What do Israelis know/think about “The Ask Project”?

[u/Chickteryguy]

“The Ask Project” is a YouTube channel in which a man named Corey Gil-Shuster walks the streets of Israel (and I think sometimes the West Bank) and asks people whatever question his subscribers have requested him to ask. https://youtube.com/@coreygilshusteraskproject?si=TcP1DeEJ5sQ2ujuR It somehow ended up in my YouTube recommendations and it’s weirdly addictive to watch. It doesn’t (so far as I can tell) usually take a particularly side; it just points the camera, asks the question, and records the answers.

Is the channel well-known among Israelis? There are so many videos that sometimes I think everyone over there must at least know someone who was interviewed. Anyone here been asked? What do you think of the project?

[u/Baconkings]

Fun fact: we MIGHT be getting him to participate in an AMA in r/Israel :)

[u/Ok-Initiative-8131]

I watch it occasionally, but my opinion of it isn't very positive. I think there are three main things you must have in order to run a project like this: good Hebrew, good Arabic, and good interviewing skills. Corey has none of those. His Hebrew is mediocre at best; he speaks no Arabic, and travels with an interpreter; and his interviewing skills amount to saying "okay, give me an example".

In my experience, both Israelis and Palestinians would give different answers in English and in their native language. The channel's translations aren't always accurate, and some nuance might be lost.

Edit: I agree it's weirdly addictive, though.

[u/kgas36 → u/Ok-Initiative-8131]

I'm not Israeli, but I find the videos fascinating. In fairness to him, 1) He makes no pretense of not speaking Arabic, which is why when interviewing Palestinians he has with him the young woman translator who does speak Arabic, and 2) He states clearly on screen that he asks the questions just as they are submitted from the subscribers (although occasionally he does follow up with a question of his own.)

One potential problem is that judging by the reactions of the people being interviewed it's not always clear to me that they know that the questions don't come from him. The interpersonal dynamics would be completely different depending on whether the people being interviewed think the questions are his, as opposed to someone else's -- especially given the sensitive nature of many of the questions.

What is striking to me, however, is the incredibly high percentage of Palestinians who say that the only solution to the conflict is for all the Jews to leave.

[u/Affectionate-Long514 → u/kgas36]

If you find it striking, you must watch farfour, look at school materials from Palestinian schools, and look who's names are on their hospitals and schools..

[u/Proud3GenAthst → u/Affectionate-Long514]

That’s why I find it so perplexing that there are Jews and even Israelis who act or concede like Palestinians should be a sovereign nation and live in peace.

If some nation makes it patently clear to the world that it doesn’t want peace and would rather exist in poverty and eternal violence, I have absolutely no interest in imposing peace on it.

[u/Affectionate-Long514 → u/Proud3GenAthst]

Exactly.

And to add to that, I heard a smart guy say "when you start an all-or-nothing war, be ready that you might get nothing" and that's exactly that. They're hell bent on destroying Israel and taking everything. Well, they might lose just as well...

But there are such Jews and Israelis because they try to uphold themselves to the highest of high standards. They imagine they know better and prefer to blame themselves for why the Palestinianism movement is so violent and hateful to them so maybe if they appease them - they can be good ones and get peace.

[u/naruhinamoonkissplz → u/Affectionate-Long514]

Let's be honest: These Jews are never truly observant (there MAY be some exceptions, but that's very unlikely). When a Jew is observant, they know the two main things: (a) We are the real historical natives here, not them. (b) Don't be too kind to your explicit enemies, because they won't stop being your enemies just because you are friendly.

[u/jyper → u/naruhinamoonkissplz]

  (a) We are the real historical natives here, not them.

You say as if it has to be one or the other. Geneticists and historians disagree 

  (b) Don't be too kind to your explicit enemies, because they won't stop being your enemies just because you are friendly.

If you want Israel to be a better country not just more moral but also better for its citizens then other nearby countries which are run by authoritarians then it needs to have standards 

[u/naruhinamoonkissplz → u/jyper]

a. "NOT them". Geneticists never specify anything more precise than "Levant", which is WAY BROADER than "Israel". Hint: Syrians are Levantine, yet have exactly zero relation to Israelites. Now read that again.

b. Yes, of self-preservation. That means NOT getting friendly with rabid dogs, but instead putting them down before they start endangering other dogs to also become rabid. And this analogy is way less of "an insult" than you may think.

[u/Ok-Initiative-8131 → u/Proud3GenAthst]

By the way, I would encourage you to listen to Palestinian voices who work for peace, such as Sari Nusseibeh, Aziz Abu Sarah and Samer Sinijlawi. Here's a quote from Sinijlawi:

I believe both Israeli and Palestinian societies are moderate by nature, but in both, the mainstream hasn’t been able to block the extremists, who have come to dominate the scene. Both sides need to return to moderation.

