He is opposing the annexation of the West Bank! Will he eventually agree to a 23-state solution, with a Palestinian state led by a reformed PA? Will he let Barghouti out of prison so the Palestinians will outvote Hamas? Is he growing some sense? Donald Trump certainly has.
Again, a great perspective but still slightly off the mark. The core issue is not disarming Hamas, it is disarming Israel, not entirely, but they need to get out of Gaza and give the people pf Gaza a real opportunity to choose whom they want to govern them. Israel has blocked every chance for a tqo state solution. Other legitimate authorities hesitate to take the lead in the reconstruction of Gaza without such a committment.
Quite to the contrary, the Apartheid state of Israel is a cancer on the world, which needs to be eradicated. The world will cheer when that is achieved. In the meantime, anti-Semitism has reached levels that have not been seen since World War II, with far worse yet to come. No Jew is safe anywhere, even those who have no ties or allegiance to Israel.
Netanyahu, the "Settlers" and rabid Zionists morphed into their ancestors' Nazi oppressors decades ago; and they have engaged in non-stop butchery, and yes Genocide, since at least 1948.
Our President Franklin D. Roosevelt and General George Marshall opposed the creation of Israel; and they were correct and omniscient.
Even Jeremy Ben-Ami has described it as Genocide; and he wrote in his book: "Is this how I wanted to be treated when I was a minority in another people's country?"
Israel has proven itself strong enough to reduce Gaza to rubble. Hamas is no match for lts military and negotiated for the release of a statesman who wants a two-state solution. That's what I am going by, but I will follow the link and read what is there. States can implode from within.
Please read the article that I cited above. The eradication of Israel will not come from Hamas, nor from Iran in my opinion. An EMP Attack or similar assault against the Apartheid state will be launched by "Osama bin Laden 2.0," who will be seeking immortality like his (or her) predecessor.
October 7th underscored the fact that Israeli intelligence was nonexistent; its Mossad was missing in action; and its highly-vaulted "Iron Dome" was porous at best. The world knows this; and the Israelis are hated globally. When they are eradicated, the world will cheer.
Our President Franklin D. Roosevelt and General George Marshall opposed the creation of Israel; and they were omniscient. Tragically, innocent Jews in America and elsewhere in the world have been experiencing unprecedented anti-Semitism because of Israel's Genocide, which has been directed at Palestinians and other non-Jews.
Yes, innocent Jews have suffered, and most of the people opposing the genocide seem to be Jewish. But I wonder if there is some kind of selection process - the cruel people are those who choose to live in Israel (not all of them, but they do seem to have a disproportionate number of evil people for the size of the population). Something I read today on "Palestine Will Be Free" convinced me. They had expressed a concern on J Street that Netanyahu might win next year's election. It seems there is a real danger of it, all because the people want genocide with as much suffering as possible..
Yes, it's bizarre to say the least. Add to the possibility (or likelihood) that "Osama bin Laden 2.0" may launch a nation-ending EMP Attack or similar assault against Israel, and there are sound reasons for the USA to extricate itself from the region.
We have gained nothing by being there; and innocent American Jews have been feeling the effects of rising anti-Semitism, which will only get far worse as Netanyahu, the "Settlers" and rabid Zionists pursue even more Genocide.
Hopefully, you're correct, S D. And that will happen only if Israeli ultranationalists are booted out, and a two-state framework is effected. Otherwise, the drumbeat of antisemitism will grow louder and louder, and the branding of Israel as an international pariah more and more the case.
I agree with your final assessment. If something isn't done, chaos will just continue. I'm just unable to see how any coalition will be able to eventually disarm Hamas. It's going to take exceptional leadership and courage by leaders of the Arab world, the PLO, and of the citizenry to disarm Hamas, who has demonstrated its willingness to execute its own people.
If Israel lets Barghouti out of prison, the Palestinians will vote for him (and for a two-state solution to continue) rather than Hamas. They will throw Hamas out themselves.
Actually, I believe that even Hamas has come to realize they can't make Israel go away. It's too strong for them. I am talking about NOW, not in 1948 or 2005. Things have changed, and no one wants to go back to the suffering of the last two years. That has to be why Hamas wanted Barghouti released. If it were not so, they wouldn't have wanted the release of a politician who would get more votes than they, or the former members of a disbanded Hamas, would get. Not releasing him has been a great mistake for anyone who wants a lasting peace for both Palestinians and Israelis.
