I hate to extrapolate as an American who's never been to Israel, but I am someone with a Leftist upbringing and from my experience Leftists are so monomaniacally focused on their eternal battle with conservatives that other groups don't quite have a real, living existence to them.
To me the Leftist brain is rigidly zealously certain that if only they were given enough power to fully institute their ideological program—universal socialism founded on egalitarian humanitarianism, more or less—then this would solve all possible problems, the lion would lie down with the lamb, there would be no more hunger, violence or low self-esteem.
Thus, even while surrounded by existential enemies, the Leftist has been indoctrinated to believe that the cause of any conflict is conservatives and their inherent belligerence with the solution being the eradication or disempowerment of conservatives—"conservatives" meaning nationalists, capitalists, anyone who prioritizes their own people over a gauzy utopian vision of a single humanity. Often these people on the Left are so besotted with their own virtue and purity of heart, they really seem to believe that they could make peace w enemies who've pledged to murder them.
Also, it does seem like in the history of Leftism it's been Jews who've offered the most intense and moralistic critiques of injustice, and while self-criticism is necessary and healthy, sometimes it can veer toward the pathological. This seems to be one of those times.
When the subject is something other than Israel and its existence, lefty Jews are merely a *problem*.
When the subject is Israel, I agree that they are - especially post Oct 7th and Oct 8th (“we hold Israel responsible for all unfolding violence in the region…”) - indeed a plague.
Because on that topic - and that topic *alone* - they give cover to the antisemitic oppressor-oppressed zealots who support the terrorists who seek to wipe Israel and Jews from the face of the earth, under the justification that the oppressed have the right to overcome their oppressors BY.ANY.MEANS.NECESSARY.
I am so glad you put this in words. I have been thinking of this for weeks now. Don’t accept these weasel words that the far left spout. We have this in Britain and it’s useless drivel, they want to distract you. Olmert is possessed by resentment and jealousy! He is an unreliable witness and a convicted felon. Ask yourselves what will happen if the war does not move forward. The hostages will eventually die because of their inhuman treatment. Hamas will hold out and Israel will achieve nothing but a never ending war! People have to ask themselves these serious questions.
I believe you must move forward, eradicate Hamas and if it is possible free some hostages. This is the only choice to end it finally. Terrible decision to make but the only one.
The points you raise ‘if the war does not move forward’ are valid, but others are also worth noting. I believe a principal one would be the downfall of a conservative Likud coalition, in favor of a highly Liberal/Leftist coalition. Just as in the United States, the Left in Israel cares nothing about the true welfare of the nation; only power - and that totally.
The Left denigrates the virtues of strong nation states, in favor of Globalism. The underlying justification, which has a deceptive rationale that many people actually believe, is that a strong sense of national identity coupled with patriotic nationalism is the cause of wars and virtually all other societal sins and ills. If one accepts that as fundamentally true (and it is not), then it logically follows that efforts to weaken national strength in favor of ‘a more perfect (Global) union’, are actually noble; serving the ‘higher/greater good’.
From the standpoint of Bible prophecy, we know that, eventually, Globalism will prevail, at least for a short, terrible, time. Until then, it is incumbent on those who love their countries, to do what can be done to resist the relentless assaults on vital national independence, preserve and/or strengthen the ability to defend it, and encourage the will to do so, regardless of the cost(s).
We are all caught up in a supernatural war between spiritual forces of good and evil; the Kingdom of God, and the Satanic Kingdom of Darkness. Biblically, the focal point of rebellion against God’s Sovereign rule in all the Universe is our planet, Earth. The war is manifested materially in battles for the hearts and souls of humanity worldwide, but the strategic focus is on Israel.
Satan seeks to preserve his freedom and independent exercise of power in God’s Universe. He is well aware that his doom, as foretold in Biblical prophecies, is inextricably linked to the Chosen People being back in, and exercising sovereign control over, the Land; particularly, Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.
In his twisted heart, he believes that, if he can eliminate Israel, he can prevent the Biblical prophecies related to his doom from being fulfilled and, therefore, ‘defeat’ God. It is a vain effort, but one that he will pursue to the bitter end, with tragic consequences for Israel, and humanity as a whole.
In the end, evil will be forever banished from the Universe, and God’s ‘Plan for the Ages’ will be fulfilled, to the smallest detail. Including, amongst other things, all of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; to the Israel of God, that loves, honors, and trusts Him for salvation and deliverance.
But that time lies ahead and the pressing issue that is being forced to the forefront in this time is the simple question of whose side we will end up on; whom we serve, God, or Satan (Self).
And, in regard to that question, let it be known that “Yeshua said, "I AM the Way—and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (CJB)
I don’t agree. Israel has to move on, otherwise they will be caught in a war that never ends. They have to destroy Hamas, the terrorists that say that they will keep repeating October 7th again and again. This can’t go on! Get rid of them. Then Israel can hand over to Arab forces to take control. It’s unbelievable that anyone should think that they should plod on like this. The hostages will eventually die of starvation and it will prolong the war that will achieve nothing. Israel must move forward
We don’t disagree on your points Susan; there must be a misunderstanding of my position. I am fully in favor of Israel doing what must be done to eliminate Hamas, including full control over Gaza.
