I don’t think the resistance will take the bait. Today a new type of bomb was used by Israel in Gaza which creates enormous fireballs (much larger than usual). With the troop withdrawal, airstrikes and aid blocking seem to intensify.
For those interested in resistance and military analysis, this is the latest Electronic Intifada livestream. The military analysis with Jon Elmer starts at 1 hr and 15 minute mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzgKM0bhyW0
In a previous livestream Jon made an interesting observation. He said the Merkava trophy mechanism is designed to activate for stuff shot at them from a distance. Instead fighters often run up to the tanks and put explosive things directly on them. (he explains the proper technical details). Paraphrasing from Jon:
Whoever designed the Merkavas never imagined someone would be so crazy as to walk up to a tank in the middle of a battle and place the explosive on it.
Jon recounts how when he first arrived in the West Bank, this Palestinian kid runs up to one of the tanks patrolling the street (Don’t we all have tanks trundling down the hood?), jumps onto it and starts pulling on the top. At some point he jumps off and goes back to whatever he was doing before. Jon asks him, “ WTF were you doing? Kid rolls his eyes and says can’t you see I was trying to take the gun off, DUH.
So, Jon observes, this is how your average resistance fighter has trained. They know how to move around the tanks, how to approach them and so on.
Some of us climb trees in our childhood (I had a huge favourite one) while the Palestinian kids climb on tanks. Diaper tiktok army trains by shooting kids at point blank range, resistance fighters train by avoiding getting shot at as kids. In that West Bank shooting video I saw that one of the kids was quick to take cover behind the car and he was the one to try and grab his friend who had been shot and risk getting killed as he pulled his buddy out of range of a second shot.
Imagine being 10 years old and having a friend who would do that for you!
The first part of the livestream (twice/week) is usally a roundup of events. The first part of this week’s livestream relates to the atrocity allegations which they didn’t really want to waste time on but feel obliged to cover. Those segments are later uploaded separately so they are convenient to send to people who need help seeing through the propaganda.
EI website has imho the best all round coverage on Gaza and West Bank developments because they’re highly specialized. They were the first to break the news of IDF shelling their own citizens by translating the Yasmin Porat interview.
Over the weeks they have fewer and fewer live from Gaza guests because internet is so hard to find and their contributors are busy with survival. They try and contact all contributors every day but at least four have been killed since Oct 7.
The day they had Refaat Al Areer on many weeks ago I was so scared about how long I’d keep seeing Refaat.
https://electronicintifada.net/

Posted by: pq | Jan 4 2024 12:13 utc | 4

With the troop withdrawal, airstrikes and aid blocking seem to intensify.
@Posted by: pq | Jan 4 2024 12:13 utc | 4
Yes, withdraw the IDF ground forces so the troops cannot be collateral damage and then bomb Gaza to dust. Is that the next phase?
Phase I — Oct 7th — Izzie false-flag, Izzie treachery and betrayal against their own people
Phase II — Bombs and artillery to stampede the Palestinians south into Egypt [FAILED], ethnic cleansing
Phase III – ground invasion [FAILED] and genocide
next up ?
Phase IV – total destruction and obliteration of Gaza infrastructure, annihilation of the Palestinian people, a waste land and genocide

Posted by: librul | Jan 4 2024 12:51 utc | 6

Sorry, reformatted:
This is a very powerful statement:
“How can you allow the entire
population to starve?”: Gaza
doctor
Al Jazeera
Dec 25 2023
https://youtu.be/cra-KqHzM-8?si=eyVjwAwvOv9SVNnm
Dr Ahmed Moghrabi from Nasser Hospital expressed his anger at the international community’s failure to halt lsrael’s ongoing attacks and siege on Gaza’s civilians.
“How many more of us have to die?”

Posted by: David G Horsman | Jan 4 2024 13:27 utc | 8

“Whoever designed the Merkavas never imagined someone would be so crazy as to walk up to a tank in the middle of a battle and place the explosive on it.”
Posted by: pq | Jan 4 2024 12:13 utc | 4
Well to be fair, it’s hard to imagine such an utter lack of military competence and discipline. lol.
Yes bravery inherently includes some aspect of crazy. How courageous.

Posted by: David G Horsman | Jan 4 2024 13:39 utc | 10

To paraphrase Trita Parsi:
1) Parsi has come to believe that the Biden admin totally and completely stands behind Israel’s genocide/removal of Palestinians.
2) Israel has concluded that ANY threat is not allowable. Hezbollah must be eradicated. (of course all roads lead to Iran)
3) if the US stopped supporting Israel now, Israel would have to stop the war, as their use of weapons is off the chart. Therefore instigation of US troops etc. in Middle East necessary.
4) no US-president has been as supportive of Israel as Biden has, another reason to get on with a regional war as soon as possible.
AND (not Parsi, but news & my opinion): outside the explosion in Iran, the US has drawn up plans for a LAND INVASION of Yemen. Why does that seem like a bright idea? How dare you make demands of us, you lowly vermin!!!
Reply

Posted by: Kim Sky | Jan 4 2024 13:52 utc | 12

Posted by: defanger | Jan 4 2024 13:37 utc | 8

I believe faith in the icj is misplaced, anything it does will be ignored.

