Israel-Gaza war

[pppolitics]

Ireland, Spain and Norway say they will recognize a Palestinian state

CNN - Ireland, Spain and Norway have announced plans to formally recognize a Palestinian state next week, in a move that is likely to bolster the global Palestinian cause but further strain relations between Europe and Israel.

The three European nations say their landmark decision is the best way to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East, but it sparked swift condemnation from Israel, as its foreign minister ordered the immediate recall of its ambassadors from those countries.

Most of the world already recognizes Palestinian statehood. More than 140 out of 193 member states of the United Nations have made their recognition official. But only some nations in the 27-member European Union are among them.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris told a Wednesday news conference in Dublin: “Today, Ireland, Norway and Spain are announcing that we recognize the state of Palestine. Each of us will now undertake whatever national steps are necessary to give effect to that decision.”

[...]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/22/middleeast/palestinian-statehood-spain-norway-ireland-intl/index.html

[pppolitics]

Ireland, Spain and Norway say they will recognize a Palestinian state

CNN - Ireland, Spain and Norway have announced plans to formally recognize a Palestinian state next week, in a move that is likely to bolster the global Palestinian cause but further strain relations between Europe and Israel.

The three European nations say their landmark decision is the best way to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East, but it sparked swift condemnation from Israel, as its foreign minister ordered the immediate recall of its ambassadors from those countries.

Most of the world already recognizes Palestinian statehood. More than 140 out of 193 member states of the United Nations have made their recognition official. But only some nations in the 27-member European Union are among them.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris told a Wednesday news conference in Dublin: “Today, Ireland, Norway and Spain are announcing that we recognize the state of Palestine. Each of us will now undertake whatever national steps are necessary to give effect to that decision.”

[...]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/22/middleeast/palestinian-statehood-spain-norway-ireland-intl/index.html

Belgium will likely follow. It's just one government party (MR) that is standing on the brakes here, but I suspect we will eventually recognise Palestine as well.

Belgium is likely the next country to recognize Palestine.

[pppolitics]

The War Is Shifting Europe’s Politics Away From Israel

In Europe, long a vital source of support for Israel, the political center of gravity is moving away from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Spain, Ireland and Norway on Wednesday recognized Palestinian statehood, despite vehement Israeli and American opposition. And most European governments offered unequivocal support to the International Criminal Court this week, after it requested arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister and defense minister, along with leaders of Hamas.

Israel still has staunch allies within the European Union, especially Hungary and the Czech Republic, and key players like Germany, despite growing discomfort with Israel’s conduct, have not shown any inclination to alter their stance. The growing fissures within Europe mean that the consensus-driven European Union will not change its positions any time soon.

But European countries face rising international and domestic pressure to take a firmer stand against Israel’s handling of the Palestinian territories, and particularly the devastating war in Gaza.

Among European Union members, Sweden has for a decade stood alone in recognizing Palestinian statehood. Europe has long supported the eventual creation of a Palestinian state — the “two-state solution” that Israel’s government steadfastly opposes — and voiced frustration with Israel’s handling of the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, but most nations have been unwilling to go further.

[...]

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/22/world/middleeast/europe-israel-palestinian-state.html

[pppolitics]

US ‘concerned’ by Israel’s isolation, Biden national security adviser says

The US is concerned about Israel’s growing diplomatic isolation among countries that have traditionally supported it, Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said on Wednesday.

Sullivan’s remarks, at a White House briefing, followed the announcement by Ireland, Spain and Norway that they will next week formally recognise a Palestinian state. They also came amid efforts by the Biden administration and Congress to coordinate a response to a decision by the international criminal court (ICC) to seek an arrest warrant for Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, over Israeli actions in Gaza.

Asked if he was concerned about Israel’s diplomatic isolation, Sullivan – who is due to visit the country in the coming days – answered affirmatively.

“I think it’s a fair question,” he said. “As a country that stands strong in defense of Israel in international forums like the United Nations, we certainly have seen a growing chorus of voices, including voices that had previously been in support of Israel, drift in another direction. That is of concern to us because we do not believe that that contributes to Israel’s long-term security or vitality … So that’s something we have discussed with the Israeli government.”

[...]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/22/israel-national-security-jake-sullivan

[pppolitics]

https://twitter.com/ytirawi/status/1793628894245118205?t=mdaP7b0yTlOUdKdAELIf2-B...
The most moral army in the world.

When committing war crimes, be sure to document it!

