Trump's Action Demonstrates Biden's Failure In Stopping The Genocide
The current phase of the genocide in Gaza might soon come to an end.
The resistance has continued to kill its occupiers day by day:
Five Israel Defense Forces soldiers were killed and 10 were wounded in an explosion in northern Gaza on Monday, the military said, raising Israel’s toll in over 15 months of fighting in the Strip to 407.
It has steadily increased the pressure on the Israeli government to finally end the slaughter. It is looking likely that it has now achieved one of its aims:
Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages, officials say - AP News
Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages, two officials involved in the talks said Tuesday. Mediator Qatar said Israel and the Palestinian militant group were at the “closest point” yet to sealing a deal.The Associated Press obtained a copy of the proposed agreement, and an Egyptian official and a Hamas official confirmed its authenticity. An Israeli official said progress has been made, but the details are being finalized. The plan would need to be submitted to the Israeli Cabinet for final approval.
The deal, about a hostage exchange and ceasefire, is similar to one that has been on offer since many, many month ago. That deal had been agreed to by Hamas but was sabotaged again and again by Netanyahoo and his coalition allies:
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir sparked outcry Monday when he claimed he had repeatedly foiled a hostage-ceasefire deal with Hamas over the past year, while calling on Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to join him in thwarting an emerging agreement.
...
In a post on X, together with a video in which he called on far-right ally Smotrich to join him in telling Netanyahu that they would bolt the coalition if the current hostage deal proposal went through, Ben Gvir said that they have managed to stop previous efforts to reach an agreement.“In the last year, using our political power, we managed to prevent this deal from going ahead, time after time,” he wrote.
However, Ben Gvir said he now lacks the power to stop what he termed the “surrender deal” because Netanyahu expanded the coalition by bringing in Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s New Hope party in September last year.
Aside from Ben Gvir's and Smotrich's resistance to a deal, it was Netanyahoo personally who was blocking a deal with the hope of assuring his own political survival.
Over fifteen months the Biden administration falsely claimed that it was Hamas which was blocking a deal over Gaza. It falsely claimed that it could not use any pressure against Netanyahoo to finally accept an agreement.
That was of course nonsense as it is the U.S. which was and is financing Netanyahoo's war.
It only took a few hours and some brashness from Donald Trump to push Netanyahoo towards concessions.
Last Friday evening, Steven Witkoff, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, called from Qatar to tell Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's aides that he would be coming to Israel the following afternoon. The aides politely explained that was in the middle of the Sabbath but that the prime minister would gladly meet him Saturday night.Witkoff's blunt reaction took them by surprise. He explained to them in salty English that Shabbat was of no interest to him. His message was loud and clear. Thus in an unusual departure from official practice, the prime minister showed up at his office for an official meeting with Witkoff, who then returned to Qatar to seal the deal.
Other Israeli media add:
Two officials familiar with the latest ceasefire push told The Times of Israel on Monday that Trump’s Mideast envoy held a “tense” meeting with Netanyahu on Saturday, during which the former leaned hard on the Israeli premier to accept compromises necessary to secure a hostage deal by the January 20 US presidential inauguration.Witkoff’s pressure on Netanyahu appeared to have had an effect, with the two officials familiar with the negotiations saying that key gaps were filled in the talks over the weekend.
Should the deal go through the members of the Biden administration will falsely claim that it was their achievement. It was not. It was them who had for over a year enabled Netanyahoo to proceed with the genocide.
In fact there are still attempts by the Biden/Blinken duo to give Netanyahoo an excuse and reason to sabotage a deal:
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will unveil a plan for the post-war management of Gaza in a speech on Tuesday that has been the subject of internal divisions within the Biden administration, according to a US official.
...
The plan Blinken is slated to unveil envisions a reformed PA leading the post-war governance of Gaza in what would create a pathway to an eventual two-state solution.
...
But the fear from some in the administration is that the speech will end up serving Netanyahu’s political interests, while marginalizing the PA and its President Mahmoud Abbas, Axios reported.The US official speaking to The Times of Israel said that Netanyahu could end up using the plan as an excuse to blow up the hostage negotiations by arguing that the talks are being used to allow the PA to gain a foothold in Gaza once the war is over.
As Axios summarizes:
The bottom line: "Blinken wants to try and shape the outcome of the war and he will make clear in his speech how he thinks Israel can turn its tactical wins against Hamas into strategic gains," a U.S. official said.
The genocide enablers of the Biden administration are on their way out. The new administration will probably have stopped the genocide even before it enters its office. In this case elections did matter.
But stopping the genocide does not make a Trump administration less friendly to Israel's greed for extension. In whatever may follow a ceasefire we can be sure that Trump will (again) take Israel's side.
Posted by b on January 14, 2025 at 14:47 UTC | Permalink
next page »"The deal, about a hostage exchange and ceasefire, is similar to one that has been on offer since many, many month ago"
Many, many months ago Hezbollah was still in the fight. Many things have changed beyond Trump.
Has the Hamas leadership in the Gaza strip agreed yet?
Posted by: Ed4 | Jan 14 2025 14:58 utc | 2
There are two aspects to this genocide
- it takes the form of actually committing genocide but you tell everyone "hey you can stop it and turn it into ethnic cleansing, just take in all the people from Gaza"
- it is a two step process, first make Gaza unliveable. Then you can stop the bombing and claim all kinds of achievements, but now you control it though to what extent you allow aid and reconstruction in.
Most of the agenda has already been implemented.
Posted by: Tuyzentfloot | Jan 14 2025 15:02 utc | 3
RE: the day after
The Likud will still need to deal with the various genocide lawsuits, the international arrest warrants, but most of all the international's community decision last 18.Sept that the Likud gov't:
1) Is legally defined as an Apartheid regime
2) needs to evacuate the occupied territories
3) needs to pay reparations
Posted by: Exile | Jan 14 2025 15:07 utc | 4
I suspect this will be like all of Rump's previous foreign policy "successes" and last about a single news cycle before falling apart. Israel has never honored any agreement in its history, much less any ceasefire, it seems unlikely to start now when the self-proclaimed "best friend Israel ever had" is coming into office.
Posted by: Brian Bixby | Jan 14 2025 15:13 utc | 5
"The genocide enablers of the Biden administration are on their way out."
This is exactly what the Dems should be referred to as, from now on. And it wasn't just the white house. That whole party bottom to top did everything it could to give yahoo his genocide. They are not woke, anti racist or more virtuous than Trump in any way shape or form.
And after 30 years of one party rule, they have reduced California to an anarchic, underdeveloped nightmare. The LA fire is just one of many more disasters to come. Mark my words.
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Jan 14 2025 15:17 utc | 6
Last week I wondered whether Trump was threatening Hamas or Likud.
Looks like it was Likud.
For sure Netanyahoo will wriggle, squirm, delay and try to dishonour the terms, but I don't think he'll be allowed to get away with it.
Time will tell...
Posted by: ChatNPC | Jan 14 2025 15:18 utc | 7
Qatar is pretending that it's doing a good diplomatic work in this genocidal case. Instead it is facilitating the slaughter of many. The same goes for SA. For the USA criminal regime, they are the third and last Roman empire. Israhell is a terrorist state and has no place in the ME or any part of the world for that matter.
