Agree. Biden stands to lose the Presidency because of this….and we will lose our country. Israel has long been our ally, not Netanyahu (he is behaving like Putin).
This isn't a war. It's total ethnic cleansing. When the Western powers took Palestinian land after WWII, David Ben-Gurion said they would drive all the Arabs into the sea and bomb all their homes. The Zionists have been taking more & more land since 1948. The US must stop giving money and weapons to Israel. BTW, the Israelis have better health care & free education, while we pay for student loans for decades. Our medical system is a joke.
I agree with you 100%! Why are so few educating themselves about the history of Palestine! Why are so few not realizing why Hamas attacked? Sure it was horrific, BUT after years of mistreatments and land grabs they’ve hit a wall. I have a neighbor whose mother saw Israeli soldiers kill two of her sons years ago. One was only seven!
The consistent and enduring Palestinian rejection of any and all peace initiatives with Israel, most recently the “Deal of the Century,” calls into question the commitment of the Palestinian leadership not only to peace but to the very welfare and safety of the Palestinian people.
How about the constant and enduring Israeli rejection or any and all peace initiatives with the Palestinians? The only one they accepted--Yitzhak Rabin's signing of the Oslo Accords--led to a right-wing Israeli's assassinating him.
A succession of US presidents thought they could be the one to finally pull off an Israel-Palestine peace deal.
President Bill Clinton arguably came closest when he oversaw a series of talks and agreements that culminated in the 1993 Oslo peace accords establishing the Palestinian Authority with limited governance over parts of the occupied territories as a step toward a final deal.
But the assassination in 1995 of Yitzhak Rabin, the Israeli prime minister who signed the accords, opened the way to the rise to power of Benjamin Netanyahu, who openly opposed a Palestinian state and did his best to scupper Oslo.
Clinton had one last shot at a deal at the 2000 Camp David summit between the PLO leader, Yasser Arafat, and the then Israeli prime minister, Ehud Barak. When those talks failed, Clinton blamed Arafat. But some of the Clinton officials present at the talks said the Israeli offer fell short of what was required for an agreement.
One of the Israeli negotiators, the foreign minister, Shlomo Ben-Ami, later said that if he were a Palestinian he would have rejected the Camp David proposals. In 2005, former US state department official Aaron David Miller, who played a key role in the Clinton peace efforts, said that Washington had not acted as a neutral arbiter but as “Israel’s attorney, catering and coordinating with the Israelis at the expense of successful peace negotiations”.
Clinton’s successor, President George W Bush, launched his own peace effort, the “road map”, although he pushed the plan in part to offset the diplomatic damage done by the US invasion of Iraq.
Israel’s prime minster, Ariel Sharon, could not defy the White House and so praised the Bush plan and then set about sabotaging it by setting conditions. He also used the withdrawal of Jewish settlements and Israeli military bases from Gaza in 2005 as a means to freeze the road map in “formaldehyde … so there will not be a political process with the Palestinians”, in the words of Sharon’s chief of staff, Dov Weissglas.
Hamas repeatedly offered to accept a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which implied tacit recognition of an Israeli state in between.
Successive Hamas leaders proposed a long-term hudna, an Islamic term for a ceasefire, with Israel, in exchange for a state in the territories seized by Israel in the 1967 war. “The hudna has been a part of Hamas’s thinking since the movement’s founding,” researcher Dag Tuastad wrote in a 2010 research paper for the Peace Research Institute Oslo.
Tuastad documented Hamas offers of a long-term ceasefire in 1988, 1997, 1999 and 2008. All asked for evacuation of the settlements, which are illegal under international law, the release of Palestinian prisoners transferred to Israel in violation of the 4th Geneva Convention, and withdrawal to the 1967 borders.
Hamas officials offered to commit to anywhere from a decade to 30 years of peace. Some demanded that the right of return, enshrined in UN General Assembly resolution 194, be addressed immediately. Others said it could wait until peace took hold. All these initiatives were rejected or ignored by Israel and the US.
Hamas were not, of course, innocent peaceniks. They dispatched suicide bombers to Israeli cities and fired countless mortars and rockets at Israeli towns.
Israel assassinated two Hamas leaders, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, in 2004, shortly after each had proposed a long-term ceasefire. Israel staged a botched assassination attempt against Khaled Meshaal, who now heads Hamas’s political bureau abroad, when he offered a 30-year ceasefire in 1997.
The US and EU parroted Israel’s demand that Hamas recognise Israel and renounce violence. When did Israel recognise Palestine or renounce violence?
Hamas has always refused to recognise Israel, though Henry Siegman, a former director of the American Jewish Congress, wrote in the New York Review of Books in 2006 that he had been assured by high-ranking Hamas leaders that the militants might be willing to recognise Israel if Israel recognised Palestinian rights.
On May 1st, 2017, Meshaal held a press conference at the Sheraton Hotel in Doha to formally announce that Hamas would accept a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He also distinguished between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, saying that Hamas’s conflict “is with the Zionist project, not with the Jews because of their religion”.
Again, Hamas’s proposal, which was in line with international law and UN resolutions, was rejected out of hand by Israel and the US. Later that year Donald Trump moved the US embassy to Jerusalem.
Maureen, thank you for the history of the situation now going on in Israel/Gaza. We lived through the events, but sometimes forget the pattern the various actions followed and still follow. Since we have been a major architect of this Israel project over the years through our financing of the Israeli military, we may need to be the country to stop it and demand a ceasefire and ultimately a 2-state situation. We need Biden to do this ASAP or no military supplies from us!
This is an exceptionally good and (like Khalidi’s “Hundred Years’ War on Palestine”) a very well documented history of the “peace process.” Thank you for taking the time and care to do this!
Thank you for a well researched commentary. Whilst I do not light a candle for HAMAS I have great sympathy for the plight of traditional Palestinians who have been continually subjected to Israel's genocidal politicians and military since 1948.
In the 1980s I was into writing op-ed letters on current events and I knew there was a reference to the Israeli's abusing Palestinians. Just searched thru the hard copies of published writings and found one in The Miami News, Nov. 19, 1988, titled "The Roots of Kristallnacht" comparing how Nazis & imitators around the world take over a country. In one paragraf I wrote: "We need to remember how a soldier of an occupying army can rationalize blowing up civilian houses, or beating civilians in custody, or crushing their knuckles. The rationale of course is that 'they' are inferior and in the way."
I remembered those events was what I read of the Palestinian conflict and just Googled "What happened in 1988 in Palestine?" The brief result: "Methods used by the Israeli forces resulted in mass injuries and heavy loss of life among the civilian Palestinian population. In 1988 the Palestine National Council meeting in Algiers proclaimed the establishment of the State of Palestine."
I also did political cartoons at this time and had thot of one with the foreground showing the destruction of a town's buildings with bulldozers and ppl being held at gunpoint and in the background Hitler & Stalin saying "We Taught Them Well." I never drew that concept, but over the past few months of the horrors in Gaza, it comes back to mind.
That’s a total lie. All of the peace deals required the Palestinians to give up even more of THEIR land. They have also taken peaceful action with protests, pleading with the international community, and procedures at the UN. Israel is not the victim. They are a Genocidal, colonizing state with a system of apartheid
Alan, the devil is in the details. Any Palestinian who accepts Israel's terms, which include no right to return and no compensation, would be assassinated by some of the displaced. Had the US come up with a Marshal Plan for the resettlement and compensation of Palestinians displaced by Jewish settlers it would have saved itself much trouble and money, and most important, would have spared many lives. Maybe it is too late now.
Clearly they're not committed to any of that, but the fact that they have acted barbarically should not give license for Israelis to likewise act savagely. We expect a higher degree of civility from Israel. They can accomplish their military goals without killing so many innocent people.
Why do you--not we-- expect "a higher degree of civility" from Israel? If you think that the IDF is more civil than Hamas, think again. If you think that only Palestinians, not Jewish Israelis, are "terrorists," then think of the crazy far right Israelis living in illegal settlements in the West Bank and how they have terrorized the Palestinians to the point where our own government has put sanctions on some of these settlers.
That Arafat rejected the deal of the century is a complete myth propulgated by those who insist on covering the truth of the Zionist plan from the beginning to remove the native population. There are reams of evidence from the earliest days of the Herzl Zionist movement, many in the Israeli Archives, that prove this. The prestate Zionist armies massacred hundreds but for some reason "we" ignore that. If the present genocide in Gaza is justified as retaliation for Palestinian resistance then where is the corresponding justification for the theft of Palestinian land, complete eradication of over 100 villages, the denial even of the existence of Palestinians, the 75 year history of laws (6 different sets) being used to subjugate a people on their own land?
Some Palestinian movements are unwilling to make peace as long as Israel occupies portions of the West Bank and allows settlement. Some are unwilling to make peace as long as Israel exists. They're being supported by states including Iran and Russia that have a vested interest in endless Middle East conflict. Not least among these interests is the tendency to have Middle Eastern crises spike the price of oil. So long as these states continue to fund Palestinian resistance groups, there will be no peace. Israel's reactivity to the repeated outrages of radical Palestinian organizations is also self-defeating. Every time they overreact and inflict mass arrests or military violence on the Palestinians in West Bank and Gaza, they fall farther behind in an information war they are already losing. Israel can't kill every member of Hamas, because: material numbers of them don't live in Gaza; Hamas is the government of Gaza, and Israel is going to need at least some of them to restore order when they're done murdering food workers and blowing up the homes of bystanders; every civilian bystander killed or maimed by Israeli forces generates new Hamas or other resistance recruits; and most important, the Israelis CAN'T KILL ALL OF THEM.
I’m referring to Israeli emigres coming to the US since the late 60s. I know nothing about emigres coming here since Bibi got elected PM the first time.
See my comment above - we don't GIVE Israel arms. That's not how it works. Anyway, if Israel wanted to cleanse Gaza, that would've been done six months ago. They have the means. Since they did not, logic dictates that they didn't want to. In fact, the Palestinians population has increased six fold I think it is in the past decades.
The Zionists did NOT TAKE more and more land since 1948. They were attacked multiple times and they always won. I think when you win, you often get to keep what you have won. Unless the other side humbly asks for negotiated deal. But the "other side" would never take a state. Because they never wanted a state. Frankly, the U.N. should have moved all the Palestinian Arabs to Jordan in 1948 -- given each one a new home, and this would all have been avoided.
I consider Netanyahu a War Criminal by his total disregard for the lives of civilians in Gaza. When he killed the aid workers trying to mitigate the the impending famine, and apologized AGAIN for his crime, it is time to quit supporting this sociopathic murderer. By providing him aggressive weapons the U.S. is complicit in these War Crimes and Genocide. Netanyahu, like Putin will not respond to condemnation - WE NEED TO STOP SUPPLYING HIM WITH WEAPONS FOR HIS WAR CRIMES.
As mentioned above, the word for his ABOMINABLE "crimes against humanity" is "ethnic cleansing." WHEN will he stand in front of a court to pay for these crimes???
Me too! Retired and pissed! (Just had an F-35 Fighter jet on March 25th fly over the Golden Gate Bridge, turn hard right over Mt. Tamalpias, descend to less than 1000 feet and scare the stuffing out of Rohnert Park and Cotati, Ca. residents. The military is lying about the need for this low altitude buzzing given hazardous weather conditions. BS. Clear, blue sky. Beautiful day. I'm sick of being lied to by "MY" govvernment. AND, having experienced this recent terror, I can't imagine how the Palestinians are feeling! STOP THIS INSANITY!)
