Is PM Benjamin Netanyahu being straight with President Biden and the people of Israel? | Over the weekend, Israeli media reported that President Biden repeatedly said this to PM Benjamin Netanuahyu when they spoke on the phone last Thursday. “Stop bullshitting me.”
If Hamas were agreeable to a ceasefire offer on the table, don’t you think they would have announced such a breakthrough? Of course, the one time Hamas tried, it turned out it was accepting terms none of the mediators proposed.
Whatever you may think of your Prime Minister, one question suggests itself. Iis keeping Hamas in power after October 7 something the Israeli public will allow? The premise of Sharon’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 was that the world would support Israel against any terror act launched from the Strip. From today’s vantage point, that hope appears foolishly naive. And Hamas’ survival will likely be the death knell politically of the “moderate” PA.
The elephant in the room is that Hamas is not a national liberation movement nor does it represent some segment of an international progressive movement. It is an Islamic supremacist group with millennialist pretensions of bringing about a world under Islam. The West seems happy to hide behind Israel for now.
But the question remains, how can anyone negotiate with such a group and believe it is acting in good faith? Wasn’t there a “permanent” ceasefire in place up to the morning of October 7? And hasn’t Hamas promised to repeat October 7 as often as required until Israel is destroyed?
I suppose the best answer is that Hamas can be neutered if its paymaster cuts it off. Given the West’s failure to back Israel against Hamas, does anyone imagine a stronger Western coalition against Iran?
Given all this, if the Israeli public has lost confidence in its current Prime Minister to achieve the goal of ending Hamas’ rule over Gaza, whom do they trust to safeguard the country going forward?
Hamas, through its war crimes, including of hostage taking, has intentionally presented Israel with a horrific choice. If it survives, it promises more of the same.
Compare for a second Ukraine, another country whose enemies reject its sovereignty and history. No one is demanding that Ukraine give up its justified fight and reach an immediate ceasefire with Putin - with some vague belief that “justice” will somehow prevail purely as a result of negotiations. Oddly, the many Ukrainian orphans abducted to Russia, when it’s raised at all, is not seen as anything over which to negotiate but a black mark against Russia.
A lot of issues raised and I simply do not have the energy to respond properly now. But I will say this. Hamas' true nature is not an elephant in my room. I make no bones about who and what they are. Having said that - they hold the hostages. And we want them back. Bad news? I have maintained since October 8 - with an aching heart - that there are certain hostages that will never be freed. Listen to the podcast dropping soon and in particular my discussion with Lt. Col. (Res.) Jonathan Conricus. We get into this. As for your comments on Ukraine - some great stuff coming this week in a podcast interview with Natasha Hausdorff - brilliant international lawyer. We thump on these very issues.
This analysis is a lot more insightful and nuanced than the Hamas talking points you have parroted in the original article. I'm 10000 miles away and I can see from here that Hamas is lying, hostages will never be given up and this fight is to the death. Whether you bring your govt down is up to you, it's just another objective of Hamas and will not get you your hostages back from doing so.
Bibi sees that the US lauds FDR after Pearl Harbor. So why shouldn’t it be with him? Israel will decide Bibis legacy. But don’t trust Biden/Harris either. The democrats care about winning in November more than they care about the hostages, even the American ones.
It’s almost 100 years later. Bibi isn’t FDR. And Israel is always judged by a different standard. And the hostages are, in the end, Israel’s responsibility. October 7 went down under his leadership. His great containment strategy blew up in his face. Leaving the hostages to languish will be the most impactful “legacy” of this period. IMO.
Bibi and his family have never given anything to the state. They have always been exclusively in the business of taking. And that is part of the root cause of all the trouble.
I hear you. One of his sons is low key and has clearly opted out of the circus. As has his daughter. I'll stay silent on the rest....:). In light of Yoni's role in Israel I am very careful about certain things. And I revered him before I knew who Bibi was.
If Hamas were agreeable to a ceasefire offer on the table, don’t you think they would have announced such a breakthrough? Of course, the one time Hamas tried, it turned out it was accepting terms none of the mediators proposed.