Of course they won’t; they didn’t then, and they won’t ‘wholly’ do so now… The same is true for the overwhelming majority of the Gentile world.
Salvation is God’s strange work; our call is to love Him above all else, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
I question if we can fulfill that call, if we know the blessings of salvation, as well as what is at stake for those that reject the sacrifice of Yeshua/Jesus that makes redemption possible, but do not at least attempt to share the truth with others, in love, regardless of how they take it.
Waving placards and signs saying "Free the Hostages" and directing this at Netanyahu misses the point that it isn't Netanyahu who is holding hostages, but hamas, and they refuse to negotiate.
Even their slogan is all wrong. “Bring them home” is directed at the government which can’t act unilaterally, and that makes them an easy target for blame. “Release them now” or “Let them go home” is to those holding the hostages.
By occupying the entire Gaza territory, mr. Netanyahu prioritizes the destruction of Hamas over the lives of the hostages.
I can imagine that a lot of Israelis do not agree with this kind of 'Sophie's choice' without necessarily belonging to the 'far left' (is there any in Israel?)
(If my relatives were captured by the Hamas-monsters I probably would react the same.)
It's a cold, rational choice and I am afraid that's exactly what the stalemate situation needs.
In fact, Nethanyahu has the opportunity now to liberate the inhabitants of Gaza of Hamas by moving them to Hamas-free territory - which could dramatically reduce collateral killing and damage.
And that's exactly what Israel needs: less negative publicity caused by the way Hamas choose to conduct the war.
Another Josh Hoffman bullseye! The left in the US, UK, France, Spain is also a threat. And the threat from the Jewish left (see recent demonstrations in NYC) is very worrying. Keep writing Josh!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Far Left. Near Left. Center Left. It's all the same. The words are meaningless, as meaningless as Far Right and Centre Right. Where you would have sat in the French Revolution is useless in figuring out what to do in a modern society. Recent history has shown that even the progressive mindset eventually turns out to be a street that paves the way for totalitarianism. As far as Israel is concerned, all the people castigated as right-wing and extremist turned out to be the people who saw clearly the security threats to the nation. They still are, but it took October 7 and mass rape, murder and kidnapping for the Israeli public to have its eyes opened. And who knows if most Israelis see properly not only what has happened but what must happen if Zionism is to prevail. Gaza needs not only to be conquered and occupied, but settled by Jews. Ditto Judea and Samaria. The religious parties that oppose conscription of yeshiva bochers have to be shamed and deserted by their followers every bit as much as the old-line generals from Barak to Gantz and all their civilian wannabes like Bennett and Lapid should be shamed and deserted by theirs. Maybe a new generation will arise rooted in the Hebrew Bible and the political understanding that a reading of the Bible should induce and Jews will finally leave the Book of Genesis and stop welshing on the deal as they have been doing since Sinai. Maybe finally the God of Israel will be proud of His chosen people. Maybe.
Part A, yes. Part B is out of date. Things are DEFINITELY moving fwd i.e. there is plenty in place and on location in IDF training and placement. And more recruits coming online in a timely manner. Part A "Gaza needs not only to be conquered and occupied, but settled by Jews. Ditto Judea and Samaria. (PART B) The religious parties that oppose conscription of yeshiva bochers have to be shamed and deserted by their followers every bit as much as the old-line generals".
I can understand how European and American leftists can sell out Israel for "the cause". They are in no immediate danger I cannot comprehend how Israelis can do this when it means their own deaths
Good article, although the Gilad Shalit deal set the "kidnapping works" precedent. 1100 terrorists for one man. Great to save the man, but cost thousands of lives later. Hamas pays attention to such barbaric patterns.
I don't what to say or even think anymore...although not doing either is a luxury we can't afford. My first reaction to this article was yet another wave of despair.... and then I remembered the Israeli comedy spoof of the evening news..where the anchorman begins with a serious face and voice and says in Hebrew: "Hakol Rah" (everything is bad). That made me smile and delayed the tears. (And the rest of the sketch is funny too.) I also remembered a Jewish joke about the Rabbi doing some marriage counseling, and when the wife presented her point of view, he strokes his beard and earnestly responds with "You're right!" And when the husband finishes presenting his point of view, the rabbi nods and strokes his beard and says definitively "You're right!" After the session, the rabbi's wife, who had been listening from the other room, confronted her husband with exasperation, declaring: "How can this be? How can they both be right??" And the rabbi stroked his beard and replied to his wife: "You're right!"
