Despite a last-minute deal to once again extend a tenuous pause in fighting and the release of hostages, despair continues to blanket Israel, Gaza, and the broader world. The news out of the Middle East remains horrific, fraught, and in danger of getting worse. Hamas’s massacre, torture, and rape of Israelis — mostly civilians, many women, children, and the elderly — is still impossible to fathom. It was the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust and raised similar unanswerable questions about the capacity of our species to do evil. How can anyone murder the defenseless and innocent with such glee?
I have not received anything from Steady since before Christmas! I am worried. Please let me know why I have not received any emailed Steady reports this year, 2024.
Well, I'll put it this way: Hamas is the brown shirts and black shirts of Palestinians. And, like Hitler's brown shirts and black shirts, if they are stopped now, worse conditions will occur until the Palestinians stop them.
Great points here - Muslim nations must accept the Israel should they even want peace.
I have a doubt, though. Why is everybody supporting a Jewish state? Might not a secular one-state be possible? Shouldn't we at least try?
(Applies to opposite also: why are folks calling for secularism in Israel while it's surrounded by dozens of Muslim countries that they don't critisize?)
Now it is the deadliest days in modern history for Palestinians. Nobody is gleeful here but is seems like you have not heard the news that over 6,000 children have died under Israeli bombardment of all areas of the Gaza strip that is on-going since the end of the ceasefire. Are they to be responsible for Hamas?
Most of the people living in the US probably don't think or talk much about WWII, something the Jews will not forget throughout their existence. Everyone should know that it brought about the atomic bomb and could have ended all life on the planet. If we don't remember these things, they will happen again. Peace on earth is non-existent in the world today. Thanks gain, Mr. Rather, for your focus on this current tragedy.
It’s been like this since Wilson created the maps of this area. It’s a tribalism that spell trouble in an area( with the exception of oi)l very few resources . It’s a region with old views from a time that was considered mid evil. An Iron Age religious theocracy doesn’t bode well for its future at all. The fear of modernity will stomp out rational governments and creative ideas that push people to think clearly . So no I don’t see a future for the Middle East except for wars and the export of terrorists.
I am Jewish through conversion. I was Episcopalian and am of Anglo/Irish descent. Growing up in California, my parents were both in the Navy during WWII and I was born in a Naval hospital before the end of the war. Religious, racial and ethnic hatred is simply no longer tolerable. We have a planet in crisis and many species to save, animal plant and fungus. I hope we can find the grace to do just that. Jesus, if he came to accomplish anything it was to teach us by example to love and live in peace with our neighbor.
Until the leadership in Iran and Israel change, there is no hope for a two-state solution,. As Friedman has stated, Netanyahu is the worst leader in the history of Israel. He has no desire for a two-state solution. He is a corrupt, wannabe autocrat like Trump. This was obvious with his efforts to weaken Israel's judicial guardrails. He needs to be replaced immediately with someone who will not condone Israel swallowing up the West Bank, piece by violent piece and eliminating Hamas at the expense of horrific civilian carnage. Iran is the culprit funding Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis and is supplying Russia with drones against Ukraine. And it's closer to getting the bomb thanks to Trump. Do everything possible to weaken Iran, cutting off its financial and military support for the terrorists, who will have a hard time surviving without their pipeline to Tehran.
I’m tired of journalists trying to do this delicate dance when they talk about Israel. Israel’s is a disproportionate response and it is genocide. Unless we openly agree on that, what right do we have to hope for peace? Powerfully written, Dan, but still falls very, very short. What is the point of a two state solution when there are no people left?
Fun fact: nobody's openly agreeing about anything here. We can only agree to disagree, and work towards peace.
It's not anybody's fault either. There's too much propaganda by both sides, the stakes are too high, and the history couldn't be more muddling. Nothing is obvious here. C'mon.
Unfortunately, a succession of Right Wing Israeli governments have sanctioned systematic land seizure from the Palestinians in a modus operandi which is nothing less than apartheid. It is simply unacceptable and untenable. There has to be a proper two state solution before there will be anything resembling peace. The Land grabbing has to stop immediately!
I have not received anything from Steady since before Christmas! I am worried. Please let me know why I have not received any emailed Steady reports this year, 2024.
Good question. Right now I’m feeling pretty discouraged about anybody getting anything right.
I never thought I would have come to this point as seeing you as a propagandist.