Posted by: pepe | Jan 14 2025 15:51 utc | 8
@guyelster
“Trump’s envoy informed Israel PM Netanyahu during their meeting that the consequences of not concluding hostages deal will be imposed on Israel as well, according to the Qatarian outlet Al-Araby”
https://x.com/guyelster/status/1878818440586371491
Posted by: Matt | Jan 14 2025 15:58 utc | 9
The timing of this draws attention to itself. That's weird.
Posted by: chunga | Jan 14 2025 16:05 utc | 11
The Cabinet vote will be divided but in which direction? History says Netanyahu will accept the deal then once the hostages are freed he'll resume the attack on Gaza--what's going to stop him from doing so? Trump wants to have his nominees approved, so the Zionist-First Congress must be appeased, meaning Trump will have little leverage over Netanyahu when he breaks the ceasefire. We also know Netanyahu and ilk will never as long as they're alive accept a Palestinian state and will continue their project to eliminate Palestinians.
The really big question is what will Iran do? Will it hold fire to see what the Trump team offers or will it attack the Zionists immediately after signing the security treaty with Russia to show Trump team that Iran isn't weak whatsoever, thus completely contradicting what Sullivan said last Sunday when he lied about Biden having weakened all the Outlaw US Empire's adversaries.
supposed to be an agreement with Lebanon but IDF bombed north of the Litani.
Posted by: Jo | Jan 14 2025 16:08 utc | 14
Basically Trump's envoy reminded Netanyahu who is the dog and who is the tail, and the genocide of the Palestinians and the stealing of their land will go back to being continued in ways that are less problematic for US soft power and US regime legitimacy.
Next perhaps the selection and punishment (i.e. removal from office only and the trial of Netanyahu for corruption in Israel) of the "bad Zionists" and the reinstatement of the "good Zionists". And Iran will continue to be heavily sanctioned, but not attacked in any large scale manner.
The hands of the ultra-Zionist and Russia-hating crazies are being removed from the steering wheel of state, as more sane imperial management is reinstated. The reins will be loosened for the Florida resident Cuban Mafia and their hatred of the freedom of the peoples of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua from their exploitation. Such will also help in averting the US population's gaze from the loss of Ukraine. And China will continue to leap further ahead of the US no matter what sanctions are put in place - there will be no war over Taiwan.
And the exploitation of the working people of the US by the oligarchy will continue as ever ... just the dominant part of the oligarchy will be a little different.
Posted by: Roger Boyd | Jan 14 2025 16:12 utc | 15
@Posted by: karlof1 | Jan 14 2025 16:06 utc | 12
And what happens once they are confirmed? This is Trump's last presidential gig, and also a lot of the US Zionists see the need to go back to a quieter and less visible version of genocide and land theft. Perhaps Trump can let Netanyahu live the rest of his life quietly in the US, rather than an Israeli jail? Trump needs the Middle East to go quiet to allow him to focus on the important stuff, that will be his legacy. His narcissism will care a hell of a lot about that legacy.
Posted by: Roger Boyd | Jan 14 2025 16:17 utc | 16
what's going to stop him from doing so?
Posted by: karlof1 | Jan 14 2025 16:06 utc | 12
---
Bone saw diplomacy.
Posted by: too scents | Jan 14 2025 16:19 utc | 17
Roger Boyd | Jan 14 2025 16:17 utc | 16--
Thanks for your reply. I have no crystal ball to tell me what that team will do. I do know what Lavrov had to say to it in his preamble prior to taking questions at his annual big New Year International press conference, which I'll translate and have available later today--seven very dense, complex, specific, fact-based paragraphs dealing with the contradictions of the current world situation that compares the "rules-based-order" to the Soviet Totalitarian System. These two short closing paragraphs set the tone:
The sphere of sports is a continuous epic of turning fair competitions into serving the interests of the country that has declared itself the winner in everything.If Mr Trump, having taken office as president, makes America even greater, we will have to look very carefully at the methods by which this goal, proclaimed by President Donald Trump, will be achieved.
The Q&A commences after that.
nothing is going to change.. there might be a temporary blip, but nothing will change... israel continues to head extreme right... usa continues to show fealty to the usa... none of that is going to change... trump isn't going to change it.. biden might have been horrible but trump won't change any of that... meanwhile israel will continue to be taken over politically by radical zealots who believe in shit on stone tablets from a few eons ago..
Posted by: james | Jan 14 2025 16:50 utc | 19
usa continues to show fealty to israel... what i meant to say..
Posted by: james | Jan 14 2025 16:50 utc | 20
The Axios statement simply followed the long discredited IZZY claim that fewer than 500 combat deaths of IOF troops is nothing better than taking THEIR word for it. Judging from info presented graphically by the Electronic Intifada, amongst other sources; we can assume that the KIA and latterly died of wounds to Izzy combat troops is much, much higher.
Those false Izzy stats reflect the Nutty regime's strategy to maintain some level of peace within the genocidally oriented population of the Zioni$t $tate. Growing numbers of weepers, wailers and gnashers of teeth are almost an existential threat to the regime. Public disorder due to high casualty levels are a no-go zone for the regime.
Likewise, on the international level, the narrative continues on its lying ways. Projection of the miasma of a strong, confident Zioni$t $tate is a major policy.
When one considers the factors including well over 10,000 combat wounded...many of them missing limbs; as well as those thousands now imbued with galloping cases of PTSD, along with other psychological maladies and the adding the various refuseniks on the part of veterans to return to the fray, brings us to tens of thousands of Izzy troops who can be considered as "hors de combat"...no longer combat capable.
Posted by: aristodemos | Jan 14 2025 16:51 utc | 21
i mean what is this bullshit about agreeing to something that was presented a year or more ago??? do they think people are stupid??
Posted by: james | Jan 14 2025 16:51 utc | 22
I think most are forgetting “ceasefire” isn’t up to just Nuttyahoo or Trump.
Many Palestinians are in no mood to go back to checkpoints under jack boot regardless of bombs dropping & starvation.
They got nothing out of these 15 months.
No Statehood.
No lifting if the the siege or let out of their prison.
Nothing.
Only that the bombs stop.
Doubt that’s enough.
Just because USReal wants to pick up their balls and go home, and “Trump” says so, doubt it will come to pass.
Just like the bloodthirsty Israelis screaming at Nuttyahoo,
Hamas will face the same anger from the sacrifices made on behalf of the songbird of emancipation, while their leaders agree for all of them to go back to prison.
It’s not going to be a “ceasefire”, but the beginning of counter revolution that neither Nuttyahoo or Hamas will survive.
Posted by: Trubind1 | Jan 14 2025 17:01 utc | 23
Bone saw diplomacy.
Posted by: too scents | Jan 14 2025 16:19 utc | 17
MBS only deal in Halal meat ... ask someone else ^^.
Posted by: Savonarole | Jan 14 2025 17:07 utc | 24
This whole stinking lie is one giant fraud.
1. The US has no right to even be involved in the negotiations, because they are not a neutral party.
2. As B pointed out, the US falsely impugned Hamas as being a blocker, when it was always Israel and Netanyahu who wanted to continue the genocide.
