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radius777

(3,814 posts)
71. And Netanyahu long enabled Hamas
Fri Feb 23, 2024, 07:42 PM
Feb 2024

in a cynical strategy of divide and conquer, to prevent the possibility of a two state solution:

https://www.npr.org/2023/11/02/1210076717/everybody-got-it-wrong-how-did-israel-fail-to-detect-hamas-planned-invasion
GROSS: Netanyahu's 2008 campaign slogan was strong against Hamas. And in a campaign video he pledged, we will not stop the Israeli Defense Forces, we will finish the job. We will topple the terror regime of Hamas. But you write that over Netanyahu came to see Hamas as a way to balance power against the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank. And the Palestinian Authority has sought a peace agreement with Israel in return for a Palestinian state. So over time, Netanyahu started to, in his own way, support Hamas - like, help Hamas. Can you explain how he did that - like, what he gave Hamas and why?
MAZZETTI: Sure. This was, in essence, a kind of divide-and-conquer strategy for Netanyahu. But it was a sort of cynical strategy by Netanyahu that was very controversial in the past, and some past ministers of his resigned over it. But it was a sort of way to balance Hamas from - with the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, to sort of allow Netanyahu to say publicly, well, I have no real partners. I've got Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. They're indistinguishable. Hamas wants the eradication of Israel. And so therefore, we can never really have peace with the Palestinians. And so by strengthening Hamas, he sort of put them on the same plane as the Palestinian Authority. And it allowed him, in essence, to sort of slow roll the peace process and sort of make it - kick it down the road so there was never real pressure on him to sit down at the table and talk about a Palestinian state.


His RW gov't in the leadup to 10-7 terror attack had been antagonizing Palestinians culminating in the IDF's raid of the sacred Al-Aqsa mosque during Ramadan, which Hamas named their terror attack after:

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/hamas-releases-report-clarifying-operation-al-aqsa-flood/3115099
Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” and aimed at refuting Israel's claims, said Operation Al-Aqsa Flood was a necessary step and a natural reaction against Israel's plans to eliminate the Palestinian cause, seize lands, Judaize the Palestinian lands, and establish complete control over Al-Aqsa Mosque and holy sites.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Al-Aqsa_clashes
A series of violent confrontations occurred between Palestinians and Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem in April 2023. After the evening Ramadan prayer, Palestinians barricaded themselves inside the mosque, prompted by reports that Jews planned to sacrifice a goat at the site (which is forbidden by Israeli law). In response, Israeli police raided the mosque in riot gear, injuring 50 people[1] and arresting at least 400.[3]
In the aftermath of the clashes, Palestinian militant groups[4] fired rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon – acts broadly construed as a response to the events at Al-Aqsa.
...
On 7 October 2023, Hamas launched a major surprise attack on Israel with rocket barrage and an incursion. The commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Mohammed Deif, claimed the attack was conducted in response to "desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque".


So while Netanyahu may not have LIHOP, it's surely an event he contributed to and used as a pretext for his aims, in the same way that Bush admin used 9-11 to justify their wars.

