conversations Archives

Human Rights Against Peace?

July 9, 2026

by shlomo@hrhaggadah.com with No Comment conversations

Lebanon and Israel recently signed a framework agreement in an attempt to end the decades of war between them. Prominent human rights groups were opposed. Shalzed paraphrased the disagreement between them like this:

Victims of war: We want our homes and our lives back. We’re ready to accept compromise. We need peace.

Human rights activists, from safely far away: This is about justice! It’s about principles! You must keep fighting, any compromise violates international law!

Peace inevitably requires compromise, and ending war is essential to protecting human rights. Can human rights still advocate against the compromises needed for an agreement that seeks to bring peace?

Violating Human Rights to Protect Them

July 9, 2026

by shlomo@hrhaggadah.com with No Comment conversations

Shalzed: Why is the U.S. causing human rights violations throughout Cuba? Due to U.S. Sanctions, Cuba lacks even food and medicine.

Rubio: Not true. It’s their government’s fault. Our sanctions have humanitarian exceptions.

Shalzed: What about oil?

Rubio: Not for the regime. We allow fuel imports only for the private sector.

Shalzed: But the electric grid is run by the government. And now there’s only electricity a few hours a day, transportation is barely running, and families have to burn wood to cook.

Rubio: We have to pressure Cuba’s government to stop oppressing their people.

Shalzed: But aren’t you oppressing them too?

Can the U.S. say it is defending human rights, while its actions cause the rights of the very same people it claims to defend to be violated?

For more information about the situation in Cuba from Human Rights Watch, click here:

A Democracy Has a Billionaire?

June 18, 2026

by shlomo@hrhaggadah.com with No Comment conversations

Most criticism of Musk centers on inequality- how is it fair for one person to have such an obscenely large fortune, while so many others struggle to meet their basic needs. But there’s another question- Musk’s fortune enables him to bankroll politicians he agrees with and exert undue influence on the political process. Is the accumulation of such wealth as a threat to democracy itself?

$1 Million for Peace?

June 15, 2026

by shlomo@hrhaggadah.com with No Comment conversations

England, Austria, and Canada announced plans to donate around $1 million each to support organizations that promote grassroots dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. But Shalzed has a question. . .

Is the Genocide Case Urgent?

June 4, 2026

by shlomo@hrhaggadah.com with No Comment conversations

South Africa: We need 18 months to prepare a thorough response to Israel’s utterly absurd rebuttal of our evidence that they are guilty of genocide.

Judge: But two years have already gone by. . .

Israel: If the evidence is so clear, why do you need another 18 months?

South Africa: To do a thorough job.

Judge: Fine. You have until November 2027.

Israel: Then we should get 18 months to write our response.

Judge: Fine. You have until May 2029.

South Africa: But this case is urgent!

Israel: So why don’t you let the judges decide today based on the evidence you’ve already submitted?

South Africa: No thanks, we’d rather not.

Based on a May 21, 2026 ruling of the ICJ giving South Africa 18 months to submit an additional brief, then Israel 18 months to reply.

Weapons Only for Defense?

June 4, 2026

by shlomo@hrhaggadah.com with No Comment conversations

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen wrote an essay in the NY Times saying that Israel has used U.S. weapons not just for defense but also ‘as a sword to bury the two state solution,’ and the U.S. should therefore end Israel’s weapon supply. But what does the U.S. use its own weapons for? Shalzed watches as an Israeli ambassador asks this question.