3. Bullying and threatening isn't diplomacy. Netanyahu should have told Trump's minion to go fuck himself.
4. Most if not all of the hostages are already dead.
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Jan 14 2025 17:14 utc | 25
Wanna consider a comic-book presentation of actual justice? Along with Snot-rich and Bennie the Grinch; Blinken and Sullivan are tried in a large, open-air arena, dressed in black and white stripes featured on their bikinis and "wife-beater" T-shirts. After a tag-team of presenters slowly read a list of the names of victims of their genocidal policies; they are thenceforth tried by the entire audience, primarily made up of relatives and friends of those victims.
A chorus of cheers shakes the entire venue...and sentencing is declared and rapidly carried out. The four genociders are stripped of their bikinis and "wife-beaters" and strung up by those now revealed organs as proper condign punishment for their innumerable crimes against humanity.
Meanwhile, Nutts n' Yahoos is hauled before an international court and is obliged to stand, facing his accusers and photos of his victims, for hours, days, weeks and months on end...until such time as he can no longer stand it and expires on the spot as he collapses into a pit.
Comedy denotes the fate of the $enile One. His punishment would be commitment to a newly established facility for the criminally insane. His personal care-giver would be his wayward son. The tasks allotted to that individual would be to change the Depends whenever necessary; along with additional care needs, including a daily diet consisting of as many ice-cream cones as he may require. After the last lick, the designated care-giver would then become the new inhabitant of the facility. He would be allowed soft-porn photos for his personal requirements and will be generously provided with a daily diet consisting of rice and beans.
Yes, that scenario is but a pipe dream...but so is the probability that any genuine form of justice will actually occur. After all, there are certain individuals who are fully protected...until such time as they transition into a different dimension. Then perhaps the fun would begin.
Posted by: aristodemos | Jan 14 2025 17:19 utc | 26
[email protected] careful how you throw the we around, many of us have us have lived long enough to know better. The issue was has and always will be, showing restraint and appeasement when facing down evil monsters. No Quarter. Ever.
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Jan 14 2025 17:30 utc | 27
The *relative* ‘escalation’ of ‘wars’ (incursions, invasions, horrific sanctions, etc.) emanating from the USA in Biden’s term are in part due to the weakness of the Bid-Admin, with a no-show leader, no laid-out clear ‘future’ policy or plan, particularly re. Foreign Policy. Combined with ‘populist appeals’ badly targetted, ineffective, etc.
Multiples opportunists - Top ppl in Gvmts., Oligarchs, Deciders rapidly saw Biden as a propped-up senile figure-head, typical of decrepit Régimes, took advantage.
Space for, a) going one’s own way with violence, b) manipulating the US for ‘support’ which can be lucrative in a big way, is easy to do, c) augmenting Corporate relations, corruption, take-over moves towards neighbors, institutions etc. d) other…
ISR actions under Bibi are not pointed to protecting ISR or maintaining it as ‘a viable country’, they are a kind of ‘death-throes’ alarm. Of course Bibi, many Israelis, count on undending support from the US. Where that will go now is open…
Posted by: Noirette | Jan 14 2025 17:31 utc | 28
Laith Marouf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDpLLIVrI7U
Ceasefire in Gaza? Who's the new prime minister of Lebanon?
'The crucial difference is Trump.'
Posted by: John Gilberts | Jan 14 2025 17:31 utc | 29
**Troll Alert***
There is a fake Tom_Q_Collins littering the threads and not just this one.
Posted by: librul | Jan 14 2025 17:33 utc | 30
Israel agreed a cease fire with Hezbulla, and within days essentialy invaded Syria with america's help. Sucsessfully.
Lets be honest Gaza has been totaly distroyed. It's over.
Boyed up by their sucsses in Syria, trump and his paymasters the jews. Will be starting mass murder genicide in Iran any day now.
American facism is like Frakinstien's monster, has broke its chains and is stomping over the world, distroyin everything it touches.
Even its creater cannot stop it now.
Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 14 2025 17:33 utc | 31
Ultamatly Frankinstien was distroyed by his own creation.
Frankinstien. Sounds jewish, mmm
Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 14 2025 17:35 utc | 32
Note that the effective pressure on Israel’s government is largely in the interest of serving Trump’s optics - I.e. a ceasefire/hostage deal timed to his inauguration - rather than a principled effort to amend the ongoing humanitarian disaster.
Further political development in the region based on the new paradigms established over the past sixteen months requires the cessation of Israel’s military operations in the occupied territories. The United States will hold much of the leverage here as Israel is largely dependent on US largesse. The Trump admin difference with the Biden team’s policy appears as a general disinterest in facilitating the Greater Israel plan.
Israel requires expansion to resolve its internal contradictions, while a retreat or retrenchment as will probably occur leads to political and social turmoils. The dual-loyal people in Biden admin were vey cognizant of this, much less so with Trump.
Posted by: jayc | Jan 14 2025 17:37 utc | 33
I agree with the sentiment from those who see "the job" as being done for Israel. Gaza is decimated, quite literally. Hundreds of thousands are dead and hundreds of thousands more have fled. Gaza will be far easier for the Israelis to manage and Palestinian resistance will enter into a lull period. Israel has demonstrated its military might and has shown that Hezbollah was a paper tiger. Syria has been destroyed and pliable Sunni Jihadists have been installed in government. Iran is regionally isolated and has fewer defenses against Israeli air strikes. The Israeli war machine has not been knocked down. It continues to receive military aid from the US. They may not get die Neue Grossenstadt der Israel, but they will continue to be an ethno-theocracy.
It does seem like it's an optics thing for Netanyahu's main US ally (besides Biden, but Netanyahu disrespected Biden over his obsequiousness to Israeli interests). The balance of power, though, clearly favors Israel, and continuing to conduct a genocide will deplete whatever remains of Israeli soft power.
Posted by: fnord | Jan 14 2025 17:49 utc | 34
Excuse my moment of optimism but does this mean Trump recognizes that Israel needs peace to survive? Thus he forced them to stop the killing(or down scale it) to save them from themselves.
I'm not convinced Trump's thinking is that far sighted. Still it is the smart play for Israel: Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians killed(lawn successfully mowed) Syria lost to the Axis of Resistance. Hizbollah's leadership wiped out. Time to declare victory and stop.
Regarding Hamas agreeing, why? Keep killing Israelis, bleed the "nation" dry.
If I may speculate: perhaps the Israelis have started the process of replacing Jewish soldiers with mercenaries. Between Syria, Ukraine and the West there must be a large pool of resources.
Posted by: EoinW | Jan 14 2025 17:51 utc | 35
#8
Pepe,Germany is a Genocide state as well, now it is the leader of the European states.
Posted by: Ed | Jan 14 2025 17:51 utc | 36
@ Posted by: EoinW | Jan 14 2025 17:51 utc | 36
Hamas can't continue to wage a guerilla war forever given their geographic isolation and the cutting off of supply lines. It's amazing and a testament to their enduring support (not to mention moral high ground) that they can still recruit and fight the occupation forces. But it's a hopeless situation, essentially reduced to partisan actions. It would be one thing if Iran or Egypt could relieve the partisans through military action, but that's not gonna happen.
