> Whatever solves Jerusalem and Hebron is what the eventual solution should look like too
Hebron shouldn't be a problem. The Jews living there are nuts, the worst of the worse.
> but he says he can't condemn
Yes. That's pretty much the same as an endorsement when faced with stuff like this...
> latch on to anything that's pro-Palestine as pro-Hamas and framing almost any support for their cause as antisemitism.
This is annoying to me too. It does a disservice to their claim. Like equivocating anti-occupation with anti-Israel or worse antisemitism. That's stupid.
I think that in the past few weeks a lot of people who would normally not say such things became overly triggered. So I'd take it in that context. A lot of people who would normally be very responsive to the plight of the Palestinian people just don't want to hear that at this moment. Having seen the celebrations and the comments online after October 7th, lots of moderate Israelis shifted to the right as a result of that.
> Biden's initial remarks and actions were overwhelmingly one-sided.
Yes. This was also a one sided issue. The history isn't new and his support for a 2 state solution has been well documented. So has his disdain for Netanyahu and his lies.
Biden filled in a leadership vacuum. He was widely hated by the right wing in Israel and in one speech he flipped that completely. The aircraft carriers he placed on the shores serve two purposes. One is indeed to deter Iran. But the more subtle one is to remind Israel of US power. He uses it to pull the strings in the cabinet. He and his people actually sit in on security cabinet meetings to form a strategy and make sure Israel doesn't do anything stupid or evil.
He was discussing the problems and trauma of Mosul. There's serious concern that the Israeli army would just go into Gaza with no real plan and turn it into something similar.
> equating this war as war against ISIS isn't going to convince anyone in the Muslim world
I think this is aimed mostly at the west. Probably the aim for the Muslim world is to connect Hamas and Iran. There are many hints that Iran is pulling the strings with Hamas as it did with Syria and Lebanon.
> Appreciate Biden for this, but 6000+ bombs and the ongoing siege isn't exactly moderation.
The claim is that once the ground troops go in the number of civilian casualties will be MUCH higher.
> doing nothing might have won Israel world's empathy
The problem is that Israel maintained peace through fear of its mighty army. Yes, there are peace treaties but the Muslim Brotherhood is a step away from the throne of Egypt. The region can flip. Empathy doesn't help in this regard, Israel is perceived as weak and this projects on the USA as well.
India is in a very different situation. It's the most populous country on earth, even though they have issues with China and Pakistan they have no actual existential fear. Also, having been to India quite a bit... They are turning into a police state over there. Not a great place to be in anymore.
> Hebron shouldn't be a problem. The Jews living there are nuts, the worst of the worse.
As in, Hebron is the worst of the problems, you mean?
> I think that in the past few weeks a lot of people who would normally not say such things became overly triggered. So I'd take it in that context.
Makes sense. I must say though, these same folks are going about that they "won't forget, won't forgive" (IDF-style?) people who are either silent or being "antisemitic". Looks like they're ready to begrudge forever. The mob and cancel culture isn't making things easier either, especially for folks in tech, who speak up. And if their promise to never forgive / forget is real... then G-d help the cancelled.
> He and his people actually sit in on security cabinet meetings to form a strategy and make sure Israel doesn't do anything stupid or evil.
Interesting. Stupid things by the government or IDF / Shin Bet? Is their will to do stupid things only reserved for Hamas (Gaza) / Hizb (Southern Lebanon), or is it quite a general response when it concerns any adversarial or contentious issue (like those involving civilian citizen / non-citizen Arabs, for example)?
> There are many hints that Iran is pulling the strings with Hamas as it did with Syria and Lebanon.
Not sure what Iran wants in this strained economic climate? The timing's all off? The scale of destruction this brought seems utterly wasteful if it was done just to stop Saudia normalizing w/ Israel. And now, if Israel has its way and wipes out Hamas and/or displaces the Gazans permanently, what would Iran have achieved? Personally though, I don't think Iran green-lit this, because it doesn't really make strategic sense for them to sacrifice Hamas to delay normalization by a few years, at best. Some say, even the Hamas' political leadership may not have known about 7 Oct (https://twitter.com/h_lovatt/status/1717119243156688963)
> The claim is that once the ground troops go in the number of civilian casualties will be MUCH higher.
