Israel–United States relations and associated politics
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- El Guapo
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Israeli cabinet approves ceasefire deal with Hezbollah. Well technically it's with Lebanon, but really Hezbollah. Fingers crossed that this sticks.
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- Unagi
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Yeah - I don't get it.
What good is it, if they are terrorist why are they not just killing them all. Are they suddenly okay now with future attacks from these groups?
Are Hezzbollah or are Hezzbolla not, Lebabon.
One minute you are attacking Hezzbollah, and then the next you are working out a ceasefire with another party?
I can't imagine the resolve around a ceasefire between Lebabon and Israel would extend to the people that Lebabon claims to have no control over. Right?
What good is it, if they are terrorist why are they not just killing them all. Are they suddenly okay now with future attacks from these groups?
Are Hezzbollah or are Hezzbolla not, Lebabon.
One minute you are attacking Hezzbollah, and then the next you are working out a ceasefire with another party?
I can't imagine the resolve around a ceasefire between Lebabon and Israel would extend to the people that Lebabon claims to have no control over. Right?
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
The elevator pitch for the terms of the ceasefire agreement:
Creating a nominally Hezbollah-free security buffer zone in southern Lebanon was always the realistic goal for Israel, so this outcome doesn't surprise me at all. It's probably no coincidence that it was drawn out until just after the US elections were concluded, which explains why Netanyahu has pivoted from an apparent goal of total victory to a negotiated agreement that allows Israeli citizens to return to the norther Israel until the next time hostilities with Hezbollah flare up.
A 60 day ceasefire essentially gets everyone through to the end of the Biden administration. I have no idea what happens in 2 months when Netanyahu transitions to being backed by Trump's Magamerica.
The ceasefire agreement is between Israel and Hezbollah (which is a powerful political/paramilitary faction in Lebanon but not the actual government or actual Lebanese military). Lebanon is one of many stakeholders in negotiating the agreement, given that it's their country that is being levelled and their civilians who are providing the collateral casualties.The agreement reportedly calls for a 60-day halt in fighting that would see Israeli troops retreat to their side of the border while requiring Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon. President Joe Biden said Tuesday that the deal is set to take effect at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday (9 p.m. EST Tuesday).
Under the deal, thousands of Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers are to deploy to the region south of the Litani River. An international panel lead by the U.S. would monitor compliance by all sides. Biden said the deal “was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.”
Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations, but Lebanese officials rejected writing that into the proposal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that the military would strike Hezbollah if the U.N. peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, does not enforce the deal.
Creating a nominally Hezbollah-free security buffer zone in southern Lebanon was always the realistic goal for Israel, so this outcome doesn't surprise me at all. It's probably no coincidence that it was drawn out until just after the US elections were concluded, which explains why Netanyahu has pivoted from an apparent goal of total victory to a negotiated agreement that allows Israeli citizens to return to the norther Israel until the next time hostilities with Hezbollah flare up.
A 60 day ceasefire essentially gets everyone through to the end of the Biden administration. I have no idea what happens in 2 months when Netanyahu transitions to being backed by Trump's Magamerica.
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
So, I read this as: Hezbollah has agreed to let Lebanon take back control of part of their country (with UN support), the part that they used to launch rockets into Israel, in exchange for ... Israel will leave that area, but they will not be held to anything really - and nor will Hezbollah - because if Lebanon and the UN could enforce anything in this theater, none of this would be going on.
I mean, I'm all for peace - but this just reads like it's from another reality.
Peace was not negotiated - re-supply and reload was negotiated.
I mean, I'm all for peace - but this just reads like it's from another reality.
Peace was not negotiated - re-supply and reload was negotiated.
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
I haven't seen anyone claiming it's a peace deal. It's explicitly a ceasefire, with an expiration date.
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Biden said it was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.
peace
/pēs/
noun
1. a permanent cessation of hostilities
peace
/pēs/
noun
1. a permanent cessation of hostilities
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Peace, by that definition, has never and will never exist. Cessation of hostilities will never be permanent until we permanently rid the planet of intelligent life.Unagi wrote: Wed Nov 27, 2024 1:17 pm Biden said it was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.
peace
/pēs/
noun
1. a permanent cessation of hostilities
But I digress...
