QR, you state facts. The situation will change when the U.S. demands it stops. Not ask, demand! Years from now, this time period will be seen as one of the most disgraceful in U.S. history. We allowed wrong to be done. We could have done something, but we acted as if we were powerless. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I know you and many throughout the world have a heavy heart. I do too. The innocent are paying for the evil being done. That is not right. It is never right. I pray this ends now. For the kids. My God, how much can people take. Lord help us!
Interestingly, in its January 14, 2025 editorial, "Ben-Gvir Said the Quiet Part Out Loud: Netanyahu Sacrificed Hostages for Personal Interest," Haaretz referred to Itamar Ben-Gvir's confirmation that Netanyahu continually put-off returning hostages "even at the cost of their lives" and had "draw[n] out the war based on ... his political survival." Ben-Gvir plainly exulted in the leverage over Netanyahu that he had for so long.
It appears that Gideon Sa'ar's joining of the governing coalition in Israel now gives Netanyahu some added flexibility to withstand Ben-Gvir's attempted torpedoing of any ceasefire deal. But that remains to be seen. Ben-Gvir has apparently threatened to leave the governing coalition and has urged his ally Bezalel Smotrich to do likewise if the ceasefire deal goes through. According to CNN World, Smotrich has said he'll leave the governing coalition if the war doesn't resume after the first phase of the deal is finished. Amichai Chikli, a Likud Minister, is also threatening to leave the coalition if Israel withdraws from the Philadelphi Corridor.
Even if the deal is approved and Netanyahu survives the immediate crisis with opposition leader Yair Lapid's help, he is still on trial for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Unlike Trump, Netanyahu isn't permanently immune for his 'official' acts. For all that Trump threatened that the ceasefire deal had better go through before his inauguration on Monday, it's far from clear that Netanyahu will comply fully with even the first phase of the deal, much less subsequent phases. He's probably not looking to end up inside of a jail cell.
If Trump gets what he regards as his due credit for being the hero of the hour in forcing Netanyahu to enter into a ceasefire he doesn't really want, my guess is that Trump will lose interest in enforcing the deal shortly after his inauguration. Trump has surrounded himself with backers of Israel's imperial aspirations. I doubt that he has any genuine personal interest in ending the grievous loss of life in Gaza or in returning any Israeli hostages to their families.
There are all too many people, in all walks of life, whose words, can never be trusted and whose actions will always reveal their criminal intent.
Humanity has/is descending into a total morass of un-trustworthiness. Everyone exercising any degree of power is absolutely a fool if they align themselves with proven liars, oath breakers, predatory killers.
From the beginning of this latest conflict I have had no respect for Netanyahu and his party or the Hamas leaders. The original Hamas killings and hostage takings were so brutal and attention grabbing that they were obviously intended as a provocation for escalation. Netanyahu’s hundred-fold, over the top retaliation against the Palestinians was entirely predictable as was Hamas using women and children as shields and martyrs. One might even suggest that both Hamas leaders and Netanyahu’s party needed this conflict to shore up their wobbling power-bases. Palestinians and Israelis certainly did not want these provocations.
But my question has always been why then? Who else might benefit from the choice of when it would all happen? Iran’s funding of Hamas is nothing new, but who else stood to gain by the timing of the first Hamas strike and the distraction of a Middle East war? Who has become increasingly friendly with Iran and cares nothing about creating death and destruction to feed his own ego and needed a diversion of U.S. funding away from his own failing plans to pacify Ukraine? Putin failed to starve Ukraine into submission following his first failure to recreate his speedy, no-fuss Crimes victory . He did not expect the brave, massive influx of military equipment from NATO countries despite his nuclear threats, nor the global sympathetic attention focused on the Ukrainian people. He badly needed a diversion and blowing up the Israeli powder keg was child’s play for a manipulator like Putin. He had already created Russian supporting governments in Belarus and Hungry, fed Brexit in an attempt to break the EU, fostered growing bands of Neo-Nazis in NATO countries, and mentored Trump as his personal fifth-columnist to destroy America, whether Trump did or did not realize that his true purpose was to be so incompetent a President that the U.S. would never recover. Trump has lately been signalling a cooling of his bromance with Putin, whether it is real or another con, who knows? His megalomaniac intended shopping spree of resource rich countries, already a success in his own addled brain, may now make him believe his is King of the World and no longer in need of help from Putin. He is good at ditching people he decides he no longer needs.
