If Netanyahu was smart, he would immediately launch a peace process with Hamas, saying that the rockets came from those trying to keep a state of war between Israel and Gaza. Putting in place guarantees of peace along with loosening the vice grip of sanctions, violence, and isolation that Israel imposes on the people of Gaza would get him a Nobel prize as well as swift reelection.

But of course, he's not going to do that.

Posted by: worldblee | Mar 25 2019 18:28 utc | 1

wouldn't be the first time that a bunch of takfiri instigators set off an israeli overreaction aimed at hamas. i've wondered how the saudi/israeli lovefest would play out in non-syrian areas (besides the occasional fatwah) and would be 0% surprised if their "our jihadis are the good ones" tactics continue to flourish in gaza (or the west bank for that matter).

"divide and conquer" aside, it would display a monumental level of tone deafness for the israelis to start a new slaughter in the gaza concentration camp right as their "everything is antisemitism" campaign is at a fever pitch. it's difficult to play the "victim" when you're reducing children to bags of meat and keeping the white phosphorus industry in business. then again, they've done it before.

Posted by: the pair | Mar 25 2019 18:56 utc | 2

Posted by: the pair | Mar 25, 2019 2:56:31 PM | 2

Must be someone with the ability of hitting Tel Aviv.

It is ominous. I guess all Hezbollah is doing here is psychological warfare. But maybe not.

Posted by: somebody | Mar 25 2019 19:09 utc | 3

Anniversary of Great March to Return Protest

PREPARATIONS are underway for a “massive demonstration” to mark the first anniversary of the Great March of Return on March 30, Hamas announced today.

The organisation’s leader Ismail Haniyeh warned that the Israeli occupation has no choice but to accept the demands of the Palestinian people, “top of which is ending the siege.”

The demonstration coincides with Land Day, which commemorates the date in 1976 when Israel announced the seizure of thousands of dunams (a Middle Eastern measurement unit equivalent to around 1,000 square metres) of Palestinian land for “state purposes” and is recognised as a pivotal event in the struggle over land and in the relationship of Arab citizens to the Israeli state.

Posted by: somebody | Mar 25 2019 19:15 utc | 4

Staged and collateral damage, What could go wrong with that? Hurry home, before the bogeyman gets you.

Posted by: Eugene | Mar 25 2019 19:16 utc | 5

Whatever the response, you can bet that here in the land of AIPAC, the govt. of Israel will
portrayed in a favorable light.

Posted by: ben | Mar 25 2019 20:04 utc | 6

Here is an article that looks at the repercussions of a decade of punishment by Israel against Gaza:

https://viableopposition.blogspot.com/2018/12/punishing-gaza-economic-repercussions.html

With Washington fully backing Israel on just about every key Middle East geopolitical issue and punishing the Palestinian Authority by cutting aid in August 2018 as shown in this statement from the State Department the future of Gaza looks grim at the very best.

Posted by: Sally Snyder | Mar 25 2019 20:07 utc | 7

Win-win situation for everybody except Israel and Hamas?

Blame it on antisemitic meteorites and go to bed :P

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Mar 25 2019 20:16 utc | 8

neither israel or the usa is interested in peace or negotiating.. that much is very obvious.. we need more then regime change in tel aviv..

Posted by: james | Mar 25 2019 20:19 utc | 9

A previously recent missile attack was denied by Hamas and claimed by what was a new unknown group whose name I can't recall. Interesting that in the very limiting confines of Gaza there could arise a group armed with missiles unknown to Hamas. That led me to think in terms of Zionist provocation to help criminal Bibi. Nutty clearly reached a dead-end policy-wise long ago and has done nothing to solve Palestine's fundamental problem of the presence of so many Zionists. Trump hasn't helped Zionistan with his illegal declaration of Golan belonging to it as it only ensures Syria will eventually regain it in what will be a ruinous war.

Nobody has mentioned the presence of an enlightened Zionist leader (is there such a thing?) amongst the candidates. But if there is one, s/he needs to be elected as at some future point Israel will be replaced by Palestine.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 25 2019 20:24 utc | 10

But whoever wins the election will have an interest in a fundamental change of the situation. A new leader in Tel Aviv might have ideas on how to do that.

OMG! After years of this shet and different leaders from the center to the extreme right over decades, do you really think IZ is capable of making a just deal that doesn't rob the Palestinians blind and restrict them in every way???

And it was one damn house and no one killed. Israel has destroyed tens of thousands of Palestinian homes, and you think this gang of Zionist racist criminals poised to lead are capable of pulling fundamental change out of their ass? Zionists have proven with their oppression operation that they are not civilized people; they're not even human inflicting so much pain on a captive people for so long!

There isn't even enough contiguous Palestinian land left to constitute a state. The Palestinians have been robbed blind already! There is only one solution here: BOYCOTT, DIVEST, SANCTION THE HELL OUT OF THOSE ZIO BASTARDS AND IMPOSE A ONE STATE WITH RIGHTS FOR ALL!

That's it; that's all. There is no other option. To even speak of another solution but one state is to undermine the years of suffering, theft and indignity Palestinians have endured for so long. Everyone has a duty now to not tolerate this inhumanity any longer and to join BDS and end the Zionist war crimes and Apartheid once and for all.

Posted by: Circe | Mar 25 2019 20:32 utc | 11

false flag just as puppet dictator and pharaoh signs Golan Heights into jewish slavery

Posted by: brian | Mar 25 2019 21:45 utc | 12

Is there a possibility that whoever fired the rocket could have been paid by Netanyahu's political opponents or people connected to them with the intent to put pressure on Netanyahu to react in some way? He is currently Minister of Defense as well as Prime Minister.

It seems curious that just one rocket was fired and one home in Kfar Saba, not far from Tel Aviv and actually closer to the West Bank than to Gaza, was destroyed - and seven people were wounded, and none of them seriously. Can a home-made rocket built from scrap located about 100 km (supposedly) from the target have that level of precision?

Good thing that the victims lived so close to Israel's seventh largest hospital complex that they could be taken there for prompt treatment. Could the supposed Hamas terrorist have known in advance that s/he was firing a rocket into a socially well-off neighbourhood with above-average medical facilities?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kfar_Saba

I bet even Britain couldn't top that by having its most senior army nurse and her family casually traipse through a shopping mall just at the very moment a Russian turncoat spy and his daughter collapse on a park bench suffering a poisoning attack ... oh, wait ...

