The political reasoning is to get back the tens of thousands of Israelis that have been evacuated from Northern Israel, and hence the likely goal is to "destroy Hezbollah" altogether. — ssu

Exactly. If they were really concerned with getting the Israelis back and saving the hostages in Gaza (which are probably completely doomed so much as they are still alive) there was an easy way out which Bibi refused to take.

As for the land invasion itself, if history is any indication a ground invasion wouldn't be a quick and painless operation. If there is any reason why Netanyahu doesn't want to start a war with Iran right now it would be because Israel thinks it is necessary to defang Hezbollah as a threat altogether before doing anything else (at least if Kushner's statement is anything to go by). They can still bomb Israel hard even at this stage.

Yes, because you do not care about police action in the Netherlands only to raise it in a thread where it has zero bearing. The subject is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict not what some police officers might think of it. I can assure you that for every police officer not wanting to protect Jewish locations they are in the minority compared to the pro-Israeli officers and they are not out there beating protesters as has happened with pro-Palestinian protesters. So, quite frankly I don't care as it is a non-issue.

As for the land invasion itself, if history is any indication a ground invasion wouldn't be a quick and painless operation. — Mr Bee

Yet this fact of life is hardly given any thought now. Bibi's transformed into a wartime leader. He doesn't have to face the earlier political problems or an inquiry just how Hamas did get away with overcoming a billion dollar wall as long as Israel is in war. So he doesn't care a shit about just how "Peace for Galilee" turned out. But he can remember that after Yom Kippur war was over, Golda Meir was ousted.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s popularity, which was battered after the Hamas attacks on 7 October, has been boosted by his country’s military successes against Hezbollah, a new opinion poll suggests.

A picture has been widely shared of the Israeli PM in New York giving the order for the biggest of these - the assassination of the Lebanese armed group’s long-time chief, Hassan Nasrallah.

A poll for Israel’s Channel 12, released on Sunday night, indicates the Israeli PM's Likud party would win more seats than any other if a general election was held.

Even if this was prior to the Iranian missiles, it still shows the benefits of being a wartime prime minister. People will rally to the flag and support the leadership of the country.

A long war in Lebanon can be a double edged sword though. It helps Netanyahu extend his forever war and stay in power for the time being, but it can eventually become a mess which would hurt him politically especially if it results in alot of Israeli casualties and it doesn't help get people back to their homes. Hezbollah isn't Hamas and they still haven't completely eliminated the latter after a year of constant fighting.

Even if this was prior to the Iranian missiles, it still shows the benefits of being a wartime prime minister. People will rally to the flag and support the leadership of the country. — ssu

It will take time to know all the truth about October 7th. But given the fact that Israeli intelligence is one of the most advanced in the world, it seems strange the great defensive errors during the attacks of Hamas. So, they can trick the beepers of Hezbollah members, but they cannot prevent a bloody attack by Hamas. Hmm... we will see how responsible for all of this is Netanyahu in the future.

Even if we don't know the full story what we do know already paints Netanyahu in a bad light. He was warned by the Egyptians of an attack on Oct 7. Netanyahu in his arrogance ignored those warnings and he's been trying to make this crisis worse in an attempt to save face ever since.

Netanyahu in his arrogance ignored those warnings and he's been trying to make this crisis worse in an attempt to save face ever since. — Mr Bee

He ignored those warnings, or maybe he deliberately didn't listen to them because he, as a clever warman, saw the perfect opportunity to focus on a conflict with the neighbours rather than having Israelis voice out against his business practices and arrogance.

In a way the two can be seen as related as since 10/7 we've seen a huge uptick in anti semitism which just goes to show you the world doesn't recognize a clear boundary between Israel and the world's Jews. Pro-Palestine protests also tend to be more prone to criminality than pro-Israel ones which explains the more heavy-handed treatment.

:up: :up:

Israel doesn't even make the laws in Gaza, but why should that inconvenient fact matter to you? It's ideology that matters to you and you side with weak. And as long as you side with the weak you're righteous and laudable.

Never let facts get between you and your support for the weak.

Like Trump, your accusations are confessions. :sweat:

We can support the poor, innocent Palestinian all we want and that starts with getting rid of Hamas and de-radicalizing the population. Not teaching them to hate. Once violence and hatred wane, Israel can ease up in turn.

Israeli occupation-oppression has radicalized generations of the Palestinian population. Likud's (Bibi's) zionfascist forever war is the goal. Stop lying to yourself.

If it's the occupation of Jerusalem they're mad about, they can stay mad. Israel has offered them half in several peace deals and it's been rejected. To want it all, as the Hamas charter demands, is pure greed.