[pppolitics]

Israelis don't give a crap because they've never faced any consequences and they never will until the United States elects a leader that doesn't suck. Unfortunately, the two candidates running are by far the worst possible candidates for each party, so again, why should Israel care? They can be the favorite country of every sociopath who enjoys dead Muslims, while facing no repercussions for bombing cities and destroying culture for at least the next four years.

Not to nitpick but Haley was unquestionably worse on foreign policy and probably on domestic stuff too. But other than that I completely agree. Israeli society has been very pampered.

The chutzpah it takes for someone living in Georgia to say a people subjected to constant invasions, knifings and suicide bombings over decades is ‘pampered’ is breathtaking

Compared to the Palestinians (who have constantly been threatened and attacked by violent Jewish settlers), they have certainly been.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/16/magazine/israel-west-bank-settler-violence-impunity.html

[pppolitics]

ICJ just ordered Israel to halt military operation in Rafah.

[pppolitics]

ICJ just ordered Israel to halt military operation in Rafah.

Won't happen
that what will happen, no need to say anything else.

Of cause, not.

Israel has a culture of impunity and doesn't care about international laws.

[pppolitics]

This is a pretty smart move from the ICJ.

Biden said that his redline is Rafah.

Is he going to use the US's seat on the UN Security Council to veto his own redline?

[pppolitics]

Whether you agree with the IJC or not, this is little more than silly virtue signaling that will ultimately end up making them look impotent when Israel tells them to go piss up a rope and they’re powerless to enforce their ruling beyond a bunch of useless whining.  

It’s cute that they think they get to dictate Israel or any other country’s wartime military strategy, but unfortunately for them, we live in a world of sovereign nations rather than some one world government bureaucratic hellscape.  They have no more say in Israeli military policy than they do in American military policy nor should they.  And I say this as someone who strongly believes that Israel should withdraw from Rafah.

And if the U.N. tries to enforce any of this by force, of course the US will veto it.  Not even a close call.

Biden said that his redline is Rafah.

Is he going to use the US's seat on the UN Security Council to veto his own redline?

[pppolitics]

Whether you agree with the IJC or not, this is little more than silly virtue signaling that will ultimately end up making them look impotent when Israel tells them to go piss up a rope and they’re powerless to enforce their ruling beyond a bunch of useless whining.  

It’s cute that they think they get to dictate Israel or any other country’s wartime military strategy, but unfortunately for them, we live in a world of sovereign nations rather than some one world government bureaucratic hellscape.  They have no more say in Israeli military policy than they do in American military policy nor should they.  And I say this as someone who strongly believes that Israel should withdraw from Rafah.

And if the U.N. tries to enforce any of this by force, of course the US will veto it.  Not even a close call.

Biden said that his redline is Rafah.

Is he going to use the US's seat on the UN Security Council to veto his own redline?

Yes. He is.

And even if he took leave of his senses and escalated with Israel like Obama did on his way out the door, it still wouldn't stop Israel from doing what needs to be done. Nothing will.

He would look even weaker and more pathetic.

It's embarrassing that he allows Netanyahu to disrespect him.

He makes the entire US looks weak.

[pppolitics]

Whether you agree with the IJC or not, this is little more than silly virtue signaling that will ultimately end up making them look impotent when Israel tells them to go piss up a rope and they’re powerless to enforce their ruling beyond a bunch of useless whining.  

It’s cute that they think they get to dictate Israel or any other country’s wartime military strategy, but unfortunately for them, we live in a world of sovereign nations rather than some one world government bureaucratic hellscape.  They have no more say in Israeli military policy than they do in American military policy nor should they.  And I say this as someone who strongly believes that Israel should withdraw from Rafah.

And if the U.N. tries to enforce any of this by force, of course the US will veto it.  Not even a close call.

Biden said that his redline is Rafah.

Is he going to use the US's seat on the UN Security Council to veto his own redline?

Yes. He is.

And even if he took leave of his senses and escalated with Israel like Obama did on his way out the door, it still wouldn't stop Israel from doing what needs to be done. Nothing will.

He would look even weaker and more pathetic.

It's embarrassing that he allows Netanyahu to disrespect him.

He makes the entire US looks weak.

"The US has the right to dictate other countries' foreign policy, up to and including existential issues"
 but leftistly.

That's right.

Israel is the biggest recipient of US aid since World War II, so the US has the right to dictate Israel's foreign policy.

[pppolitics]

Whether you agree with the IJC or not, this is little more than silly virtue signaling that will ultimately end up making them look impotent when Israel tells them to go piss up a rope and they’re powerless to enforce their ruling beyond a bunch of useless whining.  

