Yesterday’s New York Times had an article about how the current Gaza war has overwhelming support in Israel. I have no doubt that is true. But, except for serving as a vehicle to get the “Israeli viewpoint” across, this article is not newsworthy.
Despite all the evidence out there that the Israeli army consistently resorts to lies and disinformation to justify its actions (cf. the Shehada story), many US media outlets continue to quote Israeli army spokespeople as if they are Moses conveying God’s own truth. However, for anyone with the slightest bit of objectivity, the Israeli army MO is [...]
Ten months ago, the last time things heated up between Israel and Hamas, I posted this comment. At the time, a full flare-up was avoided and a six month cease fire was set in place. This time around, the political leadership seems to have convinced the Israeli public that confrontation is the best option. Actually, negotiations were [...]
Continue reading about Feature: Israel’s Three Laws of Action or Lessons Still Not Learned
A highly thoughtful analysis of what needs to be done.
Never underestimate the stupidity of politicians. The Israeli public, at least, seems to have learned the lessons of the last Lebanon war, as polls indicate the majority of Israelis favor negotiation over confrontation with Hamas. But Israeli politicians seem hell-bent on going to war. For anyone who has any illusions about the efficacy of that [...]
Captain Renault’s famous statement sums up in one pithy saying all the hundreds of pages of verbiage of the Winograd report: the Israeli political leadership and the IDF command gambled with the lives of Israeli soldiers and citizens — and lost. Somehow both the political elite and the “man in the street” seem to be [...]
Continue reading about Feature: I’m shocked, shocked to find gambling is going on here!
I recently mentioned how the IDF broke into an art exhibition about soldier testimonies regarding service in Hebron. Long time readers of this weblog know that Hebron is of special interest to me. I have written my own testimonies regarding my service in that city of the dead (which you can see here, here and [...]
For me, one of the most frustrating aspects of human nature is how people seem so willing to believe the lies of politicians. Even worse, is the gullibility vis-a-vis the lies of military men. Somehow the site of a uniform seems to cause all normal mental functioning to shut down. But most frustrating of all, [...]
When the UN was founded in 1948, the General Assembly adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It’s opening paragraph is based on the ideas of the enlightenment, embodied in the French Revolution:
“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act [...]
I suppose on weekends I have more time to write. So here is something I’ve been thinking about all week, which I finally had time to “put down on paper.”
Speaking of equivalence, anyone who has a good twenty-first century equivalent to that expression, let me know.