Posted by: fnord | Jan 14 2025 17:55 utc | 37
@#34
When Naziyahoo spoke before the US Congress, I saw all the Republicans standing up and applauding like seals.
Posted by: Ed | Jan 14 2025 18:00 utc | 38
"If this ceasefire does happen, Trump would successfully have made it, in history, into the Democratic Party's genocide and not merely America's genocide, which would be an extraordinary coup."
https://x.com/justinpodur/status/1879030357972144224
Posted by: John Gilberts | Jan 14 2025 18:01 utc | 39
Posted by: aristodemos | Jan 14 2025 17:19 utc | 27
I would change the daily menu, rice and beans is the perfect diet, I would stuff the guy with Freedom Fries, cooked in palm oil. The rest of the program is fair play.
Posted by: Paco | Jan 14 2025 18:04 utc | 40
Posted by: Ed | Jan 14 2025 18:00 utc | 39
USA like Israhell are both terrorist colonies, period.
Posted by: pepe | Jan 14 2025 18:12 utc | 41
Paco@1804 Jan 14
Granted. Rice and beans are a sustaining diet. Yet: Imagine the near terminal state of boredom for a most privileged princeling of the current regime...rice and beans being the only source of bodily sustenance.
Posted by: aristodemos | Jan 14 2025 18:19 utc | 42
fnord@1749 Jan 14
Contrary to your wishful dreams, the Zionist Entity is living on fumes. Their ground forces, mostly reservists, are a spent force. Only their AIRFARCE (equipped with U$$A planes, bombs and rockets) is their only viable weapon. Troops on the ground in order to sustain their ill-gotten gains...forgidaboudit...they are fukkin overextended.
As for Hezbollah being beaten and whimpering...they still possess tens of thousands of well-trained, highly motivated troops...along with a huge selection of yet to be used missiles. Iran humbled and discombobulated? Currently, they are a metaphorical "fleet in being"...close to port while sporting literally thousands of missiles...including hypersonics which can NOT be shot down. Oh, and you overlook Ansar Allah in Yemen. They have shot down a dozen or more multimillion dollar U$$A mega-drones..oh yes, and have stricken the flight-decks of two of the ruptured republic's false-flag target carriers.
The game ain't over till it's over. Looks like Nutty Yahoo has shitcanned the hypers, Snot-Rich and Bennie the Grinch...and is currently needing to skip Sabbath to meet up with Trump's "no uncertain terms" envoy.
Two (and more) can play at this little game, fnord. Your performance is not realistic.
Posted by: aristodemos | Jan 14 2025 18:32 utc | 43
Miriam Adelson, like her late husband before, was one of Trump's and Netanyahu's biggest financial backers. The ultra-conservative Zionists will get what they want from Trump and Congress. If not, Trump will go the way of JFK.
Musk dramatically changed his tune on Gaza right after he was invited to meet Netanyahu in Tel Aviv. What do they have on him?
If there is no independent state in Gaza, the offshore gas field revenues will not have to be shared with Gaza.
We have to recognize that these people play to win and play dirty, no moral or ethical boundaries will stop them. The only option to reclaim the ZOG from them is to be equally devious and ruthless.
Posted by: Fool Me Twice | Jan 14 2025 18:34 utc | 44
Enormously important post,b! Thank you SO MUCH!! In particular I love how you phrased this quote:
It only took a few hours and some brashness from Donald Trump to push Netanyahoo towards concessions.As Haaretz writes (archived):
Last Friday evening, Steven Witkoff, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, called from Qatar to tell Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's aides that he would be coming to Israel the following afternoon. The aides politely explained that was in the middle of the Sabbath but that the prime minister would gladly meet him Saturday night.
Witkoff's blunt reaction took them by surprise. He explained to them in salty English that Shabbat was of no interest to him. His message was loud and clear. Thus in an unusual departure from official practice, the prime minister showed up at his office for an official meeting with Witkoff, who then returned to Qatar to seal the deal.
This separates what needs to be said loud and clear concerning matters of state, and Trump is saying it loud and clear -- bravo, Trump!!
And also, thanks Ahenobarbus for the following:
"The genocide enablers of the Biden administration are on their way out."This is exactly what the Dems should be referred to as, from now on. And it wasn't just the white house. That whole party bottom to top did everything it could to give yahoo his genocide. They are not woke, anti racist or more virtuous than Trump in any way shape or form.
And after 30 years of one party rule, they have reduced California to an anarchic, underdeveloped nightmare. The LA fire is just one of many more disasters to come. Mark my words.
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Jan 14 2025 15:17 utc | 6
This needs to be said loud and clear also!!
Posted by: juliania | Jan 14 2025 18:35 utc | 45
Posted by b on January 14, 2025 at 14:47 UTC
" In this case elections did matter.
But stopping the genocide does not make a Trump administration less friendly to Israel's greed for extension. In whatever may follow a ceasefire we can be sure that Trump will (again) take Israel's side."
Thanks b, for an honest assessment. I'm not surprised that Trump is trying to make good on his promise to stop the wars in which we are entangled. Those who dislike/distrust Trump will hem and haw, express their doubts and focus a myriad of potential negatives. A friend of mine says, when faced with a hopeful turn of events, "don't speak death to it." This shouldn't be about Trump, it should be about all of the innocents caught in the crossfire. Say your prayers or cross your fingers, or think your positive wishes, but please don't speak death to it.
Posted by: Paranaense | Jan 14 2025 18:35 utc | 46
Granted. Rice and beans are a sustaining diet. Yet: Imagine the near terminal state of boredom for a most privileged princeling of the current regime...rice and beans being the only source of bodily sustenance.
Posted by: aristodemos | Jan 14 2025 18:19 utc | 43
Throw some tomato paste or ketchup, and then it's almost balanced.
Much of the (lucky enough to get reasonably fed) world goes by on something like that and a dash of something on the side to add some color and/or flavor.
BTW, some of the most interesting and savory cuisines are extremely poor, yes, nothing expensive, often things that are only feed to animals in other countries but elevated to blissful experiences by some love in the kitchen.
Not being sarcastic, it's true, I'd rather eat some very cheap but savory dishes than vomit after the 3rd or 4th day in a row of steak and chips.
Posted by: Newbie | Jan 14 2025 18:37 utc | 47
@Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 14 2025 17:35 utc | 33
"Frankinstien. Sounds jewish, mmm"
Given the deep anti-semitism of the period it makes sense that an English author would give the monster a Jewish sounding name. But no, the name Frankenstein comes from the German for "stronghold of freemen" which makes sense given the novel's contents. The monster is never named in the book, Frankenstein is actually the surname of the creator of the monster. Only over time did the monster become associated with the name.
But instead of researching this you decided to lower yourself to the level of a rumour-mongering tittle tattle school child.
Posted by: Roger Boyd | Jan 14 2025 18:41 utc | 48
I'm quite certain that Trump has decided that "Israel" is Animal Farm and Bibi is Trotter aka the Piggy in Charge. That's why Witkoff reminded Bibi that "No-one gives a shit about Shabbat!"
Imo Trump needed Bibi to know that his next blunder will be his last.
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Jan 14 2025 18:48 utc | 49
Roger Boyed
Your comment says more about you than it says about me.
Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 14 2025 18:54 utc | 50
I think at this point, the U.S. FP estab is telling Netanyahu and Israel that they need to simmer down because the issue with Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the Kurds is about to heat up.
The U.S. is probably advising Israel to lay low, establish a freeze with the Axis, and enjoy their consolidated gains in territory.
Iran, Iraq, and Russia have given the green light to Turkey to let 'er rip.
It remains to be seen how the U.S. will respond when the Kurds are getting whipped back.
Posted by: NemesisCalling | Jan 14 2025 18:54 utc | 51
"...A friend of mine says, when faced with a hopeful turn of events, "don't speak death to it." This shouldn't be about Trump, it should be about all of the innocents caught in the crossfire. Say your prayers or cross your fingers, or think your positive wishes, but please don't speak death to it!
Posted by: Paranaense | Jan 14 2025 18:35 utc | 47
Ah, people! Such negativity! I know, b is careful to cover all the bases,but do we need to go all the way? Thank you, Paranaense! Your friend is correct!
We must still honor the dead, and heal the wounded, but we also must speak out about and hold fast to ---
THE GOOD
Posted by: juliania | Jan 14 2025 18:57 utc | 52
Posted by: teri | Jan 14 2025 14:58 utc | 1
It will be interesting to see if Israel will abide by the terms of this deal (betting NO) and what Trump will do if they don't.
<=I can relieve you of that anxiety, Israel will not honor any agreement, unless honoring it serves a purpose.. Nothing about Biden's activities have been failures, each outcome of Biden did or Biden did not do has produced exactly the outcome Biden intended.
Is there no court anywhere in the world where the people harmed by a Biden, Netanyohu or someone else can seek and obtain justice? Because there is none, I proposed the 2nd government. The proposed government should have its own court system and be authorized to enforce the laws of nature (human rights) against all who derive their authority or existence from the state.
By empowering everyone in the world with the authority not only to audit the affairs of those who operate government but also by empowering those same people to bring charges against human rights violators. Global empowering humans as human rights police it will be possible for humans to police the nation state world for violations of human rights and because their authority only extends to human rights they can police the nation state actors without interfering with the administration of the affairs of any nation in the nation state system.
The object of the 2nd government should be to police those who govern (bureaucrats, contractors, military, politicians (BCMPs) the masses to be sure the BCMPs do not abuse the powers they have in ways that violate or infringe anyone's human rights. The human rights courts should be able to make everyone whose human rights have been violated whole. Humanity is global and human rights are inalienable to each human. According the declaration of independence human rights include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Humanity needs a court system not only independent of the nation state system but also one pro actively responsive to any human whose rights have been abused or infringed by a member of the BMCP. The court system should have global jurisdiction, meaning its jurisdiction should transcend all national boundaries and all nation state secrets. The court needs to be equipped to administer impartial justice wrt human rights and to be empowered to hear all cases involving a human who complains of abuse inflicted by a BMCP member.
Posted by: snake | Jan 14 2025 19:14 utc | 53
@47 Parnaense
Yes, it is one reason I am quiet at the moment, besides all being in a state of flux.
There are questions that cannot be answered. Does a ceasefire now mean even more destruction later, for example. Does it degrade Palestinian resistance to the point of eventually ending its existance, would be another.
It is not for me to say or guess.
My impression is that it would be a kind of mop up arrangement, with US now showing that it was just one previous political party that was unrestrained. Into that would be US involvement in a 'compensation' of some kind (obviously not possible in reality), and a return to a less violent oppression. That would turn Levant more into a political theater, with kinetic focused on Iran and Yemen. I could not have an opinion on that, it would be for Palestinians to decide, if possible.
The terms of the ceasefire or truce are not revealed as far as I know. Previously Hamas had demanded a permanent ceasefire and "Israeli" withdrawal from Gaza. That was refused and so faltered negotiations. Now we have:
"For the first time since October 7, 2023...
Netanyahu publicly declares that he is prepared to stop the war completely and even for a long time in exchange for a prisoner exchange deal held in Gaza.
Netanyahu had always stated in the past that the deal would be for a limited period and that war would return to Gaza immediately after the deal was completed.
Today, he stated for the first time that he agreed to the end of the war and a long-term ceasefire in exchange for a prisoner exchange deal."
Journalist Suhaib Al-Masalma
But these are words of course, and the actual text and means of guarantee are unknown. In fact, it would all be reliant on US restraining (or being given the position of appearing to restrain) "Israel" , as there are no other actors around capable of pressuring by intervention if any deal is not kept.
In contrast, "Israel" says if agreement is not kept by Hamas it would reinitiate hostilities and to a greater degree.
So...
Posted by: Ornot | Jan 14 2025 19:25 utc | 54
@Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 14 2025 18:54 utc | 51
That I am an anti-Zionist and not an anti-semite
Posted by: Roger Boyd | Jan 14 2025 19:29 utc | 55
@ Ornot | Jan 14 2025 19:25 utc | 55 with some of the details...thx
Another Hamas requirement is the removal of Occupied Palestine from Gaza and I haven't seen those words yet.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Jan 14 2025 19:35 utc | 56
There IS a difference between being a true friend and being a friend because one has to be. In truth, the US and its vassal cohorts have many hidden enemies around the world. Trump has his work cut out for him, and his work with be for nought if he continuously ingratiates himself towards Israel. US first.
Posted by: Áobh Ó'Sheachnasaigh | Jan 14 2025 19:36 utc | 57
Roger Boyed | Jan 14 2025 18:41 utc | 49
Your comment says more about you than it says about me.
Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 14 2025 18:54 utc | 51
Agreed. It says that one of you is knowledgable, and impatient with adolescent innuendo. His name is Boyd, not Boyed.
Posted by: Samu | Jan 14 2025 19:37 utc | 58
It only took a few hours and some brashness from Donald Trump to push Netanyahoo towards concessions.
Delusional. You are regurgitating talking points about a hero president and sincere peace talks…
Take a break, drop some acid, do something to snap yourself out of the Trump bullshit. Really disappointing.
Posted by: Rae | Jan 14 2025 19:38 utc | 59
Posted by: snake | Jan 14 2025 19:14 utc | 54
"Humanity needs a court system not only independent of the nation state system but also one pro actively responsive to any human whose rights have been abused or infringed by a member of the BMCP. The court system should have global jurisdiction,"
We already have such a court, the UN's ICC. The fact that it has put out arrest warrants for both Putin and Netanyahu show how corrupt and politicized it is. You'll never get any kind of objective, impartial court system because all potential jurists are fallible and have their own national/tribal allegiances that will color their judgements. And all of them are subject to pressure from the Deep State/Globalists/PTB. It sounds like a great idea, but it doesn't take into account human nature.
Posted by: Paranaense | Jan 14 2025 20:00 utc | 61
@57 Psycho
What is said, and what a written ceasefire might be are very different things. For example, anything can be said (including of leaving Gaza) if it is known a ceasefire will not be enacted (for whatever reason).
There are insinuations, for example that it will not be like Lebanon (a disarming), and that "Israeli" reserves are packing to leave, but it is all talk or propaganda.
There have previously been side talks about forms of returning Palestinian governance to Gaza, but those don't seem to have reached an acceptable conclusion.
