There’s little I can say about the recent attacks in Israel that hasn’t already been said. Hamas attacked Israel suddenly, brutally, barbarically. And I imagine Israel will retaliate in kind.
The best, most informed commentary I’ve read on the situation was the opinion piece in the New York Times yesterday: “Israel Has Never Needed to Be Smarter Than in This Moment” by Thomas L. Friedman. That’s a no-paywall link, so please avail yourself of the opportunity. Friedman writes dispassionately, with logic and reason.
What Israel’s worst enemies — Hamas and Iran — want is for Israel to invade Gaza and get enmeshed in a strategic overreach there that would make America’s entanglement in Falluja look like a children’s birthday party. We are talking house-to-house fighting that would undermine whatever sympathy Israel has garnered on the world stage, deflect world attention from the murderous regime in Tehran and force Israel to stretch its forces to permanently occupy Gaza and the West Bank.
The Hamas attack was horrendous but not entirely unprovoked. Israel has not been blameless, with its unrelenting repression of Gaza and continuing illegal settlements in the West Bank.
But Friedman spells it out far better than I can.
Thanks for the excellent link, Colorado !
My pleasure. Three Pulitzers is more than enough to earn my respect.
and I can see why.
Attacks are happening in the north, too!
Yes, and not sure what to make of that. Most news I’ve seen only talks about the south.
Some Christian commentators are suggesting the start of a two-front war.
You don’t have to be a Christian to see that possibility. Some gunfire there already. With all the focus in the south, it’s prime time for an incursion in the north.
I agree that Friedman’s column made sense of the whole conflict for me, or as much sense as anything can.
Me too. Calm, logical, reasoned. He knows the subject better than most.
So awful
It is. Unspeakable acts. I’m afraid it’s only the beginning.
yes
One of the best explanations of what is going on and what led up to it. So glad he’s not afraid to call out Netanyahu for his contribution to this mess. Worst Israeli prime minister ever. He’s going to end up ruining his country for a personal power grab.
To say I don’t like Netanyahu would be a gross understatement.
Like many things Middle East it’s X vs Modernity.
Not that Modernity is exactly enviable these days.
Now that is a truth.
Totally agree with Friedman and you. And behind the whole mess the seminal motivation of Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran is religious hatred and lust for religious power. I find it interesting to consider that our founders included the separation of church and state, even while appealing to “God” in their public statements. Religion may in the end be the undoing of democracy. It is a tool for both good and evil. Swaggart, Jim & Tammy, Trump, are the tip of the iceberg.
Religion is certainly a major factor, especially in the Middle East. But I see Israel/Hamas as being more a fight for land. Palestine wants to survive/exist. Israel is busily expanding into land that doesn’t belong to it while also oppressing Gaza. I think only a two-state solution is viable, provided both nations will agree to and respect a border. Doesn’t seem likely, does it?
(Sorry, Jim. I don’t know why I missed this comment until now.)