The “faith” is not in the ICJ itself.
The “faith” is in the credibility of it’s 153 signatories and the notion of the Geneva Conventions and the notion of ‘International Law’.
The ICJ is merely a proxy of this credibility.
Should it fail, it will put the final nail in the notion of an international system of justice, morality and the entire Western-dominated world order.
That in turn will bring about a renaissance of the international system of Justice.

For the ICJ to fail the Empire must make the fateful decision of whether to completely disown and subvert it’s own “Pax Americana” and implicitly declare upon the world a new era of lawlessness outside of it’s own control.

Either way, it will be clear to all once the ICJ provides its judgement.

The solution lies here in the US.

I believe faith in the US is misplaced. It is merely a proxy for the Zionist movement and the cabal which controls it.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Jan 4 2024 14:04 utc | 14

“Well to be fair, it’s hard to imagine such an utter lack of military competence and discipline.”
You’re a cretin. Get outta here.

Posted by: line islands | Jan 4 2024 14:06 utc | 16

Agree with Arch 7,13. I think Resistance wil give ICJ the benefit of the doubt.
@Librul 6
Phase IV [FAILED ALREADY :]
“Wasteland” is now the Olympian Parkour Training Ground, world’s most difficult.
Five team members killed but they continue training in Rafah
https://youtu.be/ScNqPu6hwyU?feature=shared

Posted by: Pq | Jan 4 2024 14:35 utc | 18

“Cry all you want but Jewish people ARE reclaiming their property—ALL OF IT!!!”
You’re so taken with judeo-nazism that you never stopped to consider whether the nazis and christian zionists gathered you in one small place for a do over.

Posted by: line islands | Jan 4 2024 14:35 utc | 20

@satepestage 14
Your comment reminded me I forgot to add Jon’s main point: Palestinians observe IOF carefully and adapt their techniques accordingly The reverse is not true.
Tik tok army never has infantry accompanying tanks.
Looked up the Haftthing on W:
It’s a magnetic anti tank grenade from WWII
However, since this required direct placement on an enemy tank by an infantryman, using the device was very dangerous, since the deploying infantryman placing it on an enemy fighting vehicle would be highly vulnerable to enemy fire.

Posted by: Pq | Jan 4 2024 14:45 utc | 22

Five team members killed but they continue training in Rafah
https://youtu.be/ScNqPu6hwyU?feature=shared
Posted by: Pq | Jan 4 2024 14:35 utc | 19
‘Five’. Izzraeli ‘Five’. Based on Jewish Numerology.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Jan 4 2024 15:13 utc | 24

Lebanese TV reports:
Al-Qassam Brigades says fighters managed to destroy Israeli Merkava with Shawaz projectile west of Maghazi in central Gaza
Comment : tally now 139 Mekavas claimed since start of hostilities on 2.Oct (assault on Al-Aqsa Mosque)

Posted by: Exile | Jan 4 2024 15:27 utc | 26

@Arch Bungle has analyzed the situation with the ICJ properly, IMO.
I have to say I’m impressed with the South Africans. Back in August, when the BRICS summit was in SA, there was some talk of them withdrawing from the ICC treaty due to the ridiculous charge against Putin for moving some kids away from an active war zone.
The South Africans played it just right, staying inside the tent for the time being, and allowing them to hoist the genocidal Nutanyahoo on the West’s own rules-based-order petard.
The ICC faces a serious dilemma. They have two choices:
1. Pursue the charges fairly, with impartiality and justice in mind. Such an approach can only lead to one outcome, Netayahoo indicted as a war criminal.
2. Kangaroo court. Find some excuse or technicality, let the war criminal skate.
Door number 2 leads to the end of the ICC, as the entire global south will see it for what it is.

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Jan 4 2024 16:00 utc | 28

Rania Khalek
@RaniaKhalek
The U.S.-Israel axis continues targeting the people who fought ISIS
Quote
Ali Hashem علي هاشم
@alihashem_tv
·
6h
A car carrying Mushtaq Talib Al-Saeedi (Abu Taqwa), an AlNujaba senior commander and the Assistant Commander of Baghdad Belt Operations in the Popular Mobilization Forces, was the target of the aerial attack in Baghdad. twitter.com/alihashem_tv/s…
https://twitter.com/RaniaKhalek/status/1742929054918177118

Posted by: Menz | Jan 4 2024 16:17 utc | 30

Maybe it was just a typo but just in case it wasn’t.
Yes, even reading the quoted blurbs should be enough to make people go “What? So which one is the real deal? Why are there two?”.
I’ve highlighted the two instances of “only” in the quotes below.
ICJ: International Court of Justice.

“The International Court of Justice (ICJ; French: Cour internationale de justice; CIJ), also called the World Court,[1] is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN).[2] It settles disputes between states in accordance with international law and gives advisory opinions on international legal issues. The ICJ is the only international court that adjudicates general disputes between countries, with its rulings and opinions serving as primary sources of international law (subject to Article 59 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice).”

