A Lethal Blow to the Soul of a Nation | The murder of six Israeli hostages by Hamas, disclosed by the IDF early Sunday morning (IST) was a lethal blow to Israel. And I will let the bereaved families’ words resonate. There is nothing to add.
Agreed Bibi needs to go. But not sure that the Histadrut shutting down the country is the way to go. It adds to the growing division which is exactly what Israel's enemies relish, in particular Hamas. Suppose there was a Bennett/Gantz coalition today I think there was nothing they could have done better to bring back the hostages. Why? Because Hamas is playing the long game, literally. The entire hostage/ceasefire deal was always a mirage.
Sadly, I have believed the possibility of a deal to be unrealistic. And I have said and written that publicly and often. I see nothing in any deal for Hamas. Having said that - the way in which Bibi has managed the war and domestic issues is appalling. And we mustn't forget that it was his vision and leadership which got us into this mess. He should have resigned on October 8......having said that........agreeing to the withdrawal term......Hamas either would take it or leave it.....if they took it......great....we get some living hostages out.......and if we have to go back in we can. That was a no brainer. But that's no longer a possibility. As for Histadrut - it allows the majority - who want Bibi to go - to vent their rage for a day or two. The people have been living in a pressure cooker for too long.....with no end in sight.
We lost the war on October 7. We have to stop pretending we can win.
And stop pretending that Israel's future depends on controlling Philadelphi. Israel's future depends on the people having faith and confidence in leadership. That is the most critical factor. That is the beating heart of the nation. Not Ben Gvir or Smotrich.
He is and has been PM for most of the last 20 years. He has developed and entrenched an approach to governing and security that he was very proud of until Oct 7. Containment. Of course, in reality he is not alone. But as PM he is at the top of the pyramid and, as honour would suggest, would take responsibility.
Circular reasoning. He was elected for most of the last 20 years. He is only a part of an entire class of people who adopted a go along attitude to Pax Americana.
Of course he should take responsibility - many times I called for his resignation on X after Oct 7. He's an awful leader. But the alternative - the Kaplan Street crowd - is worse. Some of them were calling for *insubordination* during their demonstrations before 10/7 which I think may have had something to do with Israel's scandalous response to 10/7 in the early hours.
I suggest that your speculation regarding the scandalous response on 10/7 is incorrect. A comment I do not make idly. But that's exactly why we need a State Commission of Inquiry.
As for the Kaplan crowd - of which I am a part - calling for insubordination......that would be a very extreme and small contingent. Have you spent time with the people who organize and attend these events? Have you attended one? In Tel Aviv or elsewhere in the country? I have. And they do not conform to the extremist portrait that you suggest may represent the norm.
Not sure why you find my comment to reflect circular reasoning but, it is what it is. Bibi is PM. All this occurred on his watch. He is the top guy. That is why he should have resigned. Honour. Taking responsibility. It's not about whether the system supported the vision. And - any system - even democracy - becomes corrupted morally with the same leadership over such a long period of time. Vested interests. Groupthink. Typically, in such extreme crises - it is top leadership that owns the event and takes a walk.
Apologies. The initial version of this piece that was published did not include mention of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, among those murdered by Hamas in recent days. It was clearly an oversight in the rush to get the piece out. In no way is he overlooked.
The simple truth should be the heading for any article about what’s happening in Israel now:
A psychopath and indicted criminal - elected democratically - is willfully and knowingly bringing death and destruction upon his people because they ‘dared’ indict him, and because he knows that when the war stops, his career is over, and his trial will land him in jail. Bibi is killing the Israeli people as revenge. All the rest is noise.
I'm an apolitical Italian-Israeli (just got my citizenship) and I've been appalled at the level of hysteria against Netanyahu. No, it's not about Philadelphi.
Hi Vivian, I did not make Aliyah. I'm not Jewish. My husband is a Yemeni Jew. I've gotten this citizenship after 6 years of residing here. I specified it because the anti-Israel crowds have been giving me a hard time assuming I'm not Israeli...while others have been telling me to Go back to Poland :) assuming I'm Jewish and inferring I'm a white colonizer.
Word is now out in these parts at least that the Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara put the Kaibash on quickening the IAF to act quickly in the end hours of Oct 7 to divert/attack Hamas and rescue the hostages. She used red tape and supposed protocol to halt Bibi’s actions, as he wanted war declated immediately. Apologies if you guys noted this earlier in your podcasts and I missed it. Praying for those beautiful innocent souls.
Not sure what “destroying” means or was understood to mean. Not sure the PM has adhered to a consistent understanding of that either. Israel lost on October 7. And leaving those who led the country to the precipice in power….rather bizarre.
I agree the people, from the security and Intel apparatus up to the Prime Minister, who were in charge of anything on October 7th should have been removed. But realistically, only a vote of no confidence and new elections must replace a government in a democracy. Israelis are divided. But Netanyahu, however worthy of being detested, is not a dictator. Israel is not a dictatorship. Israel's enemies are watching.
