“It’s our job to also be human”

Emmy award-nominated journalist David Benaym joins us for a live interview to talk about U.S.-Israel relations, staying unbiased as a journalist, and reporting his documentary “Les Etats Des Unis”. David is an international politics reporter and documentarian who has covered the US and Middle East news since 1999. He has worked for ABC News covering presidential campaigns and elections and i24 News in Tel Aviv. He was nominated in 2017 for an international Emmy for his coverage of former President Donald Trump’s rise to power at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. David is an active correspondent in the U.S. for LN24, a Belgium news channel. 

“The extreme-right in France has been present for a very long time”

David Benaym feels that racism and antisemitism have always been present in French history. Although he states that it has faded over time, he also spoke on more recent rises in extreme-right thought crediting Jean-Marie Le Pen and his daughter Marine Le Pen for influencing a large part of the population. Benaym also added that one of the biggest questions in terms of politics in France is if “Islam is compatible with the republic”.

“When I saw the creation of the [Association of Foreign Press] I was very very happy”

Although Benaym has worked in the U.S. for many years, he felt that he was unable to connect with other foreign journalists. “I’ve been an isolated correspondent for a long time,” he said. Benaym feels that he belongs to a community and also finds safety and reassurance through the Association. “It is good to know that somebody is going to have my back,” he said. Benaym uses the example of the last year of Trump’s presidency and the threat he felt to his visa status. He felt more secure knowing that he had a community that he could fight with together. 

On Israel-U.S. relations

Benaym talked about the relationship between the U.S. and Israel stating that “American is by the side of Israel and that’s something Israel has been able to rely on for almost 70 years”. He also spoke on various American politicians’ responses to the recent outbreak of violence in Gaza and Jerusalem. Benaym noted the differences during the Trump presidency and current administration regarding peacekeeping calling the friendship created “revolutionary”. On the recent coverage of the violence by western media, Benaym states that he doesn’t believe in truly unbiased reporting. “To be objective, to be neutral, it doesn’t exist,” said Benaym. For him personally, he feels obligated as a journalist to report the facts first and foremost and keep his work balanced. 

Crowdfunding and raising awareness for Fabien Azoulay reminded Benaym to empathize with his subjects

Benaym got emotional when the topic of his friend Fabien Azoulay was brought up. Azoulay is a gay, Jewish man facing persecution in Turkey and a close friend of Benaym’s. Benaym has been spreading his story online and appearing on television to help his friend who is facing 16 years in prison in Turkey. “It’s very different when you are a journalist trying to express something--convey something you are witnessing, and talking about somebody that is close to your heart,” said Benaym on his experience on French media telling Azoulay’s story. Benaym explains that being in front of the camera has helped him empathize with those he has interviewed. 

“The hatred that I was able to witness was something that was very shocking to me”

While touring America for stories for his documentary “Les Etats Des Unis”, Benaym was surprised by the hypocrisy of Evangelical Christians in America. “These Evangelical Christians, or Christians in general, that have an incredible philosophy of giving your hand to the other, trying to bring everybody in, forgiveness...the hatred that I was able to witness was something that was very shocking to me”. Benaym was also taken aback by the kindness he experienced from Trump supporters. “They’re humans that don’t know better,” he said. He added that in his coverage he likes to show their humanity and that they are not just numbers, he says they are victims of brainwashing.