To pick just one point made, I would emphasize the significance of the demographic issue, and the argument that an independent or quasi independent Palestinian state is actually necessary for the benefit and long term survival of Israel as a democracy and a Jewish state.
Agree with everything in the article, except the conclusion/Netanyahu's strategy. Netanyahu has a megalomaniacal plan here, it is incredibly dangerous and largely immoral, but it is what it is and it behooves us to call him out on it and not let him implement it (which he is doing). When I first said it 12 months ago, I was called sensationalist, today the same people are saying "I don't think that's what he wants, but who knows." - waiting for realization to sink in).
- continue the war in Gaza and Lebanon, both framed as wars of survival, and distance himself from the October 7th debacle (obviously)
- use these wars to justify and eventually plan and execute the long dreamed of attack on Iran, ideally with Trump (I can see this as being "his" war - it has big global consequences but he can make a deal with Russia to give them Ukraine in exchange for allowing Iran and the Mideast to get reorganized).
- use these wars to depopulate Gaza (i.e. TRANSFER/ethnic cleansing) - they have already moved everyone out of the northern half (barbarically - does the public realize this?). they are getting the world used to masses of gazans being moved around, and when Trump gives Egypt $20B, for instance, to accept having the Gazans moved to Sinai or elsewhere, the endgame will be clear. It's not at all likely to work (largely because even the desperate Egyptians aren't going to sell out the Palestinians to that extent), but it's what Bibi's scum supporters want and hope can eventually happen. I await choruses of "but the world won't accept it!". Look at what we have already accepted, because Bibi said so... (well, not me).
- radicalize and shame the West Bank Palestinians, oppress them, let the settlers rampage and do pogroms, all to create all the ingredients for the West Bank to descend into chaos, for the PA to collapse and for its security establishment to stop effectively cooperating with Israel and start fighting, so as to give a pretext for a move against them and the "end" of this Palestinian experiment. then we can "deal with" those West Bank Palestinians as well. Start moving them around, eventually make the West Bank Gaza again (can we make hats?)... it's already being proposed by senior officials and ministers, for anyone who doubts all of this. what's the goal? to eventually expel or force most of them to leave (because they are all terrorists, of course - the cry in Israel is "they all support Hamas").
- use the crisis and the coalition's "survival instincts" to push through the Putinization of Israel (the goal of the Right around the world, actually). The public is tired and jaded after endless protests couldn't make the government care about the hostages, the firing of Gallant did nothing, the parade goes by and the dogs keep barking, as they say... - the final result: the terrirories see a massive reduction in their Palestinian populations (dead or moved), Iran and its axis is crippled and crushed, perhaps a friendlier government in place, the other Arab nations fall into line amazed by Israeli power and successes. Isreal is a fascist-religious state, a kind of modern Sparta, where Bibi wins reelection even after he is dead, getting 99.9% of the vote.
I know there are some that read this and find a lot to like.. Others view this as apocalytic and "negativist". It's a megalomaniacal, messianic pipe dream that turns Israel into a modern Sparta and requires terrible sacrifices and moral compromises while presenting unbelievable dangers, death and suffering along the way. But it is the undercover strategy today, it is the "desired endgame" and it needs to be stopped and a totally new path charted.
May Israel's leaders burn in hell for spurning the Biden plan - they have condemned us all to a nightmare. God bless Joe, and forgive us for not appreciating you. They know not what they do...
Dan, please answer this one question: there are “Palestinian Arabs” living in Israel with full citizenship, why couldn’t there be Israeli Jews i.e. settlers, living in a Palestinian state with full citizenship?
There no reason in principle that I can think of, but there are quite a few practical problems, as with most harebrained right-wing talking points: 1) Many of the ones living deep inside the West Bank are ultranationalist troublemakers who would NEVER be loyal Palestinian citizens, to such an extreme degree that it's almost amusing to even contemplate; 2) Many of them wouldn't want it, at all.; 3) It would be untenable politically on both sides; 4) They would face the real possibility of massacres by the Palestinians, since Palestine is extremely unlikely to be an orderly liberal democracy.
I meant to add that Mike Huckabee, while he is ‘pro Israel’, his views on the takeover of settlements and etc are actually against the long term interests of Israel as a country.
I hate to criticize a strong supporter of Israel, but…
Right wing fanatics who support the settlement enterprise are not supporters of Israel, or even Zionists, they are promoting policies that will lead to its destruction. In most cases it is from ignorance - a deep lack of understanding of the issues in the region, the history and the demographics. In other cases it is actually messianic, since Christian fundamentalists believe that Armageddon will be launched (much to the detriment of any Jews who won't accept Jesus Christ as their savior) in Israel, as part of a huge war (not so far-fetched). It's just so sad to see, and I don't see things going back to "normal", as the world has apparently decided to give fascism and ultra-nationalism another go. We learn nothing from our history and are doomed to repeat it, I fear the planet might not survive this round...
Basically agree with entire piece.
