"Facts vs. Narratives: A Legal Lens on Israel" with Roy K. Altman

Description

In this episode of the Middle East Forum podcast, host Lauri Regan speaks with U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman about his new book Israel on Trial: Examining the History, the Evidence, and the Law.

Drawing on legal methodology used in American courtrooms, Altman breaks down the core accusations leveled against Israel , including claims of genocide, apartheid, and illegal occupation , and tests them against standards of evidence, burden of proof, and factual record. Rather than rhetoric or slogans, the conversation focuses on how legal reasoning can clarify one of the most contentious debates in international politics.

Altman also reflects on his family’s history, the evolution of antisemitism in modern institutions, and the growing challenge of distinguishing truth from narrative in an age of information overload. The discussion extends to the role of international bodies like the United Nations, the influence of geopolitical incentives, and the importance of critical thinking , particularly among younger generations.

This episode offers a structured, law-based framework for understanding the debate around Israel , and asks what happens when emotionally charged claims are subjected to rigorous legal scrutiny.

----------------------------------------

Chapters:
00:00 to Introduction and guest background
01:25 to Roy Altman’s family story and worldview
11:00 to Why he wrote Israel on Trial
13:30 to Legal methodology applied to Israel-related claims
16:45 to Can critical thinking be restored?
25:40 to The UN, international law, and political bias
33:20 to The future of global alignment around Israel

----------------------------------------

Subscribe for more conversations with leading analysts on the Middle East and beyond.