The War Cabinet had 3 objectives (read the text in Hebrew for better understanding): to degrade and destroy Hamas's terror infrastructure in Gaza, to the point it cannot represent a threat to Israel security anymore; to oust Hamas from governing Gaza, because such a neighbor is unacceptable after October 7th, and to RESCUE the hostages or have them released. Sinwar knows the Israeli society and what lenghts Israelis will go to have their loved ones back home. He's been exploiting this "weakness" to make sure Israel is destroyed from within. Be pissed angry agaist the Government, this, like desperation sadness frustration are all valid emotions of course. But never stop placing the onus on Hamas. Because you embolden them. Remember even ehud Olmert was warning Israelis not to protest during the Gilat Shalit captivity, because, he said, YOU are making the price go higher.
Philadelphi or not, Hamas has no intention of releasing the hostages. And it can carry on with its intention precisely because 1) it has all the time in the world. Learn about the Arab concept of time during war. His paradigm is a perpetual war and 2) LITREALLY NOBODY HAS BEEN APPLYING ANY PRESSURE ON HAMAS, DIPLOMATICALLY. Iran, Qatar, Turkey, SouthAfrica should have been pressured in order to force Hamas to free the civilian hostages at least. The military ones are Prisoners of War and a deal is acceptable during wartime/ceasefire negotiations.
After Philadelphi, Hamas will have more demands. Perpetual demands.
I agree with everything you're saying. But the fact remains: the Shalit deal did happen and it's constantly justified by Israel supporters because "we love life."
There are people who will say now that it was a bad deal. But no one wants to say that Israel should have simply said: "Gilad was a soldier and he lost his life in battle. Life goes on."
"Not sure what “destroying” means or was understood to mean."
You and me both. Another problem with this war. Wars need clear and definable goals.
But that is still a bit of a dodge on your part - whatever "destroy" means the point is that the goal to degrade/destroy/dislodge Hamas always conflicted with the goal of getting the hostages back.
Agreed Bibi needs to go. But not sure that the Histadrut shutting down the country is the way to go. It adds to the growing division which is exactly what Israel's enemies relish, in particular Hamas. Suppose there was a Bennett/Gantz coalition today I think there was nothing they could have done better to bring back the hostages. Why? Because Hamas is playing the long game, literally. The entire hostage/ceasefire deal was always a mirage.
Sadly, I have believed the possibility of a deal to be unrealistic. And I have said and written that publicly and often. I see nothing in any deal for Hamas. Having said that - the way in which Bibi has managed the war and domestic issues is appalling. And we mustn't forget that it was his vision and leadership which got us into this mess. He should have resigned on October 8......having said that........agreeing to the withdrawal term......Hamas either would take it or leave it.....if they took it......great....we get some living hostages out.......and if we have to go back in we can. That was a no brainer. But that's no longer a possibility. As for Histadrut - it allows the majority - who want Bibi to go - to vent their rage for a day or two. The people have been living in a pressure cooker for too long.....with no end in sight.
We lost the war on October 7. We have to stop pretending we can win.
And stop pretending that Israel's future depends on controlling Philadelphi. Israel's future depends on the people having faith and confidence in leadership. That is the most critical factor. That is the beating heart of the nation. Not Ben Gvir or Smotrich.
"And we mustn't forget that it was his vision and leadership which got us into this mess."
So it was one man who got an entire country to subscribe to "Pax Americana"?
He is and has been PM for most of the last 20 years. He has developed and entrenched an approach to governing and security that he was very proud of until Oct 7. Containment. Of course, in reality he is not alone. But as PM he is at the top of the pyramid and, as honour would suggest, would take responsibility.
Circular reasoning. He was elected for most of the last 20 years. He is only a part of an entire class of people who adopted a go along attitude to Pax Americana.
Of course he should take responsibility - many times I called for his resignation on X after Oct 7. He's an awful leader. But the alternative - the Kaplan Street crowd - is worse. Some of them were calling for *insubordination* during their demonstrations before 10/7 which I think may have had something to do with Israel's scandalous response to 10/7 in the early hours.
I suggest that your speculation regarding the scandalous response on 10/7 is incorrect. A comment I do not make idly. But that's exactly why we need a State Commission of Inquiry.
As for the Kaplan crowd - of which I am a part - calling for insubordination......that would be a very extreme and small contingent. Have you spent time with the people who organize and attend these events? Have you attended one? In Tel Aviv or elsewhere in the country? I have. And they do not conform to the extremist portrait that you suggest may represent the norm.
Not sure why you find my comment to reflect circular reasoning but, it is what it is. Bibi is PM. All this occurred on his watch. He is the top guy. That is why he should have resigned. Honour. Taking responsibility. It's not about whether the system supported the vision. And - any system - even democracy - becomes corrupted morally with the same leadership over such a long period of time. Vested interests. Groupthink. Typically, in such extreme crises - it is top leadership that owns the event and takes a walk.