Does the whole incident not smell like a false flag attack on Netanyahu, at this point in time during the Israeli election campaigning period?

Posted by: Jen | Mar 25 2019 21:46 utc | 13

During his time as prime minister Netanyahoo pushed for ever further isolation of the people in Gaza. It is a dead end policy.

I disagree. IMO this has been a success. Each time the screws were tightened the world was given a while to adapt, then the new policy became “the norm”. Repeat to establish an even newer “normal”. Continue..

In the long term the isolation of Gaza is not sustainable. Nor is a permanent conflict in Israel's interest.

Both true. The solution to each of the above was “Palestinian Removal”. If they get hungry enough, they’ll volunteer to leave. At some point a fake crisis – a “holy land” 9/11 – would be engineered, and the Final ‘death-march’ Solution would be applied to get rid of the stubborn folks still remaining.

The people in Gaza have little to lose.

In my opinion if you alter that to saying they have ”nothing” to lose, it would capture the situation a little better. It hasn’t been just the three wars, but the all the thefts before them. The routine degradation and abuse by God’s Favorite People. The endless hunger – the Zionists have kept Gaza on the edge of starvation for many years.

We have the example of the USSR in WW2 at Stalingrad. If you’re a Russian soldier, you stay, you fight, and you die. The Nazis plan your extermination, and Stalingrad was as good a place to die as any. The example of the Jewish Revolt in the Warsaw Ghetto. The Nazis were finishing their extermination of the Jews, and why not fight back? So what if you die there – they’re going to murder you anyway.

In Gaza the people have watched Trump give Jerusalem to the new nazis. They’ve just seen him give the Golan to Hitler’s Heirs. They read the same news reports as the rest of us, and know of Kushner’s plan to deport all the Palestinians (and probably Israeli Arab “citizens”) to their new homes in somebody’s desert. What do they have to lose at this point?

At this point I feel a speck of sympathy for the apartheid Jewish state. The elites did NOT want the Golan presented on a platter by mr. motormouth because they had it anyway. Ditto for Jerusalem – that was just another thing for them to whine about because they had it anyway. Giving away things you don’t own is darned easy, but can Holy Israel rely on Trump to be at their back if they decide to use poison gas in Gaza? I doubt it! Would you?

“Poison gas”, you ask? The place has already been bombed to rubble, and making a ground attack is likely to be expensive. The Germans could have been successful at Stalingrad using gas, but they didn’t dare. Will the Zionists gamble Torture-Loving Trump will be OK with that?

I’d assume Gaza has had training from some Hezbollah experts. They’ve probably had experience fighting in Syria. They’ve probably scavenged some modern anti-tank weapons originating in FUKUS, Russia, Iran, and even Holy Israel. Urban warfare is really ugly stuff for everybody, but especially for the attackers. Especially when the defenders have nothing to lose.

The apartheid state’s missile defenses are mostly crap, and everybody knows that except maybe Moshe Six-Pack. Does Mike “wide-body” Pompeo care about that? Of course not – he just wants to light the fuse leading to the Second Coming. That’s the time when Jesus will do the monster-mash on the filthy Jews. With friends like Trump, Pence, and Pompo – who needs enemies.

Yes, I have a certain amount of sympathy for the apartheid Jewish state right about now. Things were going so well for them until Hillary lost in 2016. The Butcher of Libya wouldn’t have done any of that foolishness with Jerusalem or the Golan. And that’s a gal who would tolerate any level of “Muslim Murder”!

Posted by: Zachary Smith | Mar 25 2019 22:00 utc | 14

Whatever the response, you can be sure that "our" representatives, from both parties, will unanimously defend Israel's "right to exist" (aka to slaughter innocent Palestinians and to steal and illegally annex land from others). Disgusting doesn't even come close to expressing my contempt for our "representatives".

Posted by: Nathan Mulcahy | Mar 25 2019 22:13 utc | 15

BDS is fine, but just remember the US nearly legislated for a policy whereby anyone advocating BDS could be fined $20,000 Dollars and/or 20 years in jail. The Palestinians alone cannot change Israels murderous policies, in 2014 they [Hamas]launched 7000 rockets, they hardly hit anything, mostly blowing up the desert, worse still they admitted they never expected to hit anything. They received an Israeli response with the loss of [according to Professor Finkelstein] all those lives, 20,000 homes and $8 Billion Dollars damage. The Arc of resistance is the only force which can change the equation, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Hezbollah with their hundreds of thousands of rockets [many precision] most aimed at Metropolitan Tel Aviv where most of the Industrial capacity and population reside. Iron dome will not save them since studies by experts have concluded the Iron Dome could only intercept 5% of those rockets, they would be overwhelmed in any case. In theory No Tel Aviv, no Israel, Hezbollah are confident and waiting patiently.

Posted by: Harry Law | Mar 25 2019 22:16 utc | 16

IDF confirms targeting Hamas leader Haniyeh’s Gaza office in retaliatory strike
https://www.rt.com/news/454727-idf-strikes-hamas-leader-office/

Obviously the jews provoke before the election. So nasty.

Posted by: Zanon | Mar 25 2019 22:17 utc | 17

There is another possible reason for the Israeli attacks. The Gazans are planning a 1 million strong protest march next week near the boundary of their prison camp. The IDF could not make much impact on such numbers by shooting alone. I wouldn't be surprised if Booby wanted to pre-empt it to deter Gazans from protesting, and him being shown as impotent.

https://mondoweiss.net/2019/03/rehearses-million-israel/

Posted by: Yonatan | Mar 25 2019 22:54 utc | 18

Know one knows who is going to win a knife fight. Hamas has nothing to lose, Israeli everything. Netanyahoo has backed the nation into a corner with no good outcome.

Posted by: steve | Mar 25 2019 22:56 utc | 19

One must consider the likelihood of a false flag attack staged by ISrael and blamed on Hamas. There were no deaths and few injuries and one confined target.

This enables Yahoo Sirius to "retaliate" and strut his stuff, ya'll.

