POST 1108
Most of us know that an Israeli cease fire won’t get the hostages back, won’t curtail Hamas’ terrorism, won’t stop Hezbollah from firing rockets into northern Israel, won’t stop the Houthis from firing ballistic missiles into Israel from Yemen, won’t stop Iran from firing drones and ballistic missiles at Israeli cities and won’t stop Iran from funding all of these terrorists. There will be no cease fire trade for hostages because giving up the hostages will eliminate Hamas’ bargaining chips. These things are real world truths, in contrast to the beliefs of well meaning but simple minded college students, especially those who have turned their empathy into hatred.
Israel had to take action both to recover hostages – they retrieved over half of them – and they had to defend against Hamas and cripple it in order to prevent yet more terrorism. That was made far more complicated by Hamas.
It is a fact that Hamas positions its terrorists and its weapons among the civilian Palestinian population in Gaza – in hospitals, schools and apartment buildings. That ensured that Israeli retaliation and military pressure against Hamas would injure and kill massive numbers of otherwise innocent Palestinians. For those needing to point a finger of blame for thousands of Palestinian casualties, point your finger at Hamas. They wanted and got massive world sympathy through their cruel manipulations that caused the deaths of those Palestinian mothers and children.
More bombs, missiles and drones will not get anyone peace or land. More murders of hostages will only trigger continuing cycles of retribution. “From the river to the sea” is a fantasy that serves only to inflame passions and cause more death.
The war has widened, there are no indications of anything likely to get better any time soon and the world is poised in anticipation of an all out regional war if all parties continue to behave as they have. Clearly, if things are to improve, something must change. Here is my outrageous proposal.
I propose – no, I invite, plead, beseech – Prime Minister Netanyahu to go on the world stage and invite Iran and representatives of the Palestinians into negotiations to make a permanent peace. Perhaps the Egyptians, Qataris and Jordanians can facilitate such a process.
Netanyahu must offer Israeli support for creating a sovereign Palestinian state and be willing to remove and relocate Israeli settlers from the West Bank. He must be willing to share Jerusalem. In short, he must come to these talks prepared to give up a great deal in exchange for getting everything Israelis have hoped for since 1948.
We have seen that fierce warriors on all sides are a hindrance, not a help. It is time for fierce statesmanship and a new kind of courage, the courage to not fight. Perhaps things are so awful now and so threatening to everyone that we can move past the chest thumping, intransigence, self-righteousness, the threatening and the contest to win the biggest victim award and at last bring peace to all.
Yes, that’s outrageous. If you have a better idea, I’d love to hear it. So would all the mothers and children in the Middle East.
It’s not the vibes and it’s not the polls: it’s the votes.
Are you registered to vote? Check it out on any of these websites:
https://www.vote.org/am-i-registerilled-to-vote/
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https://www.rockthevote.org/how-to-vote/am-i-registered-to-vote/
“Friends do not let friends vote for con artists.”
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– Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), 2016
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5 Responses to An Outrageous Proposal for October 7
Jim Altschuler October 7, 2024
It sounds like a wonderful idea. I don’t think the egos involved would let it happen, nonetheless a wonderful idea.
Jack Altschuler October 7, 2024
Neither their egos, nor Netanyahu’s desperation to stay out of prison.
Kirk Landers October 7, 2024
I agree on all counts EXCEPT when you suggest Israel must “punish” Hamas. To me, Israel is defending itself against an enemy that invaded it and terrorized its citizens and refuses to surrender. Therefore, Israel isn’t “punishing” Hamas, et. al,, it is defending itself in a war created by hate-fueled religious extremists.
I like your idea about urging Iran and its surrogates to sit down for peace talks. It’s a much better position for the US to take than simply standing with Israel–we can do both, obviously.
Jack Altschuler October 7, 2024
Thanks for your observation – adjustment made.
Frank Levy October 7, 2024
Kevin yehi ratzon – may it be so. With Trump likely to become America’s first dictator Netanyahu will wait to see how things play out. Netanyahu, like Putin is hoping for a Trump win because Trump will let Netanyahu do as he pleases in Gaza and across the region.