While Israeli analysts debate whether there’s a rift with the United States, the real story is more complex. There’s no rupture, but there is recalibration.
This is saddening—-and deeply concerning. I pray that the leadership in Israel will press on toward the goal of eliminating Hamas totally and completely, for otherwise it is impossible to think that Hamas will not eventually regroup and launch another 10/7. That simply and absolutely must not happen.
The alternative is to return to mowing the grass. Forever. Even if Hamas is destroyed root and branch, anti-semitism and Islamist ambition seem to consign us to being like Sisyphus.
This truth, right here, hàs kept me awake at night. I have always been afraid of being 'sold out'. It's a sad reality. The destruction of Democracy, is in a steady, downward spiral
The moment I saw the Qataris were “ lending “ Trump a luxury 747, I knew Israel was once again on its own . Finnish the job and then ask for forgiveness later . No more asking permission .
Outstanding, thoughtful essay, Joshua Hoffman. Your very sound logic and thought can be applied to Trump’s deal with the Houthis as well. “Stop attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Persian Gulf, and we’ll stop bombing you.” (Basically what Trump told the Houthis.) But, now, the Houthis continue to fire missiles at Israel!! The Jewish State must never rely on its closest allies to do what’s right and needed to protect every single Jewish life. Am Yisrael Chai!!
Trump has said repeatedly that Israel can do what it needs to do and should do. He wants the war over, and he knows Israel can do the job. So the hold up is trying to get more hostages out? It can't happen. Trump knows this and that is why he saved the last US citizen who was alive; he knows Israel is ramping up the war (with his blessing) and it will likely mean the death of the remaining living hostages. Netanyahu needs to end the war with the decisive victory he has promised; the rest of the Middle East is waiting to get the ball rolling on the new plans. It's a terrible situation to be in, and no matter what Netanyahu decides, there will be people tearing him apart about it.
Trump must have promised Hamas something to get it to give up the US citizen it was holding hostage. Right now we do not know what. Or whether Trump will keep that promise.
‘Damned if he does, and damned if he does not’ .. Israel is in a ‘catch 22’ position because removing Hamas’ from governing & removing their military capability will not save the hostages.
Qatar is pulling the strings & could tell Hamas to release the hostages immediately.
Israel should play Hamas and Qatar at their own game. Agree to a withdrawal, do what ever it takes to bring the hostages home. And then, when every last hostage is back in Israel, resume the job to remove Hamas from governing.
But then what will happen when Hamas manages to take more hostages? Which it or some other Islamist terrorist group will do. I'm not saying that I have a better idea. Just saying that there is no perfect solution.
Thank you for your deep thoughts. Here are suggestions I have already taken and ask all of you to take. To write to the President, write whitehouse.gov/contact and there is also a call number Tues thru Thursday. Write to him or tell him that his next great step is to ally again with his son in law and daughter Ivanka. That these people should help him make a great plan together with Bibi Netanyahu, Trump's biggest fan, to make it all good again. Maybe if all of us reading did this, he would be told a sizable American contingent suggest a policy change with Jared. And pray of course.
Unfortunately, Jared and Ivanka have clearly chosen to sit on the sidelines in this second Trump administration and actually have lives not totally consumed by Trump's obsessions. But, sure, why not write or call the White House? No downside to doing that.
I THOUGHT ABOUT IT FURTHER AND DECIDED MORE NEEDED TO BE DONE. I SENT AN EMAIL TO SOMEONE THAT I THINK CAN REACH JARED KUSHNER AND I HOPE THAT HE WILL GET INVOLVED TO KEEP HIS FATHER IN LAW LOOKING GOOD AND NOT LIKE HE IS SELLING OUT. THANK YOU
If Trump were president in 1941 he would have worked out a deal with the Japan and Germany and called it a win. We have gone from an administration that is virtually on the side of the jihadists to one that has no plan, no core and no clarity. Israel MUST become independent. And it must finish this war. And the war is not over when the last hostage is freed. It is over when Hamas is gone and the execrable UN is no longer funding jihad in Gaza.