Posted by: fast freddy | Mar 25 2019 23:18 utc | 20

There are no words....but if Hamas really did fire that rocket they did Bibi a huge favor. Who gains? Its not rocket science.

Truth and logic circing the drain, and the tanks almost empty , so might be time to move on.

Posted by: Pft | Mar 25 2019 23:52 utc | 21

Both true. The solution to each of the above was “Palestinian Removal”. If they get hungry enough, they’ll volunteer to leave. At some point a fake crisis – a “holy land” 9/11 – would be engineered, and the Final ‘death-march’ Solution would be applied to get rid of the stubborn folks still remaining.

Well I remember some israeli official (I honestly can't tell who, I'm not familiar with these guys and their politics) saying on camera something like "well there already IS a palestine, it's called 'Jordan'". Looking at israel's politics over the mid-term, say 50 years, everything points out that this is the obvious long-term, say 100-200 years goal. If there's anyone familiar and successful about long-term goals, it's probably the israelis, so...

Posted by: radiator | Mar 26 2019 0:04 utc | 22

Itamar Ben-Gvir of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party stated “it is high time to charge Gaza a heavy price.” He said that for every rocket fired from the territory, “ 30 terrorists should be killed, Gaza should be leveled and we should return to Gush Katif,” This statement together with 200 unarmed protesters shot dead by Israeli snipers and many thousands including women, children and medics injured, means that Israel are behaving just as the Nazis did, all encouraged by the US and European vassals who do not have the political will to challenge these Israeli psychopaths.

Posted by: Harry Law | Mar 26 2019 0:37 utc | 23

The 120 km trajectory is a good sign of a false flag operation. To hit Tel Aviv from Gaza Hamas manufactures M-75 rockets with a 75 km range. The rocket was said to have been fired from southern Gaza to a target well north of Tel Aviv, an unlikely choice of trajectory for Hamas to make.

Posted by: larens | Mar 26 2019 0:38 utc | 24

There are no moderate Israeli leaders. They all compete to show who is a more radical right winger. And That is what the Israeli population has become as well, where Eretz Israel project is concerned. So the next leader will potentially be an even bigger menace to world peace than Netanyahu.

There is only one solution.

Posted by: Alpi57 | Mar 26 2019 1:15 utc | 25

...
"The Israeli military deployed an infantry and an army brigade towards the Gaza strip and called up thousands of reservists."

Whenever I hear the expression 'Israeli Military' it reminds me of a snippet from At Last The 1948 Show in which the lovely Aimi McDonald flutters onto the stage to introduce the next act...
"And now Freddy Black will sing What is this thing called, Love?"
and exits stage-left amid peals of laughter, only to return moments later to offer a giggling correction...
"I'm sorry that should be What is this thing, called Love?"

One might well ask what is this thing called the Israeli Military?
Is it not merely a bunch of armed-to-the-teeth Jews dressing up in military style costumes to indiscriminately murder Palestinians and thereby label the victims "Casualties of War"?
Is there a formal definition of war?
Are there any rules governing the conduct of war?
If so, do those rules allow for the kind of cowardly and dishonest recklessness perpetrated on Palestinians in the name of War?
-------
Putting 70+ years of wholesale theft & murder to one side, is Collective Punishment of Palestinians for being angry about the restrictions placed on their well-documented Human Rights and Freedoms, by Jews, legal? If so, how so and why so?
And if it is not legal why is nothing being done by that Beacon of Salvation & Enlightenment, the so-called International Community, to put a stop to it?

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Mar 26 2019 2:08 utc | 26

@25 alpi57... that is my understanding too, but i don't know what your solution is.. the demographics of israel move increasingly to a very right wing fundamentalist judaic ideology..

Posted by: james | Mar 26 2019 2:57 utc | 27

@27 Hoarsewhisperer

I don't mean to distract from the Palestinian situation in any way, but thank you for the 1948 Show. I had forgotten. I am now lost in YouTube. It could be days...

Posted by: Grieved | Mar 26 2019 3:07 utc | 28

AFP news agency, March 25:

Netanyahu likening Trump to President Harry S Truman, who recognized Israel, and even to Cyrus the Great, the Persian king who freed the Jews of Babylon, as he watched the US president sign the Golan proclamation

----------------

One more step to Greater Israel.

Slogan Make America Great Again is coined for suckers. In fact, this slogan should sound like this:

Make Israel Great Again.

In order to make Israel great again America should become great herself again...

Posted by: John Smith | Mar 26 2019 3:28 utc | 29

Very likely this was NOT a false flag. The incident made clear what actual experts have already said: the ineffectiveness of the famous Paper Dome (a.k.a. Iron Dome). If anybody from the Israeli political class was doing it for electoral purposes, he just scored an own goal. This would hurt any of them (perhaps Nutty Yahoo the most).

Posted by: nyolci | Mar 26 2019 3:36 utc | 30

A War On Gaza For Regime Change In Tel Aviv?
-------------------

No. This is the next information noise to the next crime of the Jews.

Maram Susli(PartisanGirl):

It's not just about oil & #GenieEnergy.

#Israel wants #Syria's #GolanHeights for religious reasons. They believe Syrian land was granted to them by god. This is a mentality they share with #ISIS.

The Truth about Syria's Golan Heights and #GenieEnergy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8clMNOmX_kk

Posted by: John Smith | Mar 26 2019 3:42 utc | 31

Circe @ 11 said in part;

"There isn't even enough contiguous Palestinian land left to constitute a state. The Palestinians have been robbed blind already! There is only one solution here: BOYCOTT, DIVEST, SANCTION THE HELL OUT OF THOSE ZIO BASTARDS AND IMPOSE A ONE STATE WITH RIGHTS FOR ALL!"

"That's it; that's all. There is no other option. To even speak of another solution but one state is to undermine the years of suffering, theft and indignity Palestinians have endured for so long. Everyone has a duty now to not tolerate this inhumanity any longer and to join BDS and end the Zionist war crimes and Apartheid once and for all."

Yep, bottom line truth...

Posted by: ben | Mar 26 2019 4:05 utc | 32

Ronald Reagan, 1980:

Israel is the only stable democracy we can rely on as a spot where Armageddon could come.

