Excellent. I read somewhere over the weekend that Hamas were using drones with great effect and that only 2 countries have great experience with drones, Ukraine and Russia. The conclusion was that Russia had been training members of Hamas with drone usage.
Sadly, there is much in the Gaza-Israeli stand-off that is somewhat analogous to that of Ukraine and Russia. In this case, Israel is the veritable "super-power" in relation to the Gaza Palestinians - in fact, all Palestinians. Although Israel is more benign in that it does not urge the liquidation of the Palestinians as a people, it has failed - despite 70+ years of independence - to come to terms with these original inhabitants of the land Israel now occupies. The only "redeeming" factor on the side of the Israelis is that the land space over which both sides are fighting is minimal, making it difficult to satisfy both sides even with the best of intentions. There is no such redemptive aspect to Russia's land grab. It possesses 12% of the total land mass on Earth - much of which has not yet been fully explored - but will contest every sliver .....even a largely empty island off its Pacific coast that belonged to Japan. In the case of Russia, it is sheer, unmitigated, lunatic thuggishness of the worst sort.
Hamas is to be condemned for allowing - in its name - innocent civilians to be humiliated savaged, and murdered, and it has lost any claim it has made to being an acceptable representative of the Palestinians. They have to be regarded as mere terrorists and dealt with as such. But Israel should restrain itself from inflicting the type of "revenge" that many are now seeking. Perhaps it is time for Israel to begin the difficult and unpopular task of working out its differences with the Palestinians (not only those in Gaza) and live up to the high standards that it has set for itself and that the rest of the world expects from a people that have suffered so many centuries from statelessness and injustice.
Its important to remember that Russia has been supplying arms to Arab terrorists for decades. It was great for business as it double the price of oil and gas. Putin is now doing the same thing and the proof is the use of Russian made Strella anti aircraft missiles that are small and easy to hide. But they are taking down Israels best jets and helicopters. Drill Baby Drill is another solution with conversion of cars, trucks and ships to natural gas. It is a domestic energy source that is cheap and abundant enough to last 100 years. If Russia and the Arabs have no place to sell oil or gas, they will not be able to afford the luxury of committing modern warfare.
Thank you for the most comprehensive explanation of this catastrophic mess.
I wish I could be more optimistic about a two state solution and peace but I believe now it will always be chaos.too many actors with only two required.. tough call
Very concise and clearly articulated, thank you. I'm not sure there's any solution to the Middle East problems; too many devious players, so many grievances that date back many years and differing religious view points / extremists. Putin who's been meddling in the Middle East (i.e. Syria) for many years is only too willing to distract from his debacle in the Ukraine. We have just entered into more dangerous scenarios.
An accurate, well written article : well done ! One further point relating to Vlad the Impaler's involvement in the attack. Richard Kemp has pointed out that the US weapons and ammunition that will soon be sent to replenish Israel's inventory was originally destined for the Ukraine.
I think you are right to focus on Israel's internal problems, with half Israel's population paying all the taxes and military service to keep the rest safe and the indicted Netanyahu in coalition with 'the religious' who are exempt from both. And now this, the worst failure ever of the intelligence services and border control. Yes, we know about Hamas, and about the Iranian government and Hezbollah, but this is a time to acknowledge "the fault lies not in our stars but in ourselves." One time I saw Bill Clinton on stage at UCLA with Shimon Perez, one of the great originals of the Israeli state: Clinton towered over Perez, and yet somehow seemed like a little boy. By the way, coming up is a movie about the great Golda Meier (played by Helen Mirren) another colossus of the Israeli state.
IMHO if we try to understand what makes humans become terrorists it boils down to religion & dictators who indoctrinate children to hate anyone who does not have the same belief system. Why else would Palestinian children play a game called kill the Jews?
Very good article. The problem is Iran and other countries like Qatar that help Hamas. Iran and the allies it has don't want peace with Israel and they are using Hamas to destroy the peace. Arab countries that want peace should be standing with Israel not with Hamas. You see in Egypt where the people support Hamas attack. So how can there be any peace when countries that want peace stand with terror. You have Russia supporting Hamas so you have really a bigger war. Then you have Hezbollah, Syria. At the same time news comes out Iran can make a nuclear bomb in 2 weeks. Lots of problems the world leaders are going to have to deal with.
