While your heart may be in the right place, your systems analysis is missing some components and extremely one-sided and incomplete.
Israelis are NOT committing genocide because intention to do so is not there. But sadly Gazans are dying. None of those deaths would have occurred if Hamas had surrendered when they were warned that the IDF was coming and if they had returned the hostages. Hamas could have ended the the killings long ago by surrendering. Hamas committed genocide on Oct 7th and on many other occasions which is partly whey they are designated a terrorist group. Genocide is actually a part of its charter and stated there as an intention. This is NOT a war of nationhood because Palestine was never a nation nor is it an ethic group. None of those deaths in Gaza would be happening if Hamas had not broken the 9th ceasefire on Oct 7th and had not committed numerous other war crimes including embedding its military infrastructure under civilian structures not to mention kidnapping innocent civilians.
Several years ago Chomsky authored Manufacturing Consent and the Iranian and Hamas PR group took note. Before Chomsky, Edward L. Bernays authored Engineering Consent and consulted with Goebbels in the Hitler’s Germany where the former mufti of Jerusalem, Amin al Husseini, resided and made broadcasts during WWII.
So Iranian/Hamas spin doctors created a genocide/apartheid/occupation/oppression/freedom narrative that is patently false following the lessons from Lenin who talked about creating Useful Idiots in the West to support the Russian Revolution. The phrase “useful idiots” was originated by an Austrian economist born in Ukraine or Poland by the name of Ludwig Von Mises.
Iran is funding proxies in its jihad in the following places. Africa (Sahel, Nigeria, Sudan, etc.), Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan to name a few. But because Jews are not involved in those places, nobody pays it much attention. But the deaths in those places amount to about 1 million and are clearly genocides.
Your experiences in South Africa are NOT a valid lens through which to consider the Middle East conflict.
What a beautifully written and lucid piece which I very much enjoyed reading, and which historical and political analysis I wholeheartedly agreed with.
Having traveled extensively all over Israel and the West Bank (though not Gaza) some time ago, I have a strong personal perception of the current genocide - which having been born and circumcised a Jew has particular poignancy for me.
I doubt whether you will remember me but we met very, very moons ago at a residential radical History Workshop at Manchester University. I have most recently owned and run the Centre for Public Policy Seminars, but am now enjoying octogenarian retirement.
If you were interested, I’d be pleased if you would join me for a drink at the Reform Club at some time.
What a good wrap-up this is of our situation. But no way is hope extinguished even though the idea is sound about the unthinkable reality we are in. Hitting bottom is a good place for hope to sizzle. We are such a clever species that no way to count us out.
On the premise that some good ideas could do wonders:
ESSAY CONTEST with Cash Prizes! Due February 14.
It’s January 1, 2050. How, in 2024, did we pull off saving the world?
Dear Ann
While your heart may be in the right place, your systems analysis is missing some components and extremely one-sided and incomplete.
Israelis are NOT committing genocide because intention to do so is not there. But sadly Gazans are dying. None of those deaths would have occurred if Hamas had surrendered when they were warned that the IDF was coming and if they had returned the hostages. Hamas could have ended the the killings long ago by surrendering. Hamas committed genocide on Oct 7th and on many other occasions which is partly whey they are designated a terrorist group. Genocide is actually a part of its charter and stated there as an intention. This is NOT a war of nationhood because Palestine was never a nation nor is it an ethic group. None of those deaths in Gaza would be happening if Hamas had not broken the 9th ceasefire on Oct 7th and had not committed numerous other war crimes including embedding its military infrastructure under civilian structures not to mention kidnapping innocent civilians.
Several years ago Chomsky authored Manufacturing Consent and the Iranian and Hamas PR group took note. Before Chomsky, Edward L. Bernays authored Engineering Consent and consulted with Goebbels in the Hitler’s Germany where the former mufti of Jerusalem, Amin al Husseini, resided and made broadcasts during WWII.
So Iranian/Hamas spin doctors created a genocide/apartheid/occupation/oppression/freedom narrative that is patently false following the lessons from Lenin who talked about creating Useful Idiots in the West to support the Russian Revolution. The phrase “useful idiots” was originated by an Austrian economist born in Ukraine or Poland by the name of Ludwig Von Mises.
Iran is funding proxies in its jihad in the following places. Africa (Sahel, Nigeria, Sudan, etc.), Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan to name a few. But because Jews are not involved in those places, nobody pays it much attention. But the deaths in those places amount to about 1 million and are clearly genocides.
Your experiences in South Africa are NOT a valid lens through which to consider the Middle East conflict.
Dear Ann
What a beautifully written and lucid piece which I very much enjoyed reading, and which historical and political analysis I wholeheartedly agreed with.
Having traveled extensively all over Israel and the West Bank (though not Gaza) some time ago, I have a strong personal perception of the current genocide - which having been born and circumcised a Jew has particular poignancy for me.
I doubt whether you will remember me but we met very, very moons ago at a residential radical History Workshop at Manchester University. I have most recently owned and run the Centre for Public Policy Seminars, but am now enjoying octogenarian retirement.
If you were interested, I’d be pleased if you would join me for a drink at the Reform Club at some time.
Sydney
What a good wrap-up this is of our situation. But no way is hope extinguished even though the idea is sound about the unthinkable reality we are in. Hitting bottom is a good place for hope to sizzle. We are such a clever species that no way to count us out.
On the premise that some good ideas could do wonders:
ESSAY CONTEST with Cash Prizes! Due February 14.
It’s January 1, 2050. How, in 2024, did we pull off saving the world?
https://suzannetaylor.substack.com/p/an-essay-contest-its-january-1-2050