Crazy how much the Israeli and American Far-Left mirror each other. As for writing that the Far Left would set a precedent of "kidnapping works": Too late, that's already a fact. Hamas will be defeated but they are leaving behind a whole lot of new support around the world. Jihadis everywhere have taken note.
Just like worldwide, the left has gone so far to the left, that what people mistakenly call "Center" in Israel is simply - left. Gantz, Lapid, etc. All dangerously left. These people still didn't wake up from the Two State Delusion.
On the other hand, what everyone call "far right" seems to have had it... just right... everything they said turned out to be true... our "peace partners" actually want to annihilate us, and cannot be trusted.
In fact, the left has gone so far left, that if Ben Gurion would've lived today, he'd be voting Bibi, because that's actually closer to the original labor party than anything else in our parliament.
As someone living in Israel, I’d like to hear from you what do you mean by Israeli “far left”. In my humble opinion Yair Golan is nowhere near anything called “far left”. Mind you that he was the deputy chief of staff with a combat record outshining most Israeli generals. And he is very hawkish (like no tolerance to BS). So he said something that I didn’t like either but that does not make him “far left”.
What infuriated me more was your description of the people holding the Israeli flag at demonstrations!! Try to remember that most of those people have fought several wars for the country getting injured, losing family and friends. They have earned their right to hold the flag!! While in the government, people having done no or make believe service spit on their face. The demonstrations were not because of left vs. right. They were because democracy vs. dictatorship.
The haredim REFUSE to serve. They also refuse to honor the flag. They don’t stand still when the sirens go on for the fallen soldiers. That, in my opinion, is outright treason. However, they have no problem with skimming the country pale with their never ending monetary demands.
My opinions are center right as well, but it has nothing to do with my respect to people that show up when needed. Despite the politics of people who never served in the army, they do it anyway - for the country. Something the haredim would never do even when they are responsible for it for their participation in the government.
And, yes, Ehud Olmert comes from right wing side of Likud. What he says does not make him “far left”. Why he says the things he does is beyond me. My guess would be a feud with Netanyahu, but that’s just guessing.
This is why the slogan ‘bring them home’ is so awful. Did Israel forget to send a bus to bring home the hostages? It’s propaganda. The slogan should be directed to Hamas.
Josh, כל הכבוד. You’ve expressed my thoughts precisely. The marchers “for the hostages” are Israeli Leftists who are using the horrible plight of the hostages as a weapon they use against Netanyahu. Blocking major highways, cursing the Prime Minister are nothing less than collaborating with Hamas. If these extremists stayed home it would convey the message to Hamas that Israelis are united in the war to crush Hamas, PIJ, etc. There will be plenty of time to investigate the מחדל and to vote in a new govt. if that is the desire of the Israeli population. But the behavior of the screaming demonstrators only supports the antisemitic mobs around the world and, supports the antisemites and lunatic, Lefty professors who falsely claim that Israel is committing genocide. The screaming haters of their own country and countrymen ought remember one classic line from the Talmud: “מפני קמצא ובר קמצא נחרבה ירושלים.”
I probably mostly agree with you, in that I think that Israel's first priority should be to defeat Hamas, not to free the hostages. But I am an American, don't live in Israel and though I speak Hebrew, don't have as much at stake as Israelis. That being said, polls clearly show that Israelis don't agree with you or me on our priorities. It is wrong to label those people who disagree with us as far left, just as it is wrong to label Netanyahu, an extraordinarily cautious leader, as far right, as is frequently done in the press in the US. I was having dinner in Israel with friends several months ago and in the middle of dinner, my host and his wife started screaming at each other over what Israel's priorities should be. My host, a religious police officer (a Shas supporter) prioritized defeating Hamas, while his wife supported just as strongly the opposite side. So honestly, I think it is wrong on your part to characterize people who disagree with us as far left and unpatriotic. They are simply wrong.
I belong to the left. Like so many others. I am sincerely horrified by so much hatred and so much stone casting misinformation. As an Israeli, who has raised 5 children who have all served in the IDF, for whom Memorial day means honoring fallen soldiers who are friends and relatives, this article was one of the most difficult I have had to read.
