Dear Yuyutsu

When I wrote of “Israel” I was referring to the actions and aims of its government. I acknowledge that many Israelis disapprove of their government and its conduct, as do many of Israel’s friends abroad. And yes, there are extremists within Israel who would like to see ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from territory they hold and would like to hold – a Zionist version of “from the river to the sea”. But they are, fortunately, a minority.

I dislike Netanyahu and his government intensely. But I’m not sure that any other government would have done much differently in the aftermath of the October attacks. Hamas had built up weapons and military capabilities and an astonishing network of tunnels in which to hide them. Israel had a right and responsibility to try to ensure they were not used against its citizens again. Hamas has refused to lay down its arms, and more importantly to release its hostages – if it did, the conflict would end today. I hope that peace talks lead to an outcome where the hostages are released, Hamas loses control of Gaza, and Israel ends it occupation. But until then, I think Israel’s government will continue its military campaign in Gaza.

Dear Rhian,

»But I’m not sure that any other government would have done much differently in the aftermath of the October attacks.»

To begin with, no other Israeli PM would have plotted that attack and no other Israeli government would allow the IDF to be so extremely off-guard and silenced Israel's intelligence sources which warned about the impending attack.

Now we can only go by what the opposition parties said:

Some complained that Netanyahu was too soft and hesitant, that at the critical point when Israel was on the verge of winning, he withdrew 4 out of the 5 divisions Israel had in Gaza; and if it was them instead then they would continue with the full force and end the war shortly after with a great victory.

Others said that they would have stopped the war over a year ago if all hostages were released.

For Netanyahu, having a war was and still is the end by itself - not winning it, not losing it, just having it, for as long as possible, and I think that he was covertly the one to start it by hiring Yahya Sinwar, inviting him to do the dirty job.

«Hamas has refused to lay down its arms, and more importantly to release its hostages»

Hamas agreed since over a year ago to release all the hostages in exchange for a permanent cease-fire, and recently even in exchange for a 7-year cease-fire.

That nightmare could have been over long ago, had Netanyahu agreed, and not only the hostages, but also hundreds of Israeli soldiers could have then remained alive and thousands not wounded.

But for Netanyahu, an end to the war would mean an acceleration of his trial, a royal commission about October 7th, fresh elections and ultimately, jail-time. What to say about the Gazan victims of the war, he also does not care about the Israeli victims.

Free Palestine

"For over a year, I refused to ascribe Israel's war against Hamas and the reign of horror it is inflicting on the Palestinians in Gaza as genocide, but now I feel shaken to the core."

That's because you're weak, pathetic, gutless and you found it too easy to look the other way and pretend it wasn't happening, until you no longer could.
You were living in a fantasyland.
The question is what are you going to do about it now?
It's a bit late now coward.

"As I kept listening and watching the unfolding horror day in and day out, I could not stop weeping for what has evolved in front of my eyes–indeed, in front of the eyes of the whole world. But then, hardly anything has happened to end this ongoing travesty. The war continues, the slaughter continues, starvation continues, destruction continues, revenge and retribution continue, making inhumanity and brutality the order of the day."

It's good you finally woke up to yourself, but none of it's ABOUT YOU.
And it doesn't change all the innocent dead, they're not coming back.
For 12 months you may as well have been complicit in it.

You'd think the penny might've dropped when they were assassinating 200+ journalists along with their families, but EVEN THAT wasn't enough for you to wake the hell up fast enough, you're a terrorist apologist.

You blame the government, but the whole entire country is full of hate.
Israel's a vile and disgusting nation, founded on terrorism and has no real claim to even exist.

But that's ok, because if Israel keeps it up there will only be a one state solution as you become more and more hated by the entire world.
Palestine.

Israeli's couldn't defend their country for 10 minutes if they didn't have others do your bidding for you.
Your deranged murderous leader wants to risk WWIII and blowing up the global economy with an attack on Iran, but no different than the idiots in UK, Europe, and US neoconservatives and rogue intelligence agencies wish to provoke WIII bombing Russias strategic nuclear forces.

Hi Yuyutsu,

"The 7th of October could not have happened under normal circumstances while the IDF was standing on guard. An abnormal number of simultaneous "mishaps" was required to allow Hamas troops into Israel and delay Israel's response, including even the airforce being misled, the intelligence and observers ignored and 99% of the army diverted and alert on the Lebanese border, leaving the Gazan front deserted - and I don't think it was just a coincidence."

Exactly, not even a cockroach would get through that border wall under normal circumstances.
The whole thing was known about in advance, and Netanyahu allowed it to happen, to push his endless wars to remake the M/E going on 30 years via the Clean Break policy.

The fact the Israelis have gone nuts issuing directives about student protests in other countries shows their reach and ability to impose upon others, but it also shows Hamas won, not Israel.

The only thing that makes up for the atrocities Israel has inflicted upon others is watching the nation tear itself apart while many Israelis now have serious mental health problems.

Hate turns inwards.
Reap what you have sown.
And you deserve all of it.