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Seth Rogen’s Israel comments highlight fraught diaspora ties

FILE - In this Nov. 8, 2019 file photo, Seth Rogen speaks at the 33rd American Cinematheque Award in Beverly Hills, Calif. A conversation between two Jewish comedians about Jewish culture and Israel has sparked an uproar by American Jews and an international spat. The fallout from the back and forth between Marc Maron and Seth Rogen highlights the tenuous relationship between Israel, its supporters and its liberal Jewish critics in the diaspora. In his interview on the popular “WTF with Marc Maron” podcast on July 27, 2020, Rogen said amassing Jews in one country to keep them safe “doesn’t make sense.” The comments were interpreted as denying Israel’s right to exist. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
by: WRTV Staff
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TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Two Jewish comedians riffing in a podcast about the idiosyncrasies of their shared heritage have sparked an uproar.

It started as a lighthearted conversation between Marc Maron and Seth Rogen but talk soon turned to Israel.

In his interview on the popular “WTF with Marc Maron” podcast on July 27, 2020, Rogen said amassing Jews in one country to keep them safe “doesn’t make sense.”

Their comments about Israel infuriated many Israel supporters and were interpreted as denying Israel’s right to exist. They highlight the country’s tenuous relationship with young, progressive Jewish critics in the diaspora.

Rogen says his comments were made in jest and have been misconstrued.

Israel has long enjoyed financial and political support from American Jews but it’s faced a groundswell of opposition recently from young progressives disillusioned by Israel’s aggressive West Bank settlement building, its perceived exclusion of liberal streams of Judaism and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cozy relationship with President Donald Trump.

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