I hardly believe it is a question about greed but revenge. After assassinating 42K Gaza civilians, I don't think their next generations would like to be diplomatic with Israel. As well as Israel wanting to wipe out Beirut and Teheran, the resistance wants to erase Tel-Aviv. 

The Middle East is in a perpetual war zone that benefits a big ass weapon industry.

The Middle East is in a perpetual war zone that benefits a big ass weapon industry. — javi2541997

:up:

Pro-Palestine protests also tend to be more prone to criminality than pro-Israel ones which explains the more heavy-handed treatment. — BitconnectCarlos

Based on what? I'm sure that's the excuse the police will give you.

Also the fact people confuse Jews with Israel is on the heads of many of your brothers and sisters insisting for decades any criticism of Israel was "anti-semitism" or that "anti-zionism" = "anti-semitism". The guilt over WWII has been wielded as an instrument and setting up Israel as the "Jewish homeland" really makes things confusing for most people.

EDIT: I asked perplexity:

Based on the search results provided, there have been some instances of violence at pro-Israeli demonstrations and counter-protests, though the overall picture is complex. Here are the key points:

## Violent Incidents Involving Pro-Israel Groups

- At UCLA, a pro-Israel mob violently attacked a peaceful pro-Palestinian encampment on campus[1][2]. The attackers, described as largely non-student age individuals, used fireworks, pepper spray, sticks, stones, and metal fencing to assault students[1].

- Counter-protesters, identified as pro-Israel, attempted to storm a Palestine solidarity encampment at UCLA, leading to violent clashes[2]. They tore down barricades, shot fireworks into the encampment, and sprayed irritant gases[2].

- In Chicago during the Democratic National Convention, a protest organized by pro-Hamas groups turned violent, with demonstrators throwing objects at police and surrounding a taxi with passengers inside[3].

## Context and Broader Trends

- While these violent incidents have occurred, it's important to note that the vast majority of demonstrations related to the Israel-Palestine conflict in the US have been peaceful[5].

- According to ACLED data, 97% of student demonstrations related to the conflict between October 7, 2023, and May 3, 2024, remained peaceful[5].

- Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have also faced accusations of antisemitism and resulted in violence in some cases, particularly in Europe[4].

- Israeli authorities have also cracked down on anti-war protests within Israel, with some restrictions placed on demonstrations[4].

It's crucial to recognize that while there have been violent incidents involving pro-Israel groups, violence has not been characteristic of all pro-Israel demonstrations. The situation remains complex, with tensions high on both sides of the conflict.

Citations:
[1] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/1/ucla-clashes-pro-palestinian-protesters-attacked-by-israel-supporters
[2] https://dailybruin.com/2024/05/01/pro-israel-counter-protesters-attempt-to-storm-encampment-sparking-violence
[3] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/-israeli-consulate-tonight-groups-one-dncs-violent-protests-rcna167384
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%E2%80%93Hamas_war_protests
[5] https://acleddata.com/2024/05/10/us-student-pro-palestine-demonstrations-remain-overwhelmingly-peaceful-acled-brief/
[6] https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/pro-israel-group-to-hold-counterdemonstration-on-ucla-campus/
[7] https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-jewish-students-say-pro-israel-violence-at-ucla-protest-camp-undercuts-advocacy/
[8] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNrkh8V8IMw

The Middle East is in a perpetual war zone that benefits a big ass weapon industry. — javi2541997

It is instrumental to the US empire, and that's the primary reason for the way things are.

The military industrial complex, BlackRock, etc. - these are the vultures who flock to the smell of fresh carrion, but they are not the main driver behind these conflicts. The main driver for US involvement is US geopolitical strategy, and that's what we ought to analyse and understand in order to make sense of events.

The US establishment on their part of course has no problem with corporate interests taking the blame. Much better for people to believe the US government is not to blame, but "evil corporations" are, or so the reasoning in Washington goes.



If you look at a map you'll note that the Middle-East is located on a critical junction that connects several regions of the world via land. Why is that important?

The US possesses the world's most powerful navy. It controls sea-based trade. Any nation that gets into a large-scale war with the US can say its sea-based trade goodbye.

China is heavily dependent on sea-based trade, and is deeply aware of its vulnerable position should its sea lanes of communication be cut off.

That's why China is seeking to create land-based alternatives.

The US is trying to deny such alternatives by trying to control critical trade junctions, or cause chaos if controlling them turns out to be unfeasible.

Note that Iran ("public enemy #1") is a critical bottleneck that connects China and India to the Middle-East, Africa and Europe via Central Asia.