Posted by: John Smith | Mar 26 2019 4:15 utc | 33

Whats left of Palestine? Have a look..

http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/mapstellstory.html

Posted by: ben | Mar 26 2019 4:16 utc | 34

Bibi's false flag "Hamas rocket attack": Kevin Barrett vs. Maxine Dovere

Was this the most obvious false flag PR stunt in history?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS4OwptFVx8

Posted by: John Smith | Mar 26 2019 4:25 utc | 35

Department of State:
‏
“Israel should be admired, not attacked. Embraced, not vilified. Emulated, not ostracized.” -- @SecPompeo #AIPAC2019

Posted by: John Smith | Mar 26 2019 4:39 utc | 36

Posted by: Grieved | Mar 25, 2019 11:07:25 PM | 29
(The 1948 Show)

I had to check the unfamiliar spelling of Aimi (the Lovely) and was surprised by the quantity of extracts available on the www. I might join you. It was well before the VCR era. SBS is re-running Monty Python at the rate of 2 episodes per Friday - also originally prior to VCRs.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Mar 26 2019 5:15 utc | 37

...
Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose.
Nothin', don't mean nothin' hon' if it ain't free, no no.
And, feelin' good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues
You know, feelin' good was good enough for me.
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee.
...
Janis Joplin.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Mar 26 2019 5:26 utc | 38

...
Kris Kristofferson

Posted by: jonku | Mar 26 2019 5:47 utc | 39

Oops!
Jonku is correct. Kris K composed Me And Bobby McGee. Janis Joplin only did what Shirley Bassey did with George Harrison's Something; breathed new life into it. George complimented Shirley on a job well done.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Mar 26 2019 6:28 utc | 40

April-May-June sure looking like some very interesting months geopolitically.

Israel/Gaza
Ukraine
Brexit/UK - bye-bye May?
EU Elections - bye-bye Merkel?
Indonesia Elections
India Elections
South Africa Elections
Australia Elections
That's 25% of the G20 right there potentially changing leaders.

Topped off by a G20 Summit in Japan in June!

Some more interesting than others obviously.

Posted by: Julian | Mar 26 2019 7:42 utc | 41

ben@33.. Professor Norman Finkelstein speaking at a University in Dublin several years ago had this to say on why many people in the Solidarity Movement had gone to a one state solution… ”If you can’t get half a loaf why not ask for the whole loaf? If it seems two states is not within reach, which many people feel is not within reach, why not ask for one state, I can understand that reasoning, the logic of it, but you have to convince me of two things, number one, that two states is not within reach, and you have to convince me that one state is more within reach than two states. I think neither of those propositions is true, I think the second proposition is positively insane, if Israel will not abandon the West Bank [that claim] Israel won’t withdraw, so if that is true do you think it is going to be easy to get Israel to give up a Jewish state? Does that make any sense? If two states is remote, one state is another time warp”. I think the Professor is right, one state means a Palestinian majority in 5/10 years time, i.e. no Israel, Israel will face the 'arc of resistance' soon, and with its growing technological and military strength will eventually overcome Israel, that is why Iran, Syria and Hezbollah are in US cross hairs now, only last week Pompeo was lecturing the Lebanese on the dangers of Hezbollah and how new borders should be drawn to accommodate Israels claims to Lebanese gas fields in the Med. The Lebanese told him where to get off.

Posted by: Harry Law | Mar 26 2019 9:26 utc | 42

Posted by: nyolci | Mar 25, 2019 11:36:52 PM | 31

I tend to believe false flag. Hamas would not start with rockets to Tel Aviv. They are negotiating.

The rocket made it politically possible for Netanyahu to threaten a huge attack on Gaza.

From Haaretz

Palestinian sources in Gaza say that Israel's condition for a cease-fire is an end to all activities around the border fence, including the launching of incendiary balloons and the planned Friday protest, which marks the one year anniversary of the "March of Return."

This type of protest was really hurting Israel internationally.

Posted by: somebody | Mar 26 2019 10:51 utc | 43

Whatever started it they have the perfect escalation strategy. Hamas says quiet will be met with quiet and Israel says fire will be met with fire.

Posted by: somebody | Mar 26 2019 10:55 utc | 44

Hoarse Whisperer @ 42:

George Harrison's "Something" was also part of Frank Sinatra's repertoire and Elvis Presley's repertoire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAlm0qabJ30

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcIxxP_pOSc

Probably one of the most intriguing things "Something" is the number of artists older than The Beatles' generation who covered that song which must have amused George Harrison. Even Liberace did a cover.

https://secondhandsongs.com/work/2658/versions

Posted by: Jen | Mar 26 2019 11:07 utc | 45

b: "But whoever wins the election will have an interest in a fundamental change of the situation."

Agreed, but that is just as true today and yesterday, and no previous Israeli leader has shown any inclination to act in a way that is "fundamentally" different.

b: "A new leader in Tel Aviv might have ideas on how to do that."

Doubtful, unless the definition of "idea" is to drop bigger bombs on the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip.

Posted by: Yeah, Right | Mar 26 2019 11:43 utc | 46

US continues its trip into the Zionist Honey Trap, from which there is no return. No one trusts the word of the US not even the Zionist. My ole professor of personal communications was right: No one trusts a liar. Leaving the US but one option: Ally with other liars.

Posted by: Ger | Mar 26 2019 11:50 utc | 47

Hoarse @ 42

And then there's Bassey's classic ode to the Donald

Not to mention this neat summary of Trump's worldview.

Posted by: donkeytale | Mar 26 2019 11:59 utc | 48

Posted by: Jen | Mar 26, 2019 7:07:40 AM | 45
(Something)

I was aware it has been recorded by a lot of big name artists and 'rings a bell' for many hopeless Romantics. But it's hardly surprising; it follows a winning formula for broad appeal...
- a worthy attempt at verbalising the 'mysteries' of Love.
- more sensual than sexual.
- starts soft & slow.
- builds to a gripping climax.
- comes back to earth gently.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Mar 26 2019 12:11 utc | 49

Harry Law@23
"Israel are behaving just as the Nazis did, all encouraged by the US and European vassals who do not have the political will to challenge these Israeli psychopaths."

