Israel should not occupy Gaza. It should annex it as part of Israel. It should do that only after Hamas has unconditionally surrendered, it's leaders executed, and every last Arab given a one way ticket to anywhere in the Arab world. Israel needs to obliterate the concept of "Palestine", so that every Arab knows that they have irreversibly been defeated. Israel should then move on to the West Bank and repeat the process. Only when there are no Palestinian Arabs anywhere near Israel will there be peace. If the Arab world doesn't like that solution, they can go fuck themselves.
Of course Hamas cannot be taken seriously as a interlocutor. (If you do, why not offer ISIS a seat in the United Nations, as well).
Any peace agreement should be based on the presupposition that Hamas never returns to power. But Israel controlling Gaza indefinitely? An excellent recipe for perpetual trouble.
Gaza once was an administrative part of Egypt, this country has a moral obligation after starting a few wars - unhelpful to the Palestinian cause - to take responsibility.
Gaza simply shouldn't be Israel's problem: let Egypt send a (military) governor again and let Quatar finance the reconstruction.
If the Israelis make any deal they’re nuts. They need to take off the gloves, stop the careful whack a mole crap, and make these animals pay a price that will dwarf 10/7.
Anyone who advocates peace with these sub human beasts needs their head examined.
Perfectly stated Joshua, Paul, and, Patricia. I generally only use "so-called 'palestinians' ". I only use "Judea & Samaria". The borders of Israel have already expanded. They will and should expand some more. The world changed on Simchat Torah (Oct 7, 2023). Oct 8, 2023 I began to write: that we Jews need to get "The BIG Lesson". Jews and those who wish to learn from us i.e. from the Jewish Culture and our Cultural Practices need to practice "Living With the Times" i.e. at least minimal daily study of the Torah's weekly parsha. Jews need to be more Jewish. The Jewish Culture is the foundation to implement the changes which are already moving ahead. "All things in their time and season".
Well written Joshua. Unfortunately, in my opinion, there is no long lasting solution to the Hamas/Palestinian problem. Israel will always be on full alert to the threat of Muslim holy wars. Heavy sigh. Am Yisrael Chai.
Excellent piece. Thank you. I’m under attack by colleagues who view anything commonsensical like this piece as “anti-Palestinian rhetoric.” It’s pathetic.
I'm self-employed in the arts and I know it's impacting my employment. I used to naively think that by sharing pieces like this, I'd be helping to "educate" friends and colleagues who know nothing about the Middle East but guess what? They are all Middle East experts!
Understood. When I matured, and began to view the world differently I lost all my old left wing ‘friends’. I probably lost 2 jobs as a result of letting my support for DJT be known…that is the extent of my financial impact. But I was ready to retire anyway so always good to find out where others stand. Not making light of your situation but hopefully as more improvements are felt in day to day life, opinions will change.
I was very enlightened by reading Einat Wilf. Then Matti Friedman, following Douglas Murray, Israel Radar on X, etc. No way back, once your eyes have been opened!
I visited Israel in 1968 as a grieving Bobby Kennedy supporter, anti war, life long Democrat. I came home a lover of Israel and confirmed Zionist. Over the years, my politics have changed but that has not. I believe I have become a better Christian though non-denominational Protestant.
I've worked in arts administration for over 40 years, and during Covid did my MFA - I'm writing a book about my husband's family during the Holocaust and my conversion to Judaism. Right now I'm with Concerts in Care and the Canadian Music Centre, plus freelance this and that.
I’m a Fine Artist but I don’t do anything political. If you look at my profile you can see some of my work. It’s 4 panels, it was in Baltimore MD. I could never figure out what all that was exactly.
And, though you never say it, Jews should move into Gaza en masse. And Israel should annex Gaza, as Paul Goldman seems to understand too. The mosques should all be closed because they are sites of incendiary incitement to murder Jews. Palestinians would be free to leave, but if they remain they will work for a living - no international aid - and pay extreme penalties for any disturbance of public order. And they will have no voting rights in Israel. Bingo!
For what it’s worth, I support your clear, realistic vision for Israel. October 8 requires thinking outside the box. Clearly, the way of the past of Israel and Jews ‘making nice’ with the neighbors doesn’t work. I am for the safety, security and success of Israel by whatever means necessary.
“Again and again in the past, peoples who unleash unprovoked aggressive wars against their neighbors and are then defeated lose either their government or their sovereignty, or both.
The witness of history is therefore fairly uniform: If a government undertakes a vicious and unprovoked attack on a neighboring country, and subsequently loses on the battlefield, it cannot then expect to continue to exercise sovereignty and avoid population transfers. In a similar vein, Arab governments cannot in the same breath argue that Gaza is “a concentration camp,” but also that its citizens should not be allowed to leave such a beloved homeland. They can choose one propaganda line or the other, but not, simultaneously, both.”