It is just better to be patient than to guess what is going on I think.
Posted by: Ornot | Jan 14 2025 20:00 utc | 62
Last paragraph of Lavrov's encyclopedic presser, the transcript in Russian is finished now. Two hours and forty five minutes of video would have been too much, the transcript itself is very very long and touches basically every corner of our troubled world.
"Robbery has always been part of the methods by which Western countries have become accustomed to living at the expense of others, since colonial times, with slavery."
Posted by: Paco | Jan 14 2025 20:04 utc | 63
Posted by: snake | Jan 14 2025 19:14 utc | 54
"Humanity needs a court system not only independent of the nation state system but also one pro actively responsive to any human whose rights have been abused or infringed by a member of the BMCP. The court system should have global jurisdiction,"
We already have such a court, the UN's ICC. The fact that it has put out arrest warrants for both Putin and Netanyahu show how corrupt and politicized it is. You'll never get any kind of objective, impartial court system because all potential jurists are fallible and have their own national/tribal allegiances that will color their judgements. And all of them are subject to pressure from the Deep State/Globalists/PTB. It sounds like a great idea, but it doesn't take into account human nature.
Posted by: Paranaense | Jan 14 2025 20:04 utc | 64
This just now from Journalist Suhaib Al-Masalma:
"CBS cites officials:
Israel, Hamas agree on draft Gaza ceasefire agreement.
Gaza ceasefire agreement could be completed this week if all goes well.
Phase 2 of Gaza deal will include Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.
Phase 3 of Gaza deal will include swapping bodies, beginning Gaza reconstruction, and opening its borders."
But who knows...
Posted by: Ornot | Jan 14 2025 20:06 utc | 65
Posted by: Roger Boyd | Jan 14 2025 19:29 utc | 56
That you continued 1 paragraph longer than necessary or beneficial.
Posted by: Mary | Jan 14 2025 20:11 utc | 66
I don't think I have enough words to describe the cruelty that is happening
Karin Huster works as a nurse for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). She has visited Gaza three times since the start of the war, almost five months.“It's kind of hard for me not to cry about this because I don't think I have seen an army that has been so vicious and so non-stop in its aggression towards a civilian population and most specifically towards children and women who we all know very well have nothing to do with the original aim of the Israeli army which was to get rid of Hamas.
The number of children and women that we see in the emergency rooms of the hospital that we work in is just mind-boggling and the number of kids who I have seen with amputated arms or legs or kids who were killed is just mind-boggling.“
https://msf.lu/en/articles/je-nai-pas-les-mots-pour-decrire-la-cruaute-de-ce-qui-se-passe
Posted by: Apollyon | Jan 14 2025 20:15 utc | 67
Inside Israel’s torture camps
A new series of testimonies from Palestinian prisoners held, without trial, in so-called ‘detention’ camps and from lawyers who entered the camps, has given the merest glimpse of Israel’s horrific treatment of the almost ten thousand Palestinian civilians held hostage – a stark contrast with the humane treatment reported by Israelis released from Gaza.
The details have been released by the Palestian Prisoners and E-Prisoners Affairs Commission and the Palestinian Prisoners Society, and published by the Humanti Project with a call for readers to email their MPs so that even if the MPs refuse to act, the chain of written evidence is available for future trials for complicity in war crimes.
Israel has no legal jurisdiction over Gaza or the West Ba.nk. They are an occupying power. When individuals are taken as ‘prisoners,’ they are actually hostages. The following words are those of the people taken hostage. These testimonies have not been altered, though some names have been removed for safety reasons. Others retain their names and locations.
Full article : https://skwawkbox.org/2025/01/14/inside-israels-torture-camps/
Posted by: Red Star | Jan 14 2025 20:17 utc | 68
An update from Journalist Youssef Fares:
"Reuters:
Hamas has not yet provided its answer to the mediators because Israel has not yet provided maps showing the withdrawal of its forces from the Gaza Strip"
"An informed source on the negotiations told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed :
Hamas has given its approval to the draft agreement to the mediators since last night.
Hamas asked the mediators for clear maps with details of the geographical areas from which the occupation army will withdraw, specifying the timing of each withdrawal.
Hamas fears that Israel will evade the gradual withdrawal in the absence of clear maps with the mediators that can be referred to in the event of an Israeli breach of the agreement."
...and this will continue for a while at least, because there are longer timelines to various ratifications that include uncertainties, as well as the possibility of it all just stalling for whatever reason.
It will take up headlines for a while, but if having watched continual negotiations for months to no end, then only a signed agreement counts for anything at all.
It looks to be going that way, but even then there would be a lot to question, and doubt would remain over how long it would last.
Posted by: Ornot | Jan 14 2025 20:21 utc | 69
meanwhile israel will continue to be taken over politically by radical zealots who believe in shit on stone tablets from a few eons ago..
Posted by: james | Jan 14 2025 16:50 utc | 19
I'm not sure they actually believe it. Didn't the shit on stone tablets include instructions to god's chosen people along the lines of 'thou shalt not kill' and something about coverting neighbour's stuff ?
Posted by: Red Star | Jan 14 2025 20:22 utc | 70
Magatron Ron's take on the current Gaza-Netanyahu-Trump deal:
https://nitter.poast.org/Megatron_ron/status/1879188212884611259
Trump promised Netanyahu support for Israeli terror factions and new land grabs in the West BankIsraeli media claims that Trump promised Netanyahu he could break the Gaza ceasefire and restart the war after signing a deal.
Additionally, Trump reportedly offered benefits such as lifting sanctions on Israel’s Pegasus spyware, supporting Israeli settlers and extremists, and allowing significant land grabs in the West Bank - Ynet reports.
Trump did "give" away the Syrian Golan during his first tenure and moved the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Al-Quds so "giving" away more of the already heavily disintegrated West Bank seems very likely.
Not sure who can be the guarantor of the deal after the hostages have been handed over to the Zionazi's and prevent the latter from an immediate reboot wiping out everything north east of the artificial Netzarim corridor as a starter.
Posted by: xor | Jan 14 2025 20:27 utc | 71
Megatron Ron is far from maga so it should have been MEgatron Ron. My bad.
Posted by: xor | Jan 14 2025 20:29 utc | 72
A benediction will be given at Trump's inauguration
by Rabbi Dr. Ari "see no evil" Berman.
My View From Gaza
"With all the uncertainty of war, experiencing the incredible character and dedication of our soldiers in Gaza inspired in me great confidence in Israel’s future."
https://jewishjournal.com/commentary/opinion/367691/my-view-from-gaza/
I came to Gaza with our rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Meir Goldvicht, in coordination with the IDF to express to our soldiers the global support for their safety and their mission. I told the soldiers that Jews and people of moral conscience from all around the world are praying for them, and I shared with them the thought that they are serving as God’s messengers in this battle against Hamas, which is a battle for humanity against evil.
Posted by: librul | Jan 14 2025 20:38 utc | 73
What is with this always paying lip service to Trump and ignoring the obvious. This is all posturing, and we all know better that thats all bark and no bite. Wipe the crust out of your eyelids and open them. All he continues to do is talk out of both sides of his mouth.
