42 Comments
User's avatar
Eric Brooks's avatar

Another important perspective on the Palestine crisis that no one is yet discussing. Comparing Gaza's attack on Israel to similar strategies used by the Allies, and in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, in World War II.

https://ericbrooks.substack.com/p/why-gazas-attack-on-israel-made-sense?r=1etm80&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Pete's avatar

New IDF orders to thwart soldier abductions replace misunderstood protocol

Three new military procedures, allowing massive use of force, came into effect this month to replace controversial Hannibal directive.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-idf-directives-allow-massive-force-to-prevent-soldiers-kidnapping/

Tobin Owl's avatar

The new directives seem to advise safeguarding the (potential) captive, but do you think this is actually being done? The evidence in this post suggests otherwise.

Polly's avatar

Thank you for your brilliant writing and fair reporting.

Gerry Mohan's avatar

There's no such thing as a "right to exist". No country has a right to exist any more than a fried egg sandwich does. Countries, and fried egg sandwiches, either exist or they don't.

Brent Sonnek-Schmelz's avatar

Ok. So then Palestine doesn’t either? So what is the problem?

Gerry Mohan's avatar

Palestine exists, Israel too. No country in the world has a "right" to exist because there's no such concept in law. Countries are recognized, or not, by the UN, and Palestine is recognized by 138 of the 193 United Nations.

The "right to exist" is a propagandistic obfuscation. As far as I know Israel hasn't recognized any other country's "right to exist" and certainly not Palestine's.

But next time I eat a fried egg sandwich I will solemnly affirm its right to exist.

Guillaume Dohmen's avatar

What is difficult to understand is that Western politicians are calling the present Israeli politicians democratic which means that they execute the will of their electorate. Does it follow that the present slaughter of civilians is the will of the people? The Palestinians have lived in

Palestine for 1500 year whilst the Israeli politicians came mostly from Europe since the late 1940s. Of course history has shown that it is not uncommon for the indigenous population to get removed by new comers as examples show in the US, Australia, New Zealand.

John Cox's avatar

Hamas would have done well to get the hostages to safety in the Sinai then elsewhere in Libya, Syria or Iran.

The Palestinians pay for there freedom with their lives. It is getting closer and closer to the time when these lives will have to be accounted for.

Marcus Royal's avatar

Jonathan cook, John Steinbeck is one of a few good reasons I don't write novels AND YOU, Edward Said, Chomsky, Zinn, Chris Hedges, Naomi Kleine & a few others...Democracy Now & Mondoweiss... are why I don't WRITE political analysis. I rant & rave, while you & these all too few others do the real work. I thank you. And like their work, I share yours with the world. I pray that it helps! I ran into an old friend this morning. He said "Hey, Whatcha been doing... besides ranting & raving?" I stopped & thought a minute. I said sadly, "Not much, that's what I do, rant & rave, it's what I do." But I also hope, pray, join people @ the demonstrations & possibly most importantly do the work I want to do better than I can. Thank you. Ps. I've been meaning to say this for awhile.

Marcus Royal's avatar

I'm sorry. I meant possibly most importantly, I SHARE the work of those who DO the work better than I can, not "most importantly do the work I want to do better than I can." Sometimes my head is faster than my pen or uh, thumb.

J-Pat : Jason Patrick Quinn's avatar

It’s a crying shame that this kind of reporting and information is not available to more people via their preferred media. They are ignorant of much more than they know.

Brent Sonnek-Schmelz's avatar

Hamas’s stated reason for existence is to destroy the Israeli state. Long term peace and negotiation is not on the table for them. Until they accept the existence of the Israeli state, you comment that they are “willing to negotiate peace” is just nonsense

Prop-Agenda Watch's avatar

Ok, What's Israel's stated reason for existence? To wipeout Palestine out of the map? Do Israel accept the existence of a Palestinian state?

Sam's avatar

Israel just said that it wants to wipe Iran off the face of the earth. Do you find that acceptable?

Brent Sonnek-Schmelz's avatar

No I do not. Please cite your source

User's avatar
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Oct 24, 2023
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Sam's avatar

Thanks for the back up and providing the link. I just couldn’t remember where I read it. Here’s another one.

https://news.antiwar.com/2023/10/22/israeli-official-vows-to-wipe-iran-off-the-face-of-the-earth-if-hezbollah-enters-war/

Phil Kind Man's avatar

Israeli’s stated or unstated goal is to exterminate and ethnically cleanse all Palestinians including its own Palestinian citizens!

Brent Sonnek-Schmelz's avatar

Really? Based on what? That it’s Palestinian citizens have a right to vote?

Jonathan Cook's avatar

I'm not going to host time-wasting hasbara here. Engage in good faith, debate properly with real arguments, not long debunked Zionist talking points. If not, you're heading towards a ban.