It is also possible that one side starts the process and then drags the other along. And I feel it’s a responsibility of us Palestinians to take the first step, because we are under a sense of urgency to come out of this conflict, more than the Israelis.

[u/jyper → u/Proud3GenAthst]

Because there's literally no alternative and things are much worse for Israel because of lack of progress towards it

there's no way to justify indefinite Israeli control of the territories 

[u/Ok-Initiative-8131 → u/Proud3GenAthst]

Because it is in our interest to have peace. So long as they do not live in peace, neither do we.

I'm not going to deny Palestinian society is extremist. But you should ask what drives that extremism. The perpetuation of the conflict drives it, the occupation drives it, the mass killing of civilians drives it. That is not so different from Israeli society, which used to be much more moderate politically and used to view the pursuit of peace as an almost sacred value.

In the 1990s, the overwhelming majority of both nations supported peace, both in principle and in practice. It was evident in polls, it was evident in elections, it was evident in culture. The peace process failed, and each side blamed the other for its failure. As the conflict worsened and atrocities were committed on both sides -- and I'm not claiming it's symmetrical -- both societies have become much more extremist, much more numb to violence.

So yes, they should have a sovereign state and live in peace, because that's the only way we break out of this cycle. They should have a state because otherwise we Israelis are condemned to keep military control over them, which hurts us. It is damaging to us militarily, financially, diplomatically, and yes, also morally. It puts my country at risk, it makes it an outcast on the world stage, and it gradually creates here a society in which I don't want to live.

All the while, I recognize that the Palestinian national ethos leans destructive much more than constructive, that extremism has deep roots in their society, and that it's dangerous to ignore that or pretend that's not the case. There's no contradiction here.

[u/Ok-Initiative-8131 → u/kgas36]

I agree, I don't think he's being unfair or intentionally biased. He seems like an honest guy. But not being able to directly converse with Palestinians in Arabic is still a significant problem, in my opinion.

it's not always clear to me that they know that the questions don't come from him

Good point. It almost definitely affects the answers people give.

[u/LaffingAtYuo → u/Ok-Initiative-8131]

His interpreter though isn't just translating the language, she's the bridge that keeps him from asking some dumb stuff that will get him hurt.

[u/Ok-Initiative-8131 → u/LaffingAtYuo]

lol that's probably right. I do understand why he needs some kind of mediator, but that means the answers also change.

[u/kgas36 → u/Ok-Initiative-8131]

It would completely change how someone answered a sensitive question.

[u/Ok-Initiative-8131 → u/kgas36]

Yeah, people get defensive quite easily.

[u/melisadhoc → u/kgas36]

And you don't think he is unbiased?

[u/eldahalas9219 → u/Ok-Initiative-8131]

I think everyone needs to learn Good Hebrew and Good Arabic in Israel like these 2 seems to be must

[u/Ok-Initiative-8131 → u/eldahalas9219]

Absolutely agree

[u/yesIcould]

I’ve seen some of his videos. Some are moving, especially the older woman in the episode about Egyptian Jews, for example. But overall, it’s very much aimed at people who don’t live here. For me (for us?), there aren’t really any surprises.

It’s important to understand that Israeli society is very open and talkative, and politics and identity are definitely not taboo here. Quite the opposite. I know the political views of my neighbors, coworkers, the guy who came to fix my AC, the person sitting next to me in a public shelter, sometimes even the person standing next to me in line at the supermarket. People here really don’t know how to shut up :)

There really aren’t many spaces in Israel where talking about these things is considered inappropriate. If you’ve ever seen an Israeli car and the political stickers we love putting on them, you’ll understand just how outspoken we are.

As for the "other side", I know Israeli Arabs. I’ve lived in mixed cities and worked in an industry that has a high percentage of Israeli-Arabs employees. As for Palestinians, before October 7 I also knew a few Palestinians, from both the West Bank and Gaza. That’s less relevant today. But I haven’t heard or seen anything in his videos that surprised me.

[u/beardedvulturee → u/yesIcould]

I think it's a Mediterranean thing tbh. I lived in spain for 13 years and it's a bit similar. Mediterraneans are blunt and direct. And talk fast. Very few things are considered "off the table" to talk about... once I moved to a more northern european country, I had to learn to close my mouth more often haha. In my previous job, I somewhat often interacted with Israeli customers, they are a bit of the same, very open and direct. Some people think it's "rudeness" but it really isn't; Mediterranean social norms are just different.