They like scaring people. I left California and the immediate reason I left was helicopters. Those helicopters deeply bothered me. They were over a public campground.
Interesting. I was living in Greenbrae in 2001 and this kind of military operation never happened in my time there, even after 9/11. I have also read recently about the WEF funding the setting up of field hospitals across the US, Canada, UK and EU. Google Calgary airport field hospital. Buckle up all and be prepared 🐈⬛
I grew up 13 miles from Holloman AFB and 30 miles from White Sands Missile Range, we had jets flying over all the time at low altitudes, one time a fighter jet was flying so low I could see the pilot; WSMR also launched many missiles, they would stop all traffic going between Holloman AFB and the missile range and between Las Cruces and the missile range. Never really bothered any of us. To me, all planes are loud whether they are commercial or military. Of course, I can see your point, if people aren’t used to the low flying aircraft it can be a little frightening.
Hamas is an enemy of humanity and hates the U.S., democracy, freedom as much as it hates israel. And it is fooling the world not taking responsibility or lack of ceasefire.
Israel is a democracy protecting itself after a massacre. Hamas spent billions on tunnels and reopens and they don’t care about the people on Gaza and they hate the US, democracy, freedom as much as they hate israel.
This is actually the opposite of clarity and makes it difficult to see the truth about who is the perpetrator in this violence. Biden s courageous fr seeing the truth in who is responsible for the violence in Gaza, instead of giving Hamas its goals for this war: withdrawal of support for israel. This stance emboldens the terrorist organization to continue the war and gives Hamas hope that Israel will lose all support as people in Gaza are killed in the warPlease take time to sort through bias and false frameworks to find the truth of the conflict. The world is silent about Hamas’s responsibility on the death and suffering. The lack of pressure from the world on Hamas to release hostages and lay down their arms and the blame on Israel is what Hamas wants. If the pressure focused on Hamas instead of Israel, the situation would be completely different.
Roger, I can't agree that this is our war. It is a nothing war set up to get rid of a population that Netanyahu has seen as a problem and worthy of getting rid of. That act will, he believes set him up for some kind of world champion position, when really, he is an evil man who, like Trump cares about nothing and no one but himself and the power he can accumulate. Trump's also into money and prestige and I don't know what besides power Netanyahu is into.
Netanyahu is OBVIOUSLY doing everything in his horrific power to avoid going to trial for the corruption he's been charged with. Can you imagine CARRYING OUT A MASSIVE GENOCIDE in order to avoid a prison sentence??? (Like Trump, Netanyahu will do anything and tell any lies to get out of being convicted for his OWN CRIMES!!)
Jane, I know a whole lot of people have died so a few mostly white men got rich on oil. Now that we know what oil is doing and has done to our planet, it is an even worse crime that anyone should die for wanting or getting more oil. I was thinking this whole Gaza War was manufactured by Netanyahu to cover his crimes and to take over Gaza for the greedy Israelis who, like him consider the people of Gaza and maybe all non-Israeli Middle Easterners as animals to be driven out. Introducing the idea of Gazan oil to the horrific mix is appalling! This insanity must stop!!! One man responsible for so many deaths is outrageous!!!
Ruth, this tragic conflict cannot be reduced to personality problems. Both the Israelis and the Palestinians are struggling for their survival. It reminds me of a gladiator fight, the much promised land serving as a bloody arena. The West cheers for the Jews, the Muslims cheer for the Palestinians. All sides are complicit in this crime against humanity, but the preponderant evidence points to Western racism and imperialism as the main culprit.
Victor, you may be right, but I don't want to totally blame any one person. However, right now, Netanyahu is working hard to be the villain in the piece. Both sides or rather, all sides could win if some of the heat were off and the personalities were not at the center. Even in gladatorial bouts, both could win if they did a good job. Here the job must be a 2-state agreement. Both nations could end up as trade partners and be connections to others sympathetic to their situation. The world has so many problems right now, if these two sides+ could work something out, it could give hope to others who can't see any light in their darkness. We could help bring this about.
Ruth, I wish everyone were as wise as you are. You make a strong and encouraging argument. One of the tragic ironies of the current situation is that Israel has so much to offer to its neighbors: medicine, science, technology. Alas there is so much anger now that neither side can thin clearly.
I don’t agree. It is on the Israelis to fight their own colonizer wars. Think they’d lift a finger to help us? Doubtful. Maybe if they didn’t have an endless supply of money and diplomatic cover from us like always-they would get consequences for once.
It is our war, and it is very profitable. The US is by far the largest producer and exporter of weapons, which kill tens of thousand innocent people at home and around the world. Yes, civilization in the balance, the balance sheet. Western Civilization has produced endless wars, racist imperialism, and genocide. So, please cheer us up, tell us all the things about it that you admire.
Israel gets aid from us and most of that aid is used to purchase arms from OUR military industrial complex. That is never going to end, because those companies have a lot of power and they are NOT going to be happy if they are not allowed to sell to Israel. In addition, now that Israel and Saudi Arabia are buddies, Israel could always buy from them - why not? SA doesn't want Hamas to win. They should cut a deal in a back room, where no one knows, and everyone's happy. Including our MIC.
I see this as a concerted effort of what I call the “axis of evil” between Trump, Netanyahu and Putin to put exorbitant pressure on Biden and divide our nation even more. How much more can Biden deal with all at once. Bibi gets to stay out of prison, Putin takes Ukraine plus gets his puppet back in the White House to pull out if NATO. Here at home the American people must make a choice between keeping our freedom/democracy or fall under a dictatorship lead by a malignant narcissistic sociopath as well described by many psychiatrists plus his own niece, Dr. Mary Trump.
PAODCFLo, of course that's what Trump voters, at least, think they want, that is if the dictator likes to give them whatever they want and hurt whomever they want harmed. It's pretty sick, and childish, but we have a lot of toddlers in power around the world right now, Netanyahu and Putin among them. Biden is not in that crpwd which means it will be a struggle for him to do his job. I do want him to actively work to stop the flow of arms to Israel, though..
Sure it's just a tiny thing. Changing 75 years of support in a day. You believe this whole Middle East problem is easy. Then why has it taken thousands of years to fix?
US classified intelligence on Israeli military operations -> Trump -> Russia [-> Iran] -> Hamas -> Attack on Israel on Putin's birthday -> Genocide against Palestinians.
Fallout: International attention diverted from Russia's brutal war on Ukraine; International support for Ukraine declines; War turns in Russia's favor; Western society outraged & divided by Israeli-Palestinian conflict; Americans increasingly angry at Biden; The Siberian Candidate's chances of winning election enhanced.
Whom do all these events benefit? Who is clever & capable enough to orchestrate such a scheme? I think y'all know the answer to these questions.
We have been doing this for 75 years. Now Bibi is showing us that unlimited power is open to abuse. Fund Ukraine but hold back on Bibi. They will come around to beg for war bucks. Like in a New York minute. Without 100% of help from the US Bibi is removed and Israel might be saved from itself.
The situation is an extremely convoluted sets of problems. Our closest ally in that part of the world is Israel. How do we maintain our relationship with a country that clearly has lost touch with its approach on how to conduct a war. There is a boot embedded in the sands of the Middle East. That boot belongs to the Israelis but the foot that boot belongs to us.
Why on Earth would we want to be allies with a genocidal, racist, and authoritarian country? The ONLY reason we need a “foot” in the Middle East is for economic dominance and access to other country’s resources. If you think murdering thousands of innocent people for money is appropriate, then you’re right. Otherwise we have to fight to end the military industrial complex and makes money off the deaths of our soldiers and innocent people. We don’t even take care of our soldiers after we use them to satisfy our greed.
Crystal--We ally ourselves with Israel for a number of reasons. Both Great Britain and this country see the importance of having a vested interest in that area of the world. Administrations and personalities change over time and at present we are at odds with the minds in charge of that country. You sight a valid point through your obvious frustration. The fix is easy however, the solution is impossible.
And it’s been all about Imperial since the founding of our country. Major Butler said it best:
“I served in all commissioned ranks from second lieutenant to Major General. And during that period I spent most of my time being a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer for capitalism. I suspected I was just part of the racket all the time. Now I am sure of it.”
— Major Smedley Darlington Butler (July 30, 1881 – June 21, 1940) was a highly decorated Major General in the U.S. Marine Corps.
I can not begin to imagine what will happen when the combination of ecocide and the end of oil coincide. Perhaps it will be the beginning of a true golden age of peace and reconciliation for mutual survival. However, witnessing how our leaders in business and politics are handling the first warning signs of both suggests otherwise.🐈⬛
Crystal--There will always be those who feel they have been cheated, forgotten, and or left behind. No one ever-said life would be fair. What we have is the best that is out there. Yes, corrections have to be made, but all in all people are dying trying to get what we have. How many people do you see leaving? Let's fix the thing.
Biden has been fearful in both standing up to Netanyahu and Israel supporters here and fearful of giving Ukraine what it needs because he doesn’t want wider war. Both Putin and Netanyahu are playing on Biden’s fears and the coming election. Both Putin and Netanyahu are in precarious situations.
The recent vote was not an honest vote, "neither free nor fair". It was a pseudo election, predetermined. All Putin's real adversaries were done away with one way or another. Putin and his regime are not secure if they must repress the propulation. The country is under sanctions from abroad. Putin is wanted by the UN criminal court and could be arrested if he travels to the West. The recent Moscow attack shows vulnerability again after the recent Prigozhin's mutiny
And not Israeli aid? Why is that? And it seems that it should be easy to find money for Ukraine, either by seizing Putin's assets, sending Ukraine weapons set for surplus, or finding money in the bloated Defense budget for Ukraine.
Well said, Rusalka. Too many cooks in the world kitchen spitting in the soup. Top Chef Biden needs to throw 'em all out (metaphorically) and reassert himself as Leader of the Free World Kitchen even if it means keeping a tight fist on our weapons systems that only exacerbate the deadly conflicts. Making promises to withhold supplies to weapon-addicted combatants and keeping them for our own defense would be a big step forward. Doing so does not preclude supplying humanitarian aid as needed.
You give Biden way too much credit. He is not only funding and arming a genocide, he was HAPPY to do it until it looked like it would impact his re-election chances
About 80% of Israel wants Bibi to leave now. Tell Biden that you and I are in that group as well. Biden will get the message that he will lose votes over keeping Bibi happy.
My point has been that getting rid of Bibi isn’t enough. So yes we need to get rid of him and stop funding the genocide, but we also have to support a free Palestine and solidify international support for Palestine so that Israel is forced to stop, even when Bibi is gone.
When it comes to Trump, I am so disappointed in liberals that I feel like if Trump wins, at least people actually act. MLK Jr wrote:
“ I MUST make two honest confessions to you, my Christian and Jewish brothers. First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens Councillor or the Ku Klux Klanner but the white moderate who is more devoted to order than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says, "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can't agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically feels that he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by the myth of time; and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”
Nothing has changed. Liberals are more concerned with order and infinitesimal progress, than real change and justice until Trump was in office. At least Trump gets people to wake up and actually fight the bigotry and problems that have been there all along.
Crystal --Fix it. Like in a New York minute. Not going to happen. But when you are all about starving your enemy it's only a good look for a medieval king. Two million people making it through a long hot summer is not going to happen. We may not be able to stop this, but we should not be paying the bill.