But I have digressed to Trump as so often unfortunately happens. I just want to suggest that when apportioning blame for the continuing suffering in Palestine, don’t leave out any of the real players.
Whie I'm in agreement with most of what you write, I would point out that the US State Department can't refer to the State of Palestine because there isn't an official State of Palestine.
Thank you Mr. Rashid. Guess where government waste could be trimmed ... the war budget. I hate that my tax dollars go for weapons and genocide. And our "leaders" jockeying for bragging rights. They could have done this 15 months ago. I have long wondered if any of the Israeli hostages are even still alive. All the capitulation, adoration, supplication, makes me sick, the Orange Gangster and his minions who believe only white rich men who break the law with impunity have a right to live.
Thank you for this article. It is absolutely shameful and horrific that the US funds this genocide. Called my Senators and Representative and wrote them a letter, even though my Senator Bernie Sanders developed and sponsored the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval, co-sponsored by Senator Peter Welch, to keep up the fight to block the $8 billion in weapons sale to Israel and to stop the US funding this genocide right now. Sent letter and called through the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights.
This happens with literally every ceasefire.
Same shit different day!!! NO Weapons to Israel for this genocide
QR, you state facts. The situation will change when the U.S. demands it stops. Not ask, demand! Years from now, this time period will be seen as one of the most disgraceful in U.S. history. We allowed wrong to be done. We could have done something, but we acted as if we were powerless. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I know you and many throughout the world have a heavy heart. I do too. The innocent are paying for the evil being done. That is not right. It is never right. I pray this ends now. For the kids. My God, how much can people take. Lord help us!
Interestingly, in its January 14, 2025 editorial, "Ben-Gvir Said the Quiet Part Out Loud: Netanyahu Sacrificed Hostages for Personal Interest," Haaretz referred to Itamar Ben-Gvir's confirmation that Netanyahu continually put-off returning hostages "even at the cost of their lives" and had "draw[n] out the war based on ... his political survival." Ben-Gvir plainly exulted in the leverage over Netanyahu that he had for so long.
It appears that Gideon Sa'ar's joining of the governing coalition in Israel now gives Netanyahu some added flexibility to withstand Ben-Gvir's attempted torpedoing of any ceasefire deal. But that remains to be seen. Ben-Gvir has apparently threatened to leave the governing coalition and has urged his ally Bezalel Smotrich to do likewise if the ceasefire deal goes through. According to CNN World, Smotrich has said he'll leave the governing coalition if the war doesn't resume after the first phase of the deal is finished. Amichai Chikli, a Likud Minister, is also threatening to leave the coalition if Israel withdraws from the Philadelphi Corridor.
Even if the deal is approved and Netanyahu survives the immediate crisis with opposition leader Yair Lapid's help, he is still on trial for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Unlike Trump, Netanyahu isn't permanently immune for his 'official' acts. For all that Trump threatened that the ceasefire deal had better go through before his inauguration on Monday, it's far from clear that Netanyahu will comply fully with even the first phase of the deal, much less subsequent phases. He's probably not looking to end up inside of a jail cell.
If Trump gets what he regards as his due credit for being the hero of the hour in forcing Netanyahu to enter into a ceasefire he doesn't really want, my guess is that Trump will lose interest in enforcing the deal shortly after his inauguration. Trump has surrounded himself with backers of Israel's imperial aspirations. I doubt that he has any genuine personal interest in ending the grievous loss of life in Gaza or in returning any Israeli hostages to their families.
There are all too many people, in all walks of life, whose words, can never be trusted and whose actions will always reveal their criminal intent.