Recommendations

12 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

It's an ad hominem debate tactic. Sneederbunk Feb 2024 #1
It's just gaslighting... Think. Again. Feb 2024 #2
Same, sadly there is no actual discussion. Just accusations. onecaliberal Feb 2024 #38
I did a lot of blocking. sybylla Feb 2024 #43
Yes. I've never had so many people on ignore before. Crunchy Frog Feb 2024 #113
I put many on ignore during the 2012 election, trying to make staying here feel less awful. sybylla Feb 2024 #114
Yes, I used to read and sometimes post in that forum. Crunchy Frog Feb 2024 #115
Join the line malaise Feb 2024 #3
You posted a conspiracy theory and got called on it. maxsolomon Feb 2024 #4
Let Me Guess, Sir The Magistrate Feb 2024 #7
You guessed correctly. madaboutharry Feb 2024 #11
Demonizing Jews? Lunabell Feb 2024 #14
Being warned about an immanent attack and LIHOP are different things. maxsolomon Feb 2024 #35
Has there been an explanation yet of the hours-long delay of the IDF's response... brush Feb 2024 #45
We won't get that while there's an active war going on Arazi Feb 2024 #73
I was wondering that to. Butterflylady Feb 2024 #85
One poster, and it's probably true, said that won't come out until Netanyahu is out... brush Feb 2024 #96
LIHOP is a conspiracy theory. TwilightZone Feb 2024 #39
Criticism was not warranted. Butterflylady Feb 2024 #86
Disagreement and Criticism Is Not Censorship, Ma'am The Magistrate Feb 2024 #88
And Netanyahu long enabled Hamas radius777 Feb 2024 #71
That's not a CT. He wanted Palestinians divided, so he wasn't aggressive enough against Hamas. LeftInTX Feb 2024 #91
He knew they were practicing "storming " the border questionseverything Feb 2024 #101
Post removed Post removed Feb 2024 #5
Damn. OilemFirchen Feb 2024 #6
what are the words? TIA Celerity Feb 2024 #56
I disagree. Chainfire Feb 2024 #20
DU is also not representative - it's much older and Boomer-centric than radius777 Feb 2024 #63
The Dem base is women, primarily mcar Feb 2024 #92
"the Dem base ... tends to view this war as genocide." No, the actual base knows the correct definition of the word betsuni Feb 2024 #98
Israel's Likud are far-right theofascist oppressors radius777 Feb 2024 #121
Yeah. OldBaldy1701E Feb 2024 #23
I'm with you, Lunabell, as I AM 'semitic,' firmly Jewish, elleng Feb 2024 #8
They were blue and white tins Mossfern Feb 2024 #50
YES they were! elleng Feb 2024 #51
I deeply support Israel jimfields33 Feb 2024 #130
I hear you. nt Wounded Bear Feb 2024 #9
If you only ever selectively criticize Israel and Jews Arazi Feb 2024 #10
Well then. Lunabell Feb 2024 #15
I think they would justifiably moniss Feb 2024 #16
Can you name another conflict on DU with even a fraction of the same criticism and condemnation? Arazi Feb 2024 #19
Can you angrychair Feb 2024 #25
Yes, the Saudis and their war on Yemenis Arazi Feb 2024 #33
""How about the Kurds?"" You should know very well that THAT was a Trump admin decision. It didn't go over well most TeamProg Feb 2024 #49
Still, was an American decision Arazi Feb 2024 #54
I seem to recall lots of discussion of it at the time. Crunchy Frog Feb 2024 #117
Not getting angrychair Feb 2024 #64
I think that 10% figure might be wrong... justaprogressive Feb 2024 #111
I guess you weren't around during the US invasion of Iraq. The prevailing opinion was highly critical of bombing Martin68 Feb 2024 #26
I was here Arazi Feb 2024 #34
Your blithe "move along" is very revealing. You are clearly not someone who is ready to engage in civil discourse Martin68 Feb 2024 #44
Nope Arazi Feb 2024 #52
I can come up with SIX various examples. 1. Russia -we had conversations about genocide of the Chechens. TeamProg Feb 2024 #60
I don't suppose you've heard of or read anything by Timothy Snyder, have you? Crunchy Frog Feb 2024 #66
Yes I know Tim Snyder Arazi Feb 2024 #69
Arazi, your vague "the rest who are suddenly dwelling solely on the I/P war" is a strawman and nothing more. Martin68 Feb 2024 #102
I don't know what vicious moniss Feb 2024 #41
Yes well it goes both ways Arazi Feb 2024 #46
What constitutes "justifiable?" When is it over-retaliation? brush Feb 2024 #57
Sigh... I'll go into this one more time Arazi Feb 2024 #67
And that's your explanation? You're good with that? You don't think it's over-retaliation? brush Feb 2024 #68
Yes. Yes. No. And yes, it's a war zone Arazi Feb 2024 #70
I didn't expect more. Why not get rid of warmonger Netanyahu? brush Feb 2024 #75
1000% agreed. Arazi Feb 2024 #78
Glad we're on the same page on most of this...especially Netanyahu and Hamas. brush Feb 2024 #138
It is why I pointed out that it can moniss Feb 2024 #58
Hold on, no SINGLE poster here is attacking anyone's chosen religion, alright? I have seen NOTHING to suspect anyone TeamProg Feb 2024 #47
Russia and Putin get hammered here as they should, radius777 Feb 2024 #128