ICC: International Criminal Court.

“The International Criminal Court (ICC or ICCt)[2] is an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal seated in The Hague, Netherlands. It is the first and only permanent international court with jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression. The ICC is distinct from the International Court of Justice, an organ of the United Nations that hears disputes between states.
Established in 2002 pursuant to the multilateral Rome Statute, the ICC is considered by its proponents to be a major step toward justice,[3] and an innovation in international law and human rights.[4] However, it has faced a number of criticisms from governments and civil society groups, including objections to its jurisdiction, accusations of bias, Eurocentrism and racism,[5] questioning of the fairness of its case selection and trial procedures, and doubts about its effectiveness. “

No, it is not likely that the confusing similarity is accidental.
Anyway Wikipedia isn’t your friend but it is a decent reference work.
Or maybe not.
· · ·
I’m far too angry to allow myself to say anything about other stuff. I would kill the world today just to stop it all. Good thing I’m unable to! No need to worry 😛

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Jan 4 2024 16:27 utc | 32

Posted by: Apollyon | Jan 4 2024 16:20 utc | 31
Arya – آریا 🇮🇷
@AryJeay
— Reminder: ISIS & other terrorist groups (such as the Free Syrian Army “FSA”) are Washington’s mercenaries.
“We paid the salaries of every single terrorist in Syria, we gave them their weapons and trucks,”
📣 Former State Senator of Virginia, Richard Black (in 2021)
https://twitter.com/AryJeay/status/1742894056051458503

Posted by: Menz | Jan 4 2024 16:33 utc | 34

For a meaninful exchange about the South Africa ICJ case against Israel, it is necessary to have some basic knowledge about the jurisdiction of that court, as opposed to the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the procedure.
It is irrelevant whether, or how many states may support the case, except symbolically. The evidence and the correct legal arguments are decisive.
It is also important to understand that there is no hierarchy between international courts. Judgments by the ICJ, which adjudicates disputes between states and state responsibility, do not bind the ICC, which is a criminal law jurisdiction. The ICC would, however, take into consideration an ICJ judgment against Israel, if it were (ever) to indict any Israeli officials for crimes against humanity and war crimes.
As someone who has worked in international criminal justice I wrote a post about the ICJ case in the previous thread which I am reposting here, hopefully to assist further discussion:
For those wondering about the South Africa case against Israel for violating the Genocide Convention – no need to wonder, it is a clear cut case of genocide.
All the evidence necessary is in the public domain, every day. Israel has nothing to counter that evidence. Literally nothing.
At the request of South Africa, the ICJ will indicate so called provisional measures, which means it will order Israel to stop. Israel will not stop.
The case will be heard much later, many months or year(s). Such is the procedure.
The case will end with a Judgment that Israel has violated the Genocide Convention. No other outcome is possible, on the evidence.
Israel has already secured a place in history as a terrorist, genocidal state.
The ICJ judgment will be a formal, legal stamp.

Posted by: JB | Jan 4 2024 16:56 utc | 36

This seems to imply that at least some sectors of the US are giving up on Israel as well as Ukraine
…
The Epstein file disclosures also seem to be gaining momentum.
Posted by: financial matters | Jan 4 2024 12:10 utc | 2
Anyone else wondering about the timing of the Epstein files?

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jan 4 2024 17:06 utc | 38

“Whoever designed the Merkavas never imagined someone would be so crazy as to walk up to a tank in the middle of a battle and place the explosive on it.”
Posted by: pq | Jan 4 2024 12:13 utc | 4
Then the Russians must be crazy too.
During WW 2 Russian solders would hide in slit trenches, and let German tanks roll over them. Then rise out of the trench and attach a satchel charge to the tank.

Posted by: golddigger | Jan 4 2024 17:13 utc | 40

@JB
“The ICC would, however, take into consideration an ICJ judgment against Israel, if it were (ever) to indict any Israeli officials for crimes against humanity and war crimes.”
Yes, isn’t that happened with the arrest warrant against Putin from the ICC? There was a genocide decision from the ICJ.

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jan 4 2024 17:22 utc | 42

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Jan 4 2024 17:09 utc | 39
From the composition of the judges of the ICJ it’s hard to believe it could be a fully US controlled organisation:
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is not a US controlled court. Not everything and everyone in this world is – US controlled. There is no such thing as total control, even though rulers aspire to it.
Every judicial decision and judgment, anywhere, always depends on the integrity of the judges and their professionalism. Judges are human beings, so fragile, just like you and me. The prescribed and expected integrity is what sets them apart in the human desire and imagination.
Therefore, we can not in advance know whether any kind of influence will be exerted on the ICJ judges in the SA-Israel case, who may try to exert influence, and whether any judges will in fact be influenced.
All is possible, but in most cases the ICJ has turned out decent decisions. There is no basis in the overall performance of the ICJ to expect a “wrong” judgment. Especially in a case like this one which is so clear cut.
The problem Israel has is that the evidence is so clear and so string, and that it does not have relevant counter evidence or arguments.
If, by any incredible chance, in a clear cut case as this one the ICJ were to find that Israel did NOT violate the Genocide Convention, it would be the end of its credibility and authority, which means the end of the Court.