Liora, wish the world media would pick up this invaluable review of the spoils of war over the millennia. Leaders across the board these days are so uniformed about history it’s ridiculous, alarming and dangerous.
First finish the demolition including mosques. Then Jews rebuild and inhabit. I’m sorry but Israel should shut down mosques and deport, deport, deport any sympathizers of Jihad. Islam has to be outed as a fake religion.
Gaza would not be a problem if all of it’s current inhabitants were banished to the far corners of the Muslim world. Let the Muslims deal with these radically indoctrinated animals.
True, However, even with DT in the Oval Office with all that crappy gold tchotchkes, we are not the ones calling the tune. Not to mention the EU and international community. We must be smart and not arrogant. Arrogance brought about Oct 7.
Excellent piece, Joshua, to which I wholeheartedly agree. That said, I agree with Paul Goodman as well; annexation as opposed to occupation.
Of course ‘the world’ will go ballistic. Of course the hate and venom, and worse, will increase.
But the threat to Israel must be dealt with now, and the price, whatever it may be, paid, or the cost is going to be far worse down the road.
“You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality.” Ayn Rand
Admittedly, I don’t ’have skin in the game’. But I do have a number of Israeli Jewish friends who are all in serious combat units and operate at great risk, as well as the mothers who must wait at home, dealing with their greatest fears, seemingly alone.
I wish the harsh realities could be transformed without harsh costs, but I don’t believe it is possible. What Israel needs so badly right now, is the moral courage to do what must be done. And I submit that, for that to happen, Israel must turn to the true source of courage, faith, and hope, the G-d of Israel.
The people, and the nation, remain always on my mind, and in my heart and prayers.
Netanyahu has stated over and over (and again just a day or two ago) that Hamas will not remain in power and Iran will never get the nuke. Those are the two biggest priorities and I simply have a hard time understanding how any Jew--especially a Jew in Israel--cannot see the necessity of those goals. And yes, Israel must keep Gaza, Judea and Samaria, the Golan Heights--all of Israel. All of it. For security and simply because it's ISRAEL'S land.
The Israeli’s must take control by. Then rebuild with the hope that the Palestinians will get up the courage to confront the Jihadists amongst them and reject violence and hate. The Israelis must change their minds about living next to Israel and give up their desire to destroy Israel and the Jews who live there. That’s a tall order since 1.5 billion Muslims have been taught to hate the Infidel and to be intolerant of other religions.
After Oct 7th, I read a lot. I wanted to understand why so many of my liberal friends blamed Israel. The more I read, the more I understood that the west has been seduced by this "occupation" narrative. The more I read, the more pro-Israel I became - despite reading Pro- Palestine sources.
Hamas must be crushed the way that Germany and Japan were crushed. There is no making peace with these people. They don't want peace, they want Israel's destruction. Israel should take over Gaza and expel all of these terrorists. There is no other option.
Islamism is War decreed by Allah to make the spread of Islam absolutely permanent. It is therefore an Ideology of Permanent War until the whole planet is covered by Islam. This is how Islam was spread originally in the countries which are now Islamic States. Actually, Islamism is no different to the Wars of Genocide which have racked the Middle East for tens of Millenia. So, is Islamism a Threat to Europe and The West and therefore The World? Absolutely. Islamist Hamas must therefore be expelled from Gaza and The West Bank, and back into the States which are already Islam. Those with sense are no longer vulnerable to liberal hand-wringing and prating from the talking-points of those who are actually The West's enemies, here in Europe and America. Thus, Expulsion is now both Reality and the absolute Military Logic.
Wonderful, brillant article.......Totally agreed with your thinking......After the horrors of 7 of Octobeŕ. 2023, and the hostages still held in horrific, inhuman conditions, things have to change......we had ENOUGH more than ENOUGH.....we have to do what is good for our beloved Israel and our people....
Israel should not occupy Gaza. It should annex it as part of Israel. It should do that only after Hamas has unconditionally surrendered, it's leaders executed, and every last Arab given a one way ticket to anywhere in the Arab world. Israel needs to obliterate the concept of "Palestine", so that every Arab knows that they have irreversibly been defeated. Israel should then move on to the West Bank and repeat the process. Only when there are no Palestinian Arabs anywhere near Israel will there be peace. If the Arab world doesn't like that solution, they can go fuck themselves.
While they’re at it, lay to rest once and for all the words. ‘Palestine’ and ‘Palestinians’. They are simply Arabs.
