Amidst an unprecedented row between Bibi Netanyahu and the IDF chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the latter has publicly disavowed the security cabinet’s directive to invade and permanently occupy Gaza. No Israeli top commander has ever engaged in such dissent in the face of an order from the political echelon. Zamir has taken this extraordinary step because, as he says, all possible military objectives have been achieved. An invasion and occupation will not further any of those goals.
This was confirmed by the letter endorsed by 600 former senior military commanders and intelligence officers to Pres. Trump, asking him to stop further carnage and demand an end to the war. In response, the US leader shrugged his shoulders: “”I really can’t say. It is going to be pretty much up to Israel.”
Nevertheless, Zamir knows that the majority of Israelis want the war to end. This is especially true of the hostage families, who want their loved ones to return home, whether they are dead or alive.
Historically, the army in Israel is an expression of the national will. It reflects not only the mission assigned to it by the cabinet, but the assent of the people. Recent developments indicate a deepening fracture between the people and the army on one hand, and the extremist government dominated by Judeo-Nazi ministers. Never in the history of the state has the public been united in its opposition to a war. There have been additional rumors indicating Zamir may quit his command, which would be a further blow to national unity.
However, the army is falling into line following the cabinet directive, massing an invasion force at the perimeter of Gaza. This is confirmed by satellite images reported by the global media.
Despite the internal dissension, mass protests have not budged Netanyahu. Unlike in the Philippines, Georgia, Bangladesh and elsewhere, in which popular mass movements toppled repressive regimes, this has not happened in Israel. In part because the people elected this government and it has at least a patina of legitimacy; or it did at one time. This is an argument raised by Netanyahu and his toadies, as it is with the MAGA crowd: the people elected us to fulfill our objectives. They knew our platform and endorsed it. We are doing the people’s will.
This ignores the possibility that a nation can change its mind and reject this program after it has chosen its government. Not to mention that when they voted, they had no idea what the configuration of the cabinet would be. Had they known they would be subject to two years of bloody war and nearly 1,000 dead soldiers under the flag of a bunch of genocidal extremists, they would never have given their assent.
In light of 10/7, they certainly would have approved a military response. But not the genocide and dead bodies, whose coffins are draped in an Israeli flag as they are lowered to their graves in military cemeteries.
Netanyahu, a master of political prevarication, has offered fantasy statements to the Israeli public:
“Gaza will be demilitarized, and a peaceful civilian administration will be established, one that is not the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, and not any other terrorist organization,” Netanyahu said in post on social media Friday.
He said to FoxNews:
…That Israel did not want to keep the territory. “We don’t want to govern it,” he said. “We don’t want to be there as a governing body. We want to hand it over to Arab forces.”
His claim that Israel will eventually withdraw from the enclave is a lie. It will never be able to do so, even if it wanted. At least as long as the far-right governs the country. And Gazans will never accept Israeli occupation and armed resistance will continue as long as its forces rule them.
It’s more likely that Israeli occupation will result in the third option listed above: annexation. The “benefit” of this approach would be the imposition of Israeli sovereignty over Gaza. That in turn would enable Israeli settlements there and even worse, the forced expulsion of most or all of the Palestinian population. The expulsion would likely not happen all at once, but gradually so as not to arouse the full fury of the world.
Often lost in reporting about Gaza is that Israel now occupies territory of three frontline states: Palestine, Lebanon and Syria. Its forces have invaded and occupied substantial portions of these countries under the rubric of ensuring Israeli security. The world has forgotten this and refused to hold it accountable for these egregious violations of international law.
Among the many arguments against Netanyahu’s plan: once it occupies Gaza it will become responsible for every aspect of its governance. According to international law, it must provide everything it has denied the residents: water, power, food, policing. This explains why the cabinet announcement used the term “takeover” instead of “occupation.” This is a feeble linguistic sleight of hand meant to give Israel plausible deniability regarding the occupation. If it isn’t that, then Israel isn’t obligated to perform any of these obligations. Somehow Gaza will govern itself despite being denied all the necessary resources to do so.
Arab role in the day-after plan
Despite repeated claims by the government that Arab states would take over Gaza after the war, it has not offered a single concrete acceptance of such a proposal. Neither Egypt, Jordan, the UAE or Saudi Arabia (the most likely candidates) have agreed to this hare-brained plan. Why would any country agree to take a problem off the hands of another country and rule a third country; especially one in the midst of a devastating war. At the very least, they recognize this as a trap and want nothing to do with it. Rescuing Netanyahu from a disaster of his own making was not on their dance card.
However, a 125-nation UN “two-state” conference last month did offer some support for unspecified Arab participation in a “day-after” scenario:
Some Arab governments have suggested that they would be willing to play a role in stabilizing the enclave, such as backing a postwar international security mission. At times, officials have floated the idea that Arab countries would send their own soldiers…
The final declaration endorsed by conference participants:
…Supports deployment of “a temporary international stabilization mission” operating under U.N. auspices to protect Palestinian civilians, support the transfer of security to the Palestinian Authority and provide security guarantees for Palestine and Israel — “including monitoring of the ceasefire and of a future peace agreement.”