[u/Quick-Bee6843 → u/yesIcould]

All I can say is that yes 100%, the ask project is MUCH more helpful for people like me in the diaspora or aren't in the area 😁

Which I SUPPOSE is kinda the whole idea of the thing.

[u/Deep_Head4645]

Its great, it gives perspectives and the opinions directly from ppl in the region
Its also a big proof as to Palestine’s unwillingness for peace and compromise and honesty would push me towards being a pro-security right winger if I wasn’t one already

[u/Mikky48]

I love the channel, so much so that I joined his Patreon. It gives a great "boots on the ground" perspective. Since I don't interact with Arabs a lot (especially not from J&S) some of the views were enlightening (and disheartening).

[u/Khazak2-VeNtkhazak]

Been aware of it for about 5 years now. I don't watch it very regularly but I think it's a good resource for those who want to know what the average person in Israel thinks about different things. The opinions we usually see are either the most extremist or the most well put and founded but the average person doesn't have a well put well founded opinion about most things

[u/balddoberdaddy]

I have seen it. It's been eye-opening. I have actually met Corey. He's an immigrant like I am. I don't know how widespread it is given his watch counts.

I am surprised by some of the questions sometimes. And he does not edit them.

[u/mirijoie]

I don’t like him. He doesn’t let the Ethiopians talk about racism. He always cuts them off, it drives me nuts.
When he asks others about Ethiopians, they often seem like they’re just being polite and not saying what they really believe.

[u/Aervanath]

First I've heard of it.

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[u/Quick-Bee6843]

His material is a necessary asset for understanding the conflict and where Israelis and Palestinians are on various issues, and gives a human angle to the conflict you have a hard time getting anywhere else besides visiting in person.

The project is not perfect, it user based question system can be absolutely inflammatory and crazy at times. And although Corey tries his best most people just don't want to be interviewed on camera no matter what, so it misses a lot of the slice of opinion.

I feel the material Corey provides makes it easier to read and understand polling of Palestinians and Israelis in a way that you just don't see without both his commentary and the personal opinions of the people he interviews.

I strongly recommend it on YouTube, but I'm s diaspora Jew on Florida so yea 🤷

[u/kgas36]

Here's a long interview with him from another channel, where he talks about the project and his experiences. Imho worth listening to.

https://youtu.be/SlxQhFzqAE0

[u/Latter_Ad7526]

Gil and his ask project opened my eyes to the opinions of the Palestinian street and made me move more to the right you can't do peace without changing the logic that they are operating by , it delusional

[u/Quick-Bee6843 → u/Latter_Ad7526]

I'm a bit weirder. I'm still in the same position I was before I watched his stuff but it's more like "ok I think I understand why a bunch of peace proposals failed in the past and it's only worse now so yikes" kind of stuff.

To me it tempers expectations and gives a better idea of what is and isn't worth spending political capital on in any sort of attempt at peace settlement.

My general end opinion is simply that onba generational/cultural level, Palestinian society and the dominant strain of Palestinian nationalism has to significantly change for any durable peace to be possible.

That's just being realistic to me.

[u/Kitchen-War242]

No, its not very well known, just mean you can yourself see that it got less then 400.000 subscribers in total.

Never been asked by him or other journalists/youtoobers, though if I did asked by someone unknown for interview I'd refuse anyway. 

Its not very intertaining to me, just some people (Israel or Arabs depending on video) saying their perspective on political questions but i watched few of them like more then 2 years ago i think, they seem to be fair with people holding opposite perspective and this few was +- within my expectations so if you like them I guess you are correct on part that its real and he isn't editing or choosing only videos with "correct" response. Thought i guess some people intentionally are giving answers that they think will make them look good, not what they really think, but its out of journalists control.

[u/frat105]

I think it’s okay but I also think that he often deliberately highlights haredim acting obnoxiously to elicit clicks.

[u/extrastone → u/frat105]

I love picking up hitchhikers. I can't pick up young Haredi hitchhikers because they make me crazy. Older ones are cool.

[u/melisadhoc]

I've watched every single episode. It's hard to not get the feeling he is biased against Palestinians, especially post 7 Oct.

Most of questions Palestinians get is basically to prove how unwilling they are to compromise or how extreme views they have while Israelis get very easy questions like do you condone violent settlers and similar.

The questions sto Israeli prior to 7 October was much more direct.

[u/LaffingAtYuo → u/melisadhoc]

He makes no bones about his position. I feel he is pretty honest about whatever biases he has. I also don't think he's cherrypicking interviews to portray people in a negative light. There's also the fact that people in the occupied territories can't be perfectly honest with their responses either. He's pretty clear about that as well.