NY Times story confirms that Netanyahu kept Hamas in power.

[LiberalArkie]

The story is nominally about the beleaguered peacemakers in Israel and Palestine, but the money quote is deep within:

All means were good to undo the notion of Palestinian statehood. In 2019, Mr. Netanyahu told a meeting of his center-right Likud party: “Those who want to thwart the possibility of a Palestinian state should support the strengthening of Hamas and the transfer of money to Hamas. This is part of our strategy.”

Put differently, Netanyahu supported the Palestinian Leopards Eating Faces party because he didn’t think the leopards would eat Israeli faces, as he wanted the excuse of an unreasonable governing entity in Gaza to prevent a peace agreement. The Times story confirms the rumor. It wasn’t that Hamas was all that popular among Palestinians, though certainly extremists do gain popularity from oppression, but the settler movement in the West Bank wanted to use Hamas to keep the P.A. weak.

Hamas, of course, also doesn’t want a peace agreement. They are a movement that grows out of anger, and the Israeli bombing of civilian targets in Gaza has probably made Hamas stronger, not weaker. Wrestlers cry uncle, peoples don’t. Thus sadly, Hamas may well come out closer to their goal, their brutal attack on civilians a kind of success, albeit costly. Israel needs to find a way to contain the damage. But that isn’t Netanyahu’s own agenda, or for that matter competence.

Snip

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/10/23/2201155/-NY-Times-story-confirms-that-Netanyahu-kept-Hamas-in-power?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web

[underpants]

1. Total disaster.

On all sides with everyone to blame.

[MOMFUDSKI]

2. Hey bibi -

The World is Watching.

[hlthe2b]

3. There is now-- and never has been-- anything about this issue that is uncomplicated, simple.

It pains me greatly that some want to make it so.

Are there moral issues that seem black and white? Yes. And I get why that should be the focus--the immediate harm that has been inflicted. There is a broader, far more complicated context though, try as we might to ignore it. If we are to prevent splintering the world into more and more combative factions-- culminating in at least a vast regional war--we would be wise to look at ALL the issues, past, present, and future.

[Mossfern]

4. I always considered Bibi a jerk

Just putting it mildly ....

[LiberalArkie]

5. I still to this day think it is always about money. I think "follow the money" will hold up in history.

[moondust]

6. And power.

More land --> more settlements --> more families --> more voters to rule over --> more power.

I suspect the craving for more power by some power-hungry politicians may also be a big part of the anti-abortion movements.

[LiberalArkie]

8. I look at the Gaza Strip on a map and all I see in the future is a lot of expensive beach front condos

With their own water desalination systems etc. That is the only thing that makes sense with the way it is being leveled.

[Girard442]

10. I can see the brochure.

"Excellent locations to build. Really, not nearly as much unexploded ordnance as you've heard."

[moondust]

12. That could certainly explain Gaza.

But not so much expanding the settlements in the West Bank.

I've sort of been expecting Bibi or somebody to volunteer to clean up all the rubble they've created in Gaza (without mentioning what would come next).

[LiberalArkie]

13. That is why I see them leveling everything. Smaller pieces to use for land fill. And I just do not think

the Palestinians will be welcome in the new condos.. The little settlements are nice for people that like rural living, but The younger crowd seems to like the city lifestyle.

I really hope I am wrong, but.....

[redqueen]

7. K&R

[sarisataka]

9. Which is why he must go

And face justice in the courts for his crimes.

[Mosby]

11. How does Israel control the flow of money to Hamas?

Seems pretty convenient to place the blame for Hamas at the feet of the Israeli government.

Abbas and his party don't support a 2 state solution either, so what Hamas and Bibi did or didn't do doesn't matter.