Embarrassed to admit I voted for Trump b/c I think the U.S needed to be shaken up, but expect Trump to start turning on Israel exactly like he did with Ukraine. I never thought he had morals, but the Qatari jet and his little speech: “why wouldn’t I accept a ‘gift’ from Qatar?” prove he is a slimy politician and also a total fucking moron. (Hint: because they want you all to die and are actively planning it, Trump. That’s why.) He’s dead to me. Tbf, Kamala would be doing the same shit cause all our politicians are cowards who can be bought and they think they can negotiate with Qatar and Iran and Hamas. How are they still like this?
Joshua, you're right on Trump. He is driven by a super-ego demanding wins. America First, but always a Trump win. He makes things better, because they are a Trump win. Same thing with his foreign "policy", always a Trump win-- bigger, tougher. All decisions are for the Trump win. Actually, Bibi and Donald have much in common, including mass murders via the COVID bioweapons.
Although Israel is a geographically small nation, they rank with the giants of the globe. Isn't it time for Israel to make its own decisions regarding war, and peace? Can't Israel make/build just about everything it needs? Why rely on the whims and politics of another state? No matter how Israel conducts itself, even being super cautious to play by the rules and then some, Israel is subject to global criticism and condemnation. It's time for Israel to fight it's own battles on its own terms, with allies and friends giving encouragement. [Wipe out Gaza completely and there will be no need for talk of a "Palestinian" state.] [The longer this war goes on, the worse anti-Semitism gets.]
Think about what happened when Iran twice decided to attack Israel with missiles this past year. Israel would have catastrophic losses of Israeli lives and property were it not for the the USA and several other Western democracies using their military assets to intercept and destroy many of those missiles. Israel could eventually manufacture everything needed to protect itself militarily, but the cost would be immense and it would greatly reduce the standard of living of all Israelis. That is why nations have mutual defense treaties and allies. So that they do not have to go in alone, with catastrophic economic consequences.
Painfully truthful. Unfortunately, our greatest ally is one who pursues their interests. We - and only we - must pursue our own, I wonder how Menachem Begin would deal with Ttump's administration. The one thing I am pretty sure of, like he did in his prime ministership, is he would push the red button on Iran when it was deemed the ripest opportunity. They don't make them like that anymore. #amyisraelchai
The thing is, we DO have the same enemies. It just so happens that our own interests often coincide with Israel's. Throwing Israel under the bus will not benefit our national security, quite the contrary. But the US government refuses to recognize that. Qatar is funding curriculum in our schools, not just colleges but public schools and poisoning the minds of American children to hate their own country. Qatar isn't an ally, but our government turns a blind eye to Qatar's evil machinations. They turned a blind eye to Saudi Arabia and then came 9/11 and to this day Saudi Arabia's role in that continues to be covered up by our government. But you have idiots and or bigots on either side of the political spectrum who insist that Israel's the country we should be suspicious of and cut off relations with, not the Saudis and Qatar.
Yes. Islamists call Israel the Little Satan and the USA the Big Satan. Islamists in the USA have succeeded in taking over some of our universities and ultimately have the same goals as Islamists everywhere: to destroy Western liberal civilization and institute Sharia Law everywhere. They know this will be a long march, but they fervently believe they are doing Allah's will.
Whatever the Biden bunch did it was not pursuing American interests. Whatever Trump is doing, it is certainly not in American interests. Rubio understands American interests. So Does Huckabee and a few others. Whether they can continue to work for Trump if he continues down this bizarre path is questionable.
Thank you so much Joshua for your wonderful essay......it's great that after a year and half, Edan Alexander was finally released. What about the other hostages without US passports ?? I hope the decisions about, Gaza, ceasefire and a " Palestinian " state will be coming ONLY by Israel... Am Israel Chai.....
As an American, I can assure you that support from our country has become very conditional. As a Zionist and a realist, I believe that Israel might fail without that support, which is unthinkable. In this modern world, I fear that the price for the continued existence of Israel may just be the current status quo of invasion and retaliation.
This is saddening—-and deeply concerning. I pray that the leadership in Israel will press on toward the goal of eliminating Hamas totally and completely, for otherwise it is impossible to think that Hamas will not eventually regroup and launch another 10/7. That simply and absolutely must not happen.
