An influential group of Israeli historians have argued for decades that the country was forged in violence - that the original displacement of 700,000 Palestinians was not an accident of chaos, but deliberate ethnic cleansing. This viewpoint deeply challenges Israel’s founding narrative as a desperate underdog seeking fairness and peace.
In this episode of Piers Morgan Uncensored, two opposing titans of historical and political debat - Simon Sebag Montefiore (author of 'The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East') and international relations scholar Avi Shlaim - discuss their opposing worldviews and how they continue to shape today's conflicts, from the events of October 7th to the escalating war involving Iran.
Plus, as President Trump threatens an “economic D-Day” and both sides talk up the return to all-out war, we break down the latest developments in Tehran and across the Middle East, also joined by Tehran University’s Professor Mohammad Marandi.
00:00 Introduction
01:54 Professor Marandi joins Piers to discuss latest developments in Iran
04:22 America’s implementation of economic hardship on Iran
08:37 Iran’s leverage over the Strait of Hormuz
11:25 Reports suggesting the Iranian leadership is split
19:55 The Iranian regime’s support for terrorist organisations
22:07 The 25th anniversary of 9/11
29:10 Simon Sebag Montefiore joins Piers to discuss his latest book on Middle East
38:23 The Israeli government’s increasingly violent rhetoric and anti-semitism
45:58 The Two-state solution
51:57 Simon Sebag’s new historian categorisation and critique of the Israeli government
56:13 IR Scholar Avi Shlaim reacts to Piers’ interview with Simon Sebag
59:10 Piers asks Avi Shlaim about the criticism of the Israeli government being stifled
01:05:01 How many Israeli locals actually support the government vs those against it?
01:07:03 Piers asks Avi Shlaim if he condemns the Oct 7th attack
01:08:42 Categorising Israeli activity in Gaza as a Genocide
