Early this morning, Eastern Daylight Time, Hamas militants broke out of the Gaza Strip, where approximately 2 million Palestinians live, largely unable to leave because of the extensive restrictions Israel has imposed. They pushed as far as 15 miles (about 24 kilometers) into Israel, taking over at least 22 towns and firing at least 2,500 rockets. They have killed at least 250 Israelis, wounded more than 1,500 others, and taken hostages. The attack was a surprise, having an effect on Israelis that observers are comparing to the effect of 9-11 on people in the U.S.
Thank you Dr. Richardson, as always, for a focus on the events of the day that is not only laser sharp, but also broadly encompassing of the interwoven complexities of the times we find ourselves. And what a mess we are in. While I remain a generally positive and optimistic person, it is hard to ignore a certain sense of foreboding afoot in the world today. So, we stay positive, with clear eyes as to the dangers in the world, and try to read, understand and support intelligent dialogue and actions that we can affect within our sphere of influence. Very grateful for yours...
What an effing mess our world is in! All caused by men. Reminder: the recent Nobel Peace Prize was given to Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian human rights activist who is jailed in Iran. Jailed for reporting the horrendous tortures and murders happening to its people.
Netanyahu just may be cold blooded enough (unsurprising for being the intensifier big time of apartheid in Israel and included the naked unpunished military murder of the clearly marked woman as a (Palestinian) journalist to have known about the attack beforehand but purposely remained silent figuring the Israeli human sacrifice "for the homeland" was worth the opportunity to smash the Palestinians into bits (with Israel's far superior military force/money) which has been his playbook for a long time. Anyone believing the propaganda about the Palestinians were "unprovoked" has been living on Mars. Israel's treatment of the Palestinians has been utterly repugnant and unacceptable and relentless for years.
Thank you for telling both sides of the story. If the Hamas attack was a terrorist attack, so have all the attacks by the Israeli Defense Forces and Israeli settlers in Palestine been terrorist attacks. As an 81 year old cultural American Jew, I have long been against Israel’s horrible treatment of Palestinians. Most of the world’s riches go toward war and “defense” largely because there’s money in conflict, most of which is artificial. Politicians who profit from this state of affairs should be voted out of office and, perhaps, tried and convicted of war crimes.
As long as Israel continues along the policy of subjugating and containing the Palestinians and aggressively establishing Jewish settlements in the West Bank, they can expect endless conflict in the form of uprisings from one faction or another of the political organizations that represent the Palestinian cause for independence. We can call them terrorist organizations for their tactics and their manifestos, but given that they don't have access to the industrial capacity to build a real war machine, they will continue to use what they have at their disposal. I visited Jerusalem almost 30 years ago and the status of the Palestinians has only deteriorated in the interim. Israel, of all nations, whose history across millennia is filled with periods of subjugation and cultural violence, should recognize that there is no "solution" in their treatment of another culture with similar claims to the same ground across more than a thousand years, whose 3rd holiest site is on the same temple mount as was once the Jewish nation's Temple. There's a fundamental difference between supporting Israel's security from external threats and taking sides in it's internal affairs, especially in a state of conflict which dates far further back than the establishment of the modern Jewish state. I'm sorely disappointed that our response to this inherently unstable state of affairs is to pledge unwavering support for Israel, not unlike the unthinkable concept of supporting South Africa under apartheid. The Jewish nation's history of oppression and our solidarity with their right to exist does not provide them an indefinite pass in how they treat inhabitants within their borders who demand recognition at a similar status.
Given this terrible attack, all of the world players are reacting quite as expected, so much so that the "larger hand behind the attack" may be hiding in plain sight. After all, the one party that benefits unequivocably from this attack is Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party. Did Hamas really expect to conquer Israel? Or are they merely strengthening the hostile polarity that keeps both themselves and Likud in power? I suspect the latter, since every time peace looks likely to break out in Israel and it's occupied territories, inexplicable provocations suddenly take place.
The consequence of totally nonfunctional legislative bodies in the US encourages other entities to wreak havoc, being certain that we have been emasculated by Republicans who really should emigrate to Mars or Venezuela. As the chant used to declare so forcefully, "The world is watching!"
I am inclined to view this attack as a byproduct of an intentional intelligence/security failure that has yielded Netanyahu precisely the excuse to engage in a devastating war against the two territories, with the added benefit of receiving international support. After all Netanyahu has a well known good relationship with Putin, and himself also has clearly and obviously been pursuing his own strong man agenda.
It definitely strikes me as a clever variation of Hitler’s Operation Himmler.
I visited Kfar Aza, a kibbutz on the edge of Gaza, in March. It was founded in 1951 by Jewish immigrants, many of whom were refugees from Egypt. Egypt expelled its Jews following Israel's declaration of statehood in 1948--around 75,000 people. Anyone volunteer to take in those Jews en masse? (Some did come to the US. I've heard their stories. They are not pretty.)
