But the awkward, unsayable fact is that a new peace cannot now be found. After the pogrom of October 7, 2023, it must surely be obvious to even the dimmest that the “two-state solution” is just an incantation uttered by people who want to appear serious but are actually not thinking. The idea of a sovereign Arab state right next to the heart of Israel, governed by Hamas or something like it, and separated from the Jewish state by no more than a fence and a raked strip, is so absurd that it is amazing anyone suggests it. But who do the advocates of this “solution” think will govern such a state?
Had Syria’s tyrant, Bashar al Assad, conducted such a massacre, he would have been furiously denounced by the Western powers for “killing his own people” and perhaps bombed. But the man in charge of the Cairo killing, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, soon afterwards became his country’s president with the blessing of the State Department, the White House, and all the other moral arbiters of the Near East. Since then, Western nations have at least not been quite so enthusiastic about democracy in the Arab Muslim world. But they will not let go of the utopian fantasy that one more heave will create love and justice on the banks of the River Jordan.
To which my reply is, “What do you really care about?” Is your concern for some fanciful golden dawn, accompanied by Nobel Prizes all round? Or do you wish to improve the actual conditions of the people who live in the region, so that each man shall live under his own vine and his own fig tree and none shall make him afraid?
If you desire peace in the Middle East, stop seeking a vast general solution and instead work to improve the lives of those who must live in the midst of this intractable, inherited, diplomatic mess.
Imagine, for example, the giant wealth of the Arab Muslim world concentrated upon building a new Gaza of civilized housing and good governance, gleaming on the shores of the Mediterranean. Perhaps one day, many years hence, people from Nablus to Gaza and from Dan to Beersheba will joke about how they do not miss the bad old days when they had peace.
Here are the top political news stories for today.
Blatant US double standard:
On Gaza: Only negotiations can resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, not a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza
On Ukraine: Now is not the time for negotiations to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict, until Russian forces withdraw from Ukraine.
There’s a couple things going on there. They want to keep the money laundering scheme going in Ukraine, and it seems like they have a lot to hide and the Ukrainians are extorting DC for money to keep their secrets
I think there are no secrets really. they're just laundering as much money as possible for as long as possible b4 pulling the plug on the corrupt, mismanaged, unsavable United States. letting it's weight of $33 trillion debt ultimately collapse the entire house of cards.
@DecimalL1ber4lSocialist2yrs2Y
Exactly. Spot on. Palestinians must remain occupied and subjugated for Israel’s security concerns. But when the same exact argument is used by Russia with regard to Crimes it’s vehemently condemned.
there's no double standard. It's always "what jews want is good, what they oppose is bad"
That's it. That's the entire moral code of the Western world.
@BlueState2015Green2yrs2Y
US State Department spokesman: Russia must bear the damage in Ukraine. The journalist asked him intelligently: Does this mean that Israel has to bear the reconstruction of Gaza?!
Thanks largely to prior U.S. aid, Israel has already destroyed nearly every building in Gaza, killed 30,000 people, and rendered 2 million civilians homeless and starving. It would be a bad decision to give Netanyahu another $14 billion because he ultimately wants to do the same to the West Bank.
Israel has not received US aid, it's bought US weapons. It's absurd to think that US aid is needed for Israel's military campaign. It's a nuclear power with an advanced weapons industry. More important is the US' diplomatic support for Israel.
why then, are we sending the $14B more of our dollars, on top of the $3B per year we normally send, and the $150B we sent total over the years?
@DolphinMikey2yrs2Y
Israel has no money shortages and would have no problems funding their own war. The US, I agree, should not be shoveling more money to them for this war effort but you must realize that a stand alone Ukraine package has zero chance of passing because the gop wants Israel money far more. I am ashamed that the far left is so willing to make the democrats look divided when it is the republicans who want Netanyahu to remain a malignant right wing power in the Middle East.
Additionally the young voters who are denigrating the current administration for supporting Israel should look seriously at the side they are aiding in that effort. Republicans have no qualms about the destruction and death in Gaza while the democrats twist in knots trying to push the extremist Netanyahu government to negotiate while maintaining support.
“How in God’s name can the United States condemn Russia’s indiscriminate bombing of civilians in Ukraine as a war crime and yet fund Netanyahu’s war machine, which has killed thousands of children?” — Senator Bernie Sanders
Per media reports, Israel has already received around $160 billion in U.S. taxpayer money since WWII. Still, NetanYahu’s right-wing government doesn’t support a two-state solution. They don't want a ceasefire fire in Gaza. They even rejected the hostage release deal with no alternative. All they want is blank checks from the US Government and they're successful so far.
@UniqueC1v1cGreen2yrs2Y
I think Israel and Netanyahu bear the brunt of the blame, but yes, we've been a little too free and unconditional with our military aid.
@BoredDem0cr4tGreen2yrs2Y
It’s too late now, they insisted on treating Isreal like the 51st state so it’s time they get their junkyard dog in order and force a permanent 2SS for both sides. Otherwise, Prepare for another refugee crisis that will make the last one seem inconsequential by comparison.
@JealousPepperRepublican2yrs2Y
What do you suppose will be offered - nothing will be, but let’s pretend for a second - to PLO that wasn’t offered in 2000? Say this nonexistent offer is offered & was accepted (it wouldn’t be) what do you think the agents of Hamas would do thereafter? Start selling furniture?
@BoredDem0cr4tGreen2yrs2Y
The more moderate elements of Hamas will merge with the PA, this is already being discussed and pushed by the allies of Hamas. Qatar and Turkey support Hamas so far as it benefits the Palestinian cause if they become an obstacle that support will dissolve.
Also the major western nations including the US, the UK and France are all pushing for a 2SS. It’s heading in that direction now and it’s only a matter of time. Netanyahu is the biggest obstacle.
While I'm relieved to see sentiment turning toward non-intervention in Israel and Gaza, the far greater evil is our intervention in Ukraine, a useless war (unless your a member of the military industrial complex looking to enrich yourself off of human suffering and/or a Democrat/Neocon congressman looking to expand your political power off of war).
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
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