Posted by: JB | Jan 4 2024 17:26 utc | 44

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Jan 4 2024 17:19 utc | 41
i guess i should have more clear. I did not mean the Russians or anyone who would run up to a tank and attach explosives are crazy. Anyone who does that has nerves of steel.
I used The Russian analog to show that is a tactic used in war for many, many years.

Posted by: golddigger | Jan 4 2024 17:37 utc | 46

ISIS is back. Makes you wonder.

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jan 4 2024 18:00 utc | 48

With reference to JB 47
This is what ICJ ordered on March 16, 2022 while the case is in progress. My understanding is (JB would know better) that they reached this decision to protect vulnerable civilians while the case is ongoing. There are many documents related to the case on the site.
I think the fundamental difference between the SA and Ukraine applications are:
1. Ukraine said Russia must stop SMO because we are NOT doing genocide in Donbas as Russia alleges. So the issue is not the genocide per se but the SMO.
Because to my knowledge Russia never applied to ICJ before 2022 asking for prevention of genocide by Ukraine in Donbas under Genocide Convention.
2. SA instead says Israel IS conducting a genocide. So this case in a way is more direct and urgent in terms of issuing an order to prevent genocide.
March 16 2022 ICJ
VI. OPERATIVE CLAUSE (PARA. 86)
The full text of the operative clause of the Order reads as follows:
“For these reasons,
THE COURT,
Indicates the following provisional measures:
(1) By thirteen votes to two,
The Russian Federation shall immediately suspend the military operations that it
commenced on 24 February 2022 in the territory of Ukraine;
IN FAVOUR: President Donoghue; Judges Tomka, Abraham, Bennouna, Yusuf,
Sebutinde, Bhandari, Robinson, Salam, Iwasawa, Nolte, Charlesworth;
Judge ad hoc Daudet;
AGAINST: Vice-President Gevorgian; Judge Xue;
(2) By thirteen votes to two,
The Russian Federation shall ensure that any military or irregular armed units
which may be directed or supported by it, as well as any organizations and persons
which may be subject to its control or direction, take no steps in furtherance of the
military operations referred to in point (1) above;
IN FAVOUR: President Donoghue; Judges Tomka, Abraham, Bennouna, Yusuf,
Sebutinde, Bhandari, Robinson, Salam, Iwasawa, Nolte, Charlesworth;
Judge ad hoc Daudet;
AGAINST: Vice-President Gevorgian; Judge Xue;
(3) Unanimously,
Both Parties shall refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the
dispute before the Court or make it more difficult to resolve.”

Posted by: Pq | Jan 4 2024 18:06 utc | 50

Posted by: pq | Jan 4 2024 12:13 utc | 4t
Do not disspair, you noble poster pq.
The language so upset, devoid of the meaning.
In the beginning I was posting poetry, blast it.There is no apology for the genociding gaza.

Posted by: stranger | Jan 4 2024 18:22 utc | 52

Operation timber sycamore and the rest of the trucks full of evidence show who isis is.

Posted by: Hankster | Jan 4 2024 18:24 utc | 54

https://t.me/ZandVchannel/94691

🇵🇸 Some 577,000 Gazans are Suffering from ‘Catastrophic Type of Hunger, Famine’ – New Yorker
700k people worldwide are considered to be in a ‘catastrophic type of hunger’ – meaning 80% of the people in famine are in Gaza right now.
This, in its context as deliberative Israeli policy, with active support from the West, is terrifying.

Posted by: anon2020 | Jan 4 2024 18:31 utc | 56

Posted by: golddigger | Jan 4 2024 17:37 utc | 46
It was used by the Italian paratroopers at El Alamein in 1942.