So Hamas wants him released yet my understanding is that Abbas/Fatah does not. Why? Are there other Fatah alternatives who can be elected? Even if there is an election, do you think Hama's will just disarm on their own? They don't act like they do and an election can't really happen in areas of Hamas control without their allowing it. I don't trust either, and for me Hamas always has ulterior motives - actually, they all have. Given this and Abbas about to turn 90, I fear a continued sh..t show. Sorry to be such a pessimist. I really wish I could be more hopeful.
Not sure where you get your poll data from. My information is that Hamas is less popular in Gaza but not much under 50%, but in the West Bank it is far more popular than Fatah.
SO, so true!! I wonder if even Hamas has come to realize that only a two-state solution, or 23-state solution as J Street calls it, will being lasting peace. They must realize after the last two years that they can no more get rid of Israel than a mouse can get rid of a cat. Israel is too strong for them.
The PA isn't very popular in Gaza under Abbas, but suppose Marwan Barghouti led it - or even was heir apparent to Abbas. Hamas would be outvoted when the Palestinians had their first election and thereafter. They would get rid of Hamas themselves. With the 23-state solution, Israel would be secure because its neighbors would have nothing against it. (I don't think revenge is in the cards when it would restart the terrible suffering.)
Peter Beinart posted a wonderful video that I wish Donald Trump would watch - or maybe he already has. https://open.substack.com/pub/peterbeinart/p/it-was-never-about-hamas?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email Speaking of Trump, he is doing as well in the Middle East as he is doing badly at home. Maybe the only person who can oppose a bully is a bigger bully, but Netanyahu is actually saying no to annexing the West Bank. So is Trump! He wants that 23-state solution. Maybe I won't go to the next No Kings rally. ;-)
Excellent piece. Netanyahu’s failure to let the PA in is not only morally wrong, it’s foolish.
It reminds me of a quote from Prince Metternich at the Vienna Conference of 1815:
It was worse than wrong-- it was stupid.
He is opposing the annexation of the West Bank! Will he eventually agree to a 23-state solution, with a Palestinian state led by a reformed PA? Will he let Barghouti out of prison so the Palestinians will outvote Hamas? Is he growing some sense? Donald Trump certainly has.
Again, a great perspective but still slightly off the mark. The core issue is not disarming Hamas, it is disarming Israel, not entirely, but they need to get out of Gaza and give the people pf Gaza a real opportunity to choose whom they want to govern them. Israel has blocked every chance for a tqo state solution. Other legitimate authorities hesitate to take the lead in the reconstruction of Gaza without such a committment.
Completely ahistorical view. Israel offered the Palestianians a two-state solution and Arafat rejected it. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/may/23/israel3#:~:text=The%20true%20story%20of%20Camp%20David%20was,the%20room%2C%20and%20deliberately%20turned%20to%20terrorism.%22
And Israel did “get out of Gaza and give the people pf Gaza a real opportunity to choose whom they want to govern them” in 2005 — they chose Hamas.
Quite to the contrary, the Apartheid state of Israel is a cancer on the world, which needs to be eradicated. The world will cheer when that is achieved. In the meantime, anti-Semitism has reached levels that have not been seen since World War II, with far worse yet to come. No Jew is safe anywhere, even those who have no ties or allegiance to Israel.
See https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2015/12/31/is-israel-doomed/ ("Is Israel Doomed?")
Netanyahu, the "Settlers" and rabid Zionists morphed into their ancestors' Nazi oppressors decades ago; and they have engaged in non-stop butchery, and yes Genocide, since at least 1948.
Our President Franklin D. Roosevelt and General George Marshall opposed the creation of Israel; and they were correct and omniscient.
Even Jeremy Ben-Ami has described it as Genocide; and he wrote in his book: "Is this how I wanted to be treated when I was a minority in another people's country?"
Much of what you say is true, but the pragmatic truth is that Israel is here to stay.
Thank you for your comments. But I don't believe that.
See, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2015/12/31/is-israel-doomed/ ("Is Israel Doomed?")
You make a very good case. Netanyahu has done more harm to the Jews than anyone else since the Holocaust.
Yes, I agree. It is tragic.
Innocent Jews in America and other countries will suffer because of him, the "Settlers" and rabid Zionists.
Israel has proven itself strong enough to reduce Gaza to rubble. Hamas is no match for lts military and negotiated for the release of a statesman who wants a two-state solution. That's what I am going by, but I will follow the link and read what is there. States can implode from within.