Of course we shouldn’t be paying the bill. Not paying for it is the absolute least we can do. We are being absolute monsters supporting Israel and it’s decades-long genocide of the Palestinians. We need to actually take action to stop it.
To what extent? Gaza was on a starvation diet way before the “war” on Gaza. Palestinians in the West Bank have been routinely kidnapped, held in military prison with no legal rights, beaten, tortured, raped, and killed for decades. This includes children. It’s all the same, Netanyahu is just doing it faster
Kitt, what you (or I or anyone) WANTS isn't as important as what people will vote FOR or AGAINST. Domestically speaking, I never vote for anti-choice candidates. But lots of people don't see it as a deal-breaker. If people want to draw the line on Israel-Hamas, they will.
Nobody in their right mind WANTS Trump (which means there is a depressingly large number of people who aren't in their right mind). But we may get him if Biden doesn't LEAD the people to the conclusion that the USA is dead if Trump wins.
Listen. I know what Hamas IS and DOES. It's a #TerroristOrganization just like the #IDF/IOF. I do NOT NEED to "revisit" my decision. And, you know what else you can do with your idiotic man-splaining...
People fighting the status quo are often demonized until they succeed, then they are considered heroes. When MLK Jr fought for civil rights most of the U.S. hated him and saw him as a troublemaker. When Nelson Mandala fought against apartheid he was considered a terrorist and was arrested. When apartheid fell, he was freed and elected President. People make judgements before truly understanding the situation. Much like you are doing if you believe Hamas to just be a bunch of terrorists
That's on them. The USA does not send arms to the mullahs of Iran. We have sent Bibi a blank check for whatever he wants. We did not think that seven good Samarians would be killed while feeding starving people. The death of these seven will be still be hurting Israel when we are all in our graves.
Ron --Laying siege to a city during war time is as old as time or Jericho. Bibi does not need our help to do this. Bronze age cities in the region had this event. Starving people has a long history. Putin could help Bibi. He has done this in Ukraine.
The neighborhood is so tough that I wonder why anyone would want to live there. Where does Larry David live? See Season 3, Episode 8 of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
European Zionists? More than half of Israel's population has heritage from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Darn those inconvenient facts. Europeans told Jews to go back to their homeland in Palestine (meaning the British Mandate of Palestine). Now the world tells them to go back to Europe. I think we all know where people like you want Jews to go. I suggest you do some reading on Middle Eastern history, particularly the history of the Levant and the Jews. And try to choose books written by credible experts, rather than the propaganda you appear to have swallowed whole.
Sorry Bill Wolfe --killing good Samaritans for giving out food is not a good look. For Christians, Muslims or Jews. Or Buddhists. Or even those who are godless.
They don't know anything about Russian life, so it's easy to assume it's just like their own. They are I.G.N.O.R.A.N.T. Never underestimate the capacity of the human race for destruction. We've been working our way through the Earth and all its resources since the first homo Habilis wiggled an opposable thumb.
US classified information on Israeli military operations -> Trump -> Kislyak + Lavrov -> Putin -> Hamas -> Attack on Israel on Putin's birthday.
Diverts attention from Russia's brutal war on Ukraine, diverts military support from Ukraine, causes social unrest in West, turns many Americans against Biden, increases Trump's chances of winning election, all of which benefit Putin & much of which benefit his puppet.
Jaime Ramirez ; I have thought since the Oct 7 invasion and assault, that trump had visited with Netanyahu, and convinced him to move the Capital into the Holy Land, which would increase resentments. It would not surprise me if they collaborated with Putin on this attack. the "intelligence failure" reported in the news shows how complicit our media is with the 'tRumpian/Putin agenda. the timing is aimed at President Biden. Sadly, so many will allow themselves to be played. I hope it does not give the Election to the hindmost.
The minute the ‘war ‘ ends, he will face an election…and loose..and go to jail…so old racist Bibi , has no incentive to stop as long as Genocide Joe, keeps up the money flow.
A angry mob went to Bibi's house the other night. They very nearly got in. But they will keep trying. Most polls are fake but 80% of Bibi's voters want him out now. That poll is one that I do believe to be the real deal.
Sadly, I think either Biden doesn’t care what his supporters think or he can’t do anything about it. The “can’t do” is speculative about his mental and physical health and his actual governing abilities. It may just drive me to not vote at all in this election. I can not support the slaughtering of Palestinians. I realize this is exactly what Putin, Netanyahu, and Trump want. However, Biden should not be putting his supporters in this horrible dilemma. Why is Biden not listening to Americans?
Israel is the only country with a lobbying group in DC. AIPAC has a lot of power & money. The recipients don't want to lose that money & those gifts. However, Congress won't stop AIPAC, just as we allow corrupt judges on the Supreme Court.
It just occurred to me that this year's general election day, November 5, is a notorious date. It's also the date that "V for Vendetta" revolves around. It's Guy Fawkes day:
Netanyahu is trying to stay in power as long as possible, does not care about what he is doing to Israel or the other Middle East nations, and he is facing legal prosecution when he steps down as Prime Minister. He needs to be removed from office immediately!
If you fail to vote, or vote for Donald Trump over this, you will rue your decision. DJT is an avid supporter of Netanyahu. He will cheer as Bibi bulldozes Gaza into rubble and allows its people to starve. This will be while he's putting goodhearted people like you into camps. We all hate the war. Don't let it make you crazy and self-destructive, too.
“Israel” you say, “is behaving like Putin.” This is interesting. Jewish students, at college campuses across the United States, are reporting fear, a wave of rage directed against them personally, in reaction to actions taken by Israel towards Palestinians. I do not know of a similar wave of rage directed against Russian aggressors in Ukraine, though the damage they do to Ukrainian citizens is just as great as the toll of death in Gaza. In fact, the Russians have allies in their war against Ukraine. Their allies are Republican legislators in the U.S. House of Representatives. I am so curious why no one has castigated the House Republicans for the agony, death and destruction their actions are causing in Ukraine! Nor has anyone threatened that Trump will lose *his* bid for the Presidency because of the destruction of *Ukrainian* lives and property. It’s almost as if the timing of what has happened in Gaza was deliberate, *designed* to arouse a storm of hatred that would be played to help Mr Trump win his way back to the White House.
It was deliberate! Trump gave Russisn Foreign Minister Lavrov & Russian Ambassador to US Kislyak classified intelligence about Israeli military operations in the Oval Office in 2017. Eventually, very likely with updated information Trump took from the many top secret government documents he confiscated, Russia likely handed to either Iran or directly to Hamas those documents while planning the Hamas attack on Israel to celebrate Putin's birthday.
Russia got out of it less international scrutiny of their invasion of Ukraine, less military support for Ukraine, social unrest in the West, growing displeasure with Biden's position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, & increasing probability of Trump winning the 2024 election. Couldn't have worked out better for Putin if he had planned it (which he did).
Biden pleads with Netanyahu and in response gets told where to go. Israel is a fascist state bent on annihilating the Palestinian “problem.” Just like Hitler was with “the Jewish question."
Yup, lose the presidency for sure. I feel that the U.S. has been Israel's ally, but Israel has not been the ally of the U.S. Israel is referred to as an ally to kind of make nice diplomacy wise, but what have they done?
agree. What is US interest in the Middle East now? Why does US need Israel as an "ally"? (With friends like this, who needs enemies?) It's not because of oil: US has been the top global oil producer for last 6 years. It is because of chest-thumping jingoism against Iran?
Yes! Put the pressure on Netanyahu by taking away offensive weapons from USA. His people are protesting his policies. We need to join them in a serious manner.
In the so called American representational democracy We The People are not represented and are not living in a democracy. America is an oligarchy, the Elites operate through media and lobbies that manage the WH and Congress. Against all this predominant power protest s have proved to be very weak.
Thus President Biden is using Americans tax dollars to back his proxy wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Senate Majority Schumer and President Biden threw their fig leafs on it, scolding Netanyahu, pretending they have any power to say no to AIPAC and Netanyahu. The voters and their representatives have no say in either proxy war.
All the power is in the lobbyists like AIPAC who tell our so called representatives sitting in Congress and the WH what to do.
The People and also their so called representatives are all but powerless.
I bet it is the same ratio of tRUMP backers in the U.S ; 25% or so. the majority are marching and protesting Netanyahu and his policies. Most in the US have been voting against Trump!
I have no doubt that many Israelis oppose Netanyahu's genocidal Gaza policies, but my guess is they are a small minority. Whether that is in fact the case I do not know.
I read the Israeli newspapers. I also read Al-Jazerra, the Irish Times, German newspaper (stationed in Augsburg; medical in Radiology), & more. We're Episcopal. Two friends are Jewish & attend church with us. Both had relatives visiting from different kibbutzes (?). It's not what they relayed. I do not think it as minimal as you expressed.
As within the U.S., Ukraine's fight is more solidly supported than the rabid far-right Reps in Congress let on.
2024 will be a #BlowOut, as if the #US_Women aren't STILL enraged at the reversal of Roe v Wade. Support is overwhelming for reproductive rights for women. #GOP__♀️ have a HARD decision. States who leaned prochoice had referendums that passed that overrode the state law passed.
obviously the purpose of this comment page/ blog is not to prove anything or assert the truth of one's opinions, its purpose is simply to allow random folks to vent and opine eg:.
Should the US push for extension of NATO to the East? No.
Should the US provide billions in arms to Ukraine? No.
Should the US government have a mandatory referendum on these questions to objectively determine public views on such critical questions? Yes.
YES!! Mercy on Gaza please!! It is so amazing that those whose families have been in the holocaust could do this type of torture to others!! It's beyond my comprehension!!
@Lynda. Is it beyond your comprehension that Hamas fighters, who fit the description "military aged males" will crowd in line at aid trucks and take the food and water away from grandmothers and children? this is what happens. It's a terrible situation.
@Janis. By my comment I did not intend to condone anything done by HAMAS. They are terrorists committed to the destruction of Israel and Western civilization. But in the fog of war when many 18 - 22 year old males are either active HAMAS or active supporters of HAMAS, It is hard to say what policy Israel could follow that would remove HAMAS as an organization when they hide among the other Palestinians...
I had a long time pen pal living in Gaza, he was university educated. as a child he was forced to work 6 hours a day after school…by his father.
Before the widespread bombing , and soon after his sis had married some low level Hamas dude, all 3 houses of his family were and his bombed . The Hamas guy was murdered, rest fled and all were all killed in a miscle strike in the street, including his elderly father and small children . Then the IDF invaded all my devices…it got worse but that’s enough .
Netanyahu is Israels Trump. We must stop supporting the guy who supported Hamas ans allowed the attack on his own people , so he could exploit the problem and murder tens of thousands and starve millions. netanyahu needs the chaos , like trump needs the chaos at the border.
@Jesse. I share your view. However we have already allowed all that (under multiple Presidents of both parties) and here we are now. What next is the big question, and has got to answered in the context offered by Martha Ture in this forum.
Or perhaps Trump is USA's wannabee Netanyahu - - and damnit! he's getting too close! At least Bibi doesn't slobber quite as salaciously as Vlad... Common Dems - - some of you HAVE TO GROW A SPINE! PLEASE!
Near as I can figure, the State Department and the Department of Defense agree that it's crucial to the security of the United States and to the international order to have Israel as a client state exactly where Israel sits - on the eastern edge of the Mediterranean. Israel is a nuclear state and is armed by the US, and is seen as the only bulwark against the expanding goals of Iran, Russia, Turkey, and China.