Kfar Aza is lovely. And under intermittent attack from Hamas. Our guide showed us the remnants of one missile after another. Kibbutz residents from a young age learn to plan their routes across the kibbutz with the nearest bomb shelter in mind. But that was not the worst. Hamas had begun sending little parachutes with what appear to be toys across the border. They are not, but rather disguised explosives. That target the youngest children--those too little to know better.
Egypt cut ties to Gaza because 100, 000 terrorists live there. Egypt doesn't want them. It's a pretty good bet that the people of Gaza would like a better option as well, but actually Israel can't create that option with terrorists who literally want to kill them all. Are trying to kill them all. It is simply infeasible to open borders to the people who don't want to kill you when opening those borders also lets in those who do. And who will.
The terrorists have, for the moment, taken over Kfar Aza. Again, the kibbutz founded, in part, by refugees driven out of Egypt. Egypt which closed its borders to Gaza without world condemnation. I'll leave it there.
Horrors, especially GOP reaction, which limits our ability to sustain effective support for ANY ally!As always, an elegant and concise report, Heather.
Thank you, Dr. Richardson. I support most Jewish people and the country of Israel. I do not and never did support Netanyahu. He is not a good person, he does not have the good of the Israeli people in mind, like trump, netanyahu favors himself above all. Since Iran supports Hamas and Russia supports Iran, it would not surprise me if this attack on Israel is an attempt to divert aid and assistance from Ukraine to Israel. We do have treaties with Israel and must give whatever support we are obligated to give, but over and above all we must assure Ukraine beats Russian and the Ukrainian people retain their freedom. Send the money and supplies where it is most needed.
"The lack of a speaker is a problem. Although House committees can still meet, the House can’t do much."
I think it's just as well that cantankerous Republican members of the House are not represented in a major way in this current crisis. What do they have to offer, anyway? Some of the most extreme among them might welcome the conflict to further their theory of a "Christian" apocalypse brought about by conflict in the Middle East.
Minority report here, maybe. But we see/hear so little from this part of the world…
I won’t judge attacks, counter attacks and all the drama. But I will politely suggest that the only resolution is a two-state situation. Not picking any fights, but it is the only solution that does not propagate Fighting and creates real peace. Figure it out.🙏🏼 If you don’t, innocent people continue to die. I’m no expert and am an observer, neither Jewish nor Arab. Just concerned about humans. Sorry for any offense taken.
With so many topics that divide us as a nation, what is left to unite us? Of course, the fragmentation of media outlets doesn't help, both in terms of the number of them but also the number of commercial interruptions. It's almost as if we need to fight to regain our national attention span...
Thank you Dr. Richardson, as always, for a focus on the events of the day that is not only laser sharp, but also broadly encompassing of the interwoven complexities of the times we find ourselves. And what a mess we are in. While I remain a generally positive and optimistic person, it is hard to ignore a certain sense of foreboding afoot in the world today. So, we stay positive, with clear eyes as to the dangers in the world, and try to read, understand and support intelligent dialogue and actions that we can affect within our sphere of influence. Very grateful for yours...
What an effing mess our world is in! All caused by men. Reminder: the recent Nobel Peace Prize was given to Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian human rights activist who is jailed in Iran. Jailed for reporting the horrendous tortures and murders happening to its people.
Netanyahu just may be cold blooded enough (unsurprising for being the intensifier big time of apartheid in Israel and included the naked unpunished military murder of the clearly marked woman as a (Palestinian) journalist to have known about the attack beforehand but purposely remained silent figuring the Israeli human sacrifice "for the homeland" was worth the opportunity to smash the Palestinians into bits (with Israel's far superior military force/money) which has been his playbook for a long time. Anyone believing the propaganda about the Palestinians were "unprovoked" has been living on Mars. Israel's treatment of the Palestinians has been utterly repugnant and unacceptable and relentless for years.
Thank you for telling both sides of the story. If the Hamas attack was a terrorist attack, so have all the attacks by the Israeli Defense Forces and Israeli settlers in Palestine been terrorist attacks. As an 81 year old cultural American Jew, I have long been against Israel’s horrible treatment of Palestinians. Most of the world’s riches go toward war and “defense” largely because there’s money in conflict, most of which is artificial. Politicians who profit from this state of affairs should be voted out of office and, perhaps, tried and convicted of war crimes.
