Why the West Condemns Israel but Ignores Iranians | Brendan O'Neill
From John Anderson: Conversations by John Anderson
March 6, 2026 · 1h 5m
About this episode
Brendan O'Neill joins John Anderson to discuss the Western response to the Israel situation and its implications for cultural attitudes and identity politics.
In this conversation, Brendan O’Neill joins John to discuss the global reaction to October 7 and what it reveals about the state of Western culture. They examine why protests and activism erupted across university campuses, how narratives about Israel spread rapidly through Western institutions, and why many of these institutions appeared to respond with hostility rather than solidarity. The discussion also explores the role of identity politics, social media, and shifting cultural attitudes in shaping Western democracies. O’Neill suggests that these reactions reflect a deeper loss of confidence within Western institutions in their own values and historical foundations. This is a thoughtful conversation that sheds light on the prevalence of anti-Semitism in the West. Brendan O’Neill is chief political writer and former editor of Spiked. He also a writes for The Australian and numerous other newspapers and magazines. His most recent book is After the Pogrom: 7 October, Israel and the Crisis of Civilisation. He hosts The Brendan O’Neill Show.
People in this episode
Guest: Brendan O'Neill
Topics covered
- Israel
- Iran
- Western culture
- identity politics
- anti-Semitism
Keywords
- October 7
- protests
- activism
- social media
- Western institutions
Mentioned in this episode
Products: After the Pogrom: 7 October, Israel and the Crisis of Civilisation
Books & works: After the Pogrom: 7 October, Israel and the Crisis of Civilisation, The Brendan O’Neill Show
Places: Israel
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