@Martha. You stated my view perfectly. The consequences for our Presidential election are dire indeed. The only bright spot is that Trump is such an ass he may well defeat himself.
@PAODCFL. Luck? Hah. This is the way our system is built. On the one hand defendants have rights and numerous advantages over the prosecution. I happen to think this is a good thing. However, people with money (whether they actually pay their lawyers or not) can use defendants' advantages to manipulate the system. Trump is not lucky - he is a criminal with a criminal's experience and strategies. I believe our system of justice will eventually get him tho.
I don't think you can understand luck, PAODCFL. It just is. But I'd agree with you that it's downright frustrating and unfair that Trump has any (except bad).
Probably not wise to overlook the fact that Trump is a puppet - - a drooling, incoherent babbling puppet with handlers that are pretty adept at keeping people from noticing.
Yes. Iran is the elephant in the room that noone mentions. Biden somehow has to qualify his support for Israel, taking a stand against what has been done in Gaza, but still standing in opposition to Iran and it's proxies. And Netanyahu somehow has to meet Biden's ask. Both men are walking on a tightrope.
My guess? The real aim of this war is Iranian oil. Everyone tells me I'm crazy with I say things like this, but I believe this is the truth. According to the "Intercept" there is a long game about which we know very, very little. All of this excitement about Israel started as far back as 2003. I wrote about my experience with an evaluation of an economics show some time back. Here's some new reporting.
"On October 7, however, when thousands of Hamas rockets were launched, Site 512 saw nothing — because it is focused on Iran, more than 700 miles away."
Secondly, I am still suspicious of the October seventh attack. Thirdly, US help with the Saudi extermination of so many people in Yemen. Fourthly, no world government seems too interested stopping genocide in Sudan, Myanmar, Azerbaijan, Kenya, Uganda, and in Russia's bid to take of Kyiv https://www.justiceinitiative.org/voices/genocide-all-name-crime-being-gay. And many more. Ethnic violence in India and ~ everywhere! Think Texas. Think Florida. It's here. It's now. Don't be fooled because you can't find gas chambers.
Moreover, I have been signing petitions for Jewish Voices for Peace for a long time. Hamas didn't just strike out of the blue because of some crazy itch. Murder is okay among the mighty. You should read Pope Francis' Eleventh Station of the Cross of Jesus. I hope you do!! https://www.ncregister.com/news/pope-francis-via-crucis-2024-full-text
Now I'm going to get a million emails from "NO SENDER."
Israel has managed without the US before, in 1948 for instance. The issue was Arab oil vs. a new Jewish State and the US wanted Arab oil. Israel will manage without the US again if need be. I wonder if they are already negotiating with China for support? I wouldn't be surprised if they were sending out feelers.
About 50,000,000 civilians were killed in WW2, a war that many see as moral and just. More civilians were killed than soldiers. Not only that, more German civilians were killed than British civilians. I still think Roosevelt was sensible when he came up with loan leasing.
Yes! Cut back dramatically on military weapons -- send them to Ukraine. I agree with several (below) who point out that if Biden continues supporting Netanyahu, he will lose many votes he needs to win reelection. Itʻs not necessarily that people would shift to voting for T, but they just wonʻt vote at all. Is Biden blind to this?
And it should not be that hard: as is, we are in contravention of the Leahy Law that states that the US must not aid and abet or provide any support to any country/leader that breaks the rules on human rights. Bibi is a terrorist, IMHO, just like, no better, no worse than Hamas.
He has been in contravention of accords signed a long time ago about not building any more on the West Bank... but we've let him do it. Now, we own that too.
"The Leahy Laws or Leahy amendments are U.S. human rights laws that prohibit the U.S. Department of State and Department of Defense from providing military assistance to foreign security force units that violate human rights with impunity. It is named after its principal sponsor, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont)." (Wikipedia)
I think such laws only fool the naive -only the naive hope Congress, Biden, Trump, their WH handlers and advisors, and the powerful US oligarchy gives a hoot about human rights
You really need to think about this logically. She takes votes away from Democrats. If she had a conscience, she wouldn’t run this time and throw her support behind the Democrats—-but, she doesn’t. Who’s side is she on? In this case Putin’s.
...and another called the "No LAbels" party which is a group of corporate centrists funded by dark money form both sides that are still looking to field a ticket.
Third Party candidates are not an viable option in our deeply flawed electoral system. A vote for anyone other than Biden is a vote for Trump. I will never forgive Ralph Nader for his Third Party candidacy in 2000 which gave us the disastrous George W Bush.
Instead, we must persuade Biden to “do the right thing,” which will propel him to a landslide victory.
the duoploy wins with either of the 2 sociopathic parties in office. Wake up. Stop drinking the koolade. The ONLY peace candidate on the ballot this November will be the Green candidate.
Explain to me how any Third Party candidate can win the Electoral College. If you live in a solidly Blue state, by all means register your protest vote. However, everyone in a Swing State MUST vote for the Democrat, presumably Biden, even if you have to hold your figurative nose.
why are you playing by the rules that perpetuate this god aweful baffonary system. Vote your conscious. Genocide Joe wants another 4 years as does fascist Trump. A win by either candidate is a loss for us all. Time to stop drinking the duopoly kool-aid. We need a peace candidate on the ticket and whether that candidate wins or loses its a win for democray in future elections. We need more choices than what the duoploy DICTATES.
Many are troubled by Biden continuing to send tools of war! BiBi is a con man and wicked ruler. The Israelis have known for years how ambitious and eager this man is to be seen and heard. It is upon them! How they have had to suffer from this man in office for many years! STOP all funding immediately until the war ends forever! Biden will quickly get Netanyahu’s attention! Promise.
JA, imo the problem is that all this weaponry is part of a 10-year deal that began in 2016. Idk whether Biden can stop it. But, if he can't, he needs to lay out clearly why not rather than let both sides turn it into another political football.
..I remember a few months ago when Netanyahu said that sometimes a friend has to say to "no" to a friend. It is time Biden says "no", no more military aid until the IDF stands down and humanitarian aid is allowed to flow into Gaza under no restrictions or threats.
Agree. Biden stands to lose the Presidency because of this….and we will lose our country. Israel has long been our ally, not Netanyahu (he is behaving like Putin).
I wrote President an email this morning about the repercussions in sending Israel weapons. This is Bibi’s war not ours.
This isn't a war. It's total ethnic cleansing. When the Western powers took Palestinian land after WWII, David Ben-Gurion said they would drive all the Arabs into the sea and bomb all their homes. The Zionists have been taking more & more land since 1948. The US must stop giving money and weapons to Israel. BTW, the Israelis have better health care & free education, while we pay for student loans for decades. Our medical system is a joke.
I agree with you 100%! Why are so few educating themselves about the history of Palestine! Why are so few not realizing why Hamas attacked? Sure it was horrific, BUT after years of mistreatments and land grabs they’ve hit a wall. I have a neighbor whose mother saw Israeli soldiers kill two of her sons years ago. One was only seven!
The consistent and enduring Palestinian rejection of any and all peace initiatives with Israel, most recently the “Deal of the Century,” calls into question the commitment of the Palestinian leadership not only to peace but to the very welfare and safety of the Palestinian people.
How about the constant and enduring Israeli rejection or any and all peace initiatives with the Palestinians? The only one they accepted--Yitzhak Rabin's signing of the Oslo Accords--led to a right-wing Israeli's assassinating him.
A succession of US presidents thought they could be the one to finally pull off an Israel-Palestine peace deal.
President Bill Clinton arguably came closest when he oversaw a series of talks and agreements that culminated in the 1993 Oslo peace accords establishing the Palestinian Authority with limited governance over parts of the occupied territories as a step toward a final deal.
But the assassination in 1995 of Yitzhak Rabin, the Israeli prime minister who signed the accords, opened the way to the rise to power of Benjamin Netanyahu, who openly opposed a Palestinian state and did his best to scupper Oslo.
Clinton had one last shot at a deal at the 2000 Camp David summit between the PLO leader, Yasser Arafat, and the then Israeli prime minister, Ehud Barak. When those talks failed, Clinton blamed Arafat. But some of the Clinton officials present at the talks said the Israeli offer fell short of what was required for an agreement.
One of the Israeli negotiators, the foreign minister, Shlomo Ben-Ami, later said that if he were a Palestinian he would have rejected the Camp David proposals. In 2005, former US state department official Aaron David Miller, who played a key role in the Clinton peace efforts, said that Washington had not acted as a neutral arbiter but as “Israel’s attorney, catering and coordinating with the Israelis at the expense of successful peace negotiations”.
Clinton’s successor, President George W Bush, launched his own peace effort, the “road map”, although he pushed the plan in part to offset the diplomatic damage done by the US invasion of Iraq.
Israel’s prime minster, Ariel Sharon, could not defy the White House and so praised the Bush plan and then set about sabotaging it by setting conditions. He also used the withdrawal of Jewish settlements and Israeli military bases from Gaza in 2005 as a means to freeze the road map in “formaldehyde … so there will not be a political process with the Palestinians”, in the words of Sharon’s chief of staff, Dov Weissglas.
Hamas repeatedly offered to accept a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which implied tacit recognition of an Israeli state in between.
Successive Hamas leaders proposed a long-term hudna, an Islamic term for a ceasefire, with Israel, in exchange for a state in the territories seized by Israel in the 1967 war. “The hudna has been a part of Hamas’s thinking since the movement’s founding,” researcher Dag Tuastad wrote in a 2010 research paper for the Peace Research Institute Oslo.
Tuastad documented Hamas offers of a long-term ceasefire in 1988, 1997, 1999 and 2008. All asked for evacuation of the settlements, which are illegal under international law, the release of Palestinian prisoners transferred to Israel in violation of the 4th Geneva Convention, and withdrawal to the 1967 borders.
Hamas officials offered to commit to anywhere from a decade to 30 years of peace. Some demanded that the right of return, enshrined in UN General Assembly resolution 194, be addressed immediately. Others said it could wait until peace took hold. All these initiatives were rejected or ignored by Israel and the US.
Hamas were not, of course, innocent peaceniks. They dispatched suicide bombers to Israeli cities and fired countless mortars and rockets at Israeli towns.
Israel assassinated two Hamas leaders, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, in 2004, shortly after each had proposed a long-term ceasefire. Israel staged a botched assassination attempt against Khaled Meshaal, who now heads Hamas’s political bureau abroad, when he offered a 30-year ceasefire in 1997.
The US and EU parroted Israel’s demand that Hamas recognise Israel and renounce violence. When did Israel recognise Palestine or renounce violence?
Hamas has always refused to recognise Israel, though Henry Siegman, a former director of the American Jewish Congress, wrote in the New York Review of Books in 2006 that he had been assured by high-ranking Hamas leaders that the militants might be willing to recognise Israel if Israel recognised Palestinian rights.
On May 1st, 2017, Meshaal held a press conference at the Sheraton Hotel in Doha to formally announce that Hamas would accept a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He also distinguished between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, saying that Hamas’s conflict “is with the Zionist project, not with the Jews because of their religion”.
Again, Hamas’s proposal, which was in line with international law and UN resolutions, was rejected out of hand by Israel and the US. Later that year Donald Trump moved the US embassy to Jerusalem.
Maureen, thank you for the history of the situation now going on in Israel/Gaza. We lived through the events, but sometimes forget the pattern the various actions followed and still follow. Since we have been a major architect of this Israel project over the years through our financing of the Israeli military, we may need to be the country to stop it and demand a ceasefire and ultimately a 2-state situation. We need Biden to do this ASAP or no military supplies from us!