To pick just one point made, I would emphasize the significance of the demographic issue, and the argument that an independent or quasi independent Palestinian state is actually necessary for the benefit and long term survival of Israel as a democracy and a Jewish state.
Agree with everything in the article, except the conclusion/Netanyahu's strategy. Netanyahu has a megalomaniacal plan here, it is incredibly dangerous and largely immoral, but it is what it is and it behooves us to call him out on it and not let him implement it (which he is doing). When I first said it 12 months ago, I was called sensationalist, today the same people are saying "I don't think that's what he wants, but who knows." - waiting for realization to sink in).
- continue the war in Gaza and Lebanon, both framed as wars of survival, and distance himself from the October 7th debacle (obviously)
- use these wars to justify and eventually plan and execute the long dreamed of attack on Iran, ideally with Trump (I can see this as being "his" war - it has big global consequences but he can make a deal with Russia to give them Ukraine in exchange for allowing Iran and the Mideast to get reorganized).
- use these wars to depopulate Gaza (i.e. TRANSFER/ethnic cleansing) - they have already moved everyone out of the northern half (barbarically - does the public realize this?). they are getting the world used to masses of gazans being moved around, and when Trump gives Egypt $20B, for instance, to accept having the Gazans moved to Sinai or elsewhere, the endgame will be clear. It's not at all likely to work (largely because even the desperate Egyptians aren't going to sell out the Palestinians to that extent), but it's what Bibi's scum supporters want and hope can eventually happen. I await choruses of "but the world won't accept it!". Look at what we have already accepted, because Bibi said so... (well, not me).
- radicalize and shame the West Bank Palestinians, oppress them, let the settlers rampage and do pogroms, all to create all the ingredients for the West Bank to descend into chaos, for the PA to collapse and for its security establishment to stop effectively cooperating with Israel and start fighting, so as to give a pretext for a move against them and the "end" of this Palestinian experiment. then we can "deal with" those West Bank Palestinians as well. Start moving them around, eventually make the West Bank Gaza again (can we make hats?)... it's already being proposed by senior officials and ministers, for anyone who doubts all of this. what's the goal? to eventually expel or force most of them to leave (because they are all terrorists, of course - the cry in Israel is "they all support Hamas").
- use the crisis and the coalition's "survival instincts" to push through the Putinization of Israel (the goal of the Right around the world, actually). The public is tired and jaded after endless protests couldn't make the government care about the hostages, the firing of Gallant did nothing, the parade goes by and the dogs keep barking, as they say... - the final result: the terrirories see a massive reduction in their Palestinian populations (dead or moved), Iran and its axis is crippled and crushed, perhaps a friendlier government in place, the other Arab nations fall into line amazed by Israeli power and successes. Isreal is a fascist-religious state, a kind of modern Sparta, where Bibi wins reelection even after he is dead, getting 99.9% of the vote.
I know there are some that read this and find a lot to like.. Others view this as apocalytic and "negativist". It's a megalomaniacal, messianic pipe dream that turns Israel into a modern Sparta and requires terrible sacrifices and moral compromises while presenting unbelievable dangers, death and suffering along the way. But it is the undercover strategy today, it is the "desired endgame" and it needs to be stopped and a totally new path charted.
May Israel's leaders burn in hell for spurning the Biden plan - they have condemned us all to a nightmare. God bless Joe, and forgive us for not appreciating you. They know not what they do...
Correction on the above - Lebanon he will end, it is Gaza that will be perpetuated. Don't want to be too pessimistic! :)
No.4 is the reason.
Dan, please answer this one question: there are “Palestinian Arabs” living in Israel with full citizenship, why couldn’t there be Israeli Jews i.e. settlers, living in a Palestinian state with full citizenship?
They're all connected, but yes, it is a huge reason. Believe me, I have no illusions.
There no reason in principle that I can think of, but there are quite a few practical problems, as with most harebrained right-wing talking points: 1) Many of the ones living deep inside the West Bank are ultranationalist troublemakers who would NEVER be loyal Palestinian citizens, to such an extreme degree that it's almost amusing to even contemplate; 2) Many of them wouldn't want it, at all.; 3) It would be untenable politically on both sides; 4) They would face the real possibility of massacres by the Palestinians, since Palestine is extremely unlikely to be an orderly liberal democracy.
I meant to add that Mike Huckabee, while he is ‘pro Israel’, his views on the takeover of settlements and etc are actually against the long term interests of Israel as a country.
I hate to criticize a strong supporter of Israel, but…
Right wing fanatics who support the settlement enterprise are not supporters of Israel, or even Zionists, they are promoting policies that will lead to its destruction. In most cases it is from ignorance - a deep lack of understanding of the issues in the region, the history and the demographics. In other cases it is actually messianic, since Christian fundamentalists believe that Armageddon will be launched (much to the detriment of any Jews who won't accept Jesus Christ as their savior) in Israel, as part of a huge war (not so far-fetched). It's just so sad to see, and I don't see things going back to "normal", as the world has apparently decided to give fascism and ultra-nationalism another go. We learn nothing from our history and are doomed to repeat it, I fear the planet might not survive this round...