Posted by: Alberto | Jan 4 2024 18:33 utc | 58

Posted by: Pq | Jan 4 2024 18:06 utc | 50
We should not overburden this thread with the ICJ cases, so I will respond by saying –
Yes, there is a big difference between the Ukraine-Russia case and the SA-Israel case.
You cite the order of the ICJ (provisional measures, that Ukraine requested) to Russia to stop the SMO because there is no genocide in Donbass and Luhansk, ie, Russia has no basis/reason for the SMO.
The case Ukraine brought against Russia is from a legal perspective very interesting, because it alleges that Russia violated the Genocide Convention by abusing it claiming there is genocide in Donbass and Luhansk, where there is no genocide. Ukraine argument is that it should not be subjected to military operations, “aggression”, based on false claims of genocide.
From the Order on provisional measures:
51. At this stage of the proceedings, however, the Court is not called
upon to determine definitively whether the rights which Ukraine wishes to
see protected exist; it need only decide whether the rights claimed
by Ukraine on the merits, and for which it is seeking protection, are plau-
sible…
52. In the present proceedings, Ukraine argues that it seeks provisional
measures to protect its rights “not to be subject to a false claim of geno-
cide”, and “not to be subjected to another State’s military operations on
its territory based on a brazen abuse of Article I of the Genocide Conven-
tion”. It states that the Russian Federation has acted inconsistently
with its obligations and duties, as set out in Articles I and IV of the
Convention.
53. Ukraine contends that it has a right to demand good faith perfor-
mance of obligations under the Genocide Convention by the Russian Fed-
eration, in accordance with the object and purpose of the Convention. It
states that the Russian Federation has abused and misused the rights and
duties stipulated in the Convention and that the “special military operation”
of the Respondent is an aggression undertaken “under the guise” of the duty
to prevent and punish genocide, enshrined in Articles I and IV of the Con-
vention, and that it frustrates the object and purpose of the Convention.
54. The Applicant further submits that it has a right under the Con-
vention not to be harmed by the Russian Federation’s misuse and abuse
of the Convention. It considers in particular that it has a right not to suf-
fer grave harm as a result of a military action falsely cloaked as one
undertaken to prevent and punish genocide.
So the Court says:
59. …At the present stage of the proceedings, it
suffices to observe that the Court is not in possession of evidence substan-
tiating the allegation of the Russian Federation that genocide has been
committed on Ukrainian territory. Moreover, it is doubtful that the Con-
vention, in light of its object and purpose, authorizes a Contracting Par-
ty’s unilateral use of force in the territory of another State for the purpose
of preventing or punishing an alleged genocide.
60. Under these circumstances, the Court considers that Ukraine has a
plausible right not to be subjected to military operations by the Russian
Federation for the purpose of preventing and punishing an alleged geno-
cide in the territory of Ukraine.
In order to indicate provisional measures (order that the SMO be stopped) there needs to be irreparable damage that has to be stopped, and the Court found that there is:
74. The Court considers that the right of Ukraine that it has found to
be plausible (see paragraph 60 above) is of such a nature that prejudice to
it is capable of causing irreparable harm. Indeed, any military operation,
in particular one on the scale carried out by the Russian Federation on
the territory of Ukraine, inevitably causes loss of life, mental and bodily
harm, and damage to property and to the environment.
75. The Court considers that the civilian population affected by the
present conflict is extremely vulnerable. The “special military operation”
being conducted by the Russian Federation has resulted in numerous
civilian deaths and injuries. It has also caused significant material dam-
age, including the destruction of buildings and infrastructure. Attacks are
ongoing and are creating increasingly difficult living conditions for the
civilian population. Many persons have no access to the most basic food-
stuffs, potable water, electricity, essential medicines or heating. A very
large number of people are attempting to flee from the most affected cities
under extremely insecure conditions.
The Court, therefore issued the Order to Russia to stop the SMO and to both parties not to aggravate and escalate.
Both parties ignore the Order.

Posted by: JB | Jan 4 2024 18:52 utc | 60

Speaking of Epstein, a now forgotten fact is that he did business (arms trade) with Jamal Khashoggi’s uncle Adnan. One gets the impression MbS did not like Jamal, to put it mildly, so maybe he did not like Adnan either and Epstein even less. Whatever Adnan and Epstein did, was it directed at Saudi Arabia?

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jan 4 2024 19:11 utc | 62

Blinken has arrived in Israel, and will be shuttling through the region over the next week (i.e. coincidental or not, the week leading to ICJ meet).
Israeli “war cabinet” continues to threaten Hezbollah, saying time for diplomacy is running out.
The escalation the Americans claim keen to avoid, has been promoted by three signature bombing events in last two days, carried out by either the Americans, their closest regional ally, or their proxy terrorist militia. Air strike assassinations in both Beirut and Baghdad are serious provocations.
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/three-iran-backed-militia-fighters-killed-baghdad-drone-strike-sources-2024-01-04/
A risky and dangerous week is ahead.

Posted by: jayc | Jan 4 2024 19:18 utc | 64

Going by informed opinion above it seems that an ICJ judgement against Israel is likely. That would be all that Russia needs to justify a relief flotilla and even a no-fly zone over Palestine.
If Israel is deemed a genocidal state, then Nasrallah’s demand that foreign-origin Jews depart from Palestine would carry more weight than Putin/Lavrov’s insistence on Israel’s security in the middle-east itself.
Indeed, why would the propagation of Zionist ideology anywhere not be deemed a criminal activity?
That would make possible the recovery of Western states from their current status as subjugated parts of the Jew World Order.