Yes, Israel absolutely MUST keep Gaza, Jordan and Samaria and the Golan Heights. 100 percent must. Permanently. For many reasons.
You meant Judaea and Samaria. I mean, I know you meant Judaea and Samaria.
Haha, Freudian slip. Jordan was part of the original Palestine meant for the Jewish people…but hey, for peace, we’ve let that go 😁
Oh, was that a typo? Flashback to Sykes Picot…
100%
Of course Hamas cannot be taken seriously as a interlocutor. (If you do, why not offer ISIS a seat in the United Nations, as well).
Any peace agreement should be based on the presupposition that Hamas never returns to power. But Israel controlling Gaza indefinitely? An excellent recipe for perpetual trouble.
Gaza once was an administrative part of Egypt, this country has a moral obligation after starting a few wars - unhelpful to the Palestinian cause - to take responsibility.
Gaza simply shouldn't be Israel's problem: let Egypt send a (military) governor again and let Quatar finance the reconstruction.
If the Israelis make any deal they’re nuts. They need to take off the gloves, stop the careful whack a mole crap, and make these animals pay a price that will dwarf 10/7.
Anyone who advocates peace with these sub human beasts needs their head examined.
Amen. The caution is for any remaining hostages. Evil situation.
Perfectly stated Joshua, Paul, and, Patricia. I generally only use "so-called 'palestinians' ". I only use "Judea & Samaria". The borders of Israel have already expanded. They will and should expand some more. The world changed on Simchat Torah (Oct 7, 2023). Oct 8, 2023 I began to write: that we Jews need to get "The BIG Lesson". Jews and those who wish to learn from us i.e. from the Jewish Culture and our Cultural Practices need to practice "Living With the Times" i.e. at least minimal daily study of the Torah's weekly parsha. Jews need to be more Jewish. The Jewish Culture is the foundation to implement the changes which are already moving ahead. "All things in their time and season".
Amen Paul Goldman…
Well written Joshua. Unfortunately, in my opinion, there is no long lasting solution to the Hamas/Palestinian problem. Israel will always be on full alert to the threat of Muslim holy wars. Heavy sigh. Am Yisrael Chai.
Ahmein! 🤙🇮🇱✡️💜
Excellent piece. Thank you. I’m under attack by colleagues who view anything commonsensical like this piece as “anti-Palestinian rhetoric.” It’s pathetic.
I don’t see a problem being ‘anti Palestinian’. That’s only common sense. Same as being anti Hamas.
I'm self-employed in the arts and I know it's impacting my employment. I used to naively think that by sharing pieces like this, I'd be helping to "educate" friends and colleagues who know nothing about the Middle East but guess what? They are all Middle East experts!
Understood. When I matured, and began to view the world differently I lost all my old left wing ‘friends’. I probably lost 2 jobs as a result of letting my support for DJT be known…that is the extent of my financial impact. But I was ready to retire anyway so always good to find out where others stand. Not making light of your situation but hopefully as more improvements are felt in day to day life, opinions will change.
I was very enlightened by reading Einat Wilf. Then Matti Friedman, following Douglas Murray, Israel Radar on X, etc. No way back, once your eyes have been opened!
I visited Israel in 1968 as a grieving Bobby Kennedy supporter, anti war, life long Democrat. I came home a lover of Israel and confirmed Zionist. Over the years, my politics have changed but that has not. I believe I have become a better Christian though non-denominational Protestant.
Curious about your Art…
I've worked in arts administration for over 40 years, and during Covid did my MFA - I'm writing a book about my husband's family during the Holocaust and my conversion to Judaism. Right now I'm with Concerts in Care and the Canadian Music Centre, plus freelance this and that.
I’m a Fine Artist but I don’t do anything political. If you look at my profile you can see some of my work. It’s 4 panels, it was in Baltimore MD. I could never figure out what all that was exactly.
That’s exactly what I was thinking.
And, though you never say it, Jews should move into Gaza en masse. And Israel should annex Gaza, as Paul Goldman seems to understand too. The mosques should all be closed because they are sites of incendiary incitement to murder Jews. Palestinians would be free to leave, but if they remain they will work for a living - no international aid - and pay extreme penalties for any disturbance of public order. And they will have no voting rights in Israel. Bingo!
Amen
For what it’s worth, I support your clear, realistic vision for Israel. October 8 requires thinking outside the box. Clearly, the way of the past of Israel and Jews ‘making nice’ with the neighbors doesn’t work. I am for the safety, security and success of Israel by whatever means necessary.
Andrew Roberts, historian:
“Again and again in the past, peoples who unleash unprovoked aggressive wars against their neighbors and are then defeated lose either their government or their sovereignty, or both.