Yes, since October 2023 we have attended hundreds of demonstrations, come rain or unbearable heat, at night and in the daytime, in cities and at junctions all over the country. We lovingly take our flags, our printed shirts and our hostage pins. Yesterday, my sons, daughters and grandchildren were manifesting in Haifa, Kfar Saba and The Gome Junction in the Upper Galilee. I was at home, listening to the hostages’ mothers’ painful supplications to the government. Yes, we want a government that will end the war, free the hostages and bring back our soldiers to their homes. Yes, I want my daughter and her children to have their dad at home after so many months of IDF service. Yes, we want post traumatic soldiers to be cared for and not commit suicide, we want to attend to our wounded soldiers and the time to mourn those who were killed. We all want to heal. We want to mourn with peace of mind. We have lived here for all our lives. My husband and his friends have been in so many wars. So, we know when a war should no longer be fought and is no longer a war of necessity but one of corruption and uncontrollable will for power and political survival. We love Israel. We serve Israel. We build Israel. We love and honor her flag. We have died and still are dying. We work every day and our children work. We drive the economy and IN ADDITION and without failing we go out onto the streets to protect our democracy, our law institutions, our hostages and our wonderful pluralistic, multi-ethnic, multi-racial society. They are under an unprecedented attack, and we stand guard. It is selfless. It is so that our children will live in a country that offers hope, not war and death. There have always been people who believed that all of us, all of humanity was created in His image and that we must love our neighbor as ourselves, not only our Jewish neighbors. You may call this a leftist principle that should be crossed out from the bible and from the Jewish legacy. You may even call Yair Lapid, who is a representative of the right, a far leftist. Should you acknowledge his being a right-wing politician, it would destroy your claims in this blog. You would have to acknowledge that thousands in the right share the same human values as the thousands in the left and also want everything that the left wants. You would have to acknowledge that when love for Israel (but not cynical political survival) guides decision making, right and the left will unite everywhere. Integrity, fact-checking, hatred-eradication, should start when writers and editors become accountable for the information they publish, the accusation they make and the words they use, just as our prime minister and his coalition should be accountable for what happened here on the 7th of October.
The bottom line is that your demonstrations play right into Hamas hands and encourage them not to surrender and return the hostages. What is your REALISTIC solution to end the war? Hamas has rejected every deal proposed. Are you willing to go back to the situation on October 6? Because that is the only deal that Hamas will make.
Having said all this, Marty, I can really understand your point of view. But whatever happens, I can assure you that neither the left, nor the right will ever go back to the near-blindness that characterized Israel on the the 6th of October.
Perhaps you should just let Hamas say what you are saying. You are playing into their hands as much as i am by providing them with arguments and lines of action. You think like a person who does not believe in Israel´s military strength or ability to learn her lessons. But we are strong in every possible way, not afraid. As you well know, several senior army officers, politicians and leaders of our country agree that we can always go back to war. Because we are strong and we can wait. When this government is replaced, a new concept of border defense (all borders of Israel) will be established and maintained in the long-term. We will guard all our frontiers, prevent rearmement and react to every violation, not like the present government that allowed the Hisbollah to camp at my doorstep for the years that preceded the war. I am living proof that we asked for more troops to be posted here, but to no avail. I hope that good people, humane people with profound integrity, with a love for democracy, from the right and from the left, from religious and laic backgrounds will establish such a government. people who are defending and have defended us and know the meaning of suffering. You and I should be thinking and working together, to find a solution that is good for us all. Not this endless war of words and bombs, that benefits only one person and the extreme far-right minority that is holding him hostage. If you were living here, you would realize that everyone who serves, everyone, very single community, has already paid a price that cannot be paid any longer. Too many soldiers killed everyday, too many wounded, too many trauma-ridden soldiers, wives and mothers and children, too much suffering and anguish. People are still waiting to mourn, heal and rebuild. It is true, this is how Israel feels today. Every community who serves in the IDF, regardless of whether it belongs to the right or to the left is dying, being wounded, not able to grieve and rebuild until we stop the war and engage all our efforts, all of them in the freeing of the hostages.
I unlike you have a good memory. I remember that Rabin said about Oslo if they turn one right against us we will crush them. Sharon and his cohorts, the sane military experts who are are saying this now, said the same thing about the disengagement. If they fire one rocket we will strike back with force and destroy them. We all saw what’s fiction that was. The sane thing will happen if we stop the war in Gaza. As soon as Hamas starts rearming or does something the reaction will be, we can’t restart the war over that.
Here is the bottom line. There is NO deal that will make Hamas give up all the hostages. They have zero incentive to free them all.
Thank you for your answer, Marty. It is nice talking to someone who knows what is happening in our society. I believe that people with a right wing-tendency are making some good points. However, you and I differ in both our understanding of timing (first the hostages), in the belief that we do not learn from past mistakes and that it is possible to eradicate evil forces and ideas. For these reasons, fand others, for people in the right, war must happen ALWAYS and NOW. I, however, believe that combined rigorous frontier guard, excellent modi´in and immediate crushing military responses for every violation is a good strategy for managing conflicts while at the same time forging accords and enabling everyone to have a normal life at home and abroad. People like Israel Liberman and Yair Golan should work together.
In theory that might work but in practice its failed miserably. Every time Israel has withdrawn and said we will respond forcefully to any violations it’s been a disaster not once but multiple times.
I hate to extrapolate as an American who's never been to Israel, but I am someone with a Leftist upbringing and from my experience Leftists are so monomaniacally focused on their eternal battle with conservatives that other groups don't quite have a real, living existence to them.
To me the Leftist brain is rigidly zealously certain that if only they were given enough power to fully institute their ideological program—universal socialism founded on egalitarian humanitarianism, more or less—then this would solve all possible problems, the lion would lie down with the lamb, there would be no more hunger, violence or low self-esteem.