Makes me want to yell "stop!"... but: if I were an Israeli, I can see why I'd think retaliation is fair game.
> The problem is that Israel maintained peace through fear of its mighty army.
Yep, came across a nice tweet that sums up why this tragedy was an inevitable outcome: https://twitter.com/HusseinAboubak/status/171723213179603361... Folks like Mohammed Deif did not decide to take up arms against a very sophisticated military out of lunacy, but did so in a fit of rage. And even then, the best that could be mustered up were rockets that fail most of the time and barely register any damage. The way Hamas acts and behaves reeks of fantasy and desperation. I saw the released IDF interview of the captured al-Qassam members, and they said (without any awareness of what they're up against) that part of the 7 Oct plan was to "occupy" new territory. Bonkers.
> India is in a very different situation.
India is supremely diverse. There's disagreements every which way you look, but the people, together, have endured under a single government. Indians, as a collective, sure aren't under any threat; but there exists ethnic groups within India that are on the brink. I mean, they aren't persecuted or anything (mostly because they aren't up in arms fighting their neighbours thinking they're out to wipe them off the face of this earth), but they thrive alongside others, in this chaotic milieu, just fine.
> They are turning into a police state over there. Not a great place to be in anymore.
For minorities, yeah it isn't particularly nice; but you're always welcome to explore. The country is not at all homogeneous, least of all in its policies and politics. It is pretty much a federation of nations in all but name.
Hebron shouldn't be a problem. The Jews living there are nuts, the worst of the worse.
> but he says he can't condemn
Yes. That's pretty much the same as an endorsement when faced with stuff like this...
> latch on to anything that's pro-Palestine as pro-Hamas and framing almost any support for their cause as antisemitism.
This is annoying to me too. It does a disservice to their claim. Like equivocating anti-occupation with anti-Israel or worse antisemitism. That's stupid.
I think that in the past few weeks a lot of people who would normally not say such things became overly triggered. So I'd take it in that context. A lot of people who would normally be very responsive to the plight of the Palestinian people just don't want to hear that at this moment. Having seen the celebrations and the comments online after October 7th, lots of moderate Israelis shifted to the right as a result of that.
> Biden's initial remarks and actions were overwhelmingly one-sided.
Yes. This was also a one sided issue. The history isn't new and his support for a 2 state solution has been well documented. So has his disdain for Netanyahu and his lies.
Biden filled in a leadership vacuum. He was widely hated by the right wing in Israel and in one speech he flipped that completely. The aircraft carriers he placed on the shores serve two purposes. One is indeed to deter Iran. But the more subtle one is to remind Israel of US power. He uses it to pull the strings in the cabinet. He and his people actually sit in on security cabinet meetings to form a strategy and make sure Israel doesn't do anything stupid or evil.
He was discussing the problems and trauma of Mosul. There's serious concern that the Israeli army would just go into Gaza with no real plan and turn it into something similar.
> equating this war as war against ISIS isn't going to convince anyone in the Muslim world
I think this is aimed mostly at the west. Probably the aim for the Muslim world is to connect Hamas and Iran. There are many hints that Iran is pulling the strings with Hamas as it did with Syria and Lebanon.
> Appreciate Biden for this, but 6000+ bombs and the ongoing siege isn't exactly moderation.
The claim is that once the ground troops go in the number of civilian casualties will be MUCH higher.
> doing nothing might have won Israel world's empathy
The problem is that Israel maintained peace through fear of its mighty army. Yes, there are peace treaties but the Muslim Brotherhood is a step away from the throne of Egypt. The region can flip. Empathy doesn't help in this regard, Israel is perceived as weak and this projects on the USA as well.
India is in a very different situation. It's the most populous country on earth, even though they have issues with China and Pakistan they have no actual existential fear. Also, having been to India quite a bit... They are turning into a police state over there. Not a great place to be in anymore.