Incredibly well written and salient. I wish you weren’t right. I’m sure you’re aware the Pulitzer comes straight from that bastion of fairness Columbia University 🤮
Your essays get better and better, Joshua. This one hits the bullseye on every point you made. The world gets more upside down and inside out. I'm tired of moral clarity. Let others feed the Arabs and watch while Hamas confiscates it, keeps much of it for themselves, and gives miniscule handouts to its "people." The conflict is going into its second year. Enough is enough of these board games. Israel needs to finish the job in Gaza, Yemen, Iran. After the latest Houthi attack, compliments of Iran, aimed at Tel Aviv, which was fortunately intercepted, but what if it wasn't? More lives lost, more destruction. It's tme for Israel to show these countries that it's game over. I want to add that Israel doesn't need moral clarity, but the rest of the world does. When will they get it back is up for grabs.
Oh Diane - I agree. I wish I was in position to expedite the demise and utter destruction of Hamas. I am stuck on the ad sidelines whole blood boils in rage. Am Yisrael Chai
I’m done expecting anything resembling fairness, justice, decency or integrity from the sanctimonious hypocrites of the West. Over and over they have shown us what lying hate machines they are. Israel will go it alone because it is always betrayed and the stakes are too high to count on false promises and false friends.
I hope the pope has a compass. All leaders meet with terrorists, dictators. Remember even Gwb saw into putins soul. I would’ve told him for free I don’t think his soul has a reflection. But I think Trump is right to say you don’t bring someone to the table insulting them.
Israel polices the West Bank for terror constantly and the West Bank is headed by a corrupt dictator who implemented pay for slay bc he has no pure religious death cult bona fides like Hamas. I’ve never heard of a peace being imposed in any other way than war and deterrence onto a mostly unwilling populace. It would be awesome if most Palestinians wanted peace. they’re being fed very intensely that the better life will magically come with the annihilation of Israel. Add this to the friction of the occupation for which Israel has no choice and it’s explosive. Their lives before the war has been much better than in many other countries. It’s not one of the poorest places in the world. It’s dense but far from the densest. Open air prison already sounds ridiculous but you know you’re in phony land when Egypt entirely blockades Gaza and Israel’s partial blockade is the not just advertised as somehow unique but also malign not in reaction to established terror.
I don’t expect most people to be courageous much as I’d like that but it’s just talking crazy to promote solutions that reward terror go against Hamas stated goals in no way comports with Abbas brutal non commitment to anything that would make Israel remotely secure. I don’t even know how it can feel good to make these suggestions anymore. Just because you don’t have any good options doesn’t mean you implement or encourage a repeatedly trialed and gravely failed solution. As much as from the river to the sea is a genocidal call at least it’s honestly representing the intentions of the majority.
The big disappointment of the west and the viper will get to them is that they aren’t just throwing away western values they’re throwing away values they consider to be universal for the good of men. Individual rights. Minority rights. Rule of law (non religious) rule of contracts. Free trade. free exercise of religion open rational inquiry etc. the vapidity and excesses of the modern world aren’t a rebuttal to these values. They are more don’Ts than dos. Don’t stand in the way of these.
This is not resistance, Hamas are the most evil terrorist group. They have ruled the civilians in Gaza for years, Their actions on October the 7th were the most depraved and evil terrorist crimes. The UN should not be taken seriously, they are a corrupt and evil organisation themselves. They serve no good purpose on earth. The distribution of food must be taken out of their hands, if it is not to end up in the clutches of Hamas. They should be closed down. Mahmoud Abbas the corrupt and decrepit Palestinian leader must be removed. Then Israel has a fair chance. I’m sure you will make a success of it.
And here in the US where the states are not united, the upside down world is far worse than the rest of the world thinks.
We liberals, formerly progressives, have shouted that the conservatives, now a mixture of neoliberals with a dash of pro Israel neocons, listen to the “facts” of the Fox fair and balanced universe. And now progressives are shouting, “see what the dirty Israelis are doing,” just like Holocaust deniers.”
As I have written previously, I have lost friends and colleagues who claim pro Palestinian is now pro morality, pro justice, and pro life.