The politician you voted for has sold out to the Israel first movement: it is not countries "Us and European vassals", it is the very person you voted for who has caved in. Countries are a cop out, the people like Terresa May, Angela Merkel and the little politicians, these are the people who are enabling the Israeli massacres, these are the guilty taking the Israeli money and influence to further their careers. The people of Europe do not support this massacre, it is their unrepresentative, fully corrupt politicians.

Posted by: aspnaz | Mar 26 2019 12:52 utc | 50

"But whoever wins the election will have an interest in a fundamental change of the situation. A new leader in Tel Aviv might have ideas on how to do that."

Gideon Levy, in a recent article in Haaretz, dispels any notion that fundamental change is even possible in Israel.

Levy: Netanyahu Isn’t the Problem. The Israeli People Are
https://israelpalestinenews.org/levy-netanyahu-isnt-the-problem-the-israeli-people-are/

from the article:

"Simply put, the people are the problem. Netanyahu has voters. There are those who vote for his kind. There are those who have hated Arabs long before Netanyahu. There are those who despise blacks, detest foreigners, exploit the weak and look down their noses at the whole world – and not because of Netanyahu. There are those who believe they are the chosen people and therefore deserve everything.

There are those who think that after the Holocaust, they are permitted to do anything. There are those who believe that Israel is tops in the world in every field, that international law doesn’t apply to it, and that no one can tell it what to do.

There are those who think Israelis are victims – always victims, the only victims – and that the whole world is against us. There are those who are convinced that Israel is allowed to do anything, simply because it can.

There are those who believe in the sword alone. There are those who champion aggression, in the territories and on the roads, and who don’t know any other language. There are unprecedented levels of ignorance.
There’s brainwashing to an extent unknown in a democracy. Is Netanyahu responsible for all of this? Come on.

The problem is the atmosphere, the spirit of the times, the values and outlooks that have become ingrained here during decades of Zionism.

...The apartheid did not start with him and will not end with his departure; it probably won’t even be dented. One of the most racist nations in the world cannot complain about its prime minister’s racism....That there is no ideological alternative has nothing to do with Netanyahu."

One can only imagine the reaction stateside if this article appeared in a major American publication. Politicians would be falling over themselves in a frenzy of outrage and the jewish lobbies would be pounding the drumbeats of 'anti-semite'.

Posted by: pantaraxia | Mar 26 2019 12:53 utc | 51

AFP news agency
‏Verified account @AFP
2h2 hours ago

#UPDATE Saudi Arabia has rejected US President Donald Trump's recognition of Syria's Golan Heights as Israeli territory, condemning it as a violation of international law http://u.afp.com/JqPV #GolanHeights

Posted by: arby | Mar 26 2019 13:55 utc | 52

@42 harry law... thanks for your overview on that especially the last part as i understand it too..

@ something ot - check out james browns version of the song..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u0OwmlNfF4

@51 pantaraxia.. thanks for sharing the link.. gideon levy is good and always on the money..

Posted by: james | Mar 26 2019 16:04 utc | 53

This rocket attack was a gift to Bibi, not a constraint in any manner. The one thing that could save that pathetic waste of oxygen is another war in Gaza. Taken together with the upcoming election, it's even harder to see how Hamas could possibly benefit from the situation. Therefore my money would be on a splinter group in Gaza aiming to erode popular support for Hamas, or a false flag by Netanyahoo and cohorts.
Israel now has the pretext the media desires to whitewash its crimes and the Israelis will once again be picnicking along the Palestinian border in Gaza cheering the destruction.
I can only agree with Gideon Levy quoted @51 as the explanation for the Israeli madness: they have thoroughly brainwashed themselves. Bibi isn't the cause for the racism, he is a symptom. There will be no one stepping forward from that populace who would even poke at the status quo. Change will only be imposed from the outside. Much like in the US where the 'progressives' (maximum snark) have deluded themselves into thinking Trump is the problem. Trump is the symptom, not the cause. We ourselves, both the left and the right, are the problem.

Posted by: Don Wiscacho | Mar 26 2019 16:08 utc | 54

right on don - both netanyahu and trump are the symptom, not the cause... until folks are capable of seeing that, nothing is going to change..

Posted by: james | Mar 26 2019 16:20 utc | 55

In this twitter post by Canthama, note that two of the states developing "nightmares" are active partners with a major component of the Resistance--Iran. This news item, was linked in Alastair Crooke's latest essay about Syria at Strategic Culture and tells us that UAE is Iran's 3rd largest outward trade partner:

"Late in December, Trade Promotion Organization announced that Iraq, China, and the UAE were respectively the top three destinations of Iran’s outward flow of trade in the first 8 months of the current Iranian year (started on March 21), adding that the country's exports to Azerbaijan had registered a 50% rise in the same period as well."

So, the political-economic relations are far more twisted and complex than appear at first. Trump's idiotic law breaking recognition of Golan as Zionist has helped to coalesce the entire Arab world with Saudi making what almost seems an unprecedented step in the MbS era of telling the Outlaw US Empire it's wrong and opposes its decision. That the UAE and Iran have reached a détente of sorts will likely influence MbS and Saudi's position, likely helped along with goading from China and Russia regarding BRI integration, which is in Saudi's great interest to become entwined as the Outlaw US Empire cannot offer anything of a similar nature.

And so we reach what ought to be Zionistan's massive problem: Being shutout of the biggest development/economic boom project in human history because of its Anti-Semitism and genocidal treatment of Palestinians. Seeing how money's more important to Zionists than morals, not allowing them to participate in BRI might just be the kick required to change their behavior.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 26 2019 16:30 utc | 56

another iran surprise? how far will the usa go to re-elect netanyahu?

http://www.unz.com/pgiraldi/an-iranian-april-surprise/

Posted by: james | Mar 26 2019 16:39 utc | 57

Was Reagan the last anti-Zionist POTUS?:

"US President Ronald Reagan on Israel's decision to annex the 🇸🇾 Syrian Golan Heights 🇸🇾 in 1981:

"'We do deplore this unilateral action by Israel, which has increased the difficulty of seeking peace in the Middle East under the terms of the U.N. Resolutions 242 and 338.'"

