Nick Ferrari abruptly ended his LBC interview with Green Party activist Ashok Kumar on Tuesday (6 October), hanging up after a heated exchange over the party's 'Zionism is Racism' motion. The motion was announced at the Green Party conference on Saturday (3 October).
Clash over Israel's future
Ferrari grew visibly frustrated as he pressed Kumar on the proposed policy. "So, if you can't be a Zionist, and if you don't believe in a country for Jewish people, what is the future of Israel?" he asked.
"Well, this motion's actually about supporting the liberation of Palestine from Israel," Kumar replied. "No, this motion is describing zionism as racism," Ferrari fired back. "Well, that's the title of it," the activist noted.
"Mr Kumar, what is the future of Israel?" the presenter asked again. "The future of Israel is a country not based on ethnic cleansing and genocide; a country based on equality and justice," Kumar argued.
Accusations and frustration
Ferrari remarked, "You've got four of your own five MPs expressing concern. You've got some Jewish members expressing concern. Are you convinced that you think you and your colleagues have got this one right?"
"We got this absolutely right," Kumar stated. "We believe that there's something fundamentally racist, reactionary and chauvinistic about an ideology that requires the dispossession of an indigenous population."
"Right, but you have to drive the Jewish people out of Israel," Ferrari responded. "No, those are your words," Kumar pointed out. "You haven't asked a single question, Nick, about what happens to Palestinians, and that's very reflective. It's interesting. This entire motion, it's not about Jews, it's about Palestinians."
Interview cut short
As the two talked over one another, Ferrari brought the interview to an end. "My dear, I've had far better people than you critique my journalism; I'm not going to take it from you. Just answer the question if you would. Where are those Jewish and Israeli people to go?"
As Kumar suggested the question should be "Where do the Palestinians go?", Ferrari ended the call. "Okay, we've tried," he said. "Nice speaking with Ashok Kumar, declining to answer that question."
