Mustafa Barghouti & Anna Baltzer on the Daily Show

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart aired a program where they invited Anna Baltzer and Mustafa Barghouti to speak about Palestine. Regardless of our personal stances on the subject, this is a huge step forward in terms of coverage of the Palestinian issue by popular mainstream media.

By Anna Baltzer

I can hardly find the words to express my gratitude for the outpouring of support over the past couple days. The Daily Show has been inundated with positive responses to the show on Palestine, so much that they’ve asked people to please stop calling the office and tying up the phone lines! So, at the request of the studio, I’m primarily writing to encourage you to continue contacting The Daily Show, but please use this form rather than the phone number (make sure to choose The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as your topic).

The response has been overwhelming, with viral discussion around the world. The interview is now the 64th most watched in 11 years of The Daily Show, and that’s after just 48 hours. 143,000 and counting. Also, it’s now ranked #2 (!) of all Daily Show guest interviews (rating is determined by how many people give the video a thumbs up). It doesn’t seem like so many people use the “thumbs up” function (I didn’t know about it), but we’re only 11 thumb-ups behind the 1st place, so if you thought it deserved one and you feel like giving it a thumbs up, then the interview will be displayed at the top whenever anyone clicks on “highest rated” in the future, which will help spread the word even when the interview isn’t displayed so prominently.

The book is now #1 in Amazon sales for human rights books, and was #921 in Amazon sales overall last night, so hopefully the word is getting out in all different ways. Thank you to all those who have given so much time—to this and the zillions of other things—to bring the issue of Palestine to light in the US media and beyond.

A Message from Anna Baltzer:

Dear friends,

Last night Dr. Barghouti and I were on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart talking about Palestine.

The show was overwhelmed with angry emails and phone calls prior to the appearance, and up until the last minute it seemed like they might cancel. During the taping, the show had it’s only heckler in 11 years. The entire staff were very nervous and may come to regret the monumental decision (and not make it again) as they will surely be inundated now that the show has aired. That is why it is CRUCIAL that the show receive letters of support from anyone who appreciated the interview.

PLEASE take a moment to give a quick thank you to the Daily Show. I’m sure they will likely be affected by numbers rather than length, so it’s OK to make it short, but spread the word to others! Be sure to put “Thank you” in the subject, and maybe Dr. Barghouti & my names. Fill out the form here. (Make sure to choose The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as your topic).

Many of you who watched the show on TV noticed that everything of real substance that I said was edited out. The major issues cut out were (1) the US role in aiding Israel, (2) the lack of adequate coverage in mainstream US media, and (3) the Palestinian-led movement for Boycott / Divestment / Sanctions (BDS) to nonviolently pressure Israel to comply with international law.

Regardless of the cuts, this was a huge step for the movement (and Dr. Barghouti’s left-in parts were excellent, in my opinion). If you agree, do make your letters positive, even if you decide to mention the disappointing discrepancy between the full interview and what was aired…

I believe the interview wouldn’t have happened 3 years ago. Times are changing.

Anna (view her website here)

Update: The Daily Show has just contacted us to ask us to take down their phone number. They say they’ve received over 200 phone calls today and really appreciate all the positive feedback. Unfortunately they need to keep the phone lines open as they prepare for tonight’s shoot. They recommend that people who still want to contact them write to:

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 604 W 52nd St New York, NY 10019

The person who contacted me really did want to thank everyone for your support of the show. Please do honor their request and do keep letting the show know how much we appreciated this important broadcast!