Deterrence does not work when sitting across the table from antisemitic, genocidal, death-cult terrorist organizations. But the Israelis are negotiating as if it does.
USA and western nations need to stop being two faced Palestinian lovers and genuine support shown to Israel the only democratic nation in their area instead of ignorant thinking and hindering Israel from carrying out their mission to end this war . The west has become completely deceived by these Hamas/ Palestinian terrorists that have in mind to commit genocide not only against Israel but the rest of humanity that does not hold to their radical beliefs. Let Israel do their job unhindered
Exile nowadays isn't worth a damn modern technology makes it obsolete, the leadership will still control and have the same power,they can give orders react instantly as if standing in Gaza, the American are going to use anything to help win an election especially the Biden party because all that I've seen so far is all front no guts in Kamala Harris, she's empty just a mouth piece, when pushed she sat on the fence on instead of stating her views, that's gutless or sneaky neither a good quality, but as you stated and we've seen in Afghanistan America doesn't mind walking away from problems it's created and sod the lives of it's allies
Deterrence comes from war, not negotiations. The best example is the 2006 Lebanon War, after which Hassan Nasrallah addressed the nation to apologize for starting it, saying he would never have done so had he known what Israel's response would be.
Deterrence is happening in Gaza every day now.
Negotiations are purely a US election tactic to keep the factions of the Democratic Party together until the election. Planned demonstrations at the Chicago convention will be fascinating to watch.
As for the possibility of victory, the experts will remember that in 1991 the Algerian military stopped an islamist party from taking power and after less than 10 years of civil war, defeated it completely. Egypt's Abd el Fattah al Sissi showed, in the Rab'aa mosque and later, how easily the Muslim Brotherhood can be suppressed.
Don’t give an inch, Bibi. “Bring them home or you die.” While you continue to pick the rabid murderers off anyway, using your diplomacy, deterrence, detente as usual w Biden: “ooops, sorry, killed him … meant to call ya, Joey…’
“Israeli leadership, including but not limited to the prime minister, should be held accountable immediately after this war ends, according to how Israeli society (and not foreign actors) believes they should be held accountable.”
This is a formula for the PM to never end the war, whether through negotiations or utter victory. If Netanyahu knows peace will result in accountability for him for 10/7, (not to mention possible prison on the preexisting corruption charges) , he’ll spend the rest of his life telling everyone “ we’re making progress but not quite there”.
Maybe or maybe not. (Probably not.) Israelis are not suckers. You can't keep pulling their legs forever. But even if you are right, expecting Israel to defeat Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (which built a massive Jihadist fortress across all of Gaza) is stupidly unrealistic. More time is needed, a few more months it seems, not forever.
As I quoted last week, "I intend to move immediately upon your works." - U.S. Grant. Not after the next round of negotiations, not after the U.S. Democrat Party convention, not after you get your next drink of Israeli desalination water, not after a puff on your American cigarette. Immediately!
Interesting to me the USA has always stipulated "We don't negotiate with Terrorists" however when it come to Israel the whole world wants Israeli to negotiate with these proscribed Terrorists?
These Terrorists don't want to negotiate and they certainly do not want peace their mission has been and still is to destroy Israel and its people and then go on to destroy the rest of the world
“in practice, the U.S. likely holds game-changing leverage over Israel.”
The US's leverage:
1. Restrict or deny arms shipments to Israel
2. Withdraw support for Israel at the UN, effectively allowing it to turn Israel into a pariah state thus legitimating any and all economic sanctions and blockades (an international BDS). The ultimate goal is to destroy Israel economically so that it can no longer function as a state
3. Recognize “Palestine” as a state, further legitimizing any and all actions taken by the international community against Israel, and worse, facilitating the creation of a terror state on its borders, something no other nation in the world would allow to be imposed on itself
4. Use covert operations to arrange the overthrow of the current government in favour of a compliant government.
“The only real way to defeat a terrorist organization is to play their game better than them. By taking the “higher road” and being the “better person” when seated across the table from terrorists, you make the game asymmetrical and automatically set yourself up for failure.”
and
“Another group I hear from, both in Israel and abroad, is the one which argues that Israel should agree to a ceasefire for the sake of returning the abductees, and then reestablish its defensive posture (e.g. deterrence) so as to prevent another October 7th or the like in the future.”
Cultures and ethnicities tend to be tone deaf when it comes to the values and practices of other ethnicities. The anthropological term for these blind spots is called ethnocentrism. This centrist thinking appears to be a typical human failing. Another well-known example would be anthropocentrism.