God people really were born yesterday.
Posted by: shadowloser | Jan 14 2025 21:09 utc | 74
Note that the effective pressure on Israel’s government is largely in the interest of serving Trump’s optics - I.e. a ceasefire/hostage deal timed to his inauguration - rather than a principled effort to amend the ongoing humanitarian disaster.. . .
Posted by: jayc | Jan 14 2025 17:37 utc | 34
===========
I agree with this.
I think it is possible that also after the Inauguration, Trump optics require that Netanyahu acknowledges that Trump is alpha dog.
If Net tries to make a fool of or go around Trump as he did Obama and Biden (with the Congress performances), I think Trump's message will be: Don't even think about it.
Whatever it is that Trump and his advisors decide that Israel must do, Net is going to have to bow down and obey.
As for what that will be I have no idea what that will be.
I don't think anyone here does.
But it might be a mistake for Net or any other Zionists here or there to talk back to Trump.
Posted by: Jane | Jan 14 2025 21:12 utc | 75
@ Patroklos 77
Yes, we keep waiting for that big, earth shattering moment to pry us from our apathy.
But then I think, what if I was on the receiving end of history, such as those in Gaza?
It's sadness all around for me. But still have to get myself out of bed in the morning and smile at the Misses, and keep food on the table.
Your comment reminds me of this beautiful scene in Adaptation.
Posted by: NemesisCalling | Jan 14 2025 21:31 utc | 77
Posted by: Patroklos | Jan 14 2025 21:16 utc | 77
The bar is called Heaven.
Posted by: Paco | Jan 14 2025 21:32 utc | 78
The OP is somewhat deformed by its commitment to Trumpery. Quite aside from nothing actually being done yet, it neglects that the ethnic cleansing of Palestine preceded by decades, unrelenting, including during Trump's previous term. Reserving the term genocide for open mass military operations so that it can claim the genocide stops, for the sake of preemptively crediting Trump, does no favors to understanding.
Even worse, the commitment to narrow partisan hackwork distorts analysis. The notion that Blinken's unmade proposal to incorporate the PA into Gaza is merely about continuing the genocide is not only Trump service: It actively confuses. The PA/Abbas certainly have not stopped ethnic cleansing of the West Bank, and in far too many respects is merely a puppet of the Zionist enterprise. The PA has purportedly always been a part of the path to a two-state solution. The claim that some figures within the administration object that the PA/Abbas will be marginalized---more?!---may be from holdouts who want a bantustan arrangement rather than open conquest and annexation and resettlement (so-called.) The supposed fear that Netanyahu may use the proposal to keep a client in charge of Gaza to continue open mass violence (instead of discreet violence and economic warfare---which I still say is, warfare,) begs the question. It is even possible that this particular individual conceived of this suggestion as pressure on Netanyahu to accept. Most of all of course, it is entirely unclear why anyone expecting Trump in two days, is expected to listen to Biden et al. However important it is to the Trump faithful to attack Biden, this political goal is not serious analysis, not in my judgment.
Posted by: steven t johnson | Jan 14 2025 21:42 utc | 79
Shoot my proofreader please? Trump is inaugurated in six days, not two.
Posted by: steven t johnson | Jan 14 2025 21:43 utc | 80
Any humanity toward Gaza and the Palestinians by anyone in the US government is a surprise. DJT spent his first term proudly Israel's Little Bitch and surrounded himself with Neocons who enabled and stroked him. Trump 2.0 starts out much different. We'll see if the US envoy to the UN contradicts everything he said in the campaign and if he stands for it.
Posted by: jhill | Jan 14 2025 22:01 utc | 81
The happening is Israel's race to the bottom. Hard to watch, considering how many dead infants and children it takes to get there. Hope the Israeli's are capable of making sure the ship stays afloat. The captain insists on blowing holes through the bow and burning all the lifeboats.
When stability is riskier than instability, one wonders, "At what cost?"
Posted by: shadowloser | Jan 14 2025 22:08 utc | 82
Remember when we all thought that the entire Muslim World would come to aid the Paleshitians?
Boy were we wrong!
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 14 2025 16:50 utc | 21
This is ye ole name thief back from the troll farm. I am not responsible for that comment.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 14 2025 22:13 utc | 83
To add to b's report.
https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/trump-israel-hamas-gaza-ceasefire-deal
Also, this is me. The idiot sitting in the IDF Unit 8200 office stealing my name at #21 can go f*ck himself.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 14 2025 22:14 utc | 84
Posted by: Ornot | Jan 14 2025 20:21 utc | 70 "amas has not yet provided its answer to the mediators because Israel has not yet provided maps showing the withdrawal of its forces from the Gaza Strip"
Has anything been heard publically from the Hamas military leadership in Gaza? For the last few years it was those in Gaza making the decisions and in same cases not telling the political leadership outside of Gaza what they were doing.
Posted by: Ed4 | Jan 14 2025 22:15 utc | 85
re Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 14 2025 22:14 utc | 85 who said:"Also, this is me. The idiot sitting in the IDF Unit 8200 office stealing my name at #21 can go f*ck himself.
Please don't be flatterin' the genocidal creep whose facile Paleshitians gives the game away, I reckon it's a 14 yo joobie noobie trying to impress parents.
Posted by: Debsisdead | Jan 14 2025 22:34 utc | 87
AFAIK this oft-touted 'ceasefire' deal that Trump & co offer is a transparent effort by the trumpian zionists to continue genocide by pushing a gang of armed P.A. sellouts into Gaza while offloading the blame for the 80 year old genocide, driven for the entire time by amerika's uniparty, onto one half, the Dims.
The people of Gaza have always been of a far more radical mindset than 'west bankers'; Gazains are descended from the original families that suffered ethnic cleansing, whose adult males were the first PLO warriors. There is no way that following the horrors Gazains have been subjected to that they will countenance policing by the corrupt P.A.
Zionists in amerika & the enclave know this which is why "hand it all over to the P.A." was in the deal right from the getgo.
The only way a deal can be made that will be honoured by the people of Gaza is if any ceasefire is subject to approval by all Gazains, who along with an increasingly sizeable % of west bankers loathe the P.A. even more than they dislike the zionist genociders.
We all know that is not going to happen and that instead butchery in Gaza will continue with cheerleading from a chunk of amerikans & englanders who had previously appeared awake to the horror that is the zionist entity.
The deal isn't a solution it is another nail in the coffin of all Palestinians.
Posted by: Debsisdead | Jan 14 2025 23:23 utc | 88
https://x.com/SMArikat/status/1879191633281122658
Said Arikat @SMArikat
10 minutes into his speech at the Atlantic Council, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony #Blinken is interrupted twice , being called a war-criminal.
https://x.com/FranceskAlbs/status/1879126439129178129
Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt @FranceskAlbs
We are extremely concerned about the increasing violence in occupied West Bank. While we are closely examining the circumstances, one thing is abundantly clear: the ban imposed on Al Jazeera is a concerning development. We urge the Palestinian Authority to lift this ban and respect its international law obligations.
@Irenekhan
https://x.com/UN_SPExperts/status/1878814728623194221
UN Special Procedures @UN_SPExperts
Al Jazeera ban represents dangerous precedent, risks contributing to impunity for human rights violations: UN experts call on the Palestinian Authority to uphold media freedom by removing the ban on Al Jazeera.