The alternative is to return to mowing the grass. Forever. Even if Hamas is destroyed root and branch, anti-semitism and Islamist ambition seem to consign us to being like Sisyphus.
This truth, right here, hàs kept me awake at night. I have always been afraid of being 'sold out'. It's a sad reality. The destruction of Democracy, is in a steady, downward spiral
The moment I saw the Qataris were “ lending “ Trump a luxury 747, I knew Israel was once again on its own . Finnish the job and then ask for forgiveness later . No more asking permission .
The Israelis should do what they have to in Gaza regardless of what Trump wants as a deal which will preserve Hamas in power
The problem in doing that is of course that Trump might pull the plug on providing the arms that Israel will continue to need.
Outstanding, thoughtful essay, Joshua Hoffman. Your very sound logic and thought can be applied to Trump’s deal with the Houthis as well. “Stop attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Persian Gulf, and we’ll stop bombing you.” (Basically what Trump told the Houthis.) But, now, the Houthis continue to fire missiles at Israel!! The Jewish State must never rely on its closest allies to do what’s right and needed to protect every single Jewish life. Am Yisrael Chai!!
Great essay. truthful and sad.
Trump has said repeatedly that Israel can do what it needs to do and should do. He wants the war over, and he knows Israel can do the job. So the hold up is trying to get more hostages out? It can't happen. Trump knows this and that is why he saved the last US citizen who was alive; he knows Israel is ramping up the war (with his blessing) and it will likely mean the death of the remaining living hostages. Netanyahu needs to end the war with the decisive victory he has promised; the rest of the Middle East is waiting to get the ball rolling on the new plans. It's a terrible situation to be in, and no matter what Netanyahu decides, there will be people tearing him apart about it.
Trump must have promised Hamas something to get it to give up the US citizen it was holding hostage. Right now we do not know what. Or whether Trump will keep that promise.
‘Damned if he does, and damned if he does not’ .. Israel is in a ‘catch 22’ position because removing Hamas’ from governing & removing their military capability will not save the hostages.
Qatar is pulling the strings & could tell Hamas to release the hostages immediately.
Israel should play Hamas and Qatar at their own game. Agree to a withdrawal, do what ever it takes to bring the hostages home. And then, when every last hostage is back in Israel, resume the job to remove Hamas from governing.
But then what will happen when Hamas manages to take more hostages? Which it or some other Islamist terrorist group will do. I'm not saying that I have a better idea. Just saying that there is no perfect solution.
Thank you for your deep thoughts. Here are suggestions I have already taken and ask all of you to take. To write to the President, write whitehouse.gov/contact and there is also a call number Tues thru Thursday. Write to him or tell him that his next great step is to ally again with his son in law and daughter Ivanka. That these people should help him make a great plan together with Bibi Netanyahu, Trump's biggest fan, to make it all good again. Maybe if all of us reading did this, he would be told a sizable American contingent suggest a policy change with Jared. And pray of course.
Unfortunately, Jared and Ivanka have clearly chosen to sit on the sidelines in this second Trump administration and actually have lives not totally consumed by Trump's obsessions. But, sure, why not write or call the White House? No downside to doing that.
I THOUGHT ABOUT IT FURTHER AND DECIDED MORE NEEDED TO BE DONE. I SENT AN EMAIL TO SOMEONE THAT I THINK CAN REACH JARED KUSHNER AND I HOPE THAT HE WILL GET INVOLVED TO KEEP HIS FATHER IN LAW LOOKING GOOD AND NOT LIKE HE IS SELLING OUT. THANK YOU
I HOPE AND PRAY THAT THEY WILL CHANGE THEIR MINDS IF ASKED DIRECTLY
If Trump were president in 1941 he would have worked out a deal with the Japan and Germany and called it a win. We have gone from an administration that is virtually on the side of the jihadists to one that has no plan, no core and no clarity. Israel MUST become independent. And it must finish this war. And the war is not over when the last hostage is freed. It is over when Hamas is gone and the execrable UN is no longer funding jihad in Gaza.