A critical point rarely, if ever addressed. It is the classic Ethics problem as expressed in the runaway train dilemma when many lives are in peril versus a few and choosing one group over the other ensures the death over the one not chosen Tanach dealt with this problem too but in moral terms when Abraham argued with God about how many people it would take to save Sodom from immanent destruction. Applied to Israel's present predicament, should Hamas be spared to save the lives of hostages when it is a guarantee that Hamas will repeat Oct 7th, or is it acceptable that the lives of the hostages be sacrificed to eliminate Hamas and prevent another Oct 7th. Those arguing for immediate capitulation to Hamas' demands in return for the hostages never mention that the captives could still be rescued by the IDF or as Hamas collapses they might be released in exchange for safe passage to another country. Those demonstrating for the hostages also do not mention that Galid Shallit was released for approximately 1,047 prisoners, among whom was Yahya Sinwar, architect of the Oct. 7th massacre, potentially swelling Hamas' fighter ranks and providing replacements for commanders lost in the present war.
“the buck [responsibility for the debacle of Oct 7th, and more widely, for the war itself] ultimately stops with Israel’s leadership.”
The issue largely comes down to the relationship of Netanyahu to the continuation of the war. Both within and outside Israel, politicians directly or through innuendo blame Netanyahu for there not being a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. Their views are faithfully echoed in the print and electronic media and repeated by factions of the Street, most frequently by leftists and especially by the Alt L who are acutely aware that a ceasefire leaves Hamas in control of Gaza and allows them to initiate repeat Oct 7ths as they have publicly promised to do.
The essence of the criticism is that Netanyahu is purposefully continuing the war for two reasons, the first is political. It keeps him and his party in power. The second is personal, that so long as he is prime minister, he cannot be prosecuted for corruption charges laid against him. However, as Netanyahu made clear when he was as young as 28, his singular goal was the elimination of the existential threat to Israel. You can see his position clearly articulated here:
I hear everything you say and I tend to agree. But on 8/13 we had this from you: "They say Israel's war strategy is failing. They are dead wrong." Please clarify.
USA and western nations need to stop being two faced Palestinian lovers and genuine support shown to Israel the only democratic nation in their area instead of ignorant thinking and hindering Israel from carrying out their mission to end this war . The west has become completely deceived by these Hamas/ Palestinian terrorists that have in mind to commit genocide not only against Israel but the rest of humanity that does not hold to their radical beliefs. Let Israel do their job unhindered
Great article. 100% on point.
Thanks for your clear summary of the situation, Joshua.
Fantastic article.
Exile nowadays isn't worth a damn modern technology makes it obsolete, the leadership will still control and have the same power,they can give orders react instantly as if standing in Gaza, the American are going to use anything to help win an election especially the Biden party because all that I've seen so far is all front no guts in Kamala Harris, she's empty just a mouth piece, when pushed she sat on the fence on instead of stating her views, that's gutless or sneaky neither a good quality, but as you stated and we've seen in Afghanistan America doesn't mind walking away from problems it's created and sod the lives of it's allies
Good points about remote control but still not the same as a physical presence in Gaza.
Deterrence comes from war, not negotiations. The best example is the 2006 Lebanon War, after which Hassan Nasrallah addressed the nation to apologize for starting it, saying he would never have done so had he known what Israel's response would be.
Deterrence is happening in Gaza every day now.
Negotiations are purely a US election tactic to keep the factions of the Democratic Party together until the election. Planned demonstrations at the Chicago convention will be fascinating to watch.
As for the possibility of victory, the experts will remember that in 1991 the Algerian military stopped an islamist party from taking power and after less than 10 years of civil war, defeated it completely. Egypt's Abd el Fattah al Sissi showed, in the Rab'aa mosque and later, how easily the Muslim Brotherhood can be suppressed.
https://www.ft.com/content/0fa5736e-0b5b-11e8-bacb-2958fde95e5e
One of your most educational pieces on a topic little understood in the US, even amongst US Jews. Toda!
Don’t give an inch, Bibi. “Bring them home or you die.” While you continue to pick the rabid murderers off anyway, using your diplomacy, deterrence, detente as usual w Biden: “ooops, sorry, killed him … meant to call ya, Joey…’
“Israeli leadership, including but not limited to the prime minister, should be held accountable immediately after this war ends, according to how Israeli society (and not foreign actors) believes they should be held accountable.”
This is a formula for the PM to never end the war, whether through negotiations or utter victory. If Netanyahu knows peace will result in accountability for him for 10/7, (not to mention possible prison on the preexisting corruption charges) , he’ll spend the rest of his life telling everyone “ we’re making progress but not quite there”.