Thus, even while surrounded by existential enemies, the Leftist has been indoctrinated to believe that the cause of any conflict is conservatives and their inherent belligerence with the solution being the eradication or disempowerment of conservatives—"conservatives" meaning nationalists, capitalists, anyone who prioritizes their own people over a gauzy utopian vision of a single humanity. Often these people on the Left are so besotted with their own virtue and purity of heart, they really seem to believe that they could make peace w enemies who've pledged to murder them.
Also, it does seem like in the history of Leftism it's been Jews who've offered the most intense and moralistic critiques of injustice, and while self-criticism is necessary and healthy, sometimes it can veer toward the pathological. This seems to be one of those times.
Lefty Jews are a plague, whether in the United States or Israel
Everywhere!
I disagree.
When the subject is something other than Israel and its existence, lefty Jews are merely a *problem*.
When the subject is Israel, I agree that they are - especially post Oct 7th and Oct 8th (“we hold Israel responsible for all unfolding violence in the region…”) - indeed a plague.
Because on that topic - and that topic *alone* - they give cover to the antisemitic oppressor-oppressed zealots who support the terrorists who seek to wipe Israel and Jews from the face of the earth, under the justification that the oppressed have the right to overcome their oppressors BY.ANY.MEANS.NECESSARY.
“….gauzy utopian vision of a single humanity….” SO accurate
I am so glad you put this in words. I have been thinking of this for weeks now. Don’t accept these weasel words that the far left spout. We have this in Britain and it’s useless drivel, they want to distract you. Olmert is possessed by resentment and jealousy! He is an unreliable witness and a convicted felon. Ask yourselves what will happen if the war does not move forward. The hostages will eventually die because of their inhuman treatment. Hamas will hold out and Israel will achieve nothing but a never ending war! People have to ask themselves these serious questions.
I believe you must move forward, eradicate Hamas and if it is possible free some hostages. This is the only choice to end it finally. Terrible decision to make but the only one.
The points you raise ‘if the war does not move forward’ are valid, but others are also worth noting. I believe a principal one would be the downfall of a conservative Likud coalition, in favor of a highly Liberal/Leftist coalition. Just as in the United States, the Left in Israel cares nothing about the true welfare of the nation; only power - and that totally.
The Left denigrates the virtues of strong nation states, in favor of Globalism. The underlying justification, which has a deceptive rationale that many people actually believe, is that a strong sense of national identity coupled with patriotic nationalism is the cause of wars and virtually all other societal sins and ills. If one accepts that as fundamentally true (and it is not), then it logically follows that efforts to weaken national strength in favor of ‘a more perfect (Global) union’, are actually noble; serving the ‘higher/greater good’.
From the standpoint of Bible prophecy, we know that, eventually, Globalism will prevail, at least for a short, terrible, time. Until then, it is incumbent on those who love their countries, to do what can be done to resist the relentless assaults on vital national independence, preserve and/or strengthen the ability to defend it, and encourage the will to do so, regardless of the cost(s).
We are all caught up in a supernatural war between spiritual forces of good and evil; the Kingdom of God, and the Satanic Kingdom of Darkness. Biblically, the focal point of rebellion against God’s Sovereign rule in all the Universe is our planet, Earth. The war is manifested materially in battles for the hearts and souls of humanity worldwide, but the strategic focus is on Israel.
Satan seeks to preserve his freedom and independent exercise of power in God’s Universe. He is well aware that his doom, as foretold in Biblical prophecies, is inextricably linked to the Chosen People being back in, and exercising sovereign control over, the Land; particularly, Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.
In his twisted heart, he believes that, if he can eliminate Israel, he can prevent the Biblical prophecies related to his doom from being fulfilled and, therefore, ‘defeat’ God. It is a vain effort, but one that he will pursue to the bitter end, with tragic consequences for Israel, and humanity as a whole.
In the end, evil will be forever banished from the Universe, and God’s ‘Plan for the Ages’ will be fulfilled, to the smallest detail. Including, amongst other things, all of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; to the Israel of God, that loves, honors, and trusts Him for salvation and deliverance.
But that time lies ahead and the pressing issue that is being forced to the forefront in this time is the simple question of whose side we will end up on; whom we serve, God, or Satan (Self).
And, in regard to that question, let it be known that “Yeshua said, "I AM the Way—and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (CJB)
Am Israel Chai!
I don’t agree. Israel has to move on, otherwise they will be caught in a war that never ends. They have to destroy Hamas, the terrorists that say that they will keep repeating October 7th again and again. This can’t go on! Get rid of them. Then Israel can hand over to Arab forces to take control. It’s unbelievable that anyone should think that they should plod on like this. The hostages will eventually die of starvation and it will prolong the war that will achieve nothing. Israel must move forward
We don’t disagree on your points Susan; there must be a misunderstanding of my position. I am fully in favor of Israel doing what must be done to eliminate Hamas, including full control over Gaza.