The other critical bottleneck is Eastern Europe, which connects Russia (and by extension China) to Europe.

It is of course no coincidence that we see intense US involvement in these regions.



If you want another example, you can look at India. India has a much more neutral disposition towards the US, yet we see the same pattern.

Bangladesh and Pakistan are the land-based trade corridors that connect India to the rest of the world. What do we see there? Long-standing and intense US involvement.

Also the fact people confuse Jews with Israel is on the heads of many of your brothers and sisters insisting for decades any criticism of Israel was "anti-semitism" or that "anti-zionism" = "anti-semitism". The guilt over WWII has been wielded as an instrument and setting up Israel as the "Jewish homeland" really makes things confusing for most people. — Benkei

Anti-zionism is effectively anti-semitism. To oppose zionism is to oppose Jewish self-determination which, if realized, would render Jews, once again, completely reliant on foreign nations for security and strip them of their autonomy.... the exact situation in which the holocaust occurred. It's not about guilting you; it's about ensuring that it doesn't happen again. Zionism has already been realized. To oppose Jewish self-determination when it has already been realized is pernicious.

Regarding criminality we can all do our own research and make up our minds. Here in the states the issue of which side is more criminal isn't close. There have been many, many arrests on the pro-palestine side and very few on the pro-israel side. They block highways, destroy shops, violate noise ordinances, occasionally commit assaults... but you're free to believe as you like.

Anti-zionism is effectively anti-semitism. — BitconnectCarlos

No it isn't. One is opposition against a political idea, the other is just plain hatred.

And it's this sort of dumb shit that causes so many people to not care about the distinction anymore.

Regarding criminality we can all do our own research and make up our minds. Here in the states the issue of which side is more criminal isn't close. There have been many, many arrests on the pro-palestine side and very few on the pro-israel side. They block highways, destroy shops, violate noise ordinances, occasionally commit assaults... but you're free to believe as you like. — BitconnectCarlos

It's not a matter of belief, it's a matter of fact that pro-Israeli sides have committed violence in the US as well and the majority (97%) of all protests on both sides have been peaceful.

The Middle East falls apart. Crude oil prices rise. Inflation rises. The Fed is stuck.

One is opposition against a political idea, the other is just plain hatred. — Benkei

Yes, a hatred that is bent on the destruction of the world's only Jewish state and a reversion to the old order. I don't see how this is hard to understand. If someone were to oppose the notion of an Irish state we would call them anti-Irish.

It's not a matter of belief, it's a matter of fact that pro-Israeli sides have committed violence in the US as well and the majority (97%) of all protests on both sides have been peaceful. — Benkei

How about the many times that they stopped traffic here in the US? Is that considered peaceful? In the US we saw a wave of violence across college campuses as pro-Palestine protestors took over university buildings and vandalized them. No parallels from the Israel crew. Thousands of arrests on the Palestine side, very few on the Israel side.

I shared citations with you setting out the facts. And you're just going "what about what I saw in the news?". The number of arrest certainly isn't indicative now is it?

I would think that number of arrests is generally indicative of criminality unless you want to maintain that the police just hate palestine and are arresting the protestors for no reason. One can engage in criminality without violence, such as when highways are blocked and traffic is held up for hours.

In the US we saw a wave of violence across college campuses as pro-Palestine protestors took over university buildings and vandalized them — BitconnectCarlos

They were broken hearted about what's happening to Gaza. They aren't anti-Semitic.

You're my favorite troll. :lol:

You're my favorite troll. — BitconnectCarlos

That's what I was going for, thanks!

Anti-zionism is effectively anti-semitism. — BitconnectCarlos

Oh you mean "anti-semites" like ...

(e.g.) R. Luxemburg, S. Freud, A. Einstein, E. Fromm, P. Levi, Marek Edelman, I. Asimov, H. Arendt, I.F. Stone, N. Chomsky, H. Siegman, M. Lerner, R. Falk, T. Judt et al — 180 Proof

https://inthesetimes.com/article/jewish-anti-zionism-israel-palestine-colonialism-annexation-apartheid :fire: :strong:

To oppose [COLONIZER-SETTLER-APARTHEID ETHNOSTATISM] is to oppose Jewish self-determination which, if realized, would render Jews, once again, completely reliant on foreign nations for security and strip them of their autonomy....

Yeah, because the post-1967 State of Israel has not been "completely reliant" on US (& EU/Nato) military & economic funding and logistics as well as diplomatic cover (propaganda / disinformation) for a half century ... what a lying little shit you are.