Embarrassed to admit I voted for Trump b/c I think the U.S needed to be shaken up, but expect Trump to start turning on Israel exactly like he did with Ukraine. I never thought he had morals, but the Qatari jet and his little speech: “why wouldn’t I accept a ‘gift’ from Qatar?” prove he is a slimy politician and also a total fucking moron. (Hint: because they want you all to die and are actively planning it, Trump. That’s why.) He’s dead to me. Tbf, Kamala would be doing the same shit cause all our politicians are cowards who can be bought and they think they can negotiate with Qatar and Iran and Hamas. How are they still like this?
Joshua, you're right on Trump. He is driven by a super-ego demanding wins. America First, but always a Trump win. He makes things better, because they are a Trump win. Same thing with his foreign "policy", always a Trump win-- bigger, tougher. All decisions are for the Trump win. Actually, Bibi and Donald have much in common, including mass murders via the COVID bioweapons.
Although Israel is a geographically small nation, they rank with the giants of the globe. Isn't it time for Israel to make its own decisions regarding war, and peace? Can't Israel make/build just about everything it needs? Why rely on the whims and politics of another state? No matter how Israel conducts itself, even being super cautious to play by the rules and then some, Israel is subject to global criticism and condemnation. It's time for Israel to fight it's own battles on its own terms, with allies and friends giving encouragement. [Wipe out Gaza completely and there will be no need for talk of a "Palestinian" state.] [The longer this war goes on, the worse anti-Semitism gets.]
Think about what happened when Iran twice decided to attack Israel with missiles this past year. Israel would have catastrophic losses of Israeli lives and property were it not for the the USA and several other Western democracies using their military assets to intercept and destroy many of those missiles. Israel could eventually manufacture everything needed to protect itself militarily, but the cost would be immense and it would greatly reduce the standard of living of all Israelis. That is why nations have mutual defense treaties and allies. So that they do not have to go in alone, with catastrophic economic consequences.
Painfully truthful. Unfortunately, our greatest ally is one who pursues their interests. We - and only we - must pursue our own, I wonder how Menachem Begin would deal with Ttump's administration. The one thing I am pretty sure of, like he did in his prime ministership, is he would push the red button on Iran when it was deemed the ripest opportunity. They don't make them like that anymore. #amyisraelchai
The thing is, we DO have the same enemies. It just so happens that our own interests often coincide with Israel's. Throwing Israel under the bus will not benefit our national security, quite the contrary. But the US government refuses to recognize that. Qatar is funding curriculum in our schools, not just colleges but public schools and poisoning the minds of American children to hate their own country. Qatar isn't an ally, but our government turns a blind eye to Qatar's evil machinations. They turned a blind eye to Saudi Arabia and then came 9/11 and to this day Saudi Arabia's role in that continues to be covered up by our government. But you have idiots and or bigots on either side of the political spectrum who insist that Israel's the country we should be suspicious of and cut off relations with, not the Saudis and Qatar.
Yes. Islamists call Israel the Little Satan and the USA the Big Satan. Islamists in the USA have succeeded in taking over some of our universities and ultimately have the same goals as Islamists everywhere: to destroy Western liberal civilization and institute Sharia Law everywhere. They know this will be a long march, but they fervently believe they are doing Allah's will.
Whatever the Biden bunch did it was not pursuing American interests. Whatever Trump is doing, it is certainly not in American interests. Rubio understands American interests. So Does Huckabee and a few others. Whether they can continue to work for Trump if he continues down this bizarre path is questionable.
Thank you so much Joshua for your wonderful essay......it's great that after a year and half, Edan Alexander was finally released. What about the other hostages without US passports ?? I hope the decisions about, Gaza, ceasefire and a " Palestinian " state will be coming ONLY by Israel... Am Israel Chai.....
Unfortunately, Israel has drawn this situation out for far too long. The people are sick of it.
As an American, I can assure you that support from our country has become very conditional. As a Zionist and a realist, I believe that Israel might fail without that support, which is unthinkable. In this modern world, I fear that the price for the continued existence of Israel may just be the current status quo of invasion and retaliation.
That is a realistic fear.