The above video is a panel I produced with Lubna Masarwa, Middle East Eye’s Israel-Palestine bureau chief, Shir Hever, an Israeli-German political economist and myself: “Israel’s War on Gaza and Civil War at Home.” It was a comprehensive look at the issues leading up to the current conflict and the impact they’ve had on Israel at home and abroad.
Today, Palestinians in the West Bank and Israeli Palestinians called a General Strike for the first time since 1936. It marks yet another sign of increasing solidarity between the two separate communities. It also marks a rise in defiance by Israel’s Palestinian citizens of their second-class status. In fact, a Haaretz op-ed called the internal violence besetting Israeli towns with mixed ethnic populations a “civil war.” The war against Gaza is also perceived by Palestinian inside Israel as a war against them. This is an unprecedented development. I just published a new piece in Jacobin Magazine on this subject: Palestinians Are Refusing to Be Trampled. Please give it a read.
One thing you have to admire about the IAF: they only hit high-value targets. Like the media building in Gaza which housed offices for 20 different foreign news outlets. Nothing says terrorism like a warren of offices in which reporters file stories and report the news.
Allegedly there was an unspecified Hamas terrorist operation in the 12-story building, so down the whole thing went. The Intercept published a heartbreaking story of a distinguished Gaza photo-journalist whose father had been killed by Israel in 1987. In 2008, as he himself was covering the Israeli assault on Gaza, he was struck by a missile which tore off both his legs. Now, he travels in a wheelchair, but continues his career with even greater commitment. The accompanying image features him outside the ruins of the press building.
A few days ago, Israel destroyed the home of Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas. It was an act of gratuitous revenge. Can you imagine a Palestinian rocket or Iranian missile striking and destroying the prime minister’s home on Balfour Street in Jerusalem? What would the reaction be from the world? In this case…dead silence. During the War of 1812 the British actually did burn down the White House. As he watched it burn on a British prison ship, Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner. Imagine what act of supreme bravery, patriotism or desperation will emerge from a young Gazan inspired this act of state-terrorism.
Two days ago, Israel announced that its next target would be schools. As I read this I said to myself: oh my God, schools? How low have they sunk? Sure enough, earlier today Israel destroyed a six-story building used by the Islamic University, which housed its library, bookstore and publishing house. It was the only library and publishing house in Gaza. But apparently books have somehow become terrorists and must be obliterated. I’m sure that this will advance Israel’s goals to rid Gaza of the scourge of Hamas terrorism.
Sara Netanyahu: “Let the country burn”
As civil war inside Israel rages between the Palestinian and Jewish communities, Judeo-Nazi vigilantes prowl the streets hunting for “Arab” prey. They burn businesses and Palestinian vehicles. They seek out Palestinian homes and throw Molotov cocktails inside where little babies are sleeping. The nation is coming apart at the seams. It brought to mind from Israel’s Kan news a recording of Sara Netanayhu from 2002 in which she complains about Bibi’s critics inside the Likud. The conversation must be read to be believed:
״שתישרף המדינה, ביבי גדול עליה”: כך נשמעה שרה נתניהו, רעיית ראש הממשלה, בהקלטה מ-99′. הכתבה המלאה – ב-#חדשות_הערב, היום ב-20:00. #שלושים_שנות_נתניהו @VAtooan pic.twitter.com/ycBcHFy1tE
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) April 25, 2018
“Sara: They don’t understand one thing: the country is ablaze, there are terror attacks. And above and beyond all the political disputes there is only one man who can save the country. And when I hear all the claims [against Bibi] by Likud activists, I say to hell with it, If that’s what interests them, to hell with it. Bibi is a great leader for this country. A leader on a national scale.
Does everyone in this country want to be slaughtered or burned alive [in terror attacks]? Yallah, why should he make all this effort [for the country]? We’ll go live abroad [if the Likud doesn’t want him]. Let the country burn. Without Bibi, the country will fall apart.
It brings to mind two sayings made famous by French kings: “apres moi, le deluge;” and “L’etat c’est moi.” There is both supreme narcissism and megalomania in her statement. And it’s frightening that the Netanyahus have placed the fate of the entire nation on a sacrificial altar for the sake of their own personal interest.
Israel is indeed burning. And it needn’t have happened. The street riots in East Jerusalem, the Border Police shutting down the Damascus Gate, the police defiling the Al Aqsa mosque, and the Israeli assault on Gaza. All of it serves no strategic national interest. It serves the interest of one man. As long as there is war and Palestinian blood flowing in the streets, no rival coalition can be formed to drive him from office. And with no such government, he continues to rule and can connive to avoid his legal fate in the corruption trial in which he’s enmeshed. If convicted, he will be forced from office. But as long as he remains prime minister he can pass laws and concoct stratagems to “avert the evil decree.”