Humanity has/is descending into a total morass of un-trustworthiness. Everyone exercising any degree of power is absolutely a fool if they align themselves with proven liars, oath breakers, predatory killers.
War that kills innocent people is disgraceful. 😢
So sad. How can they bear it
I hate to say that as soon as I heard about the "ceasefire" deal, my first thought was that Netanyahu would not actually cease killing Palestinians.
You thought that because you've watched his actions, and know this is who he is.
Anybody who thought this was going to be a legitimate ceasefire is a moron. You are dealing with Israel and the Shit Hole States.
It's like Lucy and Charlie Brown and the football.
From the beginning of this latest conflict I have had no respect for Netanyahu and his party or the Hamas leaders. The original Hamas killings and hostage takings were so brutal and attention grabbing that they were obviously intended as a provocation for escalation. Netanyahu’s hundred-fold, over the top retaliation against the Palestinians was entirely predictable as was Hamas using women and children as shields and martyrs. One might even suggest that both Hamas leaders and Netanyahu’s party needed this conflict to shore up their wobbling power-bases. Palestinians and Israelis certainly did not want these provocations.
But my question has always been why then? Who else might benefit from the choice of when it would all happen? Iran’s funding of Hamas is nothing new, but who else stood to gain by the timing of the first Hamas strike and the distraction of a Middle East war? Who has become increasingly friendly with Iran and cares nothing about creating death and destruction to feed his own ego and needed a diversion of U.S. funding away from his own failing plans to pacify Ukraine? Putin failed to starve Ukraine into submission following his first failure to recreate his speedy, no-fuss Crimes victory . He did not expect the brave, massive influx of military equipment from NATO countries despite his nuclear threats, nor the global sympathetic attention focused on the Ukrainian people. He badly needed a diversion and blowing up the Israeli powder keg was child’s play for a manipulator like Putin. He had already created Russian supporting governments in Belarus and Hungry, fed Brexit in an attempt to break the EU, fostered growing bands of Neo-Nazis in NATO countries, and mentored Trump as his personal fifth-columnist to destroy America, whether Trump did or did not realize that his true purpose was to be so incompetent a President that the U.S. would never recover. Trump has lately been signalling a cooling of his bromance with Putin, whether it is real or another con, who knows? His megalomaniac intended shopping spree of resource rich countries, already a success in his own addled brain, may now make him believe his is King of the World and no longer in need of help from Putin. He is good at ditching people he decides he no longer needs.
But I have digressed to Trump as so often unfortunately happens. I just want to suggest that when apportioning blame for the continuing suffering in Palestine, don’t leave out any of the real players.
Thank you Qasim for your clear and concise articles. I just became a paid subscriber.
thank you friend - honored and grateful to have your trust and generous support.
Any "deal" is made with The Felon Guy - just like Reagan & the hostages in 1979. To place blame on Presidents Biden & Carter.
Whie I'm in agreement with most of what you write, I would point out that the US State Department can't refer to the State of Palestine because there isn't an official State of Palestine.
You’re ignoring the broader issue of not investigating war crimes and ignoring war crimes
Thank you Mr. Rashid. Guess where government waste could be trimmed ... the war budget. I hate that my tax dollars go for weapons and genocide. And our "leaders" jockeying for bragging rights. They could have done this 15 months ago. I have long wondered if any of the Israeli hostages are even still alive. All the capitulation, adoration, supplication, makes me sick, the Orange Gangster and his minions who believe only white rich men who break the law with impunity have a right to live.
Completely agree, Beth.
Thank you for this article. It is absolutely shameful and horrific that the US funds this genocide. Called my Senators and Representative and wrote them a letter, even though my Senator Bernie Sanders developed and sponsored the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval, co-sponsored by Senator Peter Welch, to keep up the fight to block the $8 billion in weapons sale to Israel and to stop the US funding this genocide right now. Sent letter and called through the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights.
Thank you, Jennifer for continuing to raise your voice
Israel disgraces itself. Those poor children! No honor but among those attacked, displaced. Words fail me.