This is an exceptionally good and (like Khalidi’s “Hundred Years’ War on Palestine”) a very well documented history of the “peace process.” Thank you for taking the time and care to do this!
Thank you for this. Anyone with an intellect above the level of a spinal cord should read it.
Thx, Maureen, for this outstanding summary.
Thank you for a well researched commentary. Whilst I do not light a candle for HAMAS I have great sympathy for the plight of traditional Palestinians who have been continually subjected to Israel's genocidal politicians and military since 1948.
Thanx Maureen for the history recap.
In the 1980s I was into writing op-ed letters on current events and I knew there was a reference to the Israeli's abusing Palestinians. Just searched thru the hard copies of published writings and found one in The Miami News, Nov. 19, 1988, titled "The Roots of Kristallnacht" comparing how Nazis & imitators around the world take over a country. In one paragraf I wrote: "We need to remember how a soldier of an occupying army can rationalize blowing up civilian houses, or beating civilians in custody, or crushing their knuckles. The rationale of course is that 'they' are inferior and in the way."
I remembered those events was what I read of the Palestinian conflict and just Googled "What happened in 1988 in Palestine?" The brief result: "Methods used by the Israeli forces resulted in mass injuries and heavy loss of life among the civilian Palestinian population. In 1988 the Palestine National Council meeting in Algiers proclaimed the establishment of the State of Palestine."
I also did political cartoons at this time and had thot of one with the foreground showing the destruction of a town's buildings with bulldozers and ppl being held at gunpoint and in the background Hitler & Stalin saying "We Taught Them Well." I never drew that concept, but over the past few months of the horrors in Gaza, it comes back to mind.
You really know your history, Maureen! Quite impressive!
The Israelis have the U.S. funding cat by the tail, and they know it.
👏👏👏👏👏
What peace initiatives did Israel reject? I'd love to know.
Seriously.
Go back, way back, and review the original deal that established Israel. Israel renigged, and it’s been war ever since.
That’s a total lie. All of the peace deals required the Palestinians to give up even more of THEIR land. They have also taken peaceful action with protests, pleading with the international community, and procedures at the UN. Israel is not the victim. They are a Genocidal, colonizing state with a system of apartheid
Alan, the devil is in the details. Any Palestinian who accepts Israel's terms, which include no right to return and no compensation, would be assassinated by some of the displaced. Had the US come up with a Marshal Plan for the resettlement and compensation of Palestinians displaced by Jewish settlers it would have saved itself much trouble and money, and most important, would have spared many lives. Maybe it is too late now.
Clearly they're not committed to any of that, but the fact that they have acted barbarically should not give license for Israelis to likewise act savagely. We expect a higher degree of civility from Israel. They can accomplish their military goals without killing so many innocent people.
Why do you--not we-- expect "a higher degree of civility" from Israel? If you think that the IDF is more civil than Hamas, think again. If you think that only Palestinians, not Jewish Israelis, are "terrorists," then think of the crazy far right Israelis living in illegal settlements in the West Bank and how they have terrorized the Palestinians to the point where our own government has put sanctions on some of these settlers.
That Arafat rejected the deal of the century is a complete myth propulgated by those who insist on covering the truth of the Zionist plan from the beginning to remove the native population. There are reams of evidence from the earliest days of the Herzl Zionist movement, many in the Israeli Archives, that prove this. The prestate Zionist armies massacred hundreds but for some reason "we" ignore that. If the present genocide in Gaza is justified as retaliation for Palestinian resistance then where is the corresponding justification for the theft of Palestinian land, complete eradication of over 100 villages, the denial even of the existence of Palestinians, the 75 year history of laws (6 different sets) being used to subjugate a people on their own land?
Some Palestinian movements are unwilling to make peace as long as Israel occupies portions of the West Bank and allows settlement. Some are unwilling to make peace as long as Israel exists. They're being supported by states including Iran and Russia that have a vested interest in endless Middle East conflict. Not least among these interests is the tendency to have Middle Eastern crises spike the price of oil. So long as these states continue to fund Palestinian resistance groups, there will be no peace. Israel's reactivity to the repeated outrages of radical Palestinian organizations is also self-defeating. Every time they overreact and inflict mass arrests or military violence on the Palestinians in West Bank and Gaza, they fall farther behind in an information war they are already losing. Israel can't kill every member of Hamas, because: material numbers of them don't live in Gaza; Hamas is the government of Gaza, and Israel is going to need at least some of them to restore order when they're done murdering food workers and blowing up the homes of bystanders; every civilian bystander killed or maimed by Israeli forces generates new Hamas or other resistance recruits; and most important, the Israelis CAN'T KILL ALL OF THEM.
I suppose this is just in their national character. There must be some explanation. I do not know what the "Deal of the Century" is.
THANK YOU!
If the dead can dance Hitler must be rocking. Imagine: Semites killing Semites, and the US footing the bill.
Israel...the new Nazi regime
Wrong, wrong, wrong !
Do you have any idea how the Israeli tax system supports all that “free”? Or why so many Israelis now live in the US?
Allison, could it be a whole lot of Israelis hate an authoritarian government as much as most Americans do and think they'll find that here?
I’m referring to Israeli emigres coming to the US since the late 60s. I know nothing about emigres coming here since Bibi got elected PM the first time.
See my comment above - we don't GIVE Israel arms. That's not how it works. Anyway, if Israel wanted to cleanse Gaza, that would've been done six months ago. They have the means. Since they did not, logic dictates that they didn't want to. In fact, the Palestinians population has increased six fold I think it is in the past decades.
The Zionists did NOT TAKE more and more land since 1948. They were attacked multiple times and they always won. I think when you win, you often get to keep what you have won. Unless the other side humbly asks for negotiated deal. But the "other side" would never take a state. Because they never wanted a state. Frankly, the U.N. should have moved all the Palestinian Arabs to Jordan in 1948 -- given each one a new home, and this would all have been avoided.
Yep, they get free healthcare. All we hear is how there is not enough money for us to have that. It’s disgusting.
Marguerite, I did mine yesterday:
My message to President Biden
April 3, 2024
I consider Netanyahu a War Criminal by his total disregard for the lives of civilians in Gaza. When he killed the aid workers trying to mitigate the the impending famine, and apologized AGAIN for his crime, it is time to quit supporting this sociopathic murderer. By providing him aggressive weapons the U.S. is complicit in these War Crimes and Genocide. Netanyahu, like Putin will not respond to condemnation - WE NEED TO STOP SUPPLYING HIM WITH WEAPONS FOR HIS WAR CRIMES.
Great message!
Good job.
Hope you sent it to the White House.!I'm praying that he does the right thing,he's wise enough to know he has to.
Yes please! I knew we were in trouble when Netanyahu came to power again
It’s not even a “war“ it’s simply the eradication of a civilian population, with “fighting Hamas” as the excuse
As mentioned above, the word for his ABOMINABLE "crimes against humanity" is "ethnic cleansing." WHEN will he stand in front of a court to pay for these crimes???
You'll get In reply a very nice letter from the White House... Giving you b******* excuses..
Your point?
Should I receive a reply with bs excuses I shall reply telling them what I think of their bs excuses. I’m retired, I have time to respond to bs.
Me too! Retired and pissed! (Just had an F-35 Fighter jet on March 25th fly over the Golden Gate Bridge, turn hard right over Mt. Tamalpias, descend to less than 1000 feet and scare the stuffing out of Rohnert Park and Cotati, Ca. residents. The military is lying about the need for this low altitude buzzing given hazardous weather conditions. BS. Clear, blue sky. Beautiful day. I'm sick of being lied to by "MY" govvernment. AND, having experienced this recent terror, I can't imagine how the Palestinians are feeling! STOP THIS INSANITY!)
They like scaring people. I left California and the immediate reason I left was helicopters. Those helicopters deeply bothered me. They were over a public campground.
Jacob, it seems the military needs some more regulation, rules to keep the people who pay their salaries safe from their bad behavior.
Interesting. I was living in Greenbrae in 2001 and this kind of military operation never happened in my time there, even after 9/11. I have also read recently about the WEF funding the setting up of field hospitals across the US, Canada, UK and EU. Google Calgary airport field hospital. Buckle up all and be prepared 🐈⬛
Yes: it was truly frightening.
I grew up 13 miles from Holloman AFB and 30 miles from White Sands Missile Range, we had jets flying over all the time at low altitudes, one time a fighter jet was flying so low I could see the pilot; WSMR also launched many missiles, they would stop all traffic going between Holloman AFB and the missile range and between Las Cruces and the missile range. Never really bothered any of us. To me, all planes are loud whether they are commercial or military. Of course, I can see your point, if people aren’t used to the low flying aircraft it can be a little frightening.
Let's collaborate?
I confess to trolling ole Joe
Hamas is an enemy of humanity and hates the U.S., democracy, freedom as much as it hates israel. And it is fooling the world not taking responsibility or lack of ceasefire.
Israel is a democracy protecting itself after a massacre. Hamas spent billions on tunnels and reopens and they don’t care about the people on Gaza and they hate the US, democracy, freedom as much as they hate israel.
This is actually the opposite of clarity and makes it difficult to see the truth about who is the perpetrator in this violence. Biden s courageous fr seeing the truth in who is responsible for the violence in Gaza, instead of giving Hamas its goals for this war: withdrawal of support for israel. This stance emboldens the terrorist organization to continue the war and gives Hamas hope that Israel will lose all support as people in Gaza are killed in the warPlease take time to sort through bias and false frameworks to find the truth of the conflict. The world is silent about Hamas’s responsibility on the death and suffering. The lack of pressure from the world on Hamas to release hostages and lay down their arms and the blame on Israel is what Hamas wants. If the pressure focused on Hamas instead of Israel, the situation would be completely different.
As did I. Thank you.
It is our war, Western Civilization swings in the balance
Roger, I can't agree that this is our war. It is a nothing war set up to get rid of a population that Netanyahu has seen as a problem and worthy of getting rid of. That act will, he believes set him up for some kind of world champion position, when really, he is an evil man who, like Trump cares about nothing and no one but himself and the power he can accumulate. Trump's also into money and prestige and I don't know what besides power Netanyahu is into.
Netanyahu is OBVIOUSLY doing everything in his horrific power to avoid going to trial for the corruption he's been charged with. Can you imagine CARRYING OUT A MASSIVE GENOCIDE in order to avoid a prison sentence??? (Like Trump, Netanyahu will do anything and tell any lies to get out of being convicted for his OWN CRIMES!!)
Could it be the huge oil reserves off the Gaza coast? Asking for a friend...
Jane, I know a whole lot of people have died so a few mostly white men got rich on oil. Now that we know what oil is doing and has done to our planet, it is an even worse crime that anyone should die for wanting or getting more oil. I was thinking this whole Gaza War was manufactured by Netanyahu to cover his crimes and to take over Gaza for the greedy Israelis who, like him consider the people of Gaza and maybe all non-Israeli Middle Easterners as animals to be driven out. Introducing the idea of Gazan oil to the horrific mix is appalling! This insanity must stop!!! One man responsible for so many deaths is outrageous!!!
Ruth, this tragic conflict cannot be reduced to personality problems. Both the Israelis and the Palestinians are struggling for their survival. It reminds me of a gladiator fight, the much promised land serving as a bloody arena. The West cheers for the Jews, the Muslims cheer for the Palestinians. All sides are complicit in this crime against humanity, but the preponderant evidence points to Western racism and imperialism as the main culprit.