Joe BIden: Ask me a question on Gaza and I’ll run you over
Biden continues his shameful betrayal of any moral stance on the Gaza slaughter. He flew to Detroit to get behind the wheel of a massive Ford F-150 electric truck. But before he was able to step on the accelerator, he was met at the airport by two members of Congress, Rashida Tlaib and Debby Dingel, who each have major Arab constituencies. They weren’t happy. An aide recounted in more refined language what Tlaib must’ve told the president:
“Palestinian human rights are not a bargaining chip and must be protected, not negotiated,” the aide said Tlaib expressed to Biden. “The U.S. cannot continue to give the right-wing [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu government billions each year to commit crimes against Palestinians. Atrocities like bombing schools cannot be tolerated, much less conducted with U.S.-supplied weapons.”
“Congresswoman Tlaib reiterated that the status quo is enabling more killing, that the current U.S. approach of unconditional support for the Israeli government is not working, and that the White House must do far more to protect Palestinian lives, dignity, and human rights,” the aide said.
After he listened to them, he proceeded to don his sunglasses and get behind the wheel of the monster truck. But not before a reporter tried to slip in a question. She asked if she could pose a question about Gaza. His response? “No, you can’t. Not unless you get in front as I step on it.” The barely concealed rage of his answer betrays how disgusting his approach has been.
CNN’s Jake Tapper offered this accounting of the president’s approach to Israel. And it truly is one of the most depressing things you’ll ever want to read in the midst of mass murder:
Sources tell me that much of what we’re seeing and not seeing from the White House has to do with lessons learned by Biden…from the tense relationship between then-President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the belief that having a public spat with Netanyahu actually would mean reducing American influence with him. Particularly since Netanyahu is in the middle of a domestic political crisis and would in all likelihood welcome any opportunity to portray himself as defending his people from both Hamas rockets and international scolding, showing that toughness and independence from American meddling just reinforces his brand domestically.
That’s the theory. And White House officials believe…that poking Netanyahu with congressional floor speeches or U.N. Security Council resolutions will not move Netanyahu at all.
While there is no doubt that Obama’s approach to Israel was an abject failure, it was not because he was too tough on him. It was because he was not willing to expend the political capital to bring Netanyahu to heel and compel him to accede to American demands for a peace agreement. If you want to get anywhere with any Israeli leader there comes a point when you have to bring down the hammer. If you don’t you’ll get strung along endlessly. That’s what happened to Obama. He just didn’t have the stomach for a knife fight with Bibi. So the latter danced rings around him.
The ridiculous idea that Biden needs to treat Bibi with kid gloves and that this will somehow make him more amenable to American wishes is pure delusion. In fact, this is precisely the approach the Israeli leader would prefer, because he can smile, nod his head at the president, and proceed on his merry way. Do not forget this is the same Netanyahu who told a house full of settlers years ago: “America, don’t worry about America. I have them wrapped around my little finger.” And indeed he is right. He does.
If Tapper is right and this is indeed Biden’s approach, it is obscene and means that scores, if not hundreds more Gazans will die on an altar dedicated to Biden’s cravenness.
As I posted earlier … Biden doesn’t want to spend his “capital” on the I-P issue, thereby raising the white flag. The Trump/Pompeo pro-Israel policy remains in place. The single positief decision was to back Jordan King Abdullah II when Israe/UAE/KSA wanted regime change. Biden goes through the motions of a new JCPOA deal with Iran. In the June election a new hardliner will come forward. The new axis of evil for the coming decades will be Iran-Russia-China. Choice of Turkey hangs in the balance and Biden-NATO-EU will toughen their stance. The EU will fold and fall in step with the US-UK coalition. The flag of Israel flying in Austria and Hungary. Populism and authoritarianism will replace the ideals of Democracy. See role of Bret Stephens to wipe off the social and progressive ideals of Judaism. Netanyahu and Trump the great leaders. Desperation nearby. 😢
Next sign of the Biden spine will be the time lapse before Crown Prince Salman gets an invite for a White House meeting.
If today, Hamas uses schools as launching pads, why not use a library?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-fh-fRs7To
BTW, the Arab general strike has fizzled out, and the reports of ‘civil war’ are grossly exaggerated.
This current operation, where Israel has used the most extreme measures to protect Gazan civilians, will be over in few days.
Hamas, by now, should have realized that their Iranian master has left them out to dry.
Iran, for it’s part, sees that Israel is not collapsing, and that Israel has the will to fight her enemies, foreign and domestic.
@ Mighty: “If” Hamas uses schools? Who said it does?
