Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar
Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar

4/13/26: Korea Flames Israel, Eric Swalwell Scandal, Norm Finkelstein On Iran War

April 13, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Korea Flames Israel, Swalwell Scandal, and Finkelstein on the Iran War

The president of South Korea publicly accused the IDF of torturing a Palestinian child and throwing him off a roof, comparing the treatment of Palestinians to Japan's wartime enslavement of Korean "comfort women." The diplomatic break with Israel came seemingly out of nowhere, but the hosts argue it reflects a deeper shift: South Korea's economy has been devastated by the Iran war and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and the country is now willing to use the Palestinian issue as a moral cudgel against an ally it blames for its economic chaos.

The Korea-Israel Diplomatic Rupture

South Korean President Lee directly tweeted a video alleging IDF soldiers tortured a Palestinian child and threw him off a roof, then said: "The forced comfort women issue that we are raising is in no different than the Jewish massacre or wartime killing." The comfort women issue—Japan's enslavement of Korean women into sex slavery during World War II—remains one of the most sensitive wounds in Korean society. The president was explicitly linking that historical trauma to Israel's treatment of Palestinians.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (02:05) **Korea Diplomatic Break With Israel** - South Korea's president publicly accuses IDF of torturing a Palestinian child and compares treatment of Palestinians to Korea's own comfort women history under Japan.
  • 2 (05:56) **South Korea's Escalating Rhetoric and Global Context** - The Korean president doubles down, accusing Israel of relentless anti-human rights actions, while the hosts analyze the broader alliance breakdown.
  • 3 (09:45) **Nationwide Protests in Japan** - Over 50,000 people protest in 100+ locations across Japan, criticizing the prime minister and the Iran war.
  • 4 (11:20) **The War Breaking Apart Asian Alliances** - The hosts argue the Iran war is actively cleaving South Korea and Japan away from the US.
  • 5 (13:14) **Israel's Tenuous Position and Netanyahu's Power Play** - Netanyahu signals readiness for renewed conflict with Iran, while his corruption trial is delayed and he openly boasts about Vice President Vance reporting to him.
  • 6 (17:18) **Global Allies Refuse to Join Blockade** - Germany, France, and the UK all publicly state they want nothing to do with the US blockade, as the US shreds alliances on behalf of Israel.
  • 7 (20:17) **Eric Swalwell Suspends Governor Campaign** - California Democrat Eric Swalwell ends his campaign for governor following allegations of sexual assault and harassment.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Krystal and Saagar discuss Korea flames Israel, Eric Swalwell scandal, Norm Finkelstein on Iran war.

 

Norm Finkelstein: https://www.amazon.com/Gazas-Gravediggers-Inquiry-Corruption-Places/dp/1682196577

Trita Parsi: https://x.com/tparsi?s=20

Rory Johnston: https://x.com/Rory_Johnston 

 

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