Victor, you may be right, but I don't want to totally blame any one person. However, right now, Netanyahu is working hard to be the villain in the piece. Both sides or rather, all sides could win if some of the heat were off and the personalities were not at the center. Even in gladatorial bouts, both could win if they did a good job. Here the job must be a 2-state agreement. Both nations could end up as trade partners and be connections to others sympathetic to their situation. The world has so many problems right now, if these two sides+ could work something out, it could give hope to others who can't see any light in their darkness. We could help bring this about.
Ruth, I wish everyone were as wise as you are. You make a strong and encouraging argument. One of the tragic ironies of the current situation is that Israel has so much to offer to its neighbors: medicine, science, technology. Alas there is so much anger now that neither side can thin clearly.
I don’t agree. It is on the Israelis to fight their own colonizer wars. Think they’d lift a finger to help us? Doubtful. Maybe if they didn’t have an endless supply of money and diplomatic cover from us like always-they would get consequences for once.
It is our war, and it is very profitable. The US is by far the largest producer and exporter of weapons, which kill tens of thousand innocent people at home and around the world. Yes, civilization in the balance, the balance sheet. Western Civilization has produced endless wars, racist imperialism, and genocide. So, please cheer us up, tell us all the things about it that you admire.
So has China, Russia, the Middle East but you don’t find people flocking to the borders to gain entry
Good point, Roger.
I agree
Israel gets aid from us and most of that aid is used to purchase arms from OUR military industrial complex. That is never going to end, because those companies have a lot of power and they are NOT going to be happy if they are not allowed to sell to Israel. In addition, now that Israel and Saudi Arabia are buddies, Israel could always buy from them - why not? SA doesn't want Hamas to win. They should cut a deal in a back room, where no one knows, and everyone's happy. Including our MIC.
I see this as a concerted effort of what I call the “axis of evil” between Trump, Netanyahu and Putin to put exorbitant pressure on Biden and divide our nation even more. How much more can Biden deal with all at once. Bibi gets to stay out of prison, Putin takes Ukraine plus gets his puppet back in the White House to pull out if NATO. Here at home the American people must make a choice between keeping our freedom/democracy or fall under a dictatorship lead by a malignant narcissistic sociopath as well described by many psychiatrists plus his own niece, Dr. Mary Trump.
No one is forcing Biden to finance this genocide. He is losing the election all by himself.
It’s naive to think this is solely up to Biden.
It's like @POTUS is responsible for egg prices, flooding of the Mississippi River, cell telephone charges or gas prices.
More like what is expected of an authoritarian leader. It must be a surprise that Biden doesn’t control everything. Is that what Trump voters expect?
PAODCFLo, of course that's what Trump voters, at least, think they want, that is if the dictator likes to give them whatever they want and hurt whomever they want harmed. It's pretty sick, and childish, but we have a lot of toddlers in power around the world right now, Netanyahu and Putin among them. Biden is not in that crpwd which means it will be a struggle for him to do his job. I do want him to actively work to stop the flow of arms to Israel, though..
No it’s not. Signing something is an act — and a CHOICE. It’s not a market force or a complex multi-pronged issue.
Sure it's just a tiny thing. Changing 75 years of support in a day. You believe this whole Middle East problem is easy. Then why has it taken thousands of years to fix?
Actually, it is very complex and historical. This is not easy as much as we - and probably, they - would wish it to be.
Very bad analogy.
The buck stops with him.
If Biden approves a sale, who else is it up to?
US classified intelligence on Israeli military operations -> Trump -> Russia [-> Iran] -> Hamas -> Attack on Israel on Putin's birthday -> Genocide against Palestinians.
Fallout: International attention diverted from Russia's brutal war on Ukraine; International support for Ukraine declines; War turns in Russia's favor; Western society outraged & divided by Israeli-Palestinian conflict; Americans increasingly angry at Biden; The Siberian Candidate's chances of winning election enhanced.
Whom do all these events benefit? Who is clever & capable enough to orchestrate such a scheme? I think y'all know the answer to these questions.
We have been doing this for 75 years. Now Bibi is showing us that unlimited power is open to abuse. Fund Ukraine but hold back on Bibi. They will come around to beg for war bucks. Like in a New York minute. Without 100% of help from the US Bibi is removed and Israel might be saved from itself.
Back up your statement: how’s Biden losing all by himself?
The situation is an extremely convoluted sets of problems. Our closest ally in that part of the world is Israel. How do we maintain our relationship with a country that clearly has lost touch with its approach on how to conduct a war. There is a boot embedded in the sands of the Middle East. That boot belongs to the Israelis but the foot that boot belongs to us.
Why on Earth would we want to be allies with a genocidal, racist, and authoritarian country? The ONLY reason we need a “foot” in the Middle East is for economic dominance and access to other country’s resources. If you think murdering thousands of innocent people for money is appropriate, then you’re right. Otherwise we have to fight to end the military industrial complex and makes money off the deaths of our soldiers and innocent people. We don’t even take care of our soldiers after we use them to satisfy our greed.
Crystal--We ally ourselves with Israel for a number of reasons. Both Great Britain and this country see the importance of having a vested interest in that area of the world. Administrations and personalities change over time and at present we are at odds with the minds in charge of that country. You sight a valid point through your obvious frustration. The fix is easy however, the solution is impossible.
And it’s been all about Imperial since the founding of our country. Major Butler said it best:
“I served in all commissioned ranks from second lieutenant to Major General. And during that period I spent most of my time being a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer for capitalism. I suspected I was just part of the racket all the time. Now I am sure of it.”
— Major Smedley Darlington Butler (July 30, 1881 – June 21, 1940) was a highly decorated Major General in the U.S. Marine Corps.
I can not begin to imagine what will happen when the combination of ecocide and the end of oil coincide. Perhaps it will be the beginning of a true golden age of peace and reconciliation for mutual survival. However, witnessing how our leaders in business and politics are handling the first warning signs of both suggests otherwise.🐈⬛
The reasons all boil down to imperialism. The government may claim this or that to get public support, but it’s all about greed
Crystal--There will always be those who feel they have been cheated, forgotten, and or left behind. No one ever-said life would be fair. What we have is the best that is out there. Yes, corrections have to be made, but all in all people are dying trying to get what we have. How many people do you see leaving? Let's fix the thing.
A very good example of an “entangling alliance.”
Stan--No matter how many ways I look at the mess in the Middle East, none of the alternatives seem plausible.
An 18th century country like ours shouldn’t bind itself to a Bronze Age mentality.
Stan--With any luck a carbon fiber intelligence might find its way to the surface.
Common, Donald, you sound like foot fetishist. You can do better than this.
Victor--Don't be so vague, better than what.
The foot in the boot is a classical Freudian slip.
Victor--A Freudian slip is something said that holds a parallel meaning. What I said, I meant to say.
All the more reason for Biden to STOP giving Israel the weapons of war and to support Ukraine by giving them weapons of protection to repel Putin.
Biden has been fearful in both standing up to Netanyahu and Israel supporters here and fearful of giving Ukraine what it needs because he doesn’t want wider war. Both Putin and Netanyahu are playing on Biden’s fears and the coming election. Both Putin and Netanyahu are in precarious situations.
Maybe Bibi is, but Putin’s just been “re-elected.” What’s precarious about his position?
The recent vote was not an honest vote, "neither free nor fair". It was a pseudo election, predetermined. All Putin's real adversaries were done away with one way or another. Putin and his regime are not secure if they must repress the propulation. The country is under sanctions from abroad. Putin is wanted by the UN criminal court and could be arrested if he travels to the West. The recent Moscow attack shows vulnerability again after the recent Prigozhin's mutiny
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/24/vladimir-putin-terror-attack-russia/
And he is not winning in Ukraine and he will not.. It's a huge consequential blunder, to say the least, draining the country.
“…not an honest vote.” No kidding. Why do you think I put “re-elected” in quote marks?
Imo your assessment of Putin’s position is totally off base. Thx for explaining.
And why Biden can so easily find weapons for Israel but finds it impossible to obtain weapons for Ukraine boggles the mind!
It’s not that simple. Congress must approve Ukraine aid.
And not Israeli aid? Why is that? And it seems that it should be easy to find money for Ukraine, either by seizing Putin's assets, sending Ukraine weapons set for surplus, or finding money in the bloated Defense budget for Ukraine.
And this GOP congress will not fund a bridge in Baltimore. So good luck with all that foreign money.
Well said, Rusalka. Too many cooks in the world kitchen spitting in the soup. Top Chef Biden needs to throw 'em all out (metaphorically) and reassert himself as Leader of the Free World Kitchen even if it means keeping a tight fist on our weapons systems that only exacerbate the deadly conflicts. Making promises to withhold supplies to weapon-addicted combatants and keeping them for our own defense would be a big step forward. Doing so does not preclude supplying humanitarian aid as needed.
You give Biden way too much credit. He is not only funding and arming a genocide, he was HAPPY to do it until it looked like it would impact his re-election chances
So your solution is maintain the status quo with Ukraine & Israel because they’re both tough issues?
Do yu'll think this election is about Gaza? Yu'll want Trump? Is that IT?
I'm STILL majorally rageful about Women's reproductive rights!!
NO!! I want the @IDF & the Israeli gov't to cease their murderous onslaught of the Palastinians. I will NEVER support #ISRAEL. #Never_Again.
Never say never. This is Netanyahu and his far right supporters.
About 80% of Israel wants Bibi to leave now. Tell Biden that you and I are in that group as well. Biden will get the message that he will lose votes over keeping Bibi happy.
Israel has been murdering and torturing Palestinians for decades. Getting rid of Netanyahu won’t fix it.
Crystal, getting rid of Bibi will change things NOW. Not funding his carnage will help NOW. We need Trump to lose in November.
My point has been that getting rid of Bibi isn’t enough. So yes we need to get rid of him and stop funding the genocide, but we also have to support a free Palestine and solidify international support for Palestine so that Israel is forced to stop, even when Bibi is gone.
When it comes to Trump, I am so disappointed in liberals that I feel like if Trump wins, at least people actually act. MLK Jr wrote:
“ I MUST make two honest confessions to you, my Christian and Jewish brothers. First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens Councillor or the Ku Klux Klanner but the white moderate who is more devoted to order than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says, "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can't agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically feels that he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by the myth of time; and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”
Nothing has changed. Liberals are more concerned with order and infinitesimal progress, than real change and justice until Trump was in office. At least Trump gets people to wake up and actually fight the bigotry and problems that have been there all along.
Crystal --Fix it. Like in a New York minute. Not going to happen. But when you are all about starving your enemy it's only a good look for a medieval king. Two million people making it through a long hot summer is not going to happen. We may not be able to stop this, but we should not be paying the bill.
Of course we shouldn’t be paying the bill. Not paying for it is the absolute least we can do. We are being absolute monsters supporting Israel and it’s decades-long genocide of the Palestinians. We need to actually take action to stop it.
It will certainly help.
To what extent? Gaza was on a starvation diet way before the “war” on Gaza. Palestinians in the West Bank have been routinely kidnapped, held in military prison with no legal rights, beaten, tortured, raped, and killed for decades. This includes children. It’s all the same, Netanyahu is just doing it faster
Israel has been murdering and torturing Palestinians for decades. Getting rid of Netanyahu won’t fix it.