I will also add that although we share a Judaeo Christian philosophy. Jewish people will not wholly accept this view!
I will also add that although we share a Judaeo Christian philosophy. Jewish people will not wholly accept this view!
Of course they won’t; they didn’t then, and they won’t ‘wholly’ do so now… The same is true for the overwhelming majority of the Gentile world.
Salvation is God’s strange work; our call is to love Him above all else, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
I question if we can fulfill that call, if we know the blessings of salvation, as well as what is at stake for those that reject the sacrifice of Yeshua/Jesus that makes redemption possible, but do not at least attempt to share the truth with others, in love, regardless of how they take it.
Love, Mike
Waving placards and signs saying "Free the Hostages" and directing this at Netanyahu misses the point that it isn't Netanyahu who is holding hostages, but hamas, and they refuse to negotiate.
From the very beginning the slogan should have been “let them go” instead of “bring them home”. A subtle but significant shift in messaging.
Let my people go.
Even their slogan is all wrong. “Bring them home” is directed at the government which can’t act unilaterally, and that makes them an easy target for blame. “Release them now” or “Let them go home” is to those holding the hostages.
By occupying the entire Gaza territory, mr. Netanyahu prioritizes the destruction of Hamas over the lives of the hostages.
I can imagine that a lot of Israelis do not agree with this kind of 'Sophie's choice' without necessarily belonging to the 'far left' (is there any in Israel?)
(If my relatives were captured by the Hamas-monsters I probably would react the same.)
It's a cold, rational choice and I am afraid that's exactly what the stalemate situation needs.
In fact, Nethanyahu has the opportunity now to liberate the inhabitants of Gaza of Hamas by moving them to Hamas-free territory - which could dramatically reduce collateral killing and damage.
And that's exactly what Israel needs: less negative publicity caused by the way Hamas choose to conduct the war.
Another Josh Hoffman bullseye! The left in the US, UK, France, Spain is also a threat. And the threat from the Jewish left (see recent demonstrations in NYC) is very worrying. Keep writing Josh!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Far Left. Near Left. Center Left. It's all the same. The words are meaningless, as meaningless as Far Right and Centre Right. Where you would have sat in the French Revolution is useless in figuring out what to do in a modern society. Recent history has shown that even the progressive mindset eventually turns out to be a street that paves the way for totalitarianism. As far as Israel is concerned, all the people castigated as right-wing and extremist turned out to be the people who saw clearly the security threats to the nation. They still are, but it took October 7 and mass rape, murder and kidnapping for the Israeli public to have its eyes opened. And who knows if most Israelis see properly not only what has happened but what must happen if Zionism is to prevail. Gaza needs not only to be conquered and occupied, but settled by Jews. Ditto Judea and Samaria. The religious parties that oppose conscription of yeshiva bochers have to be shamed and deserted by their followers every bit as much as the old-line generals from Barak to Gantz and all their civilian wannabes like Bennett and Lapid should be shamed and deserted by theirs. Maybe a new generation will arise rooted in the Hebrew Bible and the political understanding that a reading of the Bible should induce and Jews will finally leave the Book of Genesis and stop welshing on the deal as they have been doing since Sinai. Maybe finally the God of Israel will be proud of His chosen people. Maybe.
"all the people castigated as right-wing and extremist turned out to be the people who saw clearly the security threats to the nation..." 🎯
Part A, yes. Part B is out of date. Things are DEFINITELY moving fwd i.e. there is plenty in place and on location in IDF training and placement. And more recruits coming online in a timely manner. Part A "Gaza needs not only to be conquered and occupied, but settled by Jews. Ditto Judea and Samaria. (PART B) The religious parties that oppose conscription of yeshiva bochers have to be shamed and deserted by their followers every bit as much as the old-line generals".
I can understand how European and American leftists can sell out Israel for "the cause". They are in no immediate danger I cannot comprehend how Israelis can do this when it means their own deaths
Good article, although the Gilad Shalit deal set the "kidnapping works" precedent. 1100 terrorists for one man. Great to save the man, but cost thousands of lives later. Hamas pays attention to such barbaric patterns.
I don't what to say or even think anymore...although not doing either is a luxury we can't afford. My first reaction to this article was yet another wave of despair.... and then I remembered the Israeli comedy spoof of the evening news..where the anchorman begins with a serious face and voice and says in Hebrew: "Hakol Rah" (everything is bad). That made me smile and delayed the tears. (And the rest of the sketch is funny too.) I also remembered a Jewish joke about the Rabbi doing some marriage counseling, and when the wife presented her point of view, he strokes his beard and earnestly responds with "You're right!" And when the husband finishes presenting his point of view, the rabbi nods and strokes his beard and says definitively "You're right!" After the session, the rabbi's wife, who had been listening from the other room, confronted her husband with exasperation, declaring: "How can this be? How can they both be right??" And the rabbi stroked his beard and replied to his wife: "You're right!"