It’s cute that they think they get to dictate Israel or any other country’s wartime military strategy, but unfortunately for them, we live in a world of sovereign nations rather than some one world government bureaucratic hellscape.  They have no more say in Israeli military policy than they do in American military policy nor should they.  And I say this as someone who strongly believes that Israel should withdraw from Rafah.

And if the U.N. tries to enforce any of this by force, of course the US will veto it.  Not even a close call.

Biden said that his redline is Rafah.

Is he going to use the US's seat on the UN Security Council to veto his own redline?

Yes. He is.

And even if he took leave of his senses and escalated with Israel like Obama did on his way out the door, it still wouldn't stop Israel from doing what needs to be done. Nothing will.

He would look even weaker and more pathetic.

It's embarrassing that he allows Netanyahu to disrespect him.

He makes the entire US looks weak.

"The US has the right to dictate other countries' foreign policy, up to and including existential issues"
 but leftistly.

That's right.

Israel is the biggest recipient of US aid since World War II, so the US has the right to dictate Israel's foreign policy.

This is one of the most bizarre takes I’ve seen in this thread and that’s saying something.  Not the worst (although it is awful, don’t get me wrong), but certainly one of the most bizarre.  “Israel is the 51st state because we send aid to our allies” is just…woof.  Beyond that, I’ll just say there is a lot to unpack here and leave it at that.

You should look outside the Atlas.

Plenty of analysts have said the same.

Being Israel's biggest arms supplier, the US have plenty of leverage over Israel, but Biden is, for whatever reasons, afraid to use it.

[pppolitics]

Whether you agree with the IJC or not, this is little more than silly virtue signaling that will ultimately end up making them look impotent when Israel tells them to go piss up a rope and they’re powerless to enforce their ruling beyond a bunch of useless whining.  

It’s cute that they think they get to dictate Israel or any other country’s wartime military strategy, but unfortunately for them, we live in a world of sovereign nations rather than some one world government bureaucratic hellscape.  They have no more say in Israeli military policy than they do in American military policy nor should they.  And I say this as someone who strongly believes that Israel should withdraw from Rafah.

And if the U.N. tries to enforce any of this by force, of course the US will veto it.  Not even a close call.

Biden said that his redline is Rafah.

Is he going to use the US's seat on the UN Security Council to veto his own redline?

Yes. He is.

And even if he took leave of his senses and escalated with Israel like Obama did on his way out the door, it still wouldn't stop Israel from doing what needs to be done. Nothing will.

He would look even weaker and more pathetic.

It's embarrassing that he allows Netanyahu to disrespect him.

He makes the entire US looks weak.

"The US has the right to dictate other countries' foreign policy, up to and including existential issues"
 but leftistly.

That's right.

Israel is the biggest recipient of US aid since World War II, so the US has the right to dictate Israel's foreign policy.

And when Israel says no? When Israel makes clear that if the US cuts off aid, it will simply use whatever it has to finish the mission against Hamas? Don't be shy, what's your master plan now that you've declared Israel to be a vassal state of the mighty US empire?

Israel has enough weapons to destroy Rafah, but then what?

Israel is going to have to restock its weapons.

[pppolitics]

Whether you agree with the IJC or not, this is little more than silly virtue signaling that will ultimately end up making them look impotent when Israel tells them to go piss up a rope and they’re powerless to enforce their ruling beyond a bunch of useless whining.  

It’s cute that they think they get to dictate Israel or any other country’s wartime military strategy, but unfortunately for them, we live in a world of sovereign nations rather than some one world government bureaucratic hellscape.  They have no more say in Israeli military policy than they do in American military policy nor should they.  And I say this as someone who strongly believes that Israel should withdraw from Rafah.

And if the U.N. tries to enforce any of this by force, of course the US will veto it.  Not even a close call.

Biden said that his redline is Rafah.

Is he going to use the US's seat on the UN Security Council to veto his own redline?

Yes. He is.

And even if he took leave of his senses and escalated with Israel like Obama did on his way out the door, it still wouldn't stop Israel from doing what needs to be done. Nothing will.

He would look even weaker and more pathetic.

It's embarrassing that he allows Netanyahu to disrespect him.

He makes the entire US looks weak.

"The US has the right to dictate other countries' foreign policy, up to and including existential issues"
 but leftistly.

That's right.

Israel is the biggest recipient of US aid since World War II, so the US has the right to dictate Israel's foreign policy.

This is one of the most bizarre takes I’ve seen in this thread and that’s saying something.  Not the worst (although it is awful, don’t get me wrong), but certainly one of the most bizarre.  “Israel is the 51st state because we send aid to our allies” is just…woof.  Beyond that, I’ll just say there is a lot to unpack here and leave it at that.

