The Middle East Thread

I thought they (Canada) have already closed the Israel operation/evacuation and are now focusing on Lebanon. I saw a report like this a few days ago.

Something like that. There might be a second wave from Israel, but nothing active right now.

Keir Starmer: “We’ve all seen those images of children dead, and theres no unseeing those images… but I do not think [a ceasefire] is the right call now”

How can he utter those words and sleep at night. Psychopath

Must consult Blair regularly…

It isn’t even effective political communication. It would be far smarter to hammer at the necessity of releasing all hostages as a pre-condition for a ceasefire.

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I don’t understand the reluctance for a ceasefire. It’s not like Hamas can strengthen themselves.

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What does a ceasefire achieve from the Israeli perspective? It is not like the people of Gaza can go anywhere. All it does is allow Hamas more time to prepare. Once you factor in Israeli partisan politics, it becomes even clearer. Netanyahu is probably out the door with a pause for a ceasefire.

What’s the endgame then? Because there have been incursions into Gaza before, and it still keeps happening because, like it or not, people do it like living under occupation. And this is not helping the Israeli cause:

I think the idea of an ‘endgame’ misses an essential part of the psychology. There isn’t one. A substantial percentage of the Israeli population thinks of themselves as under permanent siege (much as do Gazans). There isn’t a way out, there is only a way to survive and improve conditions. In this particular episode, there is a consensus on the need to destroy Hamas as a functional organization, with no illusions that that will produce lasting peace. If they need to kill 30,000 Hamas fighters to do that, so be it.

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I’m not sure where to post this but Celtic have banned their Green Brigade (Ultras) over Palestinian flags:

Now I’m no great fan of them, in fact I would go as far as calling them wanton shit stirrers, but they have been waving these flags for years.

At the same time, there are away fans at Spurs making pretty disgusting holocaust references to their Jewish fans and no one bats an eyelid.

Apparently, it’s all about FLEGS!

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If you had ever visited Israel and Palestine you would realise how ridiculous this statement is.

Israelis live in freedom and luxury, including in the West Bank settlements that overlook the poverty of the people of the land they stole. We sat with peacemakers near Bethlehem who spoke of rationing drinking water because Israel control water supply. As they spoke we could see swimming pools in the settlements on the next hill.

I’ve never been to Gaza but even 15 years ago life there sounded totally hopeless

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https://x.com/channel4news/status/1719074973971513739?s=46&t=Tk6buFVfyHeITdfFRWCVMg

Watch this report with an open mind. Witnessed this exact thing happening. And it’s been happening every day for the 15 years since

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If you are under siege, you are supposed to be restricted. The continuous encroachment in West Bank isn’t a sign of being restricted.

The way Israel uses the holocaust and the notion of being under siege to defend its atrocities is very repulsive.

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Did I just see Israel confirm they bombed a refugee camp?

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I spent time on a kibbutz about 15 years ago and I was told on several occasions that they were surrounded by countries that wanted to destroy Israel and drive them into the sea. Their words…

They had armed guards in a tower at the entrance to the kibbutz and were always fearful for their youngsters serving in the IDF…most of the men carried pistols and I saw what looked like teenagers sitting in the mall with their mates but with their assault rifles under the table. Off duty IDF I was told.

I definitely got the impression of people who felt they were under constant threat and had to be vigilant.

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This is actually fairly common if it is anything like the information we get briefed on in the US Military. It’s basically a guide to what can and can’t be reported by the media or how we should respond if questioned for any reason.

It usually has a green table for OK to report or a red table for not ok to report which some general categories in each.

Mostly they are sent out for potential military operations but we also get then for ad-hoc events (for example I got one for the Maine shooting last week).

I have gotten one for the situation in Israel and it would be the same one that was also sent to the media.

So I think it doesn’t really confirm the existence of SAS soldiers in Israel, and certainly doesn’t mean they are actively doing anything if they are there. Certainly could be, but I think this is more likely just a generic PR briefing document that is regularly published.

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Only discovered this week that Starmer’s wife is Jewish, along with her entire family. Apparently, even his children are being brought up in the Jewish faith…
Not that this bothers me either way… but it has planted a seed of thought, of who actually wears the trousers in his house and if she is anything like Carrie Johnson… it could be the wifey pulling the strings over certain matters…!

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There are standing ones for the UK which cover national security, military, diplomats and anyone else whose personal or professional security may be compromised by publishing details. They aren’t legally enforceable but editors and publishers are meant to obide by them for the greater good.

There was a case a few years ago whereby the British ambassador to the US was compromised when a confidential letter was leaked. This should have been stopped but the leak had Boris Johnson’s grubby paws all over it.

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Yep , and I posted a few days ago saying that the IDF would have no compunction whatsoever in taking out an entire building full of civilians if they knew there was one Hamas commander there. Well there you go …

I think it’s also worth remembering that the whole of Gaza is in fact a refugee camp. It was created in 1948 after over 200 Palestinian villages in the South were ethnically cleansed.

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I think their sense of insecurity is not due to the presence of any actual threat, but due to the knowledge that they have trespassed illegally.

Given the record of settler violence, I feel that the false sense of insecurity was the incitement to create a militia or privateers.

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