Since Israel flat-out rejects a Palestinian state, this two-state chimera is among aspects of the conference program based on illusions. Further, Israel rejects any post-war involvement of the Palestinians Authority in Gaza. Thus, the notion that the PA will take control of the enclave and then run a Palestinian state is similarly fanciful. The PA can’t even rule the West Bank. How will it rule both?
Yesterday’s plan approved by the security cabinet was among three options:
- Resumption of a full siege on Gaza along with an end to the humanitarian aid operation by the Gaza “Humanitarian” Foundation
- Full-scale invasion and occupation of all of Gaza
- Annexation of Gaza
This plan has provoked massive opposition among foreign governments. Australia, the UK, France and the UN secretary general have all denounced it. In a first among the major European states, the right-wing German chancellor has suspended military shipments to Israel. Germany had been one of the staunchest supporters of Israel throughout the war.
Trump, on the other hand, has washed his hands of the whole matter; though the images of starving Palestinian children have compelled him to demand the resumption of humanitarian aid. The president even said that the US would mount its own aid program via the GHF. However, the latter is a creature of the IDF, which directs every aspect of the group’s operation. Clearly, there can be no US aid operation without Israeli approval. Since Netanyahu emphatically denied there is starvation in Gaza in a contentious phone call with Trump, that’s highly unlikely. The president hopes that making a statement about the need for aid, rather than actually providing any, will divert the world’s conscience.
The title is misleading. The European people don’t support, they support Israel. The left wing Euro leaders don’t represent their peopple. Starmer has zero support in the UK, most Brits support Reform UK, the next party.
Left wing craziness in Europe is in twilight. We see its dangers
@jkhans: First of all, you’re totally full of shit. Second, you’re falsifying the political situation in Erurope. Third, you’ve neglectefd the fact that all those purportedly “left-sing” politicians you so hate were elected by their electorates. Saying they have “zero support” is a lie. Fourth, you’re a right-wing extremist wanker. Fifth, You’re at the wrong website. You want tabloids and scandal sheets like the Daily Mail, Bild or the Jerusalem Post. They’re more your cup of tea.
I’m not falsifying, although maybe i generalised a bit in anger.
In Europe, the main public are pro Israle. The left wing leaders, are facing challenges or their system is rigged, the German one for example. There iwll be big strife there soon, because there is a lot of anger bubbling against the liberal loonies.
I am not a ‘right wing wanker’. I’m not even white. My grandparents migrated to England from Pakistan and admired liberal fair values, which have been hijacked by left wing loonies. None of this DEI madness exixted in my dad’s day even.
The UK reform party is led by a Muslim of immigrant heritage like me. Most English people are pro Isreael, despite what Starmer would have you believe. This lawyer with international allegiances to damned human rights to faces organisations which support open borders does not represent us.
Just like Trump brought sense back to America, and is making it great, so we will do so here and in Europe.
Israel is a victim of the type of Muslim extremists that have destroyed Muslim countries.
Here, Keir Starmer is turning the UK into another Pakistan. We need a Trump here, and a Netanyahu, who knows how to defend his people, and put two fingers up to the fascists in Europe
It’s pointless to argue with someone who claims to be a non-white Muslim and supporter of Reform UK. Either you’re completely confused or completely dishonest. You probably just want to spam the blog.
Being against human rights violations or even genocide does not mean that you are against Israel—quite the contrary. Tip: ask the AI what the title of this blog means.
(“Tikun Olam” is a central concept in Jewish ethics and spirituality. It expresses the responsibility of human beings to actively participate in improving the world—through justice, compassion, social justice, and ethical action.”)
[comment deleted: Islamophobia and personal insult]
We call it the “summer slump,” which is perhaps why Richard lets trolls through the fence. Then they get a little food too.
I can’t verify whether you’re really a Muslim, but my instinct tells me you’re lying. If you really are what you claim to be and support Reform UK, then you’re either really stupid, confused, or both:
Enough feeding the trolls. Bye!
A person of principle
Zia Yusuf Wants to be the UK’s Elon Musk
link to desmog.com
After sacking himself as “head” of Reform UK, he returned 2 days later as head of Reform UK Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE
Heil! Great Leader for the Utter Racists
Zia didn’t survive the internal racial abuse … what a party!
“In Europe, the main public are pro Israle”
Sure, a chunk, maybe even the majority are, but you forgot to mention that that’s due to the state indoctrinating them to be.
“There iwll be big strife there soon, because there is a lot of anger bubbling against the liberal loonies”
Already is a lot of discontent.
“The UK reform party is led by a Muslim of immigrant heritage like me”
When did Nigel Farage become a
Muslim of immigrant heritage ?
“Most English people are pro Isreael, despite what Starmer would have you believe”
As is Starmer, who proudly supports Zionism ‘without qualification”.
“Just like Trump brought sense back to America, and is making it great, so we will do so here and in Europe”
No, Trumps antics, like his bombing of Iran and continued support of genocide in Palestine is the shame of America.