Whatever you may think of your Prime Minister, one question suggests itself. Iis keeping Hamas in power after October 7 something the Israeli public will allow? The premise of Sharon’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 was that the world would support Israel against any terror act launched from the Strip. From today’s vantage point, that hope appears foolishly naive. And Hamas’ survival will likely be the death knell politically of the “moderate” PA.
The elephant in the room is that Hamas is not a national liberation movement nor does it represent some segment of an international progressive movement. It is an Islamic supremacist group with millennialist pretensions of bringing about a world under Islam. The West seems happy to hide behind Israel for now.
But the question remains, how can anyone negotiate with such a group and believe it is acting in good faith? Wasn’t there a “permanent” ceasefire in place up to the morning of October 7? And hasn’t Hamas promised to repeat October 7 as often as required until Israel is destroyed?
I suppose the best answer is that Hamas can be neutered if its paymaster cuts it off. Given the West’s failure to back Israel against Hamas, does anyone imagine a stronger Western coalition against Iran?
Given all this, if the Israeli public has lost confidence in its current Prime Minister to achieve the goal of ending Hamas’ rule over Gaza, whom do they trust to safeguard the country going forward?
Hamas, through its war crimes, including of hostage taking, has intentionally presented Israel with a horrific choice. If it survives, it promises more of the same.
Compare for a second Ukraine, another country whose enemies reject its sovereignty and history. No one is demanding that Ukraine give up its justified fight and reach an immediate ceasefire with Putin - with some vague belief that “justice” will somehow prevail purely as a result of negotiations. Oddly, the many Ukrainian orphans abducted to Russia, when it’s raised at all, is not seen as anything over which to negotiate but a black mark against Russia.
A lot of issues raised and I simply do not have the energy to respond properly now. But I will say this. Hamas' true nature is not an elephant in my room. I make no bones about who and what they are. Having said that - they hold the hostages. And we want them back. Bad news? I have maintained since October 8 - with an aching heart - that there are certain hostages that will never be freed. Listen to the podcast dropping soon and in particular my discussion with Lt. Col. (Res.) Jonathan Conricus. We get into this. As for your comments on Ukraine - some great stuff coming this week in a podcast interview with Natasha Hausdorff - brilliant international lawyer. We thump on these very issues.
This analysis is a lot more insightful and nuanced than the Hamas talking points you have parroted in the original article. I'm 10000 miles away and I can see from here that Hamas is lying, hostages will never be given up and this fight is to the death. Whether you bring your govt down is up to you, it's just another objective of Hamas and will not get you your hostages back from doing so.
Bibi sees that the US lauds FDR after Pearl Harbor. So why shouldn’t it be with him? Israel will decide Bibis legacy. But don’t trust Biden/Harris either. The democrats care about winning in November more than they care about the hostages, even the American ones.
It’s almost 100 years later. Bibi isn’t FDR. And Israel is always judged by a different standard. And the hostages are, in the end, Israel’s responsibility. October 7 went down under his leadership. His great containment strategy blew up in his face. Leaving the hostages to languish will be the most impactful “legacy” of this period. IMO.
Brilliant analysis.
Thanks, David. Coming from you that means a lot...:)
The fact that Joe Biden, a true friend of Israel, has resorted to nonpresidential language indicates
that he has run out of patience with Bibi. We fear for the munitions supply chain from the U.S.A.
Please keep reporting.
H&S
Indeed. Quite terrifying times.
Bibi and his family have never given anything to the state. They have always been exclusively in the business of taking. And that is part of the root cause of all the trouble.
His brother gave his life.
I meant the family he is the titular head of and the one he has formed and shaped. Him, his (current) wife, their children.
Yoni indeed gave his life and the way his sacrifice has been exploited by Bibi is by now disgraceful.
I hear you. One of his sons is low key and has clearly opted out of the circus. As has his daughter. I'll stay silent on the rest....:). In light of Yoni's role in Israel I am very careful about certain things. And I revered him before I knew who Bibi was.
I don’t think Biden could even make that 3 word sentence
You're not talking about Justin Trudeau...:)?