FIRING LINE DEBATE, A: RESOLVED: THAT THE UNITED STATES REFUSE RECOGNITION TO THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION (TV)
Summary
One in this talk/interview series hosted by William F. Buckley, Jr. This installment offers a slight variation on the traditional "Firing Line" debate format; debaters are grilled about their comments at multiple intervals by a panel of four journalists. The panel is made up of John Cooley of the Christian Science Monitor; Thomas Johnson of The New York Times; conservative author Russel Kirk; and Michael A. LeDeen, executive editor of the Washington Quarterly. The program begins with a lengthy introduction by George Roche, president of Hillsdale College and mediator for the debate. After expounding on the history of Hillsdale College, Roche introduces the team captains: Buckley heads the group for the resolution, which suggests that the United States refuse recognition to the Palestine Liberation Organization; the Reverend Jesse Jackson leads the team against the resolution. The only other guests who have an opportunity to present arguments are university professor Alan Weinstein, who joins Buckley, and Palestinian Human Rights Co-Chairman Obdeen Jabarah, who takes Jackson's side. Buckley opens the debate by arguing that the PLO is responsible for the training of terrorists. He relates background information on the organization and reads a section of the Palestinian National Charter that states, "Armed struggle is the only way to liberate Palestine." Jackson takes his turn to explain the different ways in which he believes that Israel is defying international law by retaining the contested land in Palestine. Jackson also insists that the charges of terrorism lobbed at the Palestinians are irrelevant, suggesting, "We train terrorists here in the United States," and describing American history as "full of terrorist acts." Journalist Cooley then asks Jackson whether he believes that the Palestinian army will ever abandon violence, and Jackson insists that it is already doing so. Next, Weinstein and Jabarah begin to face off, but the program runs out of time before they are able to state their respective cases fully. Includes promos.
(Network affiliation varies; this program was also syndicated from 1966 to 1971 and from 1975 to 1977.)
Cataloging of this program was made possible by Mr. and Mrs. Theodore R. Stanley.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: December 9, 1979
- RUNNING TIME: 0:59:08
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:61377
- GENRE: Talk/Interviews
- SUBJECT HEADING: Israel-Arab conflicts; Middle East; Palestine Liberation Organization
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1971-1999
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Promos - "Cousteau: Odyssey: The Nile, II"
- TV - Promos - "Mark Twain: Beneath the Laughter"
CREDITS
- Warren Steibel … Producer, Director
- Raymond J. Hoestein … Associate Producer
- George Kahookele … Direction (Misc.), Associate Director
- William F. Buckley, Jr. … Host
- George Roche … Moderator
- Jesse Jackson … Guest
- Obdeen Jabarah … Guest
- Alan Weinstein … Guest
- John Cooley
- Thomas Johnson
- Russel Kirk
- Michael A. LeDeen