I suspect that he likely means that it is intended to lead to an enduring peace treaty, and he might even be sincere about that hope. Nonetheless, the current agreement is just a ceasefire that ends about a week after Trump takes office (I keep repeating that to various people today because it's super important to keep in mind).
I'd expect that a key indication of whether the involved parties are actually committed to a more enduring peace will be to see what happens with the civilian populations that have been displaced from northern Israel and southern Lebanon. If they're allowed to return in the next couple of months, then perhaps the powers that be are taking this seriously. Or the civilians are being sacrificed on the altar of realpolitik -- it could go either way in this timeline.
My personal expectation is that the ceasefire will largely hold up for the 60 period, possibly with some limited FAFOing, but that all hell breaks loose in some form or another not long after that.
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Yeah, yeah - I know - and still Biden said it... Still again, I think most people would also be okay with, say... maybe a year or two ?Max Peck wrote: Wed Nov 27, 2024 2:06 pm Peace, by that definition, has never and will never exist. Cessation of hostilities will never be permanent until we permanently rid the planet of intelligent life.
But I digress...
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
One weird side effect of the Syrian uprising is that nobody has talked about Israel since it started. Funny that.
Anyway, here's Wonderwall a story about Amnesty International:
Amnesty report concludes Israel's actions against Palestinians in Gaza constitute genocide
Anyway, here's Wonderwall a story about Amnesty International:
Amnesty report concludes Israel's actions against Palestinians in Gaza constitute genocide
A new report from Amnesty International found that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in its nearly 14-month-long campaign in Gaza that has killed more than 44,000 people and displaced most of the enclave's population.
The report, published Wednesday, said the ongoing assault on Gaza met the legal threshold for the crime of genocide after Amnesty spent months analyzing incidents and statements of Israeli officials.
"Our research reveals that, for months, Israel has persisted in committing genocidal acts, fully aware of the irreparable harm it was inflicting on Palestinians in Gaza," Amnesty International secretary general Agnès Callamard said in a news release on Wednesday.
"It continued to do so in defiance of countless warnings about the catastrophic humanitarian situation and of legally binding decisions from the International Court of Justice ordering Israel to take immediate measures to enable the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza."
Israel, which has repeatedly rejected any allegation of genocide, called the report "entirely false" in a statement posted Thursday by its Foreign Affairs Ministry on X, formerly Twitter. It said Israel has respected international law and has a right to defend itself after the cross-border Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, 2023.
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- El Guapo
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Are you suggesting that Israel was behind the Syrian uprising?Max Peck wrote: Sun Dec 08, 2024 11:41 am One weird side effect of the Syrian uprising is that nobody has talked about Israel since it started. Funny that.
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
No, I am not suggesting that, because saying that would be weird. I do believe that the Israeli campaign against Hezbollah and the IRGC, in particular, played a significant role in the success of the uprising by cutting the feet out from under key external supporters of the Assad regime, but that is far from saying they were behind it. That would be the stuff of crackpot antisemitic conspiracy theories.
Are you suggesting I'm a antisemitic crackpot?

Look at the date of the previous post in the thread. Do you remember when the uprising kicked off? It was a joke about how literally (in the classical sense of the word) nobody (here) has been talking about the situation in Gaza, or the several relatively small ceasefire violations (by both sides) in Lebanon since the Syrian civil war flared up again. At a meta level, it is an observation that people are easily distracted by new shiny things and can only keep track of so many crises at any one time. It amused me, so I drew attention to it.
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Just checking.Max Peck wrote: Sun Dec 08, 2024 3:48 pmNo, I am not suggesting that, because saying that would be weird. I do believe that the Israeli campaign against Hezbollah and the IRGC, in particular, played a significant role in the success of the uprising by cutting the feet out from under key external supporters of the Assad regime, but that is far from saying they were behind it. That would be the stuff of crackpot antisemitic conspiracy theories.