Posted by: sarz | Jan 4 2024 19:25 utc | 66

It has already been suggested by Brendan O’Neill among others that the Epstein files were a big nothingburger. If so, it is quite possible Epstein was got rid of something else. As if to show that pedophilia charges are an effective means to get a troublesome individual out of the way, just remember what happened to Cardinal Pell, who started investigating the Vatican Bank in 2014 and was convicted of pedophilia in 2017. It is common knowledge that the conviction was wrongful and Pell was released and died of natural causes (?).
I am not saying Epstein was wrongfully convicted but the real reason may be something else and it could just as well be the arms trade or something of that nature. Epstein was arrested in July 2019 and died a month later.
There is one dog that is not barking in this story, and that is QAnon, which we may not even remember but the phenomenon started in 2018. Now nobody is asking what happened to him (or her). Its main tenet was that Trump was fighting a cabal of pedophiles. Again, I am not saying that child trafficking is not a problem but what is remarkable is that QAnon – or actually Q – was supposed to be the great bringer of truth who was also behind the January 6 events and now, while everybody is still talking about January 6, nobody is talking about Q. Isn’t that bizarre?
Not sure what this has to do with Israel if anything. However, the idea has been floated that Biden is fighting in Ukraine to hide something and one increasingly gets the impression so is Netanyahu. No wonder, he is curiously interested in reforming the judiciary. That is no secret. What happened to Pell is no conspiracy theory either. Whether any of these pieces belong together is another story.

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jan 4 2024 19:53 utc | 68

Jonathan @ 70
“I am not saying Epstein was wrongfully convicted but the real reason may be something else and it could just as well be the arms trade or something of that nature. Epstein was arrested in July 2019 and died a month later. ”
=====================
There is widespread speculation among many that the real dog that didn’t bark was probably Epstein’s (and Robert Maxwell’s) relationship to the Mossad.
Whitney Webb has written extensively about these wider domestic and international Jewish networks, which always seem to include perverts of one sort or another at the center or on the margins.
Why shouldn’t or wouldn’t the Mossad, or any intel agency, for that matter, not take advantage of the opportunities offered?
Partying too hard, with the wrong people, has brought down governments in the past. Remember Harold McMillan? There is a lot more “partying” going on now than then. Add to partying the new field of secrets such as organ harvesting, online child porn, etc.
With Epstein the supposed “official” bad behavior may well be a limited hangout.

Posted by: Jane | Jan 4 2024 20:12 utc | 70

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jan 4 2024 19:53 utc | 70
Ample investigation has been done into the Qanon phenomenon, and I’m reasonably certain it all tied back to a father and son duo who were living in and posting their Q ‘drops’ from the Philippines (also a known destination for pedophiles!). The son may have moved to Japan subsequently and the last I heard about him he was running a failed candidacy for either the Arizona statehouse or the House of Representatives from that state on either the Independent or Libertarian ticket. Another suspect was a loner in Australia, and he may have actually been the person to initially start making the posts, but the father-son team definitely assumed the role later.
In any case, I considered that whole case closed from the very beginning; anyone foolish enough to believe that JFK Jr. was going to come back from the dead or come out of hiding would be willing to believe virtually anything. Michael Flynn may have been mixed up in it to some degree as well, but the main perps were the duo I mentioned.
IOW another big nothingburger and pointless distraction for too many people.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 4 2024 20:23 utc | 72

ISIS. LMAO. Like I said yesterday about the Soleimani assassination and Israeli involvement: You can’t make this shit up (but they try anyway).

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 4 2024 20:32 utc | 74

“All those tactics are very old and continue to work very well as long as the infantry screen is removed, which with cowardly soldiers is easy to do.”
Posted by: karlof1 | Jan 4 2024 19:01 utc | 63
Happy new year karlof. Since then we’ve seen magnetic explosive devices like that in a new use. Armoured cars tend to be bullet (projectile) proof and vulnerable to explosives. It’s a weight issue with cars. Different materials are required to resist explosives as opposed to bullets.
Someone on a motorcycle rapidly pulls alongside the car and attaches the device to a door. Boom. They’ve had to adapt.
=============
BTW (re previous Palestine thread) in the first few minutes Electronic Intifada video it mentions that Israel is using sniper drones. I’m not seeing much info on ground units being used in that environment in either conflict.
“Breaking news and analysis on day 89 of Gaza’s Al-Aqsa Flood |
The Electronic Intifada Podcast”
https://www.youtube.com/live/bzgKM0bhyW0?si=UcnKoK3lxhMuJIsH
Clearly, drone swarm technology is already advanced. I’m wondering who will show theirs first. Hopefully China sticks with fancy displays replacing fireworks. Impressive.

Posted by: David G Horsman | Jan 4 2024 20:43 utc | 76

In what should come as a surprise to no-one, the initial reports about sexual assaults as a weapon used by Hamas are utter horsesh*t.
https://scheerpost.com/2024/01/04/family-of-key-case-in-new-york-times-october-7-sexual-violence-report-renounces-story-says-reporters-manipulated-them/
Will the NYT issue a correction/retraction? LOL; rhetorical question.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 4 2024 20:52 utc | 78

Israel defender Alan Dershowitz named in Epstein court docs:
https://new.thecradle.co/articles/israel-defender-alan-dershowitz-named-in-epstein-court-docs/

Dershowitz, the former Harvard law professor who is being considered to defend Israel against genocide charges being brought by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Dershowitz has also promoted unsubstantiated claims that Hamas committed mass rapes against Israelis on 7 October during the Al-Aqsa Flood attack.

