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‘Comics for Conversation’ Event in NYC Featuring Pro-Israel, Pro-Palestinian Comedians Aims to Promote ‘Dialogue Over Discord’
A police officer removes a Palestinian flag from the William Tecumseh Sherman monument as anti-Israel demonstrators attend a protest near the Met Gala, an annual fundraising gala held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City, New York, US, May 6, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
A live comedy event taking place this month in New York City will feature pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian comedians coming together to share some laughs and have meaningful dialogue about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“Comics for Conversation – Because It’s Not Always a Laughing Matter” will take place on Dec. 16 and will include comedians performing stand-up sets followed by a moderated discussion on stage. The event will be the first initiative of a new movement called Don’t Hate Debate, a joint venture between the marketing platform The Heart Monitors and Stand Up NY. The format of the show showcases the mission of the Don’t Hate Debate movement, which is “to spark civil discourse through culturally relevant, grassroots activations that resonate with younger generations and diverse communities,” according to a press release for the upcoming event.
The names of participating comics and the location of the event will not be released in advance due to safety and security concerns, as well as protests against the show. Two of the pro-Palestinian comics who originally joined the lineup dropped out after facing pressure from anti-Israel activists who are against the event’s efforts to promote peaceful dialogue, Dani Zoldan, the founder of Stand Up NY and the Chosen Comedy Festival, told The Algemeiner.
“I’ve personally found that many comics do not feel comfortable speaking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in public due to fears of repercussions such as not being booked at a club or being ‘cancelled,’” Zoldan said. “Unfortunately, a few comics dropped out of our upcoming event due to pressure from one side. If we can’t have dialogue, then what else is there? It’s more reason to have this event to bring both sides together and not allow the mob and ‘keyboard warriors’ to tear us apart.”
The event hopes to promote “dialogue over discord,” offering a literal stage for people to comfortably discuss their opposing views together in a public setting. Organizers also hope to engage what they describe as the “moderate middle” who “feel disillusioned by the extreme rhetoric dominating public spaces.”
“Our Don’t Hate Debate launch of ‘Comics for Conversation’ is by no means an attempt to make fun of anyone or any issue. Quite the contrary,” Robin Lemberg, co-founder of The Heart Monitors, explained to The Algemeiner. “The first part of our event are comedic sets not poking fun of anyone. Rather, they are the ice breakers to lead to a moderated serious discussion on the issues of our time. The conflict is a microcosm of many other societal issues and one of most emotionally charged. Laughing together is a shared experience which opens us up perhaps to being more able to engage with empathy and understanding.”
Lemberg and Jon Bond co-founded Don’t Hate Debate at the beginning of last year in response to the protests and issues on college campuses related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “Our initial approach was to engage the student leaders in constructive debate,” Lemberg said. “We pivoted to the idea of using influencers to model civility, as it became clear that without other role models such as professors and certainly not politicians, student influencers were far more reluctant.”
“Comedy is just one lens to find common ground and shared humanity,” she added. “We intend to bring together other influencers from the realms of music, sports, cooking from opposing sides on the issues that matter to most to model for all how we can engage civilly and celebrate what we do share.”
The post ‘Comics for Conversation’ Event in NYC Featuring Pro-Israel, Pro-Palestinian Comedians Aims to Promote ‘Dialogue Over Discord’ first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Brooklyn Nets Select Israeli Basketball Players Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf in NBA Draft
The opening tip between the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards, at Barclays Center, in Brooklyn, New York, Dec. 13, 2020. Photo: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect
In a landmark night for Israeli basketball, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf were selected in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft by the Brooklyn Nets, marking the first time two Israeli players have been drafted in the same year.
Saraf, a 19-year-old guard known for his explosive athleticism and creative playmaking, was taken with the 26th pick. A standout with Maccabi Rishon LeZion and a rising star on Israel’s youth national teams, Saraf gained international attention with his electrifying scoring and commanding court presence.
With the 27th pick, the Nets selected 7-foot center Danny Wolf out of the University of Michigan. Wolf, who holds dual US-Israeli citizenship and represented Israel at the U-20 level, brings a versatile skill set, including sharp passing, perimeter shooting, and a strong feel for the game. After his name was called, Wolf grew emotional in an on-air interview, crediting his family for helping him reach the moment.
“I have the two greatest brothers in the world; I have an unbelievable sister who I love,” Wolf said. “They all helped me get to where I am today, and they’re going to help me get to where I am going to go in this league.”