Kitt, what you (or I or anyone) WANTS isn't as important as what people will vote FOR or AGAINST. Domestically speaking, I never vote for anti-choice candidates. But lots of people don't see it as a deal-breaker. If people want to draw the line on Israel-Hamas, they will.
Nobody in their right mind WANTS Trump (which means there is a depressingly large number of people who aren't in their right mind). But we may get him if Biden doesn't LEAD the people to the conclusion that the USA is dead if Trump wins.
Check out what the Hamas is doing. Check out Iran. Then think about revisiting your decision. Like Rodney said, "Tough Neigh-buh-hood".
Listen. I know what Hamas IS and DOES. It's a #TerroristOrganization just like the #IDF/IOF. I do NOT NEED to "revisit" my decision. And, you know what else you can do with your idiotic man-splaining...
The UN does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization. In addition, an occupied people have a right to armed resistance under international law.
Some people know a terrorist organization when they see it.
People fighting the status quo are often demonized until they succeed, then they are considered heroes. When MLK Jr fought for civil rights most of the U.S. hated him and saw him as a troublemaker. When Nelson Mandala fought against apartheid he was considered a terrorist and was arrested. When apartheid fell, he was freed and elected President. People make judgements before truly understanding the situation. Much like you are doing if you believe Hamas to just be a bunch of terrorists
That's on them. The USA does not send arms to the mullahs of Iran. We have sent Bibi a blank check for whatever he wants. We did not think that seven good Samarians would be killed while feeding starving people. The death of these seven will be still be hurting Israel when we are all in our graves.
Ron --Laying siege to a city during war time is as old as time or Jericho. Bibi does not need our help to do this. Bronze age cities in the region had this event. Starving people has a long history. Putin could help Bibi. He has done this in Ukraine.
The neighborhood is so tough that I wonder why anyone would want to live there. Where does Larry David live? See Season 3, Episode 8 of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
European Zionists? More than half of Israel's population has heritage from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Darn those inconvenient facts. Europeans told Jews to go back to their homeland in Palestine (meaning the British Mandate of Palestine). Now the world tells them to go back to Europe. I think we all know where people like you want Jews to go. I suggest you do some reading on Middle Eastern history, particularly the history of the Levant and the Jews. And try to choose books written by credible experts, rather than the propaganda you appear to have swallowed whole.
Sorry Bill Wolfe --killing good Samaritans for giving out food is not a good look. For Christians, Muslims or Jews. Or Buddhists. Or even those who are godless.
Biden loosing the presidency is why this war was started in the first place; that’s what Putin wants.
Exactly. Are there so many Americans ignorant enough to give Putin what he wants?
I’m afraid so. Putin is seen as the Great White Hope by many or as someone who can be appeased by singing Goombyya. Two sides of the same mistake.
What are these people thinking? What aspects of present Russian life are so worth emulating that we'd give up our current lifestyle for it?
Chiefly the misery and the weather.
They don't know anything about Russian life, so it's easy to assume it's just like their own. They are I.G.N.O.R.A.N.T. Never underestimate the capacity of the human race for destruction. We've been working our way through the Earth and all its resources since the first homo Habilis wiggled an opposable thumb.
Yes.
Steven M. Hall ; and what tRUMP wants, too.
US classified information on Israeli military operations -> Trump -> Kislyak + Lavrov -> Putin -> Hamas -> Attack on Israel on Putin's birthday.
Diverts attention from Russia's brutal war on Ukraine, diverts military support from Ukraine, causes social unrest in West, turns many Americans against Biden, increases Trump's chances of winning election, all of which benefit Putin & much of which benefit his puppet.
Jaime Ramirez ; I have thought since the Oct 7 invasion and assault, that trump had visited with Netanyahu, and convinced him to move the Capital into the Holy Land, which would increase resentments. It would not surprise me if they collaborated with Putin on this attack. the "intelligence failure" reported in the news shows how complicit our media is with the 'tRumpian/Putin agenda. the timing is aimed at President Biden. Sadly, so many will allow themselves to be played. I hope it does not give the Election to the hindmost.
He's behaving like The Donald . .who can do no wrong . .and wants to Control The Judiciary . ..
Troll!
The minute the ‘war ‘ ends, he will face an election…and loose..and go to jail…so old racist Bibi , has no incentive to stop as long as Genocide Joe, keeps up the money flow.
A angry mob went to Bibi's house the other night. They very nearly got in. But they will keep trying. Most polls are fake but 80% of Bibi's voters want him out now. That poll is one that I do believe to be the real deal.
Sadly, I think either Biden doesn’t care what his supporters think or he can’t do anything about it. The “can’t do” is speculative about his mental and physical health and his actual governing abilities. It may just drive me to not vote at all in this election. I can not support the slaughtering of Palestinians. I realize this is exactly what Putin, Netanyahu, and Trump want. However, Biden should not be putting his supporters in this horrible dilemma. Why is Biden not listening to Americans?
Israel is the only country with a lobbying group in DC. AIPAC has a lot of power & money. The recipients don't want to lose that money & those gifts. However, Congress won't stop AIPAC, just as we allow corrupt judges on the Supreme Court.
Zero foreign lobbyists should be allowed.
I agree with you. Except the only thing worse than this would be if tRump wins. That will make current events look like happy days...
ASIDE:
It just occurred to me that this year's general election day, November 5, is a notorious date. It's also the date that "V for Vendetta" revolves around. It's Guy Fawkes day:
Remember, remember!
The fifth of November,
The Gunpowder treason and plot;
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!
Guy Fawkes and his companions
Did the scheme contrive,
To blow the King and Parliament
All up alive.
Threescore barrels, laid below,
To prove old England's overthrow.
But, by God's providence, him they catch,
With a dark lantern, lighting a match!
A stick and a stake
For King James's sake!
If you won't give me one,
I'll take two,
The better for me,
And the worse for you.
A rope, a rope, to hang the Pope,
A penn'orth of cheese to choke him,
A pint of beer to wash it down,
And a jolly good fire to burn him.
Holloa, boys! holloa, boys! make the bells ring!
Holloa, boys! holloa boys! God save the King!
Hip, hip, hooor-r-r-ray!
Just sayin'.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night
Netanyahu is trying to stay in power as long as possible, does not care about what he is doing to Israel or the other Middle East nations, and he is facing legal prosecution when he steps down as Prime Minister. He needs to be removed from office immediately!
If you fail to vote, or vote for Donald Trump over this, you will rue your decision. DJT is an avid supporter of Netanyahu. He will cheer as Bibi bulldozes Gaza into rubble and allows its people to starve. This will be while he's putting goodhearted people like you into camps. We all hate the war. Don't let it make you crazy and self-destructive, too.
“Israel” you say, “is behaving like Putin.” This is interesting. Jewish students, at college campuses across the United States, are reporting fear, a wave of rage directed against them personally, in reaction to actions taken by Israel towards Palestinians. I do not know of a similar wave of rage directed against Russian aggressors in Ukraine, though the damage they do to Ukrainian citizens is just as great as the toll of death in Gaza. In fact, the Russians have allies in their war against Ukraine. Their allies are Republican legislators in the U.S. House of Representatives. I am so curious why no one has castigated the House Republicans for the agony, death and destruction their actions are causing in Ukraine! Nor has anyone threatened that Trump will lose *his* bid for the Presidency because of the destruction of *Ukrainian* lives and property. It’s almost as if the timing of what has happened in Gaza was deliberate, *designed* to arouse a storm of hatred that would be played to help Mr Trump win his way back to the White House.
It was deliberate! Trump gave Russisn Foreign Minister Lavrov & Russian Ambassador to US Kislyak classified intelligence about Israeli military operations in the Oval Office in 2017. Eventually, very likely with updated information Trump took from the many top secret government documents he confiscated, Russia likely handed to either Iran or directly to Hamas those documents while planning the Hamas attack on Israel to celebrate Putin's birthday.
Russia got out of it less international scrutiny of their invasion of Ukraine, less military support for Ukraine, social unrest in the West, growing displeasure with Biden's position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, & increasing probability of Trump winning the 2024 election. Couldn't have worked out better for Putin if he had planned it (which he did).
I was just thinking of Netanyahu’s similarity to Putin!
True but electing Trump would be far worse for the Palestinians
Biden pleads with Netanyahu and in response gets told where to go. Israel is a fascist state bent on annihilating the Palestinian “problem.” Just like Hitler was with “the Jewish question."
Yup, lose the presidency for sure. I feel that the U.S. has been Israel's ally, but Israel has not been the ally of the U.S. Israel is referred to as an ally to kind of make nice diplomacy wise, but what have they done?
agree. What is US interest in the Middle East now? Why does US need Israel as an "ally"? (With friends like this, who needs enemies?) It's not because of oil: US has been the top global oil producer for last 6 years. It is because of chest-thumping jingoism against Iran?
EXACTLY!
Yes! Put the pressure on Netanyahu by taking away offensive weapons from USA. His people are protesting his policies. We need to join them in a serious manner.
There is a campaign targeting AIPAC in the works..,.Look for it! Biden took a boatload and is now totally an owned pathetic puppet
As are many others. AIPAC doesn't belong in DC. Israel is the only country with a lobbying group in DC.
Exactly, they should be forced to register as as foreign agents,
In the so called American representational democracy We The People are not represented and are not living in a democracy. America is an oligarchy, the Elites operate through media and lobbies that manage the WH and Congress. Against all this predominant power protest s have proved to be very weak.
Thus President Biden is using Americans tax dollars to back his proxy wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Senate Majority Schumer and President Biden threw their fig leafs on it, scolding Netanyahu, pretending they have any power to say no to AIPAC and Netanyahu. The voters and their representatives have no say in either proxy war.
All the power is in the lobbyists like AIPAC who tell our so called representatives sitting in Congress and the WH what to do.
The People and also their so called representatives are all but powerless.
Our campaign is to target AIPAC, look for it!
Ive heard that that while there are some protesting, a majority in Israel is backing him
The ones that don’t, are leaving if they can…many have dual citizenship with either US or UK. Would you want your kids to serve in the IDF?
The protesters are also being beaten & jailed. Some are elderly people.
No suprise
I bet it is the same ratio of tRUMP backers in the U.S ; 25% or so. the majority are marching and protesting Netanyahu and his policies. Most in the US have been voting against Trump!
I've not "heard" that. Unless it's documented, I'm not interested what someone else heard.
My friends here who have relatives in kibbutz in Israel near Gaza. That's NOT what they say at all. Netanyahu is hated for this.
I have no doubt that many Israelis oppose Netanyahu's genocidal Gaza policies, but my guess is they are a small minority. Whether that is in fact the case I do not know.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-792001
I read the Israeli newspapers. I also read Al-Jazerra, the Irish Times, German newspaper (stationed in Augsburg; medical in Radiology), & more. We're Episcopal. Two friends are Jewish & attend church with us. Both had relatives visiting from different kibbutzes (?). It's not what they relayed. I do not think it as minimal as you expressed.
As within the U.S., Ukraine's fight is more solidly supported than the rabid far-right Reps in Congress let on.
2024 will be a #BlowOut, as if the #US_Women aren't STILL enraged at the reversal of Roe v Wade. Support is overwhelming for reproductive rights for women. #GOP__♀️ have a HARD decision. States who leaned prochoice had referendums that passed that overrode the state law passed.
obviously the purpose of this comment page/ blog is not to prove anything or assert the truth of one's opinions, its purpose is simply to allow random folks to vent and opine eg:.
Should the US push for extension of NATO to the East? No.