You should look outside the Atlas.

Plenty of analysts have said the same.

Being Israel's biggest arms supplier, the US have plenty of leverage over Israel, but Biden is, for whatever reasons, afraid to use it.

That’s very different than what you said earlier.  That’s some serious backpedaling you’re doing there!  

Anyway, Biden has done everything he reasonably can and then some without taking a pointlessly taking a wrecking ball to American foreign policy interests.  What you’re choosing to ignore is that Israel is a sovereign country and the US can’t simply force them to do what we say if their government is hellbent on doing something else.  

We can influence them and it’s pretty clear from how much more restrained they’ve been in Rafah that this pressure did have some effect.  However, influence and absolute control are extremely different things.  Whether willfully or due to genuine ignorance, you’re fundamentally misunderstanding the difference between an ally and a puppet state.

No, that is what I said earlier.

I had assumed that you would have known that aid from the US to Israel are used to buy weapons.

[pppolitics]

Whether you agree with the IJC or not, this is little more than silly virtue signaling that will ultimately end up making them look impotent when Israel tells them to go piss up a rope and they’re powerless to enforce their ruling beyond a bunch of useless whining.  

It’s cute that they think they get to dictate Israel or any other country’s wartime military strategy, but unfortunately for them, we live in a world of sovereign nations rather than some one world government bureaucratic hellscape.  They have no more say in Israeli military policy than they do in American military policy nor should they.  And I say this as someone who strongly believes that Israel should withdraw from Rafah.

And if the U.N. tries to enforce any of this by force, of course the US will veto it.  Not even a close call.

Biden said that his redline is Rafah.

Is he going to use the US's seat on the UN Security Council to veto his own redline?

Yes. He is.

And even if he took leave of his senses and escalated with Israel like Obama did on his way out the door, it still wouldn't stop Israel from doing what needs to be done. Nothing will.

He would look even weaker and more pathetic.

It's embarrassing that he allows Netanyahu to disrespect him.

He makes the entire US looks weak.

"The US has the right to dictate other countries' foreign policy, up to and including existential issues"
 but leftistly.

That's right.

Israel is the biggest recipient of US aid since World War II, so the US has the right to dictate Israel's foreign policy.

This is one of the most bizarre takes I’ve seen in this thread and that’s saying something.  Not the worst (although it is awful, don’t get me wrong), but certainly one of the most bizarre.  “Israel is the 51st state because we send aid to our allies” is just…woof.  Beyond that, I’ll just say there is a lot to unpack here and leave it at that.

You should look outside the Atlas.

Plenty of analysts have said the same.

Being Israel's biggest arms supplier, the US have plenty of leverage over Israel, but Biden is, for whatever reasons, afraid to use it.

That’s very different than what you said earlier.  That’s some serious backpedaling you’re doing there!  

Anyway, Biden has done everything he reasonably can and then some without taking a pointlessly taking a wrecking ball to American foreign policy interests.  What you’re choosing to ignore is that Israel is a sovereign country and the US can’t simply force them to do what we say if their government is hellbent on doing something else.  

We can influence them and it’s pretty clear from how much more restrained they’ve been in Rafah that this pressure did have some effect.  However, influence and absolute control are extremely different things.  Whether willfully or due to genuine ignorance, you’re fundamentally misunderstanding the difference between an ally and a puppet state.

No, that is what I said earlier.

I had assumed that you would have known that aid from the US to Israel are used to buy weapons.

No, earlier you said the US can dictate Israeli foreign policy because we provide them with aid.  Influence =/= dictate an ally’s foreign policy as though they’re a puppet state

The US can dictate Israeli foreign policy because we provide them with aid which Israel uses to buy weapons.

Okay. Happy now?

[pppolitics]

Occupation Has Corrupted the Humanity of Israel’s Military

Israel’s military has brought utter devastation to the Palestinians of Gaza after the attack by Hamas on Oct. 7. But the extreme response is not only a reaction to the horrors of that day. It is also a product of the decades-long role the military has played in enforcing Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

The occupation has cultivated a longstanding disregard among Israeli soldiers for Palestinian lives and similar impulses in the words and actions of commanders can be seen to lie behind the horrors of what we are witnessing today.

Israel has governed a people denied basic human rights and the rule of law through constant coercion, threats and intimidation. The idea that the only answer to Palestinian resistance, both violent and nonviolent, is greater — and more indiscriminate — force has shown signs of becoming entrenched in the Israel Defense Forces and in Israeli politics.