Crazy how much the Israeli and American Far-Left mirror each other. As for writing that the Far Left would set a precedent of "kidnapping works": Too late, that's already a fact. Hamas will be defeated but they are leaving behind a whole lot of new support around the world. Jihadis everywhere have taken note.
Just like worldwide, the left has gone so far to the left, that what people mistakenly call "Center" in Israel is simply - left. Gantz, Lapid, etc. All dangerously left. These people still didn't wake up from the Two State Delusion.
On the other hand, what everyone call "far right" seems to have had it... just right... everything they said turned out to be true... our "peace partners" actually want to annihilate us, and cannot be trusted.
In fact, the left has gone so far left, that if Ben Gurion would've lived today, he'd be voting Bibi, because that's actually closer to the original labor party than anything else in our parliament.
As someone living in Israel, I’d like to hear from you what do you mean by Israeli “far left”. In my humble opinion Yair Golan is nowhere near anything called “far left”. Mind you that he was the deputy chief of staff with a combat record outshining most Israeli generals. And he is very hawkish (like no tolerance to BS). So he said something that I didn’t like either but that does not make him “far left”.
What infuriated me more was your description of the people holding the Israeli flag at demonstrations!! Try to remember that most of those people have fought several wars for the country getting injured, losing family and friends. They have earned their right to hold the flag!! While in the government, people having done no or make believe service spit on their face. The demonstrations were not because of left vs. right. They were because democracy vs. dictatorship.
The haredim REFUSE to serve. They also refuse to honor the flag. They don’t stand still when the sirens go on for the fallen soldiers. That, in my opinion, is outright treason. However, they have no problem with skimming the country pale with their never ending monetary demands.
My opinions are center right as well, but it has nothing to do with my respect to people that show up when needed. Despite the politics of people who never served in the army, they do it anyway - for the country. Something the haredim would never do even when they are responsible for it for their participation in the government.
And, yes, Ehud Olmert comes from right wing side of Likud. What he says does not make him “far left”. Why he says the things he does is beyond me. My guess would be a feud with Netanyahu, but that’s just guessing.
This is why the slogan ‘bring them home’ is so awful. Did Israel forget to send a bus to bring home the hostages? It’s propaganda. The slogan should be directed to Hamas.
“Let them go’.
Thank you Joshua for expressing my thoughts better than I ever could.
Josh, כל הכבוד. You’ve expressed my thoughts precisely. The marchers “for the hostages” are Israeli Leftists who are using the horrible plight of the hostages as a weapon they use against Netanyahu. Blocking major highways, cursing the Prime Minister are nothing less than collaborating with Hamas. If these extremists stayed home it would convey the message to Hamas that Israelis are united in the war to crush Hamas, PIJ, etc. There will be plenty of time to investigate the מחדל and to vote in a new govt. if that is the desire of the Israeli population. But the behavior of the screaming demonstrators only supports the antisemitic mobs around the world and, supports the antisemites and lunatic, Lefty professors who falsely claim that Israel is committing genocide. The screaming haters of their own country and countrymen ought remember one classic line from the Talmud: “מפני קמצא ובר קמצא נחרבה ירושלים.”
I probably mostly agree with you, in that I think that Israel's first priority should be to defeat Hamas, not to free the hostages. But I am an American, don't live in Israel and though I speak Hebrew, don't have as much at stake as Israelis. That being said, polls clearly show that Israelis don't agree with you or me on our priorities. It is wrong to label those people who disagree with us as far left, just as it is wrong to label Netanyahu, an extraordinarily cautious leader, as far right, as is frequently done in the press in the US. I was having dinner in Israel with friends several months ago and in the middle of dinner, my host and his wife started screaming at each other over what Israel's priorities should be. My host, a religious police officer (a Shas supporter) prioritized defeating Hamas, while his wife supported just as strongly the opposite side. So honestly, I think it is wrong on your part to characterize people who disagree with us as far left and unpatriotic. They are simply wrong.
I belong to the left. Like so many others. I am sincerely horrified by so much hatred and so much stone casting misinformation. As an Israeli, who has raised 5 children who have all served in the IDF, for whom Memorial day means honoring fallen soldiers who are friends and relatives, this article was one of the most difficult I have had to read.
