It seemed like only a matter of time before Israel's government would be forced to decide between eradicating Hamas from Gaza, or returning all the remaining hostages. It appears that time is near.
Sadly, we Jews are our own worst enemies and if the world is against Israel now, it's largely because Jews with power in the media, in academia and elsewhere decided to adopt some idiotic interpretation of "tikun olam" to address an ideology of pure evil; lending credence to the anti-Semites around them who will support anything that is anti-Jewish and anti-West. The Lubavitcher Rebbe and other religious and political leaders have warned against making unreasonable concessions for the sake of "diplomacy" and "good public relations". So have many millions of Jews with a sense of history and with good old-fashioned common sense. Hopefully, the latter sort of Jew/Israeli will gain the upper hand and use our formidable intelligence to defeat the Islamo/leftist scourge that threatens not only Israel, but the free world.
If the antipathy that a segment of the public has for Netanyahu and his coalition leads to renewed demonstrations which destabilize the country and undermine the collective will to destroy Hamas, then Israel's days are numbered. I can only hope that the fear and loathing of Hamas will prove stronger than the Left's hatred of their political opponents who fairly won the last election.
I wonder how many of those protesters are influenced by Western liberals. Maybe us left wing moderate lovers of Israel should be louder so they know that is NOT the whole picture of the Western, liberal narrative.
Ironically, the liberal narrative that promoted the women's movement, the black civil rights movement and the mainstreaming of non heterosexuals into Western life has been attacked and overwhelmed by Islamo/leftist inspired dogma that sees many of the same people who fought for equal rights as the "oppressors". Do your homework. The liberal Unitarian Church is under such attack and so are many progressive Jewish organizations. Read "Woke Anti-Semitism: How A Progressive Ideology Harms Jews" by progressive Jewish leader David Bernstein. It's time to stop buying into Islamo/leftist dogma about the "poor Palestinians" and realize that Israel and the entire West is under attack. The Palestinians have always been willing pawns of this dogma and only the tip of the iceberg. It's okay to be classical liberal (if that still exists) but take a hard look at what today's so-called "liberalism" has become.
I understand what you’re saying. And excuse me but I have done my homework. Watch yourself when you speak to people and have some respect.
Dismissing that mean-spirited portion of your reply I will say that, two wrongs don’t make a right. We gave up the land after 1967, shoyn, so we should stop acting like a chazayrim and don’t give them any fodder for their narrative.
I’m not saying the settlers give them any justification for their violence and hatred of us, it’s a completely separate issue, and one that deserves our attention.
Good essay. I think the Hamas faction saw this dilemma knowing the response that would be coming. This American senses a growing feeling of patriotism and unity that may offset internal politics and foster endurance for the long haul. May God bless soldiers and hostages, heroes all.
The international court of opinion has totally forgotten about the hostages. There is nothing on any news outlets in the UK about them and no calls from any official body for them to be released. So your argument is that if they were released then everyone would think that Israel should stop the war. But everyone already thinks that and no one mentions the hostages except for Israelis and Jews. As everyone else is in a numbers game. So I would prefer that the hostages are released and Israel continue with their mission to eradicate Hamas. At this stage, does the court of public opinion matter?
It matters to the extent that public opinion influences political decision-making or is weaponised by political adversaries to incumbents soon up for reelection.
Well, if Biden needs some incentive to stop holding Israel back, maybe Israel's intelligence agencies can motivate him and other political whores. Any means necessary. Or goodbye Israel.
It’s a Hobbesian choice to be sure. One must wonder what the calculus would be if we knew how many hostages were already dead. If we stop fighting now with Hamas more or less intact, the next attack will come for sure. Israelis will never sleep well in their beds again. Sigh.
Sadly, we Jews are our own worst enemies and if the world is against Israel now, it's largely because Jews with power in the media, in academia and elsewhere decided to adopt some idiotic interpretation of "tikun olam" to address an ideology of pure evil; lending credence to the anti-Semites around them who will support anything that is anti-Jewish and anti-West. The Lubavitcher Rebbe and other religious and political leaders have warned against making unreasonable concessions for the sake of "diplomacy" and "good public relations". So have many millions of Jews with a sense of history and with good old-fashioned common sense. Hopefully, the latter sort of Jew/Israeli will gain the upper hand and use our formidable intelligence to defeat the Islamo/leftist scourge that threatens not only Israel, but the free world.
Your comment is spot-on. Thank you.
If the antipathy that a segment of the public has for Netanyahu and his coalition leads to renewed demonstrations which destabilize the country and undermine the collective will to destroy Hamas, then Israel's days are numbered. I can only hope that the fear and loathing of Hamas will prove stronger than the Left's hatred of their political opponents who fairly won the last election.
I wonder how many of those protesters are influenced by Western liberals. Maybe us left wing moderate lovers of Israel should be louder so they know that is NOT the whole picture of the Western, liberal narrative.
Ironically, the liberal narrative that promoted the women's movement, the black civil rights movement and the mainstreaming of non heterosexuals into Western life has been attacked and overwhelmed by Islamo/leftist inspired dogma that sees many of the same people who fought for equal rights as the "oppressors". Do your homework. The liberal Unitarian Church is under such attack and so are many progressive Jewish organizations. Read "Woke Anti-Semitism: How A Progressive Ideology Harms Jews" by progressive Jewish leader David Bernstein. It's time to stop buying into Islamo/leftist dogma about the "poor Palestinians" and realize that Israel and the entire West is under attack. The Palestinians have always been willing pawns of this dogma and only the tip of the iceberg. It's okay to be classical liberal (if that still exists) but take a hard look at what today's so-called "liberalism" has become.
I understand what you’re saying. And excuse me but I have done my homework. Watch yourself when you speak to people and have some respect.
Dismissing that mean-spirited portion of your reply I will say that, two wrongs don’t make a right. We gave up the land after 1967, shoyn, so we should stop acting like a chazayrim and don’t give them any fodder for their narrative.
I’m not saying the settlers give them any justification for their violence and hatred of us, it’s a completely separate issue, and one that deserves our attention.
What you wrote has nothing to do with my comment. You are spouting platitudes and making vague references to separate topics. Be well.
Zay gezunt
Good essay. I think the Hamas faction saw this dilemma knowing the response that would be coming. This American senses a growing feeling of patriotism and unity that may offset internal politics and foster endurance for the long haul. May God bless soldiers and hostages, heroes all.
I read about a proposal
L to hold al aqusa hostage To not allow Muslims to worship there while we don’t have our hostages returned
The international court of opinion has totally forgotten about the hostages. There is nothing on any news outlets in the UK about them and no calls from any official body for them to be released. So your argument is that if they were released then everyone would think that Israel should stop the war. But everyone already thinks that and no one mentions the hostages except for Israelis and Jews. As everyone else is in a numbers game. So I would prefer that the hostages are released and Israel continue with their mission to eradicate Hamas. At this stage, does the court of public opinion matter?
It matters to the extent that public opinion influences political decision-making or is weaponised by political adversaries to incumbents soon up for reelection.
Well, if Biden needs some incentive to stop holding Israel back, maybe Israel's intelligence agencies can motivate him and other political whores. Any means necessary. Or goodbye Israel.
I’ll never understand leftist Israelis in this moment in history. wtf are they thinking. This is beyond irresponsible and selfish.
You’re right. It’s the sad truth.
It’s a Hobbesian choice to be sure. One must wonder what the calculus would be if we knew how many hostages were already dead. If we stop fighting now with Hamas more or less intact, the next attack will come for sure. Israelis will never sleep well in their beds again. Sigh.