Please read the article that I cited above. The eradication of Israel will not come from Hamas, nor from Iran in my opinion. An EMP Attack or similar assault against the Apartheid state will be launched by "Osama bin Laden 2.0," who will be seeking immortality like his (or her) predecessor.
October 7th underscored the fact that Israeli intelligence was nonexistent; its Mossad was missing in action; and its highly-vaulted "Iron Dome" was porous at best. The world knows this; and the Israelis are hated globally. When they are eradicated, the world will cheer.
Our President Franklin D. Roosevelt and General George Marshall opposed the creation of Israel; and they were omniscient. Tragically, innocent Jews in America and elsewhere in the world have been experiencing unprecedented anti-Semitism because of Israel's Genocide, which has been directed at Palestinians and other non-Jews.
Yes, innocent Jews have suffered, and most of the people opposing the genocide seem to be Jewish. But I wonder if there is some kind of selection process - the cruel people are those who choose to live in Israel (not all of them, but they do seem to have a disproportionate number of evil people for the size of the population). Something I read today on "Palestine Will Be Free" convinced me. They had expressed a concern on J Street that Netanyahu might win next year's election. It seems there is a real danger of it, all because the people want genocide with as much suffering as possible..
Yes, it's bizarre to say the least. Add to the possibility (or likelihood) that "Osama bin Laden 2.0" may launch a nation-ending EMP Attack or similar assault against Israel, and there are sound reasons for the USA to extricate itself from the region.
We have gained nothing by being there; and innocent American Jews have been feeling the effects of rising anti-Semitism, which will only get far worse as Netanyahu, the "Settlers" and rabid Zionists pursue even more Genocide.
Hopefully, you're correct, S D. And that will happen only if Israeli ultranationalists are booted out, and a two-state framework is effected. Otherwise, the drumbeat of antisemitism will grow louder and louder, and the branding of Israel as an international pariah more and more the case.
I agree with your final assessment. If something isn't done, chaos will just continue. I'm just unable to see how any coalition will be able to eventually disarm Hamas. It's going to take exceptional leadership and courage by leaders of the Arab world, the PLO, and of the citizenry to disarm Hamas, who has demonstrated its willingness to execute its own people.
If Israel lets Barghouti out of prison, the Palestinians will vote for him (and for a two-state solution to continue) rather than Hamas. They will throw Hamas out themselves.
Actually, I believe that even Hamas has come to realize they can't make Israel go away. It's too strong for them. I am talking about NOW, not in 1948 or 2005. Things have changed, and no one wants to go back to the suffering of the last two years. That has to be why Hamas wanted Barghouti released. If it were not so, they wouldn't have wanted the release of a politician who would get more votes than they, or the former members of a disbanded Hamas, would get. Not releasing him has been a great mistake for anyone who wants a lasting peace for both Palestinians and Israelis.
So Hamas wants him released yet my understanding is that Abbas/Fatah does not. Why? Are there other Fatah alternatives who can be elected? Even if there is an election, do you think Hama's will just disarm on their own? They don't act like they do and an election can't really happen in areas of Hamas control without their allowing it. I don't trust either, and for me Hamas always has ulterior motives - actually, they all have. Given this and Abbas about to turn 90, I fear a continued sh..t show. Sorry to be such a pessimist. I really wish I could be more hopeful.
Not sure where you get your poll data from. My information is that Hamas is less popular in Gaza but not much under 50%, but in the West Bank it is far more popular than Fatah.
SO, so true!! I wonder if even Hamas has come to realize that only a two-state solution, or 23-state solution as J Street calls it, will being lasting peace. They must realize after the last two years that they can no more get rid of Israel than a mouse can get rid of a cat. Israel is too strong for them.
The PA isn't very popular in Gaza under Abbas, but suppose Marwan Barghouti led it - or even was heir apparent to Abbas. Hamas would be outvoted when the Palestinians had their first election and thereafter. They would get rid of Hamas themselves. With the 23-state solution, Israel would be secure because its neighbors would have nothing against it. (I don't think revenge is in the cards when it would restart the terrible suffering.)
Peter Beinart posted a wonderful video that I wish Donald Trump would watch - or maybe he already has. https://open.substack.com/pub/peterbeinart/p/it-was-never-about-hamas?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email Speaking of Trump, he is doing as well in the Middle East as he is doing badly at home. Maybe the only person who can oppose a bully is a bigger bully, but Netanyahu is actually saying no to annexing the West Bank. So is Trump! He wants that 23-state solution. Maybe I won't go to the next No Kings rally. ;-)