Excellent. I read somewhere over the weekend that Hamas were using drones with great effect and that only 2 countries have great experience with drones, Ukraine and Russia. The conclusion was that Russia had been training members of Hamas with drone usage.
Sadly, there is much in the Gaza-Israeli stand-off that is somewhat analogous to that of Ukraine and Russia. In this case, Israel is the veritable "super-power" in relation to the Gaza Palestinians - in fact, all Palestinians. Although Israel is more benign in that it does not urge the liquidation of the Palestinians as a people, it has failed - despite 70+ years of independence - to come to terms with these original inhabitants of the land Israel now occupies. The only "redeeming" factor on the side of the Israelis is that the land space over which both sides are fighting is minimal, making it difficult to satisfy both sides even with the best of intentions. There is no such redemptive aspect to Russia's land grab. It possesses 12% of the total land mass on Earth - much of which has not yet been fully explored - but will contest every sliver .....even a largely empty island off its Pacific coast that belonged to Japan. In the case of Russia, it is sheer, unmitigated, lunatic thuggishness of the worst sort.
Hamas is to be condemned for allowing - in its name - innocent civilians to be humiliated savaged, and murdered, and it has lost any claim it has made to being an acceptable representative of the Palestinians. They have to be regarded as mere terrorists and dealt with as such. But Israel should restrain itself from inflicting the type of "revenge" that many are now seeking. Perhaps it is time for Israel to begin the difficult and unpopular task of working out its differences with the Palestinians (not only those in Gaza) and live up to the high standards that it has set for itself and that the rest of the world expects from a people that have suffered so many centuries from statelessness and injustice.
Its important to remember that Russia has been supplying arms to Arab terrorists for decades. It was great for business as it double the price of oil and gas. Putin is now doing the same thing and the proof is the use of Russian made Strella anti aircraft missiles that are small and easy to hide. But they are taking down Israels best jets and helicopters. Drill Baby Drill is another solution with conversion of cars, trucks and ships to natural gas. It is a domestic energy source that is cheap and abundant enough to last 100 years. If Russia and the Arabs have no place to sell oil or gas, they will not be able to afford the luxury of committing modern warfare.
All I can write is 'I have such a headache' -
Thank you for the most comprehensive explanation of this catastrophic mess.
I wish I could be more optimistic about a two state solution and peace but I believe now it will always be chaos.too many actors with only two required.. tough call
Very concise and clearly articulated, thank you. I'm not sure there's any solution to the Middle East problems; too many devious players, so many grievances that date back many years and differing religious view points / extremists. Putin who's been meddling in the Middle East (i.e. Syria) for many years is only too willing to distract from his debacle in the Ukraine. We have just entered into more dangerous scenarios.
An accurate, well written article : well done ! One further point relating to Vlad the Impaler's involvement in the attack. Richard Kemp has pointed out that the US weapons and ammunition that will soon be sent to replenish Israel's inventory was originally destined for the Ukraine.
I think you are right to focus on Israel's internal problems, with half Israel's population paying all the taxes and military service to keep the rest safe and the indicted Netanyahu in coalition with 'the religious' who are exempt from both. And now this, the worst failure ever of the intelligence services and border control. Yes, we know about Hamas, and about the Iranian government and Hezbollah, but this is a time to acknowledge "the fault lies not in our stars but in ourselves." One time I saw Bill Clinton on stage at UCLA with Shimon Perez, one of the great originals of the Israeli state: Clinton towered over Perez, and yet somehow seemed like a little boy. By the way, coming up is a movie about the great Golda Meier (played by Helen Mirren) another colossus of the Israeli state.
IMHO if we try to understand what makes humans become terrorists it boils down to religion & dictators who indoctrinate children to hate anyone who does not have the same belief system. Why else would Palestinian children play a game called kill the Jews?
Thank you, Diane for another
on point report. No easy solutions for this.
Very good article. The problem is Iran and other countries like Qatar that help Hamas. Iran and the allies it has don't want peace with Israel and they are using Hamas to destroy the peace. Arab countries that want peace should be standing with Israel not with Hamas. You see in Egypt where the people support Hamas attack. So how can there be any peace when countries that want peace stand with terror. You have Russia supporting Hamas so you have really a bigger war. Then you have Hezbollah, Syria. At the same time news comes out Iran can make a nuclear bomb in 2 weeks. Lots of problems the world leaders are going to have to deal with.