The historic double-pick adds to the growing wave of Israeli presence on the NBA stage, led by Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija, who just completed a breakout 2024–25 season. After being traded to Portland last summer, Avdija thrived as a starter, averaging 16.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. In March alone, he posted 23.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game, including two triple-doubles.
“I don’t think I’ve played like this before … I knew I had it in me. But I’m not really thinking about it. I’m just playing. I’m just free,” Avdija told reporters in March
With Saraf and Wolf joining Avdija, Israel’s basketball pipeline has reached unprecedented visibility. Israeli President Isaac Herzog called the moment “a national celebration for sports and youth,” and Israeli sports commentators widely hailed the night as “historic.”
Both Saraf and Wolf are expected to suit up for the Nets’ Summer League team in July. As the two rookies begin their NBA journey, they join a growing generation of Israeli athletes proving that their game belongs on basketball’s biggest stage.
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Iran Denies Any Meeting With US Next Week, Foreign Minister Says
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi attends a press conference following a meeting with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2025. Photo: Tatyana Makeyeva/Pool via REUTERS
Iran currently has no plan to meet with the United States, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Thursday in an interview on state TV, contradicting US President Donald Trump’s statement that Washington planned to have talks with Iran next week.
The Iranian foreign minister said Tehran was assessing whether talks with the US were in its interest, following five previous rounds of negotiations that were cut short by Israel and the US attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The US and Israel said the strikes were meant to curb Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons, while Iran says its nuclear program is solely geared toward civilian use.
Araqchi said the damages to nuclear sites “were not little” and that relevant authorities were figuring out the new realities of Iran’s nuclear program, which he said would inform Iran’s future diplomatic stance.
The post Iran Denies Any Meeting With US Next Week, Foreign Minister Says first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Ireland Becomes First European Nation to Advance Ban on Trade With Israeli Settlements
A pro-Hamas demonstration in Ireland led by nationalist party Sinn Fein. Photo: Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne
Ireland has become the first European nation to push forward legislation banning trade with Israeli communities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem — an effort officials say is meant “to address the horrifying situation” in the Gaza Strip.
On Wednesday, Irish Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Simon Harris announced that the legislation has already been approved by the government and will now move to the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade for pre-legislative scrutiny.
“Ireland is speaking up and speaking out against the genocidal activity in Gaza,” Harris said during a press conference.
The Irish diplomat also told reporters he hopes the “real benefit” of the legislation will be to encourage other countries to follow suit, “because it is important that every country uses every lever at its disposal.”
Today Ireland becomes the first country in Europe to bring forward legislation to ban trade with the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Ireland is speaking up and speaking out against the genocidal activity in Gaza.
Every country must pull every lever at its disposal. pic.twitter.com/Z4RTjqntEY— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) June 24, 2025
Joining a growing number of EU member states aiming to curb Israel’s defensive campaign against the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, Ireland’s decision comes after a 2024 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared Israel’s presence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal.
The ICJ ruled that third countries must avoid trade or investment that supports “the illegal situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
Once implemented, the law will criminalize the importation of goods from Israeli settlements into Ireland, empowering customs officials to inspect, seize, and confiscate any such shipments.
“The situation in Palestine remains a matter of deep public concern,” Harris said. “I have made it consistently clear that this government will use all levers at its disposal to address the horrifying situation on the ground and to contribute to long-term efforts to achieve a sustainable peace on the basis of the two-state solution.”
“Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are illegal and threaten the viability of the two-state solution,” the Irish diplomat continued. “This is the longstanding position of the European Union and our international partners. Furthermore, this is the clear position under international law.”
Harris also urged the EU to comply with the ICJ’s ruling by taking a more decisive and “adequate response” regarding imports from Israeli settlements.
“This is an issue that I will continue to press at EU level, and I reiterated my call for concrete proposals from the European Commission at the Foreign Affairs Council this week,” he said.
Last week, Ireland and eight other EU member states — Finland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden — called on the European Commission to draft proposals for how EU countries can halt trade and imports with Israeli settlements, in line with obligations set out by the ICJ.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the latest move by European countries, calling it “shameful” and a misguided attempt to undermine Israel while it faces “existential” threats from Iran and its proxies, including Hamas.
“It is regrettable that even when Israel is fighting an existential threat which is in Europe’s vital interest — there are those who can’t resist their anti-Israeli obsession,” the top Israeli diplomat said in a post on X.
It is regrettable that even when Israel fighting an existential threat which is in Europe vital interest – there are those who can’t resist their anti-Israeli obsession.
Shameful! https://t.co/lxm9qm8sM1— Gideon Sa’ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) June 19, 2025
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