His attitude made UNSCR 497 possible. Trump's move shows he's anti-Reagan, which is a point his opponents could use if they weren't pro-Zionist like Trump.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 26 2019 17:02 utc | 58

The Mossad can defund Hamas anytime it ceases to serve the same purposes that al CIAda and ISIS have for the CIA.

Posted by: Vonu | Mar 26 2019 17:19 utc | 59

Al Jazerra has produced an update on the state of BDS is the form of a 4.5 minute video. I know China doesn't like to attach any conditions to its trade pacts; but in the case of Zionistan, China must be lobbied to make it an exception and exclude it from any BRI projects so that additional leverage can be applied in the one area the Zionists value over everything else--Money.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 26 2019 17:33 utc | 60

As per the above assessment, the 'single missile at long range near a fine hospital, with seven "wounded" and none killed' seems like the most likely scenario.
So what would this accomplish? Well most people here have been saying that Benny will most likely pull some sort of military escalation in the face of being tried for various things and being called 'soft' on Palestinian "terrorists". In his position how can he not? With the official nod from The Orange One re: the annexation of the Golan to ratchet up the tension, maybe even some further escalation? A recently installed USAn base and a few pledge of allegiance papers signed might be a good trip-wire in case thins heat up... As we have seen seemingly disparate events are often planned to coincide at pivotal times. What might be some others that are ready to be sprung? Is the Donbass line ready to burst as the temps warm? Are there a few B-52s lumbering around the airspace? Maybe the regime change dream-team is brewing up something nasty and new in Venezuela having exhausted the rather dated playbook? Perhaps when the Brexit fiasco begins to boil over, there will be a chaotic chorus of events unleashed to thrill us all...!!!

Posted by: Chevrus | Mar 26 2019 17:56 utc | 61

Walid makes observation; asks vital question:

"Trump & his crew have made a mockery of both #AmericaFirst & #MAGA concepts by putting the interests of a foreign country before those of the US. I just cant understand how Americans put up w/ this shit. Zionists & Evangelicals support it but why do the rest stay silent?"

My simple answer: Small minds dominated by BigLie Media.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 26 2019 17:56 utc | 62

@ pantaraxia #51

Your "Netanyahu Isn’t the Problem" link was a good one. They're not going to accept anything short of a monster over there, but may well decide to pick someone for PM who is a little less 'in-your-face obnoxious' so as to look a little better on the world scene. That would surely ease the burden on the hasbara employees and AIPAC lobbyists.

Posted by: Zachary Smith | Mar 26 2019 19:33 utc | 63

62 K, a quick look at wikipedia shows 69 holocaust museums and memorials in the U.S.

The big one in D.C. is likely to be on the itinerary of most tour groups. Many citizens have been taught to support Israel's right to exist. That it could be considered the wrong place to exist is another matter.

Posted by: Bart Hansen | Mar 26 2019 19:44 utc | 64

Posted by: somebody | Mar 26, 2019 6:51:56 AM | 43
(March of Return protests)

"This type of protest was really hurting Israel internationally."

Thank G-d Bibi has decided that bombing the crap out of Gaza will be better for "Israel's" image than shooting unarmed protesters...?

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Mar 27 2019 0:45 utc | 65

@Hoarse

Depends on whether he has a valid justification/ pretext.

My first guess would be 'some Palestinian splinter group funded by external powers'.
Really?
Remember some months ago, when Lieberman resigned: There was some violence, the IDF was mobilized, everybody expected an escalation & open war - and then, nothing. Shortly before, there had been high-level Russian-Israeli talks in Moscow.

This time looks amazingly similar. Netanyahu needs a chance to demonstrate tough leadership to win the elections. What if Hamas is willing to provide it, bc. the prefer 'the devil they know'? Launch a rocket, make sure it doesn't cause much damage, let N. retaliate and bomb the hell out of some empty buildings.

Moscow and Tel Aviv have a strategic understanding by now. Netanyahu knows how far he can go - with a new government it might be more difficult to make a deal, so both Hamas and Russia probably prefer N. to win the elections.

So I'm not too convinced of the 'false flag' hypothesis, even if intuitively it makes sense.

Posted by: smuks | Mar 27 2019 1:33 utc | 66

add.:
It's easier for a right-wing 'strongman' type leader to negotiate a deal, esp. if it includes a partial withdrawal. Sharon in his late days was working towards settling matters with the Palestinians, and Netanyahu might be able to pick up the torch. A 'moderate' doing the same would be skinned alive by the media and opposition.

Harry Law @42

Both are extremely difficult to achieve, but conditions on the ground are such that 'two states' just doesn't work economically. Intermingled settlements in the west bank, Palestine too small and fractured to be viable, plus Israel needs workers, Palestinians need work. If there ever will be a solution, it will be 'one state'. With or without Jewish majority is not the main point; it will need a regional security architecture and external guarantors anyway.

Posted by: smuks | Mar 27 2019 1:45 utc | 67

@ smuks #67

If there ever will be a solution, it will be 'one state'. With or without Jewish majority is not the main point; it will need a regional security architecture and external guarantors anyway.

I'd appreciate a clarification of these remarks. Do you favor a single state where the Palestinians have 100% equal rights to the Jews in a Non-Jewish Israel?

And what do you mean with the "regional security" and "external guarantors" stuff? Finally, precisely when would God's Favorite People stop destroying Palestinian schools, houses, chopping down their olive orchards, and poisoning their wells?

Posted by: Zachary Smith | Mar 27 2019 2:27 utc | 68

I'm (slightly) curious: a single rocket on a 120km ballistic flightpath should have been an easy intercept for the IDF's oh-so-vauntered three-layered missile defence.

Heck, if they did that in a training drill they'd be castigated for how unrealistically easy they made it for themselves.

So is anyone in Israel asking why it wasn't intercepted? Anyone at all?

Posted by: Yeah, Right | Mar 27 2019 9:52 utc | 69

@69
It would have been a somehow Russian stealth modification of the large firecracker alleged Palestinians send over Tel Aviv. I was reading a local version of sputniknews in my home language on how the Serbian army downed an US stealth plane. You have to be quite uninteligent to believe it. Mind you this is official Kremlin news outlet along with RT. As far as I can tell Russians dont run the Kremlin. A yidish mafia does.