Well, I'll put it this way: Hamas is the brown shirts and black shirts of Palestinians. And, like Hitler's brown shirts and black shirts, if they are stopped now, worse conditions will occur until the Palestinians stop them.
Great points here - Muslim nations must accept the Israel should they even want peace.
I have a doubt, though. Why is everybody supporting a Jewish state? Might not a secular one-state be possible? Shouldn't we at least try?
(Applies to opposite also: why are folks calling for secularism in Israel while it's surrounded by dozens of Muslim countries that they don't critisize?)
Now it is the deadliest days in modern history for Palestinians. Nobody is gleeful here but is seems like you have not heard the news that over 6,000 children have died under Israeli bombardment of all areas of the Gaza strip that is on-going since the end of the ceasefire. Are they to be responsible for Hamas?
He did hear it. He says that it's due to strategy.
Arguing about all this is only pushing the pendulum towards war. https://medium.com/@safwansamsudeen/choose-the-garden-over-the-courtroom-65028708627f
Most of the people living in the US probably don't think or talk much about WWII, something the Jews will not forget throughout their existence. Everyone should know that it brought about the atomic bomb and could have ended all life on the planet. If we don't remember these things, they will happen again. Peace on earth is non-existent in the world today. Thanks gain, Mr. Rather, for your focus on this current tragedy.
It’s been like this since Wilson created the maps of this area. It’s a tribalism that spell trouble in an area( with the exception of oi)l very few resources . It’s a region with old views from a time that was considered mid evil. An Iron Age religious theocracy doesn’t bode well for its future at all. The fear of modernity will stomp out rational governments and creative ideas that push people to think clearly . So no I don’t see a future for the Middle East except for wars and the export of terrorists.
Been blocked by Michael yearout ? Perhaps he has taken more than a year out to come to his conclusions
What are you talking about? ??
I am Jewish through conversion. I was Episcopalian and am of Anglo/Irish descent. Growing up in California, my parents were both in the Navy during WWII and I was born in a Naval hospital before the end of the war. Religious, racial and ethnic hatred is simply no longer tolerable. We have a planet in crisis and many species to save, animal plant and fungus. I hope we can find the grace to do just that. Jesus, if he came to accomplish anything it was to teach us by example to love and live in peace with our neighbor.
Well said, my Father was RN a CPO
Until the leadership in Iran and Israel change, there is no hope for a two-state solution,. As Friedman has stated, Netanyahu is the worst leader in the history of Israel. He has no desire for a two-state solution. He is a corrupt, wannabe autocrat like Trump. This was obvious with his efforts to weaken Israel's judicial guardrails. He needs to be replaced immediately with someone who will not condone Israel swallowing up the West Bank, piece by violent piece and eliminating Hamas at the expense of horrific civilian carnage. Iran is the culprit funding Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis and is supplying Russia with drones against Ukraine. And it's closer to getting the bomb thanks to Trump. Do everything possible to weaken Iran, cutting off its financial and military support for the terrorists, who will have a hard time surviving without their pipeline to Tehran.
This is a good point, but there is something even more important: getting the global civilian community to truly rally around peace.
I explain more here - https://medium.com/@safwansamsudeen/choose-the-garden-over-the-courtroom-65028708627f
The flicker of hope’s flame must continue to glow.
I’m tired of journalists trying to do this delicate dance when they talk about Israel. Israel’s is a disproportionate response and it is genocide. Unless we openly agree on that, what right do we have to hope for peace? Powerfully written, Dan, but still falls very, very short. What is the point of a two state solution when there are no people left?
Fun fact: nobody's openly agreeing about anything here. We can only agree to disagree, and work towards peace.
It's not anybody's fault either. There's too much propaganda by both sides, the stakes are too high, and the history couldn't be more muddling. Nothing is obvious here. C'mon.
I explain more - https://medium.com/@safwansamsudeen/choose-the-garden-over-the-courtroom-65028708627f
👍
Thank you for this important article.
As always well said, thank you for your commentary!
Unfortunately, a succession of Right Wing Israeli governments have sanctioned systematic land seizure from the Palestinians in a modus operandi which is nothing less than apartheid. It is simply unacceptable and untenable. There has to be a proper two state solution before there will be anything resembling peace. The Land grabbing has to stop immediately!
Point - and so must the hate mongering by folks globally.
https://medium.com/@safwansamsudeen/choose-the-garden-over-the-courtroom-65028708627f