“Israel is a victim of the type of Muslim extremists that have destroyed Muslim countries”
Get it right – Palestinians are the victims of Zionism, and Israel is built on Palestinian suffering.
@ jkhans:
Muslim my ass. You’re a Muslim like I’m a Jain. You’re Pakistani like I’m Mongolian. Don’t bullshit us. And do NOT respond to this comment or you will no longer comment here. ONE comment per thread.
[comment deleted: you don’t want a “dialogue,” you want to peddle Islamophobic Zionist propaganda. Not here.]
Wilders is in Israel’s pocket as many of the Patriots across Europe …. Orbán – Le Pen – Meloni – Stocker (ÖVP) – Abascal … worst of all is the old German Empire (Prussia) w Merz. As a hasbarist one must read The Algemeiner or the Dutch De Telegraaf … far right touching fascism.
AfP funded by pro-Israel donations.
“The European people don’t support, they support Israel”
Yes, the European leaders support Israel, but not the actual population. That’s why in the British government are clamping down on Palestinian solidarity, not something they would do if there was only little support for it.
“most Brits support Reform UK, the next party”
Where’s your source for this ? Even if true, Reform are just as bad and just as much part of the establishment as Tory, Liberals, and Labour. Farage offers nothing.
The big media here in Europe are very pro-Israel, and accordingly, criticism of the atrocities committed through the collective punishment of the inhabitants of Gaza is very restrained and must always begin with the assertion, that the aggression originated with Hamas and end with a reference to Israel’s right to self-defense. Without this framing, one risks being accused of anti-Semitism.
There is no escaping from this message, which could also be described as propaganda. For example, when a computer running Windows is started up in schools here in Germany, news apps that spread pro-Israel views are pre-installed. The same is true of popular web browsers, from Edge to Firefox. It is not so easy to turn off this distraction.
BUT, even though pro-Israel big business dominates the information sphere to such an extent, the atrocities and the West’s blatant double standards remained no secret.
We had money left over in the class fund and discussed what to do with it. The young people, aged between 15 and 16, unanimously decided to donate the money to the victims in Gaza. The decision was made to give it to Amnesty International. Whether the money will make a difference is secondary; it was a sign. For me, it was a sign that Richard is right: despite daily brainwashing, the majority of Europeans are not willing to be complicit in fascist-like genocide, even if it is sold as self-defense.
which world do you live in? The BBC is in big doo doo for the lies they tell against Israel. Tim Davie needs to be sacked, he hasn’t been, but will be I promise you.
“The European people don’t support, they support Israel”
No, the European leaders support Israel, but big sections of the actual population are against Israel. Just this weekend alone several hundred British pro Palestinians were arrested.
“The left wing Euro leaders don’t represent their peopple”
Left nor right support the people, only capitalism, which is what both try to maintain. Their getting desperate doing that at the moment, hence the increasingly repressive measures against anyone who challenges imperialism, including being anti Zionist.
“Starmer has zero support in the UK”
True, and hardly a relevation.
“most Brits support Reform UK, the next party”
Based on what source ? And even if true, so what ? Farage will more than likely just further ruin the country, and he is just as much part of the establishment as Starmer and co. The idea that this ex banking/finance sector ex private school educated guy is some sort of dissident outsider is a joke.
“the majority of Israelis want the war to end”
Are you sure about this? Recent polls show that the majority of Israelis support the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza:
– link to x.com
– link to x.com
– link to x.com
@ Ismaele: This from last month: link to timesofisrael.com
@walter: Thanks!
Excellent article! Now about Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and other countries, surely they would not want to run Gaza for Israel. Now well before the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel, those countries along with the Gulf states did come up with a plan to settle this entire conflict. It called for a Palestinian state and they were willing to set up a peacekeeping force. Unfortunately then President Biden never got on this because he was wedded to the failed policy and this business of there being “No daylight between the U.S. and Israel” and “Israel is our ally,” “Israel is the land of milk and honey” etc. And this is a big reason why so many people particularly in swing states didn’t vote and why Trump is president now. What needs to happen is for more and more Israeli people to refuse military service because Netanyahu or whomever comes after him can’t fight this war if too many people will refuse to fight it. Any Israeli soldier who believes in fighting this war who participates in bombing, shooting and killing innocent civilians is as much a war criminal as Bibi Netanyahu and his cronies. The best thing that can happen is if the U.S. pressures Israel to accept a Palestinian state, whether it’s under Trump or hopefully a Democratic president after him and that our country cuts off military aid to Israel if Israel doesn’t agree to this. If not that, then perhaps in some years down the road Palestinians and citizens from other Arab nations might figure out a way to forcefully enter Israel and free Palestine. If that happens, perhaps Jews in Palestine who oppose what their Israeli leaders were doing, can be part of a new government. Someone said to me that there must be a Jewish state. Well I say not THIS Jewish state! What Netanyahu and Israel’s leaders are doing is not in the Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam which means to make the world better.
@Walter: Thanks for that!
I neglected to mention a poll that was in an article I read, that only 32% of Americans support Israel now in view of what’s happening in Gaza. I read earlier, that the majority of Jews don’t agree with the occupation and Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians and our country’s unconditional support.