Soooooo angrychair Feb 2024 #22
Well, that's a strawman if I ever saw one Arazi Feb 2024 #31
Oh, ok angrychair Feb 2024 #37
Well, hundreds of posts vs zero might be a problem but MadameButterfly Feb 2024 #40
I've been accused of being an antisemite on here for being critical of Israel. Crunchy Frog Feb 2024 #32
You've accused Russia of genocide in Ukraine? Arazi Feb 2024 #36
Ukraine a typical war-zone? Reallyyy? MadameButterfly Feb 2024 #42
Yes, the Ukraine war is actually fairly typical Arazi Feb 2024 #48
I can think of no war that comes close to this destruction of Gaza and numbers of dead women and children along with TeamProg Feb 2024 #65
"Typical war zone". yagotme Feb 2024 #118
But he is being charged with war crimes for attacking civilians MadameButterfly Feb 2024 #131
Russia's aims in Ukraine are explicitly genocidal. Crunchy Frog Feb 2024 #53
If my comments don't apply to you, then fine Arazi Feb 2024 #59
Editing comment -- nevermind. Sky Jewels Feb 2024 #80
Where have I ever said that? (hint: I haven't) Arazi Feb 2024 #82
Okay, I'm sorry. I think I got you mixed up with another DUer who has a similar "A" name. Sky Jewels Feb 2024 #83
yeah, I only selectively criticize jews. Lunabell Feb 2024 #62
You must have mystic powers to know who has criticized who over their lives. Chainfire Feb 2024 #109
I see your point, but... cab67 Feb 2024 #133
I'm reminded of an old saying. William769 Feb 2024 #12
My 2nd wife moniss Feb 2024 #17
I, too, am reminded of an old saying. Martin68 Feb 2024 #28
Argue on. twodogsbarking Feb 2024 #13
I usually don't wade in on these threads senseandsensibility Feb 2024 #18
Israel has a right to defend itself! Bucky Feb 2024 #21
Really. ismnotwasm Feb 2024 #24
Some of us are victims of both. n/t Marcus IM Feb 2024 #29
Huh, what? Where is that here? To be clear, that is what we're talking about. Being accused of antisemitism here on D U TeamProg Feb 2024 #72
Could you point us to anti-Semitic comments you've seen on DU? Sky Jewels Feb 2024 #79
Any who say they have not seen antisemitism sarisataka Feb 2024 #84
Same here. Marcus IM Feb 2024 #27
That's odd. OilemFirchen Feb 2024 #30
Same with me .... Mossfern Feb 2024 #76
I'll crawl out on a limb and jump around on it and say I've never had a good word for Netanyahu or Likud TheKentuckian Feb 2024 #90
It's the new McCarthyism. But the youth/PoC/smart folks won't be silenced. radius777 Feb 2024 #55
As far are the Youth/POC are concerned, this will be their world going forward SouthernDem4ever Feb 2024 #125
You seem to be in good company. SarahD Feb 2024 #61
There's nothing wrong with opposing Israel's social system. David__77 Feb 2024 #74
Yep. It's ridiculous. Sky Jewels Feb 2024 #77
Both sides have bad leaders mvd Feb 2024 #95
When you criticize Israel and their government, do you make a distinction between the two? Beastly Boy Feb 2024 #81
I am asking this seriously-- viva la Feb 2024 #87
Not exactly what I addressed in my post, but your question illustrates how to not voice your concern or Beastly Boy Feb 2024 #105
Well Said, Sir The Magistrate Feb 2024 #107
I can see why moniss Feb 2024 #112
Another possible angle to look at, is: yagotme Feb 2024 #120
rec BootinUp Feb 2024 #129
What does IDF stand for? viva la Feb 2024 #135
Israeli Defense Forces The Magistrate Feb 2024 #136
I understand moniss Feb 2024 #116
Thank you. I was a bit taken aback. viva la Feb 2024 #137
Thank you for this reasoned post, Beastly Boy. madaboutharry Feb 2024 #93
I stand with Lunabell. Butterflylady Feb 2024 #89
"Thou shall not kill" is a mistranslation of the hebrew. Mosby Feb 2024 #97
Do you support Biden? Are you gonna vote for the Green Party? LeftInTX Feb 2024 #94
Criticism of Israel's actions in the war on Gaza is Dorian Gray Feb 2024 #99
That's A Good Summary, Sir The Magistrate Feb 2024 #100
Often missing from discussions are how Palestinian refugees are treated by Lebanon LeftInTX Feb 2024 #103
Remember, people, Netanyahu is a friend of Jared Kushner's father. Just saying. Also, he's not Israel. Joinfortmill Feb 2024 #104
I always think its unfair when people say someone is a racist or bigot simply based on what they say. nt LexVegas Feb 2024 #106
Why do you think that is unfair? TheKentuckian Feb 2024 #119
I have no problem with anyone criticizing the Israeli government. Elessar Zappa Feb 2024 #108
On all of this, we can agree. Lunabell Feb 2024 #110
I 100% agree Cthulu on call Feb 2024 #122
Not everyone who criticizes the Israeli govt is called anti-Semitic Kaleva Feb 2024 #123
I have no use for Bibi and no use for Hamas lonely bird Feb 2024 #124
They are both evil incarnate. Lunabell Feb 2024 #126
Israel is not targeting civilians. lapucelle Feb 2024 #134
Wish I read it a month earlier question everything Feb 2024 #127
I said the same thing not that long ago. cab67 Feb 2024 #132
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