Brent Sonnek-Schmelz's avatar

I have debated in good faith. I have not made personally disparaging comments as you have. If you can’t handle a contrary opinion in your Substack comment please ban me. I will view it fondly.

Ian McLachlan's avatar

Hamas may want to destroy but they know they cannot….Israel wants to prevent a Palestinian autonomous state and loves to destroy the small region that’s left GAZA The difference between Hamas and the Israeli IDF the latter have been and are actually destroying what they promised to do

Brent Sonnek-Schmelz's avatar

2 state solution has been presented 4 times and rejected without negotiation or alternative suggestion. Come to the table with a viable 2 state option

Brent Sonnek-Schmelz's avatar

Israel has absolutely made poor decisions and taken action to the detriment of Gaza. I am not an Israel apologist. But until Hamas specifically and explicitly accepts Israel’s right to exist, this doesn’t end.

User's avatar
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Oct 24, 2023
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Brent Sonnek-Schmelz's avatar

If the plight of Palestinians is your concern, do you also call for the freeing of all Palestinians from refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt? Where Palestinians are prevented from working or entering society in those countries? Or is it just Israel?

Sure, let’s change language semantics. I will no longer say right to exist for Israel. I will instead say “acknowledge that Israel will exist and continue to exist for the foreseeable future as a Jewish State”

Tobin Owl's avatar

Sounds like a "might makes right" argument

User's avatar
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Oct 24, 2023
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Brent Sonnek-Schmelz's avatar

It is the historical record. It’s not a recent quote. You can find it.

Jonathan Cook's avatar

I didn't say they're willing to 'negotiate peace', any more than Israel is. The fact that you feel the need to lie indicates you are not a good faith actor. You're just desperately flailing around, trying to find excuses for your support for genocide in Gaza.

User's avatar
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Oct 23, 2023
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Brent Sonnek-Schmelz's avatar

Susan, I understand you are passionate about this issue and care deeply. I have an honest question for you because I would like to learn. What does a resolution to this look like? When you say free Palestine what does that mean as far as borders, rights and movement of people? Thank you for answering.

User's avatar
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Oct 24, 2023Edited
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Brent Sonnek-Schmelz's avatar

At no point here did I personally attack you, which you just did. I will leave now. It is not worth continuing the conversation.

Brent Sonnek-Schmelz's avatar

You are reading words without intent. I did not lie and nothing in the current charter does anything to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist.

Read it again. Specifically the section entitled the position toward occupation and political solutions. “From the river to the sea” means the destruction of Israel.

Joe Grant's avatar

From the river to the sea does not mean the destruction of Israel.

That's another lie.

It means Palestine shall be free, which is obviously the second line.

Brent Sonnek-Schmelz's avatar

So what does that line mean to you? And what do you think it means to Hamas? What does a free Palestine mean in that context? Is a 2 state or even 3 state solution acceptable? Or is it something else?

Joe Grant's avatar

It means Palestinians shall be free...just like Israelis.

That can be a 1 or 2 state solution, 3 state does not come into it obviously.

I don't believe a 1 state is possible now..though it should have been.

Judaism is a religion not a race.

As before it should have been Arabs, Jews and Christians living side by side in one state, Palestine.

That won't happen now, so difficult as it is, a 2 state solution is possibly the only viable option.

Brent Sonnek-Schmelz's avatar

I agree. Will take compromise in both sides. For example, Israelis need to pull back settlements which are antagonistic. Palestinians need to recognize Israeli statehood

Gareth's avatar

Can certainly see the slow revelation of the "Hannibal" protocol, and to take step back to this is a question I keep coming back to, "How did the Israeli intelligence service not know what was being planned by Hammas?"

They have the most advanced intelligence and surveillance set up in the middle east, and they didn't know anything was brewing?

Absolutely ridiculous.

Without delving into conspiracy theory I believe the Zionist regime knew,wanted it and was ready to light the touch paper for revenge.

J-Pat : Jason Patrick Quinn's avatar

It’s long been reported on in Israeli newspapers - such as Haaretz - that Netanyahu not only used Hamas as political cover for and to bolster his own leadership, but that he was instrumental in the establishment of Hamas 16 years ago with millions of dollars funding routed via Qatar. The same can be applied to the Oct 6th attack; it is now being used to bolster the policies of his far right coalition government.

User's avatar
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Oct 23, 2023
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Sam's avatar

It’s not just the democrats that is committed to Israel. Republicans are right there alongside them.

User's avatar
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Oct 24, 2023
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Ohio Barbarian's avatar

Fun fact: The US military is NOT mostly Republican. Hasn't been since at least 2016. A plurality of them actually voted Libertarian then. Combine the Libertarians with the ones who didn't bother to vote, and there's your military majority.

I think they may already be in a prerevolutionary stage.