon to support Harris, because so many of them were disaffected were alienated by the Biden administration's support of Israel's genocide in Gaza.

PressTV: 1:17
Well, Doctor, I mean as we know this has been the case with the US under President Biden. But now we have President-elect Donald Trump coming into power in around two months from now. He has made promises of ending the war in Gaza, while at the same time continuing his strong support to Israel. Do you believe we'll see anything different under Donald Trump in concerning Gaza?

Doctorow: 1:41
I would not take his nominations to fill his cabinet or his words, his pre-electoral words about support for Israel, as meaning there will be no positive change in direction with it for the Middle East and specifically for Gaza under the new administration of Donald Trump. I see here an overall pattern which also is reflected in the area that I follow most closely professionally, the Russian affairs and the war in Ukraine. Mr. Trump takes strong stands, he makes very militant sounds, but these are necessary preliminaries to stepping in and reaching out and finding solutions, which otherwise, if they are made by a person who is conceived, who is perceived as weak or as indecisive would be impossible to achieve.

2:45
Mr. Trump sounds tough, but I think Mr. Trump once in office will be far more accommodating and reasonable and realistic than anyone in the present administration. And this also is a message for Iran. I think it's highly possible that, notwithstanding his appointment of a number of well-known anti-Iran personalities to his cabinet, Mr. Trump in the first six months will reach out for an accommodation with Iran.

PressTV: 3:14
Well, Doctor, I mean, I do have to ask you, this is again, no agreement on a ceasefire. And as we already see the extremely difficult situation, the Gazans are especially living in the area. How much worse do you believe we can see the situation going?

Doctorow: 3:30
Well, it's impossible to say how many more thousands will be killed. And the numbers that you have put up, 43,000, are official numbers, but unofficial numbers are five times greater. So the situation in Gaza is horrible. How much further devastation and murder Israelis can perpetrate is unclear. But I do think that the end is nigh, with the incoming Trump administration taking finally a positive action and moving back from the kind of vicious activity that you have shown a few minutes earlier in the US vote in the Security Council.

PressTV: 4:13
Well, that was Dr. Gilbert Doctorow, an independent international affairs analyst joining us there from Brussels. A pleasure to have you, Doctor. Thank you very much.