As long as Israel continues along the policy of subjugating and containing the Palestinians and aggressively establishing Jewish settlements in the West Bank, they can expect endless conflict in the form of uprisings from one faction or another of the political organizations that represent the Palestinian cause for independence. We can call them terrorist organizations for their tactics and their manifestos, but given that they don't have access to the industrial capacity to build a real war machine, they will continue to use what they have at their disposal. I visited Jerusalem almost 30 years ago and the status of the Palestinians has only deteriorated in the interim. Israel, of all nations, whose history across millennia is filled with periods of subjugation and cultural violence, should recognize that there is no "solution" in their treatment of another culture with similar claims to the same ground across more than a thousand years, whose 3rd holiest site is on the same temple mount as was once the Jewish nation's Temple. There's a fundamental difference between supporting Israel's security from external threats and taking sides in it's internal affairs, especially in a state of conflict which dates far further back than the establishment of the modern Jewish state. I'm sorely disappointed that our response to this inherently unstable state of affairs is to pledge unwavering support for Israel, not unlike the unthinkable concept of supporting South Africa under apartheid. The Jewish nation's history of oppression and our solidarity with their right to exist does not provide them an indefinite pass in how they treat inhabitants within their borders who demand recognition at a similar status.
Thank you, Professor Richardson.
I had just finished reading the wonderful piece about you in The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/oct/07/american-democracy-heather-cox-richardson-trump-biden) when I opened my email to read today's Letter.
Yours is a strong and true rudder in the storm that is America today.
Given this terrible attack, all of the world players are reacting quite as expected, so much so that the "larger hand behind the attack" may be hiding in plain sight. After all, the one party that benefits unequivocably from this attack is Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party. Did Hamas really expect to conquer Israel? Or are they merely strengthening the hostile polarity that keeps both themselves and Likud in power? I suspect the latter, since every time peace looks likely to break out in Israel and it's occupied territories, inexplicable provocations suddenly take place.
The consequence of totally nonfunctional legislative bodies in the US encourages other entities to wreak havoc, being certain that we have been emasculated by Republicans who really should emigrate to Mars or Venezuela. As the chant used to declare so forcefully, "The world is watching!"
I am inclined to view this attack as a byproduct of an intentional intelligence/security failure that has yielded Netanyahu precisely the excuse to engage in a devastating war against the two territories, with the added benefit of receiving international support. After all Netanyahu has a well known good relationship with Putin, and himself also has clearly and obviously been pursuing his own strong man agenda.
It definitely strikes me as a clever variation of Hitler’s Operation Himmler.
I visited Kfar Aza, a kibbutz on the edge of Gaza, in March. It was founded in 1951 by Jewish immigrants, many of whom were refugees from Egypt. Egypt expelled its Jews following Israel's declaration of statehood in 1948--around 75,000 people. Anyone volunteer to take in those Jews en masse? (Some did come to the US. I've heard their stories. They are not pretty.)
Kfar Aza is lovely. And under intermittent attack from Hamas. Our guide showed us the remnants of one missile after another. Kibbutz residents from a young age learn to plan their routes across the kibbutz with the nearest bomb shelter in mind. But that was not the worst. Hamas had begun sending little parachutes with what appear to be toys across the border. They are not, but rather disguised explosives. That target the youngest children--those too little to know better.
Egypt cut ties to Gaza because 100, 000 terrorists live there. Egypt doesn't want them. It's a pretty good bet that the people of Gaza would like a better option as well, but actually Israel can't create that option with terrorists who literally want to kill them all. Are trying to kill them all. It is simply infeasible to open borders to the people who don't want to kill you when opening those borders also lets in those who do. And who will.
The terrorists have, for the moment, taken over Kfar Aza. Again, the kibbutz founded, in part, by refugees driven out of Egypt. Egypt which closed its borders to Gaza without world condemnation. I'll leave it there.
Horrors, especially GOP reaction, which limits our ability to sustain effective support for ANY ally!As always, an elegant and concise report, Heather.
Thank you, Dr. Richardson. I support most Jewish people and the country of Israel. I do not and never did support Netanyahu. He is not a good person, he does not have the good of the Israeli people in mind, like trump, netanyahu favors himself above all. Since Iran supports Hamas and Russia supports Iran, it would not surprise me if this attack on Israel is an attempt to divert aid and assistance from Ukraine to Israel. We do have treaties with Israel and must give whatever support we are obligated to give, but over and above all we must assure Ukraine beats Russian and the Ukrainian people retain their freedom. Send the money and supplies where it is most needed.
Putin.
"The lack of a speaker is a problem. Although House committees can still meet, the House can’t do much."
I think it's just as well that cantankerous Republican members of the House are not represented in a major way in this current crisis. What do they have to offer, anyway? Some of the most extreme among them might welcome the conflict to further their theory of a "Christian" apocalypse brought about by conflict in the Middle East.
Minority report here, maybe. But we see/hear so little from this part of the world…
I won’t judge attacks, counter attacks and all the drama. But I will politely suggest that the only resolution is a two-state situation. Not picking any fights, but it is the only solution that does not propagate Fighting and creates real peace. Figure it out.🙏🏼 If you don’t, innocent people continue to die. I’m no expert and am an observer, neither Jewish nor Arab. Just concerned about humans. Sorry for any offense taken.
With so many topics that divide us as a nation, what is left to unite us? Of course, the fragmentation of media outlets doesn't help, both in terms of the number of them but also the number of commercial interruptions. It's almost as if we need to fight to regain our national attention span...