Are you suggesting I'm a antisemitic crackpot?![]()
Look at the date of the previous post in the thread. Do you remember when the uprising kicked off? It was a joke about how literally (in the classical sense of the word) nobody (here) has been talking about the situation in Gaza, or the several relatively small ceasefire violations (by both sides) in Lebanon since the Syrian civil war flared up again. At a meta level, it is an observation that people are easily distracted by new shiny things and can only keep track of so many crises at any one time. It amused me, so I drew attention to it.
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Yesterday Netanyahu gave testimony in his corruption trial. I hadn't realized that the trial had started.
I will give credit for Israeli institutions for getting to this stage at least, where American institutions failed so thoroughly.
I will give credit for Israeli institutions for getting to this stage at least, where American institutions failed so thoroughly.
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Netanyahu has a new front for his war. Nice.
Israel plans to expand Golan settlements after fall of Assad
Israel plans to expand Golan settlements after fall of Assad
Israel's government has approved a plan to encourage the expansion of settlements in the occupied Golan Heights.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move was necessary because a "new front" had opened up on Israel's border with Syria after the fall of the Assad regime to an Islamist-led rebel alliance.
Netanyahu said he wanted to double the population of the Golan Heights, which Israel seized during the 1967 Six-Day War and is considered illegally occupied under international law.
Israeli forces moved into a buffer zone separating the Golan Heights from Syria in the days following Assad's departure, saying the change of control in Damascus meant ceasefire arrangements had "collapsed".
Despite the move, Netanyahu said in a statement on Sunday evening that Israel has "no interest in a conflict with Syria".
"We will determine Israeli policy regarding Syria according to the reality on the ground," he said.
There are more than 30 Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights, which are home to an estimated 20,000 people. They are considered illegal under international law, which Israel disputes.
The settlers live alongside some 20,000 Syrians, most of them Druze Arabs who did not flee when the area came under Israeli control.
Netanyahu said Israel would "continue to hold on to [the territory], make it flourish and settle it".
The announcement comes a day after Syria's new de-facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa criticised Israel for its ongoing strikes on military targets in the country, which have reportedly targeted military facilities.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has documented more than 450 Israeli air strikes in Syria since 8 December, including 75 since Saturday evening.
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Trials related to the mob violence in the Netherlands are ongoing. Looks like a lot was coordinated in a WhatsApp group. One thing that's darkly funny:
Yes, other than people saying "let's go on a massive hunt for Jews in the city" there was no evidence of anti-Semitic intent.
edit: forgot the link.
Shortly before 11 p.m., a user posted, "Let's go on a massive hunt for Jews in the city," and "I'm so disappointed that hardly any Jews were beaten."
Shortly after, a flurry of messages are posted saying, "GATHER CENTRAL STATION," "NOW OR NEVER," and "WE MUST MAKE THOSE JEWS FEEL WHAT THEY DID TO OUR BROTHERS."
Following this, several videos of Maccabi fans getting beaten or chased were posted, with many responses that celebrated the violence following.
Others posted various items they had taken from the Maccabi fans; one posted a passport, another a phone.
The WhatsApp group was centrally featured in the prosecution's statements during the trial, which began on Wednesday.
The prosecutor also referenced the messages in the group chat as evidence that the violence was primarily driven by anger over Israeli actions in Gaza rather than hatred for Jews.
"In this case, there was no evidence of … a terrorist intent, and the violence was not motivated by antisemitic sentiment. The violence was influenced by the situation in Gaza, not by antisemitism," the prosecutor said.

edit: forgot the link.
Last edited by El Guapo on Wed Dec 18, 2024 11:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
You're the kind of kid who said "Candyman" three times in front of a mirror a lot, aren't you?
Sigh...large font replies in 3....2....
Sigh...large font replies in 3....2....
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Hey, what's safer to discuss on the internet than Israel and anti-semitism?hepcat wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2024 11:42 am You're the kind of kid who said "Candyman" three times in front of a mirror a lot, aren't you?
Sigh...large font replies in 3....2....