Yes, since October 2023 we have attended hundreds of demonstrations, come rain or unbearable heat, at night and in the daytime, in cities and at junctions all over the country. We lovingly take our flags, our printed shirts and our hostage pins. Yesterday, my sons, daughters and grandchildren were manifesting in Haifa, Kfar Saba and The Gome Junction in the Upper Galilee. I was at home, listening to the hostages’ mothers’ painful supplications to the government. Yes, we want a government that will end the war, free the hostages and bring back our soldiers to their homes. Yes, I want my daughter and her children to have their dad at home after so many months of IDF service. Yes, we want post traumatic soldiers to be cared for and not commit suicide, we want to attend to our wounded soldiers and the time to mourn those who were killed. We all want to heal. We want to mourn with peace of mind. We have lived here for all our lives. My husband and his friends have been in so many wars. So, we know when a war should no longer be fought and is no longer a war of necessity but one of corruption and uncontrollable will for power and political survival. We love Israel. We serve Israel. We build Israel. We love and honor her flag. We have died and still are dying. We work every day and our children work. We drive the economy and IN ADDITION and without failing we go out onto the streets to protect our democracy, our law institutions, our hostages and our wonderful pluralistic, multi-ethnic, multi-racial society. They are under an unprecedented attack, and we stand guard. It is selfless. It is so that our children will live in a country that offers hope, not war and death. There have always been people who believed that all of us, all of humanity was created in His image and that we must love our neighbor as ourselves, not only our Jewish neighbors. You may call this a leftist principle that should be crossed out from the bible and from the Jewish legacy. You may even call Yair Lapid, who is a representative of the right, a far leftist. Should you acknowledge his being a right-wing politician, it would destroy your claims in this blog. You would have to acknowledge that thousands in the right share the same human values as the thousands in the left and also want everything that the left wants. You would have to acknowledge that when love for Israel (but not cynical political survival) guides decision making, right and the left will unite everywhere. Integrity, fact-checking, hatred-eradication, should start when writers and editors become accountable for the information they publish, the accusation they make and the words they use, just as our prime minister and his coalition should be accountable for what happened here on the 7th of October.
The bottom line is that your demonstrations play right into Hamas hands and encourage them not to surrender and return the hostages. What is your REALISTIC solution to end the war? Hamas has rejected every deal proposed. Are you willing to go back to the situation on October 6? Because that is the only deal that Hamas will make.
Having said all this, Marty, I can really understand your point of view. But whatever happens, I can assure you that neither the left, nor the right will ever go back to the near-blindness that characterized Israel on the the 6th of October.
The left already has. They are saying the exact same things as were said before the disengagement and we see how that ended.
Perhaps you should just let Hamas say what you are saying. You are playing into their hands as much as i am by providing them with arguments and lines of action. You think like a person who does not believe in Israel´s military strength or ability to learn her lessons. But we are strong in every possible way, not afraid. As you well know, several senior army officers, politicians and leaders of our country agree that we can always go back to war. Because we are strong and we can wait. When this government is replaced, a new concept of border defense (all borders of Israel) will be established and maintained in the long-term. We will guard all our frontiers, prevent rearmement and react to every violation, not like the present government that allowed the Hisbollah to camp at my doorstep for the years that preceded the war. I am living proof that we asked for more troops to be posted here, but to no avail. I hope that good people, humane people with profound integrity, with a love for democracy, from the right and from the left, from religious and laic backgrounds will establish such a government. people who are defending and have defended us and know the meaning of suffering. You and I should be thinking and working together, to find a solution that is good for us all. Not this endless war of words and bombs, that benefits only one person and the extreme far-right minority that is holding him hostage. If you were living here, you would realize that everyone who serves, everyone, very single community, has already paid a price that cannot be paid any longer. Too many soldiers killed everyday, too many wounded, too many trauma-ridden soldiers, wives and mothers and children, too much suffering and anguish. People are still waiting to mourn, heal and rebuild. It is true, this is how Israel feels today. Every community who serves in the IDF, regardless of whether it belongs to the right or to the left is dying, being wounded, not able to grieve and rebuild until we stop the war and engage all our efforts, all of them in the freeing of the hostages.
I unlike you have a good memory. I remember that Rabin said about Oslo if they turn one right against us we will crush them. Sharon and his cohorts, the sane military experts who are are saying this now, said the same thing about the disengagement. If they fire one rocket we will strike back with force and destroy them. We all saw what’s fiction that was. The sane thing will happen if we stop the war in Gaza. As soon as Hamas starts rearming or does something the reaction will be, we can’t restart the war over that.
Here is the bottom line. There is NO deal that will make Hamas give up all the hostages. They have zero incentive to free them all.
By the way I live in Israel.
Thank you for your answer, Marty. It is nice talking to someone who knows what is happening in our society. I believe that people with a right wing-tendency are making some good points. However, you and I differ in both our understanding of timing (first the hostages), in the belief that we do not learn from past mistakes and that it is possible to eradicate evil forces and ideas. For these reasons, fand others, for people in the right, war must happen ALWAYS and NOW. I, however, believe that combined rigorous frontier guard, excellent modi´in and immediate crushing military responses for every violation is a good strategy for managing conflicts while at the same time forging accords and enabling everyone to have a normal life at home and abroad. People like Israel Liberman and Yair Golan should work together.
In theory that might work but in practice its failed miserably. Every time Israel has withdrawn and said we will respond forcefully to any violations it’s been a disaster not once but multiple times.