Posted by: Vortex | Jan 4 2024 21:01 utc | 80

Posted by: librul | Jan 4 2024 12:51 utc | 6
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Phase IV – total destruction and obliteration of Gaza infrastructure, annihilation of the Palestinian people, a waste land and genocide
><><><><>< Nazi analogies seem to be the coin of the realm these days. So try this one: Phase V: Reminiscent of the post-war situation in Germany, when so many German cities were bombed to rubble that Germans were homeless but Jewish survivors were sheltered in forcibly vacated German homes, Gaza Phase V should rightfully see de-housed Palestinians sheltered in homes in TelAviv, Jerusalem, and any- and every- other Israeli city where safe and secure housing can be found. Remove the Israelis from their homes to the remains of Gaza.
Mama always said, You made your bed, now lie in it.

Posted by: ChasMark | Jan 4 2024 21:05 utc | 82

“Whoever designed the Merkavas never imagined someone would be so crazy as to walk up to a tank in the middle of a battle and place the explosive on it.”
Posted by: pq | Jan 4 2024 12:13 utc | 4
Well to be fair, it’s hard to imagine such an utter lack of military competence and discipline. lol.
Yes bravery inherently includes some aspect of crazy. How courageous.
Posted by: David G Horsman | Jan 4 2024 13:39 utc | 10
The continuum is there for all human actions-these aren’t that great but that’s all my small mind could come up with:
Courageous or Reckless -see above as wonderful example
Patient or Stubborn-Putin (former)
Eccentric or Crazy-Prighozin (both)
Hopeful or Delusional-Zelensky (the latter)
Observant or Obsessed-Arch Bungle (mostly the former)
Disciple or Cult member-bevin (both)
Admirer or Stalker-Azov Nazis (latter)
Tough or Genocidal Maniac-Netanyahu (latter!)
Ally or Underling Vassal-Scholz (latter)
Aggressive or Fucking Nuts-Blinken (latter)
Woke or Just Retarded-Justin Trudeau (latter)

Posted by: canuck | Jan 4 2024 21:08 utc | 84

Posted by: David G Horsman | Jan 4 2024 20:13 utc | 73
In reply to your questions:
Yes, Russia did invoke self-defence (Article 51), but it also justified the SMO as necessary because of genocide in Donbass. That’s what the Ukraine case hinges on and characterizes as an abuse of the Genocide Convention, because it claims there was no genocide in Donbass and Luhansk.
The ICJ found that Ukraine-Russia the case is a dispute about the interpretation of the Genocide Convention. We have to wait for the judgement for findings on the merits. It is an important case.
I think the reasoning of the ICJ in the Order on provisional measures (in my post above in reply) is sound.
In the hearings on the merits we will see the evidence of both parties – one claiming there was genocide the other that there was not.
Based on information in the public domain, I am reluctant to conclude that there was genocide in Donbass and Luhansk. I think the Russian officials, including Putin, should not have used that as one of the reasons for the intervention. A lot would need to said about that, but this is a Palestine thread so I refrain.
That does not in any way diminish the gravity and scope of the crimes committed against the population of Donbass and Luhansk.
The only way to determine if there was genocide there is to carefully analyse all the evidence of Kiev actions, which I, or you, do not have.
There is no question that heinous public hate speech was directed at the Russian speaking population in Donbass from Kiev regime officials. The actions they took were clearly directed at stripping the Russian speaking population of some fundamental rights, because they are Russian, and that that population was subjected to military attack for years. Many were killed. Some horrible crimes were committed.
So there are elements that could point to genocidal intent, the crucial element that needs to be proved for a finding of genocide. Genocidal intent is “the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious, group as such”. To understand what ‘the group as such’ means in law let’s take, for example killing, one of the acts of genocide – that means that killing individuals belonging to the targeted group is done with the intent to destroy the group, not the individuals per se.
Just with this example you can get a sense of how proving genocide is not easy. Proof of genocidal acts and genocidal intent is required.
Jurisprudence has developed the standards of proof for each element that needs to be proved. For instance, the law requires that “a substantial part of the group” is destroyed. What is a “substantial part of the group” is established on the facts of each case, etc, etc.
Only a court of law can make a determination if there was genocide in Donbass and Luhanks, based on all the evidence that is presented to it.
In the case of the current conflict in Palestine – both elements of genocide, the prohibited acts and the requisite intent, are clearly satisfied just on the information in the media.
It is a remarkably clear-cut crime of genocide that the world is witnessing. A school-text example, I would say.