Maybe or maybe not. (Probably not.) Israelis are not suckers. You can't keep pulling their legs forever. But even if you are right, expecting Israel to defeat Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (which built a massive Jihadist fortress across all of Gaza) is stupidly unrealistic. More time is needed, a few more months it seems, not forever.
As I quoted last week, "I intend to move immediately upon your works." - U.S. Grant. Not after the next round of negotiations, not after the U.S. Democrat Party convention, not after you get your next drink of Israeli desalination water, not after a puff on your American cigarette. Immediately!
Brilliant piece. I agree with everything you said. God will Bless you!
Well said and spot on. Concur re A & B; joining in your prayers.
I completely agree with you. Well said.
Interesting to me the USA has always stipulated "We don't negotiate with Terrorists" however when it come to Israel the whole world wants Israeli to negotiate with these proscribed Terrorists?
These Terrorists don't want to negotiate and they certainly do not want peace their mission has been and still is to destroy Israel and its people and then go on to destroy the rest of the world
“in practice, the U.S. likely holds game-changing leverage over Israel.”
The US's leverage:
1. Restrict or deny arms shipments to Israel
2. Withdraw support for Israel at the UN, effectively allowing it to turn Israel into a pariah state thus legitimating any and all economic sanctions and blockades (an international BDS). The ultimate goal is to destroy Israel economically so that it can no longer function as a state
3. Recognize “Palestine” as a state, further legitimizing any and all actions taken by the international community against Israel, and worse, facilitating the creation of a terror state on its borders, something no other nation in the world would allow to be imposed on itself
4. Use covert operations to arrange the overthrow of the current government in favour of a compliant government.
“The only real way to defeat a terrorist organization is to play their game better than them. By taking the “higher road” and being the “better person” when seated across the table from terrorists, you make the game asymmetrical and automatically set yourself up for failure.”
and
“Another group I hear from, both in Israel and abroad, is the one which argues that Israel should agree to a ceasefire for the sake of returning the abductees, and then reestablish its defensive posture (e.g. deterrence) so as to prevent another October 7th or the like in the future.”
Cultures and ethnicities tend to be tone deaf when it comes to the values and practices of other ethnicities. The anthropological term for these blind spots is called ethnocentrism. This centrist thinking appears to be a typical human failing. Another well-known example would be anthropocentrism.
A critical point rarely, if ever addressed. It is the classic Ethics problem as expressed in the runaway train dilemma when many lives are in peril versus a few and choosing one group over the other ensures the death over the one not chosen Tanach dealt with this problem too but in moral terms when Abraham argued with God about how many people it would take to save Sodom from immanent destruction. Applied to Israel's present predicament, should Hamas be spared to save the lives of hostages when it is a guarantee that Hamas will repeat Oct 7th, or is it acceptable that the lives of the hostages be sacrificed to eliminate Hamas and prevent another Oct 7th. Those arguing for immediate capitulation to Hamas' demands in return for the hostages never mention that the captives could still be rescued by the IDF or as Hamas collapses they might be released in exchange for safe passage to another country. Those demonstrating for the hostages also do not mention that Galid Shallit was released for approximately 1,047 prisoners, among whom was Yahya Sinwar, architect of the Oct. 7th massacre, potentially swelling Hamas' fighter ranks and providing replacements for commanders lost in the present war.
“the buck [responsibility for the debacle of Oct 7th, and more widely, for the war itself] ultimately stops with Israel’s leadership.”
The issue largely comes down to the relationship of Netanyahu to the continuation of the war. Both within and outside Israel, politicians directly or through innuendo blame Netanyahu for there not being a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. Their views are faithfully echoed in the print and electronic media and repeated by factions of the Street, most frequently by leftists and especially by the Alt L who are acutely aware that a ceasefire leaves Hamas in control of Gaza and allows them to initiate repeat Oct 7ths as they have publicly promised to do.
The essence of the criticism is that Netanyahu is purposefully continuing the war for two reasons, the first is political. It keeps him and his party in power. The second is personal, that so long as he is prime minister, he cannot be prosecuted for corruption charges laid against him. However, as Netanyahu made clear when he was as young as 28, his singular goal was the elimination of the existential threat to Israel. You can see his position clearly articulated here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9bdP6LeM6Y
and: https://www.facebook.com/GeorgeThomasReporting/videos/young-benjamin-netanyahu-debates-palestinian-statehood/523953274371651/
I hear everything you say and I tend to agree. But on 8/13 we had this from you: "They say Israel's war strategy is failing. They are dead wrong." Please clarify.