So many excellent points made on issues I’ve been thinking about, like the “mind virus” must be a real thing. Propaganda has always been around, but the current moral inversion related to Israel and the war in Gaza is pathological… like a pathogen has invaded people’s brains, their ability to reason. Or it’s an alien invasion… that kind of crazy.
The other day I was telling someone about the tragic death of a young child in a Jewish community I know, expressing my sorrow, and the first thing this person said was she’d never heard me speak like that about the children in Gaza who had died. Even if we can agree that any death of an innocent child is tragic, how were the two equivalent in that moment?
Life goes on for all of us with daily joys and sorrows while conflict and wars rage around the globe. Holding space in one’s heart and mind for the ills and suffering of humanity is morally good and constructive, but this obsession with the civilian death and suffering in Gaza, now another round of starvation reports… and blaming Israel for all of it plus what the media reports that isn’t even true? This is what’s morally bad and destructive. As if the threat from actual terrorists isn’t enough.
Anyone old enough to remember the 1970’s horror film “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” might relate.
Of course we sadly also have to cope with the Israeli which has lost its mind. They seem to place getting rid of Bibi above winning the war. Hard to figure.
Incredibly well written and salient. I wish you weren’t right. I’m sure you’re aware the Pulitzer comes straight from that bastion of fairness Columbia University 🤮
Ah didn’t know that. Explains a lot! Thanks
Your essays get better and better, Joshua. This one hits the bullseye on every point you made. The world gets more upside down and inside out. I'm tired of moral clarity. Let others feed the Arabs and watch while Hamas confiscates it, keeps much of it for themselves, and gives miniscule handouts to its "people." The conflict is going into its second year. Enough is enough of these board games. Israel needs to finish the job in Gaza, Yemen, Iran. After the latest Houthi attack, compliments of Iran, aimed at Tel Aviv, which was fortunately intercepted, but what if it wasn't? More lives lost, more destruction. It's tme for Israel to show these countries that it's game over. I want to add that Israel doesn't need moral clarity, but the rest of the world does. When will they get it back is up for grabs.
Oh Diane - I agree. I wish I was in position to expedite the demise and utter destruction of Hamas. I am stuck on the ad sidelines whole blood boils in rage. Am Yisrael Chai
Very true. Better and better. And I agree: Israel does need to finish the job.
I’m done expecting anything resembling fairness, justice, decency or integrity from the sanctimonious hypocrites of the West. Over and over they have shown us what lying hate machines they are. Israel will go it alone because it is always betrayed and the stakes are too high to count on false promises and false friends.
Thank you Shelah - it is time for Israel to "live and let die"
Well done Joshua…
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
Isaiah 5:20 (NKJV)
“So do not fear them; for there is nothing covered that will not be uncovered, or hidden that will not be known.”
Matthew 10:26 (CJB)
I hope the pope has a compass. All leaders meet with terrorists, dictators. Remember even Gwb saw into putins soul. I would’ve told him for free I don’t think his soul has a reflection. But I think Trump is right to say you don’t bring someone to the table insulting them.
Israel polices the West Bank for terror constantly and the West Bank is headed by a corrupt dictator who implemented pay for slay bc he has no pure religious death cult bona fides like Hamas. I’ve never heard of a peace being imposed in any other way than war and deterrence onto a mostly unwilling populace. It would be awesome if most Palestinians wanted peace. they’re being fed very intensely that the better life will magically come with the annihilation of Israel. Add this to the friction of the occupation for which Israel has no choice and it’s explosive. Their lives before the war has been much better than in many other countries. It’s not one of the poorest places in the world. It’s dense but far from the densest. Open air prison already sounds ridiculous but you know you’re in phony land when Egypt entirely blockades Gaza and Israel’s partial blockade is the not just advertised as somehow unique but also malign not in reaction to established terror.
I don’t expect most people to be courageous much as I’d like that but it’s just talking crazy to promote solutions that reward terror go against Hamas stated goals in no way comports with Abbas brutal non commitment to anything that would make Israel remotely secure. I don’t even know how it can feel good to make these suggestions anymore. Just because you don’t have any good options doesn’t mean you implement or encourage a repeatedly trialed and gravely failed solution. As much as from the river to the sea is a genocidal call at least it’s honestly representing the intentions of the majority.