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Welp, apparently Israel would like us to reevaluate their role in the overthrow of Assad.El Guapo wrote: Sun Dec 08, 2024 11:28 pmJust checking.Max Peck wrote: Sun Dec 08, 2024 3:48 pmNo, I am not suggesting that, because saying that would be weird. I do believe that the Israeli campaign against Hezbollah and the IRGC, in particular, played a significant role in the success of the uprising by cutting the feet out from under key external supporters of the Assad regime, but that is far from saying they were behind it. That would be the stuff of crackpot antisemitic conspiracy theories.
Are you suggesting I'm a antisemitic crackpot?![]()
Look at the date of the previous post in the thread. Do you remember when the uprising kicked off? It was a joke about how literally (in the classical sense of the word) nobody (here) has been talking about the situation in Gaza, or the several relatively small ceasefire violations (by both sides) in Lebanon since the Syrian civil war flared up again. At a meta level, it is an observation that people are easily distracted by new shiny things and can only keep track of so many crises at any one time. It amused me, so I drew attention to it.

Taking credit for toppling Assad is very Trumpian of him.Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz admitted on Monday for the first time publicly to Israel's killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran in July, further risking tensions between Tehran and its arch-enemy Israel in a region shaken by Israel's war in Gaza and the conflict in Lebanon.
"These days, when the Houthi terrorist organization is firing missiles at Israel, I want to convey a clear message to them at the beginning of my remarks: We have defeated Hamas, we have defeated Hezbollah, we have blinded Iran's defense systems and damaged the production systems, we have toppled the Assad regime in Syria, we have dealt a severe blow to the axis of evil, and we will also deal a severe blow to the Houthi terrorist organization in Yemen, which remains the last to stand," Katz said.

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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Funny , I just came here to quote El Guapo and write "Israel is."
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Oh god, that's the toadie that Netanyahu put in place after he fired the former competent Defense Minister in the middle of war over political differences.
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
You aren't just saying that because he's Jewish, are you?
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
I’m guessing the Uncommitted Muslim voter group are now rethinking their strategy after Trump’s latest outburst on Gaza.
Specifically, he believes that if the Israeli hostages aren’t released before he takes office, he can do whatever the hell he wants.

Specifically, he believes that if the Israeli hostages aren’t released before he takes office, he can do whatever the hell he wants.
Does he know what “anyone” means?PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP: If they’re not back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East.
REPORTER: Can you elaborate?
PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP: And it will not be good for Hamas, and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone.

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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
I'm not even convinced that he knows what anything means..hepcat wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2025 9:21 pm I’m guessing the Uncommitted Muslim voter group are now rethinking their strategy after Trump’s latest outburst on Gaza.
Specifically, he believes that if the Israeli hostages aren’t released before he takes office, he can do whatever the hell he wants.
Does he know what “anyone” means?PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP: If they’re not back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East.
REPORTER: Can you elaborate?
PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP: And it will not be good for Hamas, and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone.![]()
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
What are the odds that he drops a MOAB on one of the hospitals in Gaza that's still standing? Or all of them?
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
What else are MIRVs for?
It's almost as if people are the problem.
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Good catch. Using MIRVs would explain why it would be bad for everyone.
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Remember this thread? It looks like a ceasefire and hostage release has been reached, to be enacted on the 19th.
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Of course trump is taking credit, and some sources say that's not wrong. Both parties would rather deal with BIden than trump.
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Biden did acknowledge that Trump was a factor in getting it done.
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
However the credit should be apportioned, I hope people will really stop being killed there for a while.
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
One factor is that Trump has carrots that Biden is not willing to offer. That is, the Israeli far right had previously threatened to bring down Netanyahu's government over a deal like this. They still don't really like the deal, but are willing to let it happen. I have read some supposition that they're willing to do this now because they want to be in Trump's good graces, so that they can later pitch him on letting them annex the West Bank.Blackhawk wrote: Thu Jan 16, 2025 12:22 am Biden did acknowledge that Trump was a factor in getting it done.
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Let's not get ahead of ourselves here...
Netanyahu says ‘last-minute crisis’ with Hamas holding up approval of Gaza truce and hostage deal
Netanyahu says ‘last-minute crisis’ with Hamas holding up approval of Gaza truce and hostage deal
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that a last-minute dispute with Hamas was holding up Israeli approval of a long-awaited ceasefire that would pause the fighting in the Gaza Strip and release dozens of hostages. Israeli airstrikes, meanwhile, killed at least 72 people in the war-ravaged territory.