Posted by: JB | Jan 4 2024 21:34 utc | 86

Whatever Adnan and Epstein did, was it directed at Saudi Arabia? Maybe. Khashoggi was a CIA asset. As to his death, my rule of thumb is: the more CIA insists on a narrative, the more likely it is to be untrue.
@ Jonathan W 64
Israel / ISIS: CNN reports that “ISIS” has claimed responsibility for the Iran attack yesterday. Do people really still have doubts about what ISIS is?
Anyone who is tired of tax dollars being spent on MOAR WAR or Gaza genocide should understand “Islamic” terror is and always has been a red herring to keep War of Terror going.
On NATO territory most “terror” attacks are generally attributed to dead people most of whom were previously in jail and/or well known to intelligence. These guys ALWAYS take their ID when they go to commit terror.
Sometimes they turn up alive after death as on 9/11!
BBC: “Hijack ‘suspects’ alive and well” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1559151.stm
In the countries attacked and occupied by US/NATO there are two types of armed non state actors:
1. Genuine resistance groups who want invaders to leave their land.
2. Mercenary proxy armies of NATO. (Better paid, I’m guessing).
The second group exists to fight the first group, act as security guards for illegal corporate resource stealing, and to provide an excuse for US/NATO to bomb places on Israel’s hit list.
Or, if they are claiming responsibility for attacks in Iran like the one yesterday to provoke.
After Afghanistan was fizzling out, AQ was rebranded as ISIS and appeared in Syria.
Did you never ask yourself why ALL info on ISIS came to MSM from SITE Intelligence Group? Jihadi Central is based in Bethesda Maryland run by an Iraqi born Israeli Rita Katz.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/05/29/private-jihad
The site used to have a public section where anyone could go and catch up on Jihadi gossip. At the time, I thought it was a bit odd that ISIS would choose Rita Katz to be their PR agent.
But then there was a timing error. Rita Katz released an ISIS video before ISIS released it. All hell broke loose and the website is no longer public. .
Did you never ask yourself why “ISIS” would waste time putting on costumed theatrical performances to film and send to Rita Katz to disseminate to MSM? I never watched these videos but the way friends described them made me think: why the hell would anyone do that.
Kind of like the heinous videos by Diaper army come to think of it.

Posted by: pq | Jan 4 2024 22:15 utc | 88

“Jews are used as scapegoats to pacify the idiot masses who do not realize they are being manipulated by those in power.”
Name one dastardly deed in the past 50 years of Western Civilization, that did not have a Jewish hand in the middle of it.

Posted by: Turk 152 | Jan 4 2024 22:24 utc | 90

I’m far too angry to allow myself to say anything about other stuff. I would kill the world today just to stop it all. Good thing I’m unable to! No need to worry 😛
Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Jan 4 2024 16:27 utc | 32
Spouse and I were talking last night. I said it’s not that I want world war three, it’s that if it’s going to be kicked off anyway by the insane degenerate toxic psycho jews and their eager disgusting neocon servants for the sake of their dastardly neoliberal fucking agenda then I want it to happen NOW, to the generations who didn’t stop it even though they (we) easily could have. I don’t want the can kicked down the road so the kids and grandkids pay the ultimate price for the fucking mess our parents’ generation made and we perpetuated!
When oh when does humanity chuck these bizzarro-world parasites off our backs and put an end at last to their cheap labor predations and their unsurvivable insistance on unworkable social hierarchy as if that crap is the natural order and there is no alternative??!! NOTHING could be further from the truth!
All these horrors the Palestinians have been living through – and DYING FROM – are SYMPTOMS.
When does humanity finally go after the CAUSE??!!

Posted by: DuchessAndBob | Jan 4 2024 22:28 utc | 92

surely the isis attack at Suleiman ceremony was ,”commissioned” by Israel and USA….

Posted by: Jo | Jan 4 2024 23:20 utc | 94

I can’t even fathom the depths of ineptitude of people drawing those plans…
When the attack on Iran took place, all suspicion fell on Israel. With “ISIS” assuming responsibility, it clearly shows to all thinking people in the world who “ISIS” really is… IS-IS…

Posted by: Lathe Biosas | Jan 4 2024 23:28 utc | 96

Posted by: Aleph_Null | Jan 4 2024 22:02 utc | 91
That and (as Lathe Biosas) jokingly points out…ISIS? What is, is? WTF IS is?
Has Israel ever attacked ISIS? Has ISIS ever attacked Israel? Didn’t the US basically aid ISIS for a long time until Russia started taking them out, at which point Uncle Scam and the Mighty Wurlitzer suddenly changed directions, accused Russia of killing civilians in Aleppo, and our military (allegedly) went to war against ISIS?
And do you remember that fancy monthly (or quarterly?) magazine (or e-zine) they used to put out? The guys in ISIS. Man whoever did that thing had far better Adobe In-Design skills than I do, and I use it professionally, LOL! Sometimes I think our spooks get so far ahead of themselves they forget what their media arms are capable of selling to the public and what they aren’t.
Somebody pointed out – on the previous page of comments – that in fact “ISIS” has been active and against Iran. But the scale and timing of this attack, not to mention the nature of the event targeted, tells me there’s no fucking way it was ISIS, unless all that means Is Is-rael (and the US) really pulling “ISIS’s” (Isisisisis) strings.
TLDR: 100% Grade A Bullshit until I see some reasonable proof, not a video or a “claim” from some unknown or unknowable individual taking credit.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 4 2024 23:49 utc | 98

Or how about ISIS is real! Wait, wut? Someone with a stutter (Cornpop Era Joe Biden) simply trying to say “Israel”? Or a a USG spook trying to tell me that ISIS exists as an actual entity?
ISISISREAL! (pretty much confirms it isn’t)

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 4 2024 23:52 utc | 100