I know this through the numerous testimonies collected by my organization, Breaking the Silence, which was formed in 2004 by a group of Israeli veterans to expose the reality of Israel’s military occupation. We know firsthand and from thousands of soldiers that military occupation is imposed on civilians through fear, which is instilled by the growing and often arbitrary use of force.

For 20 years, we have heard these soldiers speak of the gradual erosion of principles that, even if never fully upheld, were once seen as fundamental to the moral character of the Israel Defense Forces. We have continued our work despite criticism from the military and the government.

I also know this because I myself have undergone this moral corruption. I, like many Israeli soldiers, went into the military thinking I knew the difference between right and wrong and had a clear sense of the boundaries on legitimate use of force. But every boundary is destined to be redrawn in a military occupation, whose very existence relies on terrorizing a civilian population into submission.

[...]

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/20/opinion/israel-gaza-idf-palestinians-human-rights.html

[pppolitics]

https://twitter.com/amanpour/status/1794052671621460132

[pppolitics]

https://twitter.com/AndrewFeinberg/status/1794066650439831733

[pppolitics]

Human Rights Watch co-founder Aryeh Neier, who fled the Nazis as a child, tells Fareed why he has come to the conclusion that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2024/05/26/gps-0526-icc-charges-against-israel.cnn

Is Israel Committing Genocide?

https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/06/06/is-israel-committing-genocide-aryeh-neier/

[pppolitics]

https://twitter.com/syylllia/status/1794855529753506121
https://twitter.com/lululitae/status/1794828582075900256
https://twitter.com/Portes_Thomas/status/1794835072895565936
https://twitter.com/rifain_nouvelle/status/1794818507089076591
https://twitter.com/stairwayto3dom/status/1794817769730388093
https://twitter.com/JonnyFX1/status/1794862444156006600
https://twitter.com/hamad_alnajjar/status/1794828909797912693

[pppolitics]

https://twitter.com/academic_la/status/1794838600041001106?t=sgI2X4pydY7wJ1AVkCp...

God I can’t wait for the Israel can do no wrong crowd defending this one

It's TikTok's fault!

TikTok is poisoning people against Israel.

[pppolitics]

https://twitter.com/academic_la/status/1794838600041001106?t=sgI2X4pydY7wJ1AVkCp...

That’s horrible, no ifs, ands, or buts.  It’s objectively not genocide, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a horrific act.  And you can’t even argue that Israel was targeting such high-ranking Hamas officials that it was worth the risk or whatever.  These were not top guys.  This strike never should’ve been launched.

According to the Palestine Red Crescent Society, the area hit is a designated "safe zone".

This isn't the first time that Israel has hit a "safe zone" either.

Time to reconsider the "objectively not genocide" part.

[pppolitics]

https://twitter.com/syylllia/status/1794855529753506121
https://twitter.com/lululitae/status/1794828582075900256
https://twitter.com/Portes_Thomas/status/1794835072895565936
https://twitter.com/rifain_nouvelle/status/1794818507089076591
https://twitter.com/stairwayto3dom/status/1794817769730388093
https://twitter.com/JonnyFX1/status/1794862444156006600
https://twitter.com/hamad_alnajjar/status/1794828909797912693

That JonnyUTD guy is a pretty rabidly anti-Semitic nutjob whose Twitter is filled with Hamas propaganda and conspiracy theories like his claim that Hamas’ campaign of rape and sexual violence against Israeli civilians on 10/7 was an Israeli hoax.  

To be clear, this doesn’t mitigate how bad what happened in Rafah just now was, but it’s also not a great look that you’re treating this guy like a remotely credible source.

I don't care about who "JonnyUTD" is.

Are you disputing the legitimacy of the videos that have been posted?

[pppolitics]

https://twitter.com/academic_la/status/1794838600041001106?t=sgI2X4pydY7wJ1AVkCp...

That’s horrible, no ifs, ands, or buts.  It’s objectively not genocide, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a horrific act.  And you can’t even argue that Israel was targeting such high-ranking Hamas officials that it was worth the risk or whatever.  These were not top guys.  This strike never should’ve been launched.

According to the Palestine Red Crescent Society, the area hit is a designated "safe zone".

This isn't the first time that Israel has hit a "safe zone" either.

Time to reconsider the "objectively not genocide" part.

That’s not genocide.  A war crime?  Quite possibly, but not genocide.  Words have meaning.

Maybe you think that I looked up "genocide" in a dictionary and using the term willy-nilly.

That is not the case.

When I talking about "genocide", I am using the term as defined in the Genocide Convention.