I never said the Kaplan crowd was calling for insubordination. I said "some" - I was thinking of this one in particular.
I didn't realize you were a part of them. I'd never have commented here if I had known that.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/ex-shin-bet-chief-diskin-suspending-voluntary-reserve-service-now-is-a-heroic-step/
Apologies. The initial version of this piece that was published did not include mention of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, among those murdered by Hamas in recent days. It was clearly an oversight in the rush to get the piece out. In no way is he overlooked.
The simple truth should be the heading for any article about what’s happening in Israel now:
A psychopath and indicted criminal - elected democratically - is willfully and knowingly bringing death and destruction upon his people because they ‘dared’ indict him, and because he knows that when the war stops, his career is over, and his trial will land him in jail. Bibi is killing the Israeli people as revenge. All the rest is noise.
Have you have pondered that there might be a lot more than the narrative you are telling here? For example every sentence of this: https://zicksworld.substack.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZttKHiwm7z7i0guzFzTNYi1XtJYiLQ8ZjmsAsUzNojBlZ7LMA2afpnaYA_aem_aBVSIJNpp_mw25AfMzxzSg
I'm an apolitical Italian-Israeli (just got my citizenship) and I've been appalled at the level of hysteria against Netanyahu. No, it's not about Philadelphi.
PS. Congrats on making aliya. I trust that there are no assumptions embedded in that disclosure.
Hi Vivian, I did not make Aliyah. I'm not Jewish. My husband is a Yemeni Jew. I've gotten this citizenship after 6 years of residing here. I specified it because the anti-Israel crowds have been giving me a hard time assuming I'm not Israeli...while others have been telling me to Go back to Poland :) assuming I'm Jewish and inferring I'm a white colonizer.
Yes. I have pondered. A lot. It’s been a long road with Bibi. Perhaps we just see things differently.
Fwiw: condescension isn’t an effective tactic of persuasion.
Word is now out in these parts at least that the Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara put the Kaibash on quickening the IAF to act quickly in the end hours of Oct 7 to divert/attack Hamas and rescue the hostages. She used red tape and supposed protocol to halt Bibi’s actions, as he wanted war declated immediately. Apologies if you guys noted this earlier in your podcasts and I missed it. Praying for those beautiful innocent souls.
End Hamas/Hazbollah/Houthis/IRGC Quatar
From the moment this war started the two goals of getting the hostages back and destroying Hamas were in conflict.
Not sure what “destroying” means or was understood to mean. Not sure the PM has adhered to a consistent understanding of that either. Israel lost on October 7. And leaving those who led the country to the precipice in power….rather bizarre.
I agree the people, from the security and Intel apparatus up to the Prime Minister, who were in charge of anything on October 7th should have been removed. But realistically, only a vote of no confidence and new elections must replace a government in a democracy. Israelis are divided. But Netanyahu, however worthy of being detested, is not a dictator. Israel is not a dictatorship. Israel's enemies are watching.
The War Cabinet had 3 objectives (read the text in Hebrew for better understanding): to degrade and destroy Hamas's terror infrastructure in Gaza, to the point it cannot represent a threat to Israel security anymore; to oust Hamas from governing Gaza, because such a neighbor is unacceptable after October 7th, and to RESCUE the hostages or have them released. Sinwar knows the Israeli society and what lenghts Israelis will go to have their loved ones back home. He's been exploiting this "weakness" to make sure Israel is destroyed from within. Be pissed angry agaist the Government, this, like desperation sadness frustration are all valid emotions of course. But never stop placing the onus on Hamas. Because you embolden them. Remember even ehud Olmert was warning Israelis not to protest during the Gilat Shalit captivity, because, he said, YOU are making the price go higher.
Philadelphi or not, Hamas has no intention of releasing the hostages. And it can carry on with its intention precisely because 1) it has all the time in the world. Learn about the Arab concept of time during war. His paradigm is a perpetual war and 2) LITREALLY NOBODY HAS BEEN APPLYING ANY PRESSURE ON HAMAS, DIPLOMATICALLY. Iran, Qatar, Turkey, SouthAfrica should have been pressured in order to force Hamas to free the civilian hostages at least. The military ones are Prisoners of War and a deal is acceptable during wartime/ceasefire negotiations.
After Philadelphi, Hamas will have more demands. Perpetual demands.
I agree with everything you're saying. But the fact remains: the Shalit deal did happen and it's constantly justified by Israel supporters because "we love life."
There are people who will say now that it was a bad deal. But no one wants to say that Israel should have simply said: "Gilad was a soldier and he lost his life in battle. Life goes on."
I'll say that and I won't apologize for it..
"Not sure what “destroying” means or was understood to mean."
You and me both. Another problem with this war. Wars need clear and definable goals.
But that is still a bit of a dodge on your part - whatever "destroy" means the point is that the goal to degrade/destroy/dislodge Hamas always conflicted with the goal of getting the hostages back.