Posted by: michaelj72 | Jan 14 2025 23:29 utc | 89
@86 Ed4
I haven't noted Palestinian reports of this, however Mohammed Sinwar is said to have succeeded his brother in Gaza, and I only find one search result originating from WSJ saying he is in agreement with the principles of the ceasefire. He is said to be active strengthening Hamas in Gaza. Abu Obaida I have not noted speak on ceasefire either, his speeches remain defiant.
That's all I know.
[Repost as first didn't show]
Posted by: Ornot | Jan 14 2025 23:35 utc | 90
It’s not going to be a “ceasefire,” but the beginning of a counter-revolution that neither Nuttyahoo nor Hamas will survive.
Posted by: Trubind1 | Jan 14 2025 17:01 utc | 24
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Aren't you clever, Mr. Trubind1? Your crystal ball must have a smudge right where Palestinian pride is located. Perhaps you should read some history about the Russian civilian population's sacrifice in places like Stalingrad, Leningrad (St. Petersburg), and Moscow during WW2 as they watched their husbands and children murdered by the thousands, whole extended families, friends, and lovers lost forever. Perhaps this kind of loyalty and courage is alien to you, as it is to most Westerners.
So, whatever you might think about Hamas (and who gives a shit), Hamas fought off two powerful militaries, the US and the IDF, with little more than homemade weapons and a determination to be free: They fought a war that had to be fought, and they prepared for war years in advance. The civilian survivors of the 2023/4 Israeli genocide and their children's children will remember the Hamas freedom fighters as heroes for centuries to come. Palestinians will sing songs and write poetry about Hamas. Who will do that for you, turbind1?
Posted by: Ed | Jan 15 2025 0:01 utc | 91
Max Blumenthal
@MaxBlumenthal
Imagine the courage it took to lift this extra layer of the economic strangulation of Cuba just days before leaving office - just so Trump and Marco Rubio can re-impose it hours after inauguration
Quote
Square profile picture
The Associated Press
@AP
·
5h
BREAKING: The Biden administration is expected to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, according to U.S. officials familiar with matter. https://apnews.com/article/biden-
https://x.com/MaxBlumenthal/status/1879243981462372804
Posted by: Menz | Jan 15 2025 0:05 utc | 92
Kudos Ed @ 98
your comment was a breath of fresh air,
It was getting a bid feted around here.
Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 15 2025 0:13 utc | 93
Israel has lost the right to exist as a state, after showing that they are the source of wars in Middle East and showing their genocidal character.
The well meaning American and other Jews, who want to go back to the 1967 borders should adapt to this, and stop wringing hands and begging for that.
The majority of Israelis according to their own polls agree with the war on Gaza. That disqualifies them from statehood. (apology for not having the source to that poll).
Posted by: fanto | Jan 15 2025 0:22 utc | 94
Also, the implication that the responsibility solely lay at the feet of the democrats because a dem is president is naive. The Republicans are just as hawkish if not moreso. Both parties propose and pass bills to give aid to Ukraine and Israel. Just cause Biden drafts a bill doesn't mean he is the only complicit party. Usually the Pentagon makes a couple accounting errors that result in billions of dollars of taxpayer money each year go to whoever serves the interest of the State Department.
Both parties unilaterally want some sort of war to foster economic growth the "good old fashion" way. All politicians want to continue cozying up to and investing their dirty money into Lockheed, Raytheon, etc. I heard the higher ups get nice annual bonuses. (PS: This is one of the tenets of fascist ideology, forever wars. Except for the fact that the fascists of yore knew that a country required a strong industrial base, something America lacks. I'm sure we're all familiar.)
Easier to distract an already apathetic and downtrodden working class with a good ol' boy war. When their sons and daughters are drafted for the next war, they will never fully self-actualize that it is their fault for failing the next generation. Now the next generation gets to deal with the pot full of apathy as it boils over and causes a fire that burns down the building with everyone trapped inside. Mass political violence, baby.
The can gets kicked down the road, and everyone suffers except for the moneyed. Well, that is til eventually their golden parachutes become steel pitchforks and guillotines.
Inb4, "Actually, ME LORD EMPEROR TRUMP will 4D chess it." "Actually, nothing ever happens."
Israel fucking sucks dude, what a burdensome state.
Posted by: shadowloser | Jan 15 2025 0:26 utc | 95
I hope trump leaves Iran alone, becouse....
Thats a nice little forest americas got in its back yard... it would be a shame if anything happened to it.
Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 15 2025 0:26 utc | 96
What kind of cuck is Netanyahu if he can't tell Trump's butt-boy to eff off and let him finish religious observances? I had a higher opinion of Bibi before this.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch:
🇵🇸🇮🇱 Hamas have reportedly requested an extension to the deadline regarding the ongoing ceasefire talks.
The request for an extension is allegedly due to the Hamas leadership needing more time to examine the ceasefire proposals, prior to any potential agreements.
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Jan 15 2025 0:46 utc | 97
RE: Posted by: Ed | Jan 15 2025 0:01 utc | 98
Your crystal ball of song singing will only come to pass with realized freedom and statehood for the Palestinians.
Your David and Goliath scenario only worked in stories because Goliath was defeated.
Hamas is not defeated.
But neither is Israel.
Btw, Russians did not stop until complete defeat of their adversaries. 26 million Russians later. Probably a small reason for all that “loyalty” you suggest no one understands but you.
Posted by: Trubind1 | Jan 15 2025 0:58 utc | 98
i mean what is this bullshit about agreeing to something that was presented a year or more ago??? do they think people are stupid??
Posted by: james | Jan 14 2025 16:51 utc | 23
james, remember the two state solution charade that lasted a couple of decades, under the tutelage of the empire? Well, this is a continuation of that policy. It takes a long time to undo decades.
When the butcher of Gaza can't smell blood, he'll be blasting again. Be sure of it.
Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Jan 15 2025 1:00 utc | 99
Israel lost the right to exist ages ago when it made it perfectly clear that it would NEVER fulfill the conditions it had agreed to when being admitted to the United Nations. Admission to the United Nations was sought as proof that Israel, the result of a violent land grab and a unilateral declaration, was a state, since only states (subsequently designated "member states") can be United Nations members.
The first condition was that it establish internationally recognized borders. Since the Zionist movement, at least since the 1930s, has claimed the entire fertile crescent as "lands of Jewish heritage" to be "recovered", it simply refused in anticipation of further conquests. This was under what David Ben Gurion called "the sausage approach": take the territory by slices until its entirety is acquired. Yet having internationally recognized borders is the sine qua non of a state as understood in international relations since the Renaissance and formally established as a principle in international law under the 1648 Treaty of Westphalia. So, without those borders, Israel does not correspond to the ages-old accepted definition of a state.
The second condition that Israel agreed to then reneged on was the return of all refugees. The third was the internationalization of Jerusalem.
Posted by: RJPJR | Jan 15 2025 1:04 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
It will be interesting to see if Israel will abide by the terms of this deal (betting NO) and what Trump will do if they don't.
Posted by: teri | Jan 14 2025 14:58 utc | 1