Posted by: flux capacitor | Mar 27 2019 10:51 utc | 70

smuks | Mar 26, 2019 9:33:07 PM | 66

Moscow and Tel Aviv have a strategic understanding by now.

I am sure there is much more than understanding what they share.. There's collusion. Unfortunatelly poor Palestine and now Syria too share the exact same drama that they cannot make public, especially Syrians, but it will backfire and will be very ugly IMO for both 'Russians' and the Israelis. All the while the rest of the world will be whistling indifferently.. well at least for some time, until they intervened so Russ and jews could at least collect and burry their dead Catalyst could be by all possibilities Turkey's stance.

Posted by: flux capacitor | Mar 27 2019 11:23 utc | 71

karlof1 | Mar 26, 2019 1:02:24 PM | 58

Reagan gave the go ahead for 'space war'. If you understand what 'space war' means you do understand it is not a visible army with visible weaponry fighting the campaigns anymore in the Global domination frontlines anymore. Mainly a visible army and its weaponry had quirks and perks which CoL (City) and their brotherly sidekick Israel could use to further own domination campaigns agendas. CoL Cabal and Israel are the 2 messianic idiots hell bent on bringing the Apocalypse. Space war is very feasible and best alternative against ballistics. So no nuke war threat too. Research German reactions when Hillary sold the US elections to Trump/CoL/Israel.... It was about 'space war' assets been turned over to the WRONG HANDS.

Posted by: flux capacitor | Mar 27 2019 11:57 utc | 72

Hasbara are getting desparate if the nonsense spewed up by flux capacitor is any indication.

Posted by: SlapHappy | Mar 27 2019 12:37 utc | 73

Sometimes I think people here have the attention span of fuckin goldfish

Here's the details on the last time Isreal claimed they were "hit by Hamas rockets" : Palestinian sources accuse Israel Zio/Judeo-Nazis of staging provociation to trigger escalation

[Hamas] said in a statement
Hamas is not responsible for the firing of the rockets tonight toward the enemy. They were fired as a meeting was underway between Hamas and the Egyptian security delegation over the understandings regarding the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian sources say that the last night rocket launches were a staged provocation designed to sabotage peace talks. Many of them claim that the provocation was staged by Israel.

Posted by: FFS | Mar 27 2019 13:45 utc | 74

...
Launch a rocket, make sure it doesn't cause much damage, let N. retaliate and bomb the hell out of some empty buildings.
...
Posted by: smuks | Mar 26, 2019 9:33:07 PM | 66

Sorry, that's not possible. HAMAS' rockets are unguided. They might be able to target the N, S, E or W corner of a suburb but not an individual building. In the VERY TIGHT shots of the aftermath, with no background or adjacent buildings visible, a couple of walls had collapsed and the roof had caved in but the roof tiles were undisturbed = impossible if the rocket exploded with enough force to knock walls down. A picture of part of a rocket amid the ruins was the only 'evidence'. I think the whole thing was faked by the "Israelis."

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Mar 27 2019 13:55 utc | 75

@ Hoarsewhisperer #75

I think the whole thing was faked by the "Israelis."

And I think there is an excellent chance you're right. They have "motive": the rabid citizens of the apartheid Jewish state need to stay excited about the election, and become infuriated by the gall of the subhumans getting uppity again. They can thrill about SuperPM Benjamin using the unbeatable Air Force to teach the beasts on two legs a lesson they won't forget.

As for the "means", the operation would have been a piece of cake. We'll probably never know the truth, but supposing the Zionists are lying about something is the safest way to bet.

Posted by: Zachary Smith | Mar 27 2019 15:43 utc | 76

@Hoarse 75

Misunderstanding. The rocket (allegedly) flew past Tel Aviv and impacted outside the city, that's why I wrote 'not cause much damage'. The IDF in turn bombs buildings in Gaza, which have very probably been evacuated beforehand. Yes, the 'rocket' could be faked - or its load could have been deliberately tiny.
Doesn't change much: limited 'attack', limited retaliation, N. gets re-elected, everyone is happy.

@Zachary 68

Do you favor a single state where the Palestinians have 100% equal rights to the Jews in a Non-Jewish Israel?

Yes. It doesn't matter what 'I favour', obviously - however my impression is that more and more people realize that two (tiny) states don't make sense, economically.

Violence (by both sides, though Israel is currently the much stronger side) will end once there'll be guaranteed equal rights for all, and not only on paper. This will not be possible without a regional security architecture comparable to the C/OSCE, involving all relevant regional actors. Which will very probably need major global powers (Europe, Russia, China, US) as guarantors of security and peace.

Maybe we're still a long way from that, but it's the only chance for peace imo - and without some kind of ideal or future vision, what hope is there? Actually, we're currently living through times of profound global changes, and what's politically 'possible' or 'impossible' can change rather quickly.

@flux capa 71

I don't understand a word of what you write.

Posted by: smuks | Mar 27 2019 15:47 utc | 77

This is just some of the damage Israel has done overnight.

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-middle-east-47698428

Posted by: Circe | Mar 27 2019 16:05 utc | 78

Israel, Hamas, and Egypt: this is the a solution!

You can achieve a world first that will stun the world by bombing more.

According to the news no one has died and no one is gaining militarily.

The solution is to designate a zone (kindly set aside for this purpose by Egypt) in the Sinai desert at least 50 kilometers away from Gaza but possibly a little bit more.

By disagreement each time anyone fires anything at this zone the counterpart is allowed to respond by outrage, international statements and appeal, and also firing anything at the same zone in retribution. At this point the other part in turn can do the same and you can continue this for as long as you please.

Whoever bombs the space of land the most can claim victory (nonexclusive) and there is no time limit.

Problem solved.

Please enjoy your display of pyrotechnical achievements to your hearts desire! You win! You could televise it too, it could become a sensation. If you continue to do it for enough centuries there will also be a bonus science benefit in the study of ecosystems of bombardment (do we see a Nobel prize hiding in the distant future? How cheeky! You don't even need to hate each other any more although of course you're still free to continue the tradition out of nostalgia).