Should the US provide billions in arms to Ukraine? No.
Should the US government have a mandatory referendum on these questions to objectively determine public views on such critical questions? Yes.
Then stop doing it your 'own self.'
I absolutely disagree on Ukraine.
It’s long past time to stop supporting Bibi’s war!
YES!! Mercy on Gaza please!! It is so amazing that those whose families have been in the holocaust could do this type of torture to others!! It's beyond my comprehension!!
@Lynda. Is it beyond your comprehension that Hamas fighters, who fit the description "military aged males" will crowd in line at aid trucks and take the food and water away from grandmothers and children? this is what happens. It's a terrible situation.
Have you seen that? I haven't & I get my news from many different countries. I have seen IDF kill kids in the street.
@Janis. By my comment I did not intend to condone anything done by HAMAS. They are terrorists committed to the destruction of Israel and Western civilization. But in the fog of war when many 18 - 22 year old males are either active HAMAS or active supporters of HAMAS, It is hard to say what policy Israel could follow that would remove HAMAS as an organization when they hide among the other Palestinians...
His answer is NO.
It’s true,
I had a long time pen pal living in Gaza, he was university educated. as a child he was forced to work 6 hours a day after school…by his father.
Before the widespread bombing , and soon after his sis had married some low level Hamas dude, all 3 houses of his family were and his bombed . The Hamas guy was murdered, rest fled and all were all killed in a miscle strike in the street, including his elderly father and small children . Then the IDF invaded all my devices…it got worse but that’s enough .
Yes,
I wish I was surprised. But Israel is a very racist state. No surprise from this old Jew
Netanyahu is Israels Trump. We must stop supporting the guy who supported Hamas ans allowed the attack on his own people , so he could exploit the problem and murder tens of thousands and starve millions. netanyahu needs the chaos , like trump needs the chaos at the border.
@Jesse. I share your view. However we have already allowed all that (under multiple Presidents of both parties) and here we are now. What next is the big question, and has got to answered in the context offered by Martha Ture in this forum.
He should stand trial for corruption
Or perhaps Trump is USA's wannabee Netanyahu - - and damnit! he's getting too close! At least Bibi doesn't slobber quite as salaciously as Vlad... Common Dems - - some of you HAVE TO GROW A SPINE! PLEASE!
He is risking losing g votes by not drawing a red line and enforcing it!
Israel has gone way beyond retribution for the Hamas raid into Israel. It is time to end the destruction of Gaza and the killing of civilians.
...in terms of civilian deaths by about 28 times. Much more than an "eye for an eye".
His continued support of Israel will hurt his reelection. I'm surprised he hasn't taken more of a stance.
It’s baffling that he won’t intervene. Can anyone explain why we’re still arming Netanyahu?
Near as I can figure, the State Department and the Department of Defense agree that it's crucial to the security of the United States and to the international order to have Israel as a client state exactly where Israel sits - on the eastern edge of the Mediterranean. Israel is a nuclear state and is armed by the US, and is seen as the only bulwark against the expanding goals of Iran, Russia, Turkey, and China.
@Martha. You stated my view perfectly. The consequences for our Presidential election are dire indeed. The only bright spot is that Trump is such an ass he may well defeat himself.
Except there is a third party - Kennedy - to the benefit of Trump. Just one of the things I don’t understand about Donald Trump: his luck.
Money talks ; and if that does not work, he is not afraid to use threats, " an offer you can't refuse".
@PAODCFL. Luck? Hah. This is the way our system is built. On the one hand defendants have rights and numerous advantages over the prosecution. I happen to think this is a good thing. However, people with money (whether they actually pay their lawyers or not) can use defendants' advantages to manipulate the system. Trump is not lucky - he is a criminal with a criminal's experience and strategies. I believe our system of justice will eventually get him tho.
He can of course, be both. A criminal who has been lucky (so far) not to be jailed.
I don't think you can understand luck, PAODCFL. It just is. But I'd agree with you that it's downright frustrating and unfair that Trump has any (except bad).
Well said.
Probably not wise to overlook the fact that Trump is a puppet - - a drooling, incoherent babbling puppet with handlers that are pretty adept at keeping people from noticing.
Israel isn’t even really a democracy anymore! With friends like Netanyahu and other right-wing nuts in Israel, who needs enemies?!
I’m no longer buying that explanation.
@KL. You got something there…
Yes. Iran is the elephant in the room that noone mentions. Biden somehow has to qualify his support for Israel, taking a stand against what has been done in Gaza, but still standing in opposition to Iran and it's proxies. And Netanyahu somehow has to meet Biden's ask. Both men are walking on a tightrope.
True, very true.
AIPAC is why the WH and Congress backs Israel's genocide.
Professor, your seasoned insight / analysis why the disconnect between Biden’s words and actions is needed more than your protestation of it.
David - What does that mean? That the Professor shouldn't protest?
Note the comparative “more than”, which is not “rather than”.
My guess? The real aim of this war is Iranian oil. Everyone tells me I'm crazy with I say things like this, but I believe this is the truth. According to the "Intercept" there is a long game about which we know very, very little. All of this excitement about Israel started as far back as 2003. I wrote about my experience with an evaluation of an economics show some time back. Here's some new reporting.
"On October 7, however, when thousands of Hamas rockets were launched, Site 512 saw nothing — because it is focused on Iran, more than 700 miles away."
https://theintercept.com/2023/10/27/secret-military-base-israel-gaza-site-512/#:~:text=October%2027%202023%2C%2011%3A55%20a.m.&text=Two%20months%20before%20Hamas%20attacked,just%2020%20miles%20from%20Gaza.
Secondly, I am still suspicious of the October seventh attack. Thirdly, US help with the Saudi extermination of so many people in Yemen. Fourthly, no world government seems too interested stopping genocide in Sudan, Myanmar, Azerbaijan, Kenya, Uganda, and in Russia's bid to take of Kyiv https://www.justiceinitiative.org/voices/genocide-all-name-crime-being-gay. And many more. Ethnic violence in India and ~ everywhere! Think Texas. Think Florida. It's here. It's now. Don't be fooled because you can't find gas chambers.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/01/11/india-increased-abuses-against-minorities-critics
Moreover, I have been signing petitions for Jewish Voices for Peace for a long time. Hamas didn't just strike out of the blue because of some crazy itch. Murder is okay among the mighty. You should read Pope Francis' Eleventh Station of the Cross of Jesus. I hope you do!! https://www.ncregister.com/news/pope-francis-via-crucis-2024-full-text
Now I'm going to get a million emails from "NO SENDER."
Israel has managed without the US before, in 1948 for instance. The issue was Arab oil vs. a new Jewish State and the US wanted Arab oil. Israel will manage without the US again if need be. I wonder if they are already negotiating with China for support? I wouldn't be surprised if they were sending out feelers.
About 50,000,000 civilians were killed in WW2, a war that many see as moral and just. More civilians were killed than soldiers. Not only that, more German civilians were killed than British civilians. I still think Roosevelt was sensible when he came up with loan leasing.
Yes! Cut back dramatically on military weapons -- send them to Ukraine. I agree with several (below) who point out that if Biden continues supporting Netanyahu, he will lose many votes he needs to win reelection. Itʻs not necessarily that people would shift to voting for T, but they just wonʻt vote at all. Is Biden blind to this?
And it should not be that hard: as is, we are in contravention of the Leahy Law that states that the US must not aid and abet or provide any support to any country/leader that breaks the rules on human rights. Bibi is a terrorist, IMHO, just like, no better, no worse than Hamas.
He has been in contravention of accords signed a long time ago about not building any more on the West Bank... but we've let him do it. Now, we own that too.
"The Leahy Laws or Leahy amendments are U.S. human rights laws that prohibit the U.S. Department of State and Department of Defense from providing military assistance to foreign security force units that violate human rights with impunity. It is named after its principal sponsor, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont)." (Wikipedia)
Excellent point, Cecile.
I think such laws only fool the naive -only the naive hope Congress, Biden, Trump, their WH handlers and advisors, and the powerful US oligarchy gives a hoot about human rights
Robert, you’re absolutely correct on this. Biden looks weak if he can’t stand up to Netanyahu. Grow I spine, Joe!
John, imo Biden also looks weak if he can't figure out a way to help Zelensky. Because not doing so helps Putin.
He is losing voters with this lockstep with Israel. Why negotiate if arms are guaranteed? We need to apply pressure and this is not the way.
Yes he should or risk loosing votes.
he (Biden) is loosing votes. Join us vote him out vote Trump out vote Jill in.
Help save America from itself.
Ha ha ha. Jill the spoiler? Suicide. You’ve got to be kidding.
TBH, I'd love Booker to run.
NO THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES!
Explain why you think it's suicidal voting for Jill. It's genocidal voting for Biden.
You really need to think about this logically. She takes votes away from Democrats. If she had a conscience, she wouldn’t run this time and throw her support behind the Democrats—-but, she doesn’t. Who’s side is she on? In this case Putin’s.
...and another called the "No LAbels" party which is a group of corporate centrists funded by dark money form both sides that are still looking to field a ticket.
And AIPAC isn't "dark money"?
Because trump will be worse. If you live in a swing state, vote for Biden.
Jazzme, unless you want Trump, the end of democracy, and wide-open fascism, it's suicidal to vote for anyone other than Biden next November.
Third Party candidates are not an viable option in our deeply flawed electoral system. A vote for anyone other than Biden is a vote for Trump. I will never forgive Ralph Nader for his Third Party candidacy in 2000 which gave us the disastrous George W Bush.
Instead, we must persuade Biden to “do the right thing,” which will propel him to a landslide victory.
the duoploy wins with either of the 2 sociopathic parties in office. Wake up. Stop drinking the koolade. The ONLY peace candidate on the ballot this November will be the Green candidate.
Explain to me how any Third Party candidate can win the Electoral College. If you live in a solidly Blue state, by all means register your protest vote. However, everyone in a Swing State MUST vote for the Democrat, presumably Biden, even if you have to hold your figurative nose.
why are you playing by the rules that perpetuate this god aweful baffonary system. Vote your conscious. Genocide Joe wants another 4 years as does fascist Trump. A win by either candidate is a loss for us all. Time to stop drinking the duopoly kool-aid. We need a peace candidate on the ticket and whether that candidate wins or loses its a win for democray in future elections. We need more choices than what the duoploy DICTATES.
Putin talking point-b straight out of the internet research agency (gru)
Thanks comrade
Many are troubled by Biden continuing to send tools of war! BiBi is a con man and wicked ruler. The Israelis have known for years how ambitious and eager this man is to be seen and heard. It is upon them! How they have had to suffer from this man in office for many years! STOP all funding immediately until the war ends forever! Biden will quickly get Netanyahu’s attention! Promise.
JA, imo the problem is that all this weaponry is part of a 10-year deal that began in 2016. Idk whether Biden can stop it. But, if he can't, he needs to lay out clearly why not rather than let both sides turn it into another political football.
Exactly, Dona! I think people have made similar comments on earlier posts from Dr. Reich. But I haven’t seen Pres Biden doing it…
Best comment yet
It seems Netanyahu has been in power for about as long as Putin.
It’s time to turn the page with respect to Netanyahu. It’s long past due.
..I remember a few months ago when Netanyahu said that sometimes a friend has to say to "no" to a friend. It is time Biden says "no", no more military aid until the IDF stands down and humanitarian aid is allowed to flow into Gaza under no restrictions or threats.