The statement from Netanyahu’s office signaled complications with the deal shortly after U.S. President Joe Biden and key mediator Qatar announced it was complete. That created a dual reality: War-weary Palestinians in Gaza, the relatives of hostages held there and world leaders all welcomed an agreement, expected to begin Sunday, even as Netanyahu said it was not yet finalized.
“Hamas is backing out of the understandings and creating a last-minute crisis that prevents a settlement,” Netanyahu’s office said.
It was not yet clear if Netanyahu’s statements merely reflected jockeying to keep his fractious coalition together or whether the deal was at risk.
The Israeli Cabinet was expected to vote on the deal Thursday, but Netanyahu’s office said that officials won’t meet until Hamas backs down, accusing the militant group of reneging on parts of the agreement in an attempt to gain further concessions, without saying which parts.
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Meanwhile…
Hamas leader touts ceasefire as a defeat for Israel while hailing Oct. 7 atrocities
Hamas leader touts ceasefire as a defeat for Israel while hailing Oct. 7 atrocities
Suffice to say, the longevity of this particular ceasefire seems about as sturdy as a paper umbrella in a monsoon.TimesOfIsrael.com wrote:Khalil al-Hayya praises deadliest massacre of Jews since Holocaust as ‘a source of pride for our people’; Islamic Jihad calls deal ‘an honorable agreement to stop the aggression’
Senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya praised the October 7 massacre as a major achievement that would be taught to future generations of Palestinians with pride, while touting the ceasefire-hostage deal that was announced shortly before he spoke Wednesday as a “historic moment.”
“Our people have thwarted the declared and hidden goals of the occupation. Today we prove that the occupation will never defeat our people and their resistance,” al-Hayya was quoted as saying during a televised speech from Qatar.
He praised the Hamas-led massacres of Israelis on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian terrorists killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 captives, amid atrocities including rape and torture.
The deadliest slaughter of Jews in a single day since the Holocaust was a “military accomplishment” and “a source of pride for our people… to be passed down from generation to generation,” al-Hayya said.
Hamas’s top negotiator in the ceasefire and hostage talks said despite suing for an end to the war, the group would continue to pursue Israel’s destruction, looking toward Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque as a “compass.”
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
Both sides have warmongers who don't want this ceasefire. They'll do anything to prevent it from happening. They don't give two shits for human lives.
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Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
On the plus side, they do care about the public relations optics of bringing hostages/prisoners home. They just have to try to come out as the perceived winner in any swap. Hence al the tough talk and shit talk.hepcat wrote: Thu Jan 16, 2025 3:13 pm Both sides have warmongers who don't want this ceasefire. They'll do anything to prevent it from happening. They don't give two shits for human lives.
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"...To guard, protect, and maintain his liberty, the freedman should have the ballot; that the liberties of the American people were dependent upon the Ballot-box, the Jury-box, and the Cartridge-box, that without these no class of people could live and flourish in this country." - Frederick Douglass
MYT
"“I like taking the guns early...to go to court would have taken a long time. So you could do exactly what you’re saying, but take the guns first, go through due process second.” -President Donald Trump.
"...To guard, protect, and maintain his liberty, the freedman should have the ballot; that the liberties of the American people were dependent upon the Ballot-box, the Jury-box, and the Cartridge-box, that without these no class of people could live and flourish in this country." - Frederick Douglass
MYT
- El Guapo
- Posts: 42246
- Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2005 4:01 pm
- Location: Boston
Re: Israel–United States relations and associated politics
The ceasefire has been signed.
Of course, seems like there is a ton of important stuff left to be worked out in phase 2+, so I'm not sure what the odds are that this actually frees the hostages and ends the war, but fingers crossed.
Of course, seems like there is a ton of important stuff left to be worked out in phase 2+, so I'm not sure what the odds are that this actually frees the hostages and ends the war, but fingers crossed.
Black Lives Matter.