The big disappointment of the west and the viper will get to them is that they aren’t just throwing away western values they’re throwing away values they consider to be universal for the good of men. Individual rights. Minority rights. Rule of law (non religious) rule of contracts. Free trade. free exercise of religion open rational inquiry etc. the vapidity and excesses of the modern world aren’t a rebuttal to these values. They are more don’Ts than dos. Don’t stand in the way of these.
This is not resistance, Hamas are the most evil terrorist group. They have ruled the civilians in Gaza for years, Their actions on October the 7th were the most depraved and evil terrorist crimes. The UN should not be taken seriously, they are a corrupt and evil organisation themselves. They serve no good purpose on earth. The distribution of food must be taken out of their hands, if it is not to end up in the clutches of Hamas. They should be closed down. Mahmoud Abbas the corrupt and decrepit Palestinian leader must be removed. Then Israel has a fair chance. I’m sure you will make a success of it.
Really well written! Great points throughout!
And here in the US where the states are not united, the upside down world is far worse than the rest of the world thinks.
We liberals, formerly progressives, have shouted that the conservatives, now a mixture of neoliberals with a dash of pro Israel neocons, listen to the “facts” of the Fox fair and balanced universe. And now progressives are shouting, “see what the dirty Israelis are doing,” just like Holocaust deniers.”
As I have written previously, I have lost friends and colleagues who claim pro Palestinian is now pro morality, pro justice, and pro life.
How can Jews ever win?
But they will win. Evil cannot triumph in a world ruled by the God of the Bible.
Excellent article. Very good, and sadly, so accurate.
World wide Muslim religious war..... suggestion stop calling them Palestinians
Call them Muslims..
I’m so tired of the P word too. Every time it’s used it legitimises a complete fiction. I call them the Arab Muslim occupiers of Israel.
So many excellent points made on issues I’ve been thinking about, like the “mind virus” must be a real thing. Propaganda has always been around, but the current moral inversion related to Israel and the war in Gaza is pathological… like a pathogen has invaded people’s brains, their ability to reason. Or it’s an alien invasion… that kind of crazy.
The other day I was telling someone about the tragic death of a young child in a Jewish community I know, expressing my sorrow, and the first thing this person said was she’d never heard me speak like that about the children in Gaza who had died. Even if we can agree that any death of an innocent child is tragic, how were the two equivalent in that moment?
Life goes on for all of us with daily joys and sorrows while conflict and wars rage around the globe. Holding space in one’s heart and mind for the ills and suffering of humanity is morally good and constructive, but this obsession with the civilian death and suffering in Gaza, now another round of starvation reports… and blaming Israel for all of it plus what the media reports that isn’t even true? This is what’s morally bad and destructive. As if the threat from actual terrorists isn’t enough.
Anyone old enough to remember the 1970’s horror film “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” might relate.
That’s what life feels like right now.
Of course we sadly also have to cope with the Israeli which has lost its mind. They seem to place getting rid of Bibi above winning the war. Hard to figure.
"The NGOs are no longer neutral actors"
Might be a good idea to name the NGOs, at least the most egregious ones. Shining light onmold and fungi tends to diminish if not kill it off.
"This isn’t about poetry. This is about the West applauding barbarism under the soft glow of self-righteousness."
It is ore about Jew-hatred now having licence to be take mount the soap box at speaker's corner in the public square.
"decrepit refugee camps into actual homes"
Some videos of these refugee camps show them to be more cities than camps, replete with apartment buildings, stores, etc.
"This is the reality: The Palestinian cause has become a global theater of absurdity"
To repeat, the "Palestinian" cause is not so much a global theatre of absurdity but a free pass to express religeo-cultural sourced hatred of Jews.
"Israel will keep . . . bearing the blame for the sins of others."
Fascinating how Israel is the Jesus of nations.
Joshua - as always - superbly written. Your words slice like a sabre! Am Yisrael Chai
🎯
We all must realize and educate as many people as possible that Hamas is Nazism plain and simple