Kind regards,
Everyone who loves blowing stuff up

[Feel free to translate this post into any language and post it anywhere]

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Mar 27 2019 17:02 utc | 79

Your sarcasm is misplaced when so many people died in Gaza over the years as a result of Israel's actions! You wouldn't be joking if it were your house being pounded into the ground by Israel every few years!

There is no sarcasm equivalency here to be made when Israel owns one of the most powerful military arsenals in the world and Gaza is using rockets that haven't killed anyone in years and killed so few over decades. The very disproportion constitutes a crime not to mention the fact that most Gazans are displaced refugees living in Israel's concentration camp.

Posted by: Circe | Mar 27 2019 17:57 utc | 80

Comment was for @79 SRB

Posted by: Circe | Mar 27 2019 17:58 utc | 81

Circe I'm glad you care for them enough to object but with the utmost respect for your sentiment I do disagree because I doubt any of the dead would mind me mocking the ones who killed them.

My suggestion isn't entirely facetious, those who launch weapons could easily do so in the manner suggested with the added advantage that no more lives would be lost.

Shouldn't everybody encourage them to come to this arrangement? It would require next to nothing from anyone!

(And there would be no material loss either).

The world should shame them into this arrangement. In fact considering what a travesty the current situation is how are they supposed to dare to refuse? Time to treat them as the truculent children at the very least one side of the conflict behave as (choose whichever you want or both).

Time to be fed up with useless politicians (who loves problems because it makes them feel important and crucial) without a brain both there and everywhere else, they too should be shamed and forced into supporting this if nothing else works.

In fact if any of the useless "elites" were serious rather than grandstanding and obfuscating one could give these sides a very simple ultimatum: do it this way or we take away Jerusalem forever.

Both sides claim to love that city but if they don't neither can have it: evacuate all the people, personal possessions (but none of "important" stuff that makes Jerusalem "special"), and as many animals as feasible of that city and the surroundings and nuke it straight to Hell.

That should make them consider their idiocy and remove the various bullshit apocalypse scenarios from the three "religions of Abraham" to boot.

Feel free to conclude this is madness, it is perfectly fine to disagree, but I bet it would be a blessing upon humanity.

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Mar 27 2019 21:00 utc | 82

...evacuate all the people, personal possessions (but none of "important" stuff that makes Jerusalem "special"), and as many animals as feasible of that city and the surroundings and nuke it straight to Hell.

Are you kidding?

Posted by: Zachary Smith | Mar 28 2019 4:52 utc | 83

Just to be clear on where China stands on the issue

Golan Heights is occupied territory: Chinese envoy

More end game moves, IMO

Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 28 2019 5:48 utc | 84

Zachary Smith don't you think it would work as a threat when offered by the international community?

My point is to stop with all the feeble dilly-dallying and recognize that by their actions they do not want peace. Let's acknowledge that and give their belligerence a much more benign destructive release in either:
A. A place that hurts no one (some limited piece of the Sinai where they can pound sand as much as they like without hurting anybody)
B. A place they claim to love more than most and possibly more than life itself, a place they claim as historically, culturally, and religiously important to them.

They get to make the choice.
They get to bring things into perspective for themselves.
They get to prioritize.

Look at what just happened:
1. Israel did a tiny false flag or alternatively made a war out of a firecracker.
2. Israel attacks empty Hamas locations in Gaza.
3. Hamas responds as if they were in on the game, as if they were Israeli as well, by launching attacks that magically hits nothing of note.

You shouldn't be asking me if I'm kidding, you should be asking them if they're kidding. Unlike my comments they're risking people's lives, unlike my comments they do not even attempt to offer a better solution or anything at all.

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Mar 28 2019 13:06 utc | 85

@82SRB

Your argument is totally invalid because you are treating both as if they are equal in their aggression and MOTIVE. Hamas is not only a political group but along with other groups IT IS A RESISTANCE group and has every right to resist occupation and oppression by all means necessary!

Israel has no right to attack Gaza. Israel is for decades breaching the law not just in its occupation and violation of civil and human rights but multiple crimes of collective punishment including deprivation through blockade.

Please stop equating the two, like they both deserve to fight in a corner in perpetuity as their punishment. Your argument is absurd and not informed and frankly apathetic. You seem to care squat that the Palestinians are the clear victims in this and therefore have every right to fight Israel's criminal actions since the world is not punishing Israel for its criminal acts and ongoing occupation. Stop with the false equivalency. The only solution is JUSTICE for the Palestinians, and not your copout solution that fixes nothing.

Posted by: Circe | Mar 28 2019 15:00 utc | 86

They all (both sides) belong to religions that venerate king Solomon and among other things regard him as a prophet and a very wise man often remembered for a particular judgement.

So let's call the suggestion above about Jerusalem "the Solomon option" since grandiose names are popular on the topic.

Circe aren't you by accident insisting that people in both Gaza and Israel risk death for the sake of a narrative of "motive, resistance, and justice"? Are you playing into the hands of those on any side (or both) who are happy with things as they are? Is seventy years of death and misery long enough for you to try something radically different? When you look at the world we live in and in particular the humans we share it with is there any reason for you or anyone else to believe that "being right" solves anything any more than "being wrong" does?

I'll repeat what just happened:
1. Israel did a tiny false flag or alternatively made a war out of a firecracker.
2. Israel attacks empty Hamas locations in Gaza.
3. Hamas responds as if they were in on the game, as if they were Israeli as well, by launching attacks that magically hits nothing of note.

It does not mesh with the popular narrative either when it comes to motive, or resistance, or justice, and sadly that is not new at all and does not benefit anyone in any tangible way although so many think it does (like for example Yahoo and Gantz).

What is your solution?

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Mar 29 2019 2:58 utc | 87

"If Netanyahoo loses the election other hawks will take over. The balance of power between Gaza and Israel would not change.

"But whoever wins the election will have an interest in a fundamental change of the situation. A new leader in Tel Aviv might have ideas on how to do that."

That's rather weak. A new leader in Israel, I am very sure, can only new ideas about how to not care about Palestinians. So? Will that leader do anything that resists the course that Israel's fascist ruling class is on? And that ruling class is not independent of the global dictator and his foreign policy, Is it?

Posted by: Arby | Mar 31 2019 21:56 utc | 88