As for the general strike, reporters in these communities said entire Palestinian towns were completely shut down. So I’ll take their word for it rather than a hasbara apologist.
Israel used the most extreme measure to protect civilians? You’re a goddman liar. You will not post lies here. I put you on notice. Pull this shit again here and you’ll be on your way with a one-way ticket to Ben Gurion (when it reopens). This is an insult to truth and an insult to morality. I’m not only offended, you disgust me. Tell it to the 250 Palestinians murdered by your bombs. You immoral POS!
Your next mendacious comment like this one will bring moderation. I put you on notice.
Well, the reporters may well be right about entire Palestinian towns, but in Israel proper, it’s business as usual. Arab laborers, professionals and municipal workers are on the job.
Your insults and threats seem at odds with your desire to ‘repair the world’, i.e. Tikkun Olam.
How many of the 250 Palestinians murdered by Israeli bombs are Hamas and IJ combatants?
Richard?
@ Mighty: That is a lie. Palestinian laborers have honored the strike. Once again Israeli reporters prove you wrong.
You don’t understand: it is an Israeli Palestinian General Strike. Not an Israeli Jewish General Strike. WHy would Jewish businesses strike? They should of course. But that’s not what /48 Palestinians intended. So judge the Strike successes not on artificial terms you made up; but on the terms the strike organizers established.
This is my blog. If you piss me off I will say so. If you don’t like what I say, stop doing what is pissing me off, or leave.
Islamic Jihad and Hamas claim that 20 of them are militants. But by the standards of 2014, 700 of the 2,300 were fighters. That would mean about 90 were fighters. But that number is likely even lower since there was no Israeli invasion nor intense fighting on the ground between the 2 sides. So now justify the murder of the rest. And justify that 27 Palestinians are killed for every Israeii. Go ahead, I dare you.
On 2nd thought, no more comments in this thread from you.
“So now justify the murder of the rest. And justify that 27 Palestinians are killed for every Israeii. Go ahead, I dare you.”
there will always be a diff in mortalities etc. would you, as a Jew, prefer it to be the other way around like the pogroms in yesteryear?
@ avram: There is no reason any of these Palestinians died. Nor any reason the 12 Israelis died. It’s a horrific waste of life and all BIbi’s fault…and yours for being his enabler and defender (of the war).
[comment deleted: another off topic comment. Do not post comments unless they are directly related to the post on which they’re commenting.]
Pretty lame reply. The Pals are always shooting rockets etc and this time it went too far. Aside from that I did not vote for Bibi as the whole voting system[s] in the world have nauseated me ad infinitum. I never even voted in the US I was too busy getting out of the Viet Nam draft.
@avram
“I was too busy getting out of the Viet Nam draft. ”
Yeah, you and Richard both.
@ Veni: Excuse me? I was a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War. And I wrote my essay which got me my CO exemption from my local draft board on the basis of the Jewish Biblical prophetic tradition. So cut the snark.
@ Avram: If you wish to continue posting here you will respect national groups by using their proper name and not nicknames you’ve devised. Understood?
Palestinians are no more “always shooting rockets” than Israel always is assassinating Palestinian leaders. I agree it did “go too far.” This time the defiling of the sacred sanctum of al Aqsa by Border Police thug was a step too far. And Palestinians everywhere including Gaza rose up as one to say NO MORE!
I do not care whether you voted for Bibi or for the Moshiach. YOu’re his enabler. As for not voting in the US, that’s shameful. Many of us got out of the US draft during the VIetnam War. That’s no excuse for not voting.
[comment deleted: don’t publish another comment here before reading the comment rules. The first one you violated is an off topic comment. Comments must be directly related to the post. And the comment must contain an argument of some sort. Posting a link alone is a violation. Your stay with us will be short unless you get with the program.]
I’d be slow to call Mighty a POS.
The death count in Gaza stands at about 230.
‘The IDF says that at least 160 of those are targeted terrorists, and they have most of the names to prove it. That means approximately 60 of the dead are civilians. Some of them were likely killed by Hamas’s own rockets, as a third of the missiles shot landed inside the Gaza Strip.
Every life lost is a tragedy. We know that. But think about this: over 1,000 bombs were dropped in Gaza, on over 1,000 targets – and 60 civilians were killed. Never been done.’
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/israels-gaza-operation-is-like-no-other-military-op-in-history-opinion-668709
@ Horace: Let’s get one thing straight around here. We don’t care what the IDF claims. We don’t trust the IDF. The IDF lies. So if you say “the IDF says” I immediately say, “Bullshit, prove it.” And saying the IDF has the names to prove it means nothing at all. And using the Jerusalem Post for any purpose other than toilet paper is a dangerous proposition. Not credible here. Find credible media sources to use.
