The problem is Hamas, not necessarily the Palestinians. There’s millions of Palestinians in Israel and the West Bank and East Jerusalem who live largest peaceably(if tense at times) with Israeli Jews. Cities like Haifa are even largely integrated.
There is room for more moderate Palestinians and Jews, but neither runs the show now.
The problem is Hamas, not necessarily the Palestinians. There’s millions of Palestinians in Israel and the West Bank and East Jerusalem who live largest peaceably(if tense at times) with Israeli Jews. Cities like Haifa are even largely integrated.
There is room for more moderate Palestinians and Jews, but neither runs the show now.
Israel’s current course will result in enormous casualties (we have only seen the start) with no viable end game. It’s impossible to root out guerrillas with bombs without taking the civilian population with it. In the process, Israel will lose the world, including the United States and Europe. It’s on its way to becoming a quasi genocidal pariah state--indeed kind of like Hamas itself.
As a lifelong supporter of Israel, I cry as I confess I no longer can support Israel in good conscience.
I completely understand. I cannot give unconditional support to any side. All sides have legitimate grievances, and no sides are pure.
The population of Gaza is variously estimated between 2 and 2.5 million by different sources. It has been growing by about 2% per year, 40-50,000 people. If we take Hamas' figures as accurate, Israel has killed about half a year's population growth, setting the population back to what it was last summer. That is a terrible, terrible tragedy. (Tho it's far down the list of conflict deaths in recent years).
How much is at stake here? I believe that literally millions of lives, on all sides, are at stake.
I very much care about the suffering in Gaza (and the West Bank, and around the world). But I don't want to be stampeded by that into courses of actions which might result in millions of deaths down the line.
I agree about millions of lives. This could spin seriously out of control. And China/Taiwan is now leagues worse than just days ago as a result of independence-minded Lai's election (DPP) last week, and as a result of diverted attention and resources in Ukraine and now the Middle East. China was humiliated by the Taiwan election, and it is nothing if not opportunistic.
I will take a straight up bet on a Chinese economic blockade on part or all of Taiwan in 2024-2025. If Trump is elected, I'll give you odds in 2025. Trump is an isolationist at heart despite his bloviating, and I think Xi knows that.
I always appreciate your intelligent and informed commentary.
The problem is Hamas, not necessarily the Palestinians. There’s millions of Palestinians in Israel and the West Bank and East Jerusalem who live largest peaceably(if tense at times) with Israeli Jews. Cities like Haifa are even largely integrated.
There is room for more moderate Palestinians and Jews, but neither runs the show now.
Israel’s current course will result in enormous casualties (we have only seen the start) with no viable end game. It’s impossible to root out guerrillas with bombs without taking the civilian population with it. In the process, Israel will lose the world, including the United States and Europe. It’s on its way to becoming a quasi genocidal pariah state--indeed kind of like Hamas itself.
As a lifelong supporter of Israel, I cry as I confess I no longer can support Israel in good conscience.
Israel’s
I completely understand. I cannot give unconditional support to any side. All sides have legitimate grievances, and no sides are pure.
The population of Gaza is variously estimated between 2 and 2.5 million by different sources. It has been growing by about 2% per year, 40-50,000 people. If we take Hamas' figures as accurate, Israel has killed about half a year's population growth, setting the population back to what it was last summer. That is a terrible, terrible tragedy. (Tho it's far down the list of conflict deaths in recent years).
How much is at stake here? I believe that literally millions of lives, on all sides, are at stake.
I very much care about the suffering in Gaza (and the West Bank, and around the world). But I don't want to be stampeded by that into courses of actions which might result in millions of deaths down the line.
I agree about millions of lives. This could spin seriously out of control. And China/Taiwan is now leagues worse than just days ago as a result of independence-minded Lai's election (DPP) last week, and as a result of diverted attention and resources in Ukraine and now the Middle East. China was humiliated by the Taiwan election, and it is nothing if not opportunistic.
I will take a straight up bet on a Chinese economic blockade on part or all of Taiwan in 2024-2025. If Trump is elected, I'll give you odds in 2025. Trump is an isolationist at heart despite his bloviating, and I think Xi knows that.
I always appreciate your intelligent and informed commentary.