The witness of history is therefore fairly uniform: If a government undertakes a vicious and unprovoked attack on a neighboring country, and subsequently loses on the battlefield, it cannot then expect to continue to exercise sovereignty and avoid population transfers. In a similar vein, Arab governments cannot in the same breath argue that Gaza is “a concentration camp,” but also that its citizens should not be allowed to leave such a beloved homeland. They can choose one propaganda line or the other, but not, simultaneously, both.”
Liora, wish the world media would pick up this invaluable review of the spoils of war over the millennia. Leaders across the board these days are so uniformed about history it’s ridiculous, alarming and dangerous.
First finish the demolition including mosques. Then Jews rebuild and inhabit. I’m sorry but Israel should shut down mosques and deport, deport, deport any sympathizers of Jihad. Islam has to be outed as a fake religion.
Amen. Zephaniah 2…
Antisemitism dumbs down people of any age and gender, WITH ANY IQ LEVEL, from 75 yo 185. It really messes their intelligence.
Gaza would not be a problem if all of it’s current inhabitants were banished to the far corners of the Muslim world. Let the Muslims deal with these radically indoctrinated animals.
True, However, even with DT in the Oval Office with all that crappy gold tchotchkes, we are not the ones calling the tune. Not to mention the EU and international community. We must be smart and not arrogant. Arrogance brought about Oct 7.
Excellent piece, Joshua, to which I wholeheartedly agree. That said, I agree with Paul Goodman as well; annexation as opposed to occupation.
Of course ‘the world’ will go ballistic. Of course the hate and venom, and worse, will increase.
But the threat to Israel must be dealt with now, and the price, whatever it may be, paid, or the cost is going to be far worse down the road.
“You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality.” Ayn Rand
Admittedly, I don’t ’have skin in the game’. But I do have a number of Israeli Jewish friends who are all in serious combat units and operate at great risk, as well as the mothers who must wait at home, dealing with their greatest fears, seemingly alone.
I wish the harsh realities could be transformed without harsh costs, but I don’t believe it is possible. What Israel needs so badly right now, is the moral courage to do what must be done. And I submit that, for that to happen, Israel must turn to the true source of courage, faith, and hope, the G-d of Israel.
The people, and the nation, remain always on my mind, and in my heart and prayers.
Am Israel Chai!
Netanyahu has stated over and over (and again just a day or two ago) that Hamas will not remain in power and Iran will never get the nuke. Those are the two biggest priorities and I simply have a hard time understanding how any Jew--especially a Jew in Israel--cannot see the necessity of those goals. And yes, Israel must keep Gaza, Judea and Samaria, the Golan Heights--all of Israel. All of it. For security and simply because it's ISRAEL'S land.
The anti-Bibi cohort is large and they totally reject every word he utters.
same in America with Trump.
100% correct! And so obvious to all who can see. Thank you Josh!
The Israeli’s must take control by. Then rebuild with the hope that the Palestinians will get up the courage to confront the Jihadists amongst them and reject violence and hate. The Israelis must change their minds about living next to Israel and give up their desire to destroy Israel and the Jews who live there. That’s a tall order since 1.5 billion Muslims have been taught to hate the Infidel and to be intolerant of other religions.
After Oct 7th, I read a lot. I wanted to understand why so many of my liberal friends blamed Israel. The more I read, the more I understood that the west has been seduced by this "occupation" narrative. The more I read, the more pro-Israel I became - despite reading Pro- Palestine sources.
Hamas must be crushed the way that Germany and Japan were crushed. There is no making peace with these people. They don't want peace, they want Israel's destruction. Israel should take over Gaza and expel all of these terrorists. There is no other option.
Islamism is War decreed by Allah to make the spread of Islam absolutely permanent. It is therefore an Ideology of Permanent War until the whole planet is covered by Islam. This is how Islam was spread originally in the countries which are now Islamic States. Actually, Islamism is no different to the Wars of Genocide which have racked the Middle East for tens of Millenia. So, is Islamism a Threat to Europe and The West and therefore The World? Absolutely. Islamist Hamas must therefore be expelled from Gaza and The West Bank, and back into the States which are already Islam. Those with sense are no longer vulnerable to liberal hand-wringing and prating from the talking-points of those who are actually The West's enemies, here in Europe and America. Thus, Expulsion is now both Reality and the absolute Military Logic.
Wonderful, brillant article.......Totally agreed with your thinking......After the horrors of 7 of Octobeŕ. 2023, and the hostages still held in horrific, inhuman conditions, things have to change......we had ENOUGH more than ENOUGH.....we have to do what is good for our beloved Israel and our people....