In fact, the most accurate and credible reporting is done by Gaza NGOs who accurately counted the number of dead in 2014 and identified how many were fighters.
Oh boo-hoo and cut the bullshit. You don’t care about the Gaza dead. Don’t pretend to. It’s insulting to then, you and us.
The United States strongly condemns President Erdogan’s recent anti-Semitic comments regarding the Jewish people and finds them reprehensible.
NATO ally Turkey rejects this condemnation. Perhaps Blinken will send the EU duo Michel and Von der Leyen on another mission to Ankara?
Original statements by President Erdoğan a few days ago …
Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan: İsrail zulmüne eyvallah etmeyeceğiz
I remember how Netanyahu shat on Obama. This excuse for not bringing the hammer down I don’t buy. Biden wants his cake and to eat it too, support from the Right on Israel knowing the outraged Left has nowhere to go. Obama did the same, disappointing us after all the “hope” and “audacity” talk. The morals we began to appreciate since Biden’s election, fail him on this. He is damned, true, no matter what he does in fact. But basic morality should prevail especially if Biden wants some sort of restoration of a semblance of US as a force for good. Biden is actually being cowardly.
More people are awakened to what Israel is doing and our complicity.There comes a time when one has to do something, especially when one (Biden) has the power to do it. So putting on the sunglasses and stepping on the accelerator, not quite as funny or cute, is hardly symbolic about what we are doing with regard to Israel. We need to take Israel off our “gas” as well.
Even if it’s true that if Biden would be tougher on Netanyahu and demand that he end the Israeli occupation that Biden would lose influence and that Netanyahu would continue what he’s doing, the point is that if the US would cut off aid to Israel, then at least we in the US won’t be paying for this carnage! Think about this for example when you see people on our streets being unhoused and also when you see mentally ill people in public who need help. And also consider that that there are even Jewish people in our country who are poor. So it sure as hell isn’t anti-semitic to cut off aid to Israel because of that country’s oppression! I still say that overall that Biden is doing a darn good job, but he needs to listen more to those of us who are calling on him to be tougher on Israel and work for peace. Biden must know that most American Jews don’t rank UNCONDITIONAL support for Israel important, as they care more about our domestic problems.
FM Lebanon Telling As It Is Resigns
Lebanon foreign minister resigns amid Gulf states’ anger | Anadolu Agency |
Charbel Wehbe drew the ire of the Gulf countries after an interview with the US-funded Alhurra TV channel: “Those countries of love, friendship and fraternity, they brought us Daesh/ISIS.”
VP Joe Biden blames Saudi Arabia for support Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) – Oct. 2014
Explaining history in the present Israeli style: Germans and Poles had all rights to demolish the independent and sovereign Warsaw Ghetto, because the Jewish thhhherrorists were constantly attacking peace loving German and Polish civilians and soldiers and were hiding among the civilians.
Surely Israelis will answer, that Gaza and Warsaw Ghetto can not be compared, because Israel did not create Gaza and the number of killed is not comparable. Well Israel filled Gaza with Palestinians like Germany filled the Jüdischer Wohnbezirk in Warschau. The amount of killed in Gaza is not yet “clear”. Warsaw Ghetto lasted a couple of years. Gaza (and the occupation) has lasted over halve of a century and counting…
What options has Israel with the over 2 million living in Gaza? Would Jewish Israel give citizenship and equality to the people of Gaza? No it will not, so long USA finances the apartheid and occupation, making this farce possible. Will Gaza approve independence without West Bank and East Jerusalem? No it doesn’t. Will Egypt take Gaza and its inhabitants? It could, but the Egyptian military and politicians know perfectly well, that Gaza as it is now is their slow motion “nuclear weapon”. The Gaza problem and Palestinians will eventually neutralise the Zionist Israel. So the only solution for Israel is perform these Gaza operations. The only problem is that these operations do not solve anything and after every operation Israel and Zionists are more hated around the world. Eventually when US dollar looses its status as the reserve currency USA looses its ability to finance the Israeli occupation. Israel simply can not afford to keep up the present “order”. Then it will be interesting to see what kind of a deal Palestinians will offer to Israeli Jews. Offer them a large but justified Tel Aviv Ghetto solution or equality and peace?
Ripping the institution that made the State of Israel possible … its creator.
”What a disgrace,” Gilad Erdan
A cease-fire has been agreed starting at 2 am on Friday after heavy pressure was directed at Israeli leaders.
Disgraceful statement from Jen Psaki praising Biden in comparison with the previous administration.
Thank you Richard for major effort and making a difference.