### Fiery Exchange on CBS Mornings Over Ta-Nehisi Coates's New Book

The typically amiable atmosphere of morning television was disrupted on Monday by a remarkably intense conversation between author Ta-Nehisi Coates and "CBS Mornings" host Tony Dokoupil. Coates was on the show to promote his latest book, "The Message," which contains a controversial section discussing his experiences in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and his subsequent criticisms of what he terms "apartheid" in Israel.

Dokoupil did not shy away from expressing his concerns, suggesting that portions of Coates's book could be viewed as the work of an extremist. "If I took your name out of it, took away the awards, and the acclaim, took the cover off the book, the publishing house goes away - the content of that section would not be out of place in the backpack of an extremist," Dokoupil remarked. This set the stage for a passionate yet controlled debate.

Dokoupil questioned why Coates did not include more viewpoints from Israel’s perspective, especially considering the violence endured by Israelis, such as children harmed in terrorist attacks, and the country's precarious position surrounded by hostile entities. "Is it because you just don't believe that Israel, in any condition, has a right to exist?" he asked.

Coates responded by arguing that Israel's perspective is already abundantly represented in American media. "I wrote a 260-page book," he explained. "It is not a treatise on the entirety of the conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis." His objective was to amplify Palestinian voices that he felt were less frequently heard.

The dialogue became even more charged as Dokoupil, who has personal ties to Israel through his children and ex-wife, accused Coates of undermining the very foundations of Israel. "What is it that particularly offends you about the existence of a Jewish state, that is a Jewish safe place, and not any of the other states out there?" he inquired.

Coates clarified that he takes issue with the concept of states based on ethnocracy, not the idea of a Jewish state per se. Countering Dokoupil’s points, he described firsthand observations from his visit to Hebron, noting the restricted freedoms experienced by Palestinians compared to Israeli citizens. His vivid descriptions aimed to highlight the severe disparities he witnessed.

The conversation continued with Dokoupil questioning Coates's portrayal of Palestinians as mere victims, suggesting that his narrative lacked acknowledgment of any Palestinian agency or role in seeking peace. Coates maintained his stance, insisting, "Either apartheid is right or it's wrong.... Either what I saw was right or it's wrong."

As tensions simmered, co-hosts Gayle King and Nate Burleson remained mostly silent, allowing the intense dialogue to unfold largely uninterrupted. Despite King's attempt to interject, the crucial discussion between Coates and Dokoupil resumed, spotlighting the deeply contentious and complex nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.