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I follow this thread but don't post much as I feel I am far less clued up on this than most of the posters here but something completely baffles me.
As far as I understand, Israel's reasoning behind the airstrikes and justification of killing Palestinian civilians has always been that Hamas hides within them, using them as human shields. They are collateral in this war. I don't agree with that at all but it seems this reason has been given. Then why has the West Bank accumulated over fifty deaths by Israeli forces? Hamas are not there, yet that area is being affected too.
Not gonna go into why but I have a very keen interest in the West Bank and would love someone to point me towards an article or video that explains why there are Israeli attacks on the West Bank?
Imagine a world without Hamas, that is the West Bank.
look at the West Bank for your answer. No Hamas or militants there
The West Bank is being taken piece by piece by settlers who are generally expansionist and believe Israel should control all lands they can make a biblical claim to, but don't want a one state solution where the Palestinians get to vote in Israeli elections and can travel the country freely. They want the West Bank to be a mix of Israel, and Apartheid style Bantustans
The alternative is actively saying, "I don't give a feck about oppression/discrimination/apartheid... I stand with the oppressors openly" but if you're bitch made you can't say that out loud so you just keep quiet and play devil's advocate on behalf of Israel or so on.
That's my takeaway from seeing so many politicians, important/famous people, and regular joes (on NYTimes comment sections and the CAF) dance around the main issue, habitually.
No government is perfect but not all are as bad as all others. I'm not that nihilistic. If the US dod tells me one thing and, say, Russia says another then I do think there's a difference.An argument isn't discredited simply by restating it in a snarky voice.
If your argument hinges on asking people who've been witnessing America and Israel govts. lie their whole lives to take those govts. at their word, don't bother. It's not going to work.
No government is perfect but not all are as bad as all others. I'm not that nihilistic. If the US dod tells me one thing and, say, Russia says another then I do think there's a difference.
Probably belongs in the hypernormalisation thread, but I'm lost for words on the state of this.
This probably requires at least correction or 2, so someone please make any they have:.
Basically Israeli policy towards Gaza since Sharon disengaged has been to occupy the air and sea and blockade it and bomb it whenever rockets are fired or anything violent happens from Gaza to Israel.
Israeli policy towards the West Bank is to build settlements there and take over the land piece by piece, perhaps stopping at some point, leaving a bunch of West Bank towns/cities under the control of Fatah, with no voting rights in Israeli elections. The closest comparison I've seen is the Bantustans of South Africa, because in indigenous reserves in say Canada the residents can vote in Canadian federal elections.
The settlers in the West Bank have a pretty green light to launch attacks without Israeli state organs (police, IDF) stopping them, because the attacks and land grabs are consistent with Israeli state policy. The major political opposition to these attacks and land grabs is the Israeli center, illustrated by the figure of Gantz (in the coalition now, fairly good odds to be next PM), who has supported stopping the attacks and land grabs by settlers, though he is against giving back any of the settlements created so far.
So basically, the settlers on the ground and the right in Israel and some of the center want to keep creating new settlements/land grabs. The center mostly wants settlement creation/land grabs to be decided by the state, not the settlers on the ground, or not done anymore, but also no settlements made before today to be razed or have the Jewish population evicted from those places.
The West Bank is being taken piece by piece by settlers who are generally expansionist and believe Israel should control all lands they can make a biblical claim to, but don't want a one state solution where the Palestinians get to vote in Israeli elections and can travel the country freely. They want the West Bank to be a mix of Israel, and Apartheid style Bantustans. The Netanyahu governments back them when they can get 61/120 seats without center votes and form a government, which they had before the War, but then they added in the center because Israeli convention is to be unified during a war, and likely also because the massive protests in Israel (Bibi and the right moved to reduce the power of the Supreme Court and Constitution) which meant the government was worried people wouldn't support the war effort unless someone like Gantz was in the war cabinet as well.
The center, like the center in many countries, doesn't love the right wing solution but doesn't oppose it, and effectively has no position on a long-term peace process, since that would mean either a one state solution (which they don't support) or a 2 state solution (which they sort of support in theory, but if they won't get rid of settlements, that would either be a state of patches of unconnected land (which I don't think has ever existed?) it would have to be only the Eastern half of the West Bank).
And in this specific case:
"Everything to the right" = more settlements in the West Bank, some of which are created via private settler attacks and some of which are state created.
"Block movement back to the left" = The state getting rid of those settlements.
The world tries to move on from such conquests. It should be a thing of the past. Russia's invasion of Ukraine wasn't just condemned by the West, but also by non-Western countries. Kenya's UN ambassador gave a good speech on it.Philosophical question regarding the West Bank:
How is what Israel is doing in building settlements in the West Bank any different to any other similar historical situation.
Wars have been fought since forever.
One country wins a war and over time, the frontier changes.
And that country takes over and occupies the territory it has won.
Now I am not saying that I agree with what Israel is doing in the West Bank.
As I have indicated, this is a purely a philosophical question.
Probably belongs in the hypernormalisation thread, but I'm lost for words on the state of this.
The world tries to move on from such conquests. It should be a thing of the past. Russia's invasion of Ukraine wasn't just condemned by the West, but also by non-Western countries. Kenya's UN ambassador gave a good speech on it.
That being said, the specific matter of Israel building settlements has already been criticized and condemned internationally. Israel is ignoring all that and continuing it.
I think many, many Americans do not want to help Muslims/terrorists, it is among the least surprising things in that poll.
The world tries to move on from such conquests. It should be a thing of the past. Russia's invasion of Ukraine wasn't just condemned by the West, but also by non-Western countries. Kenya's UN ambassador gave a good speech on it.
That being said, the specific matter of Israel building settlements has already been criticized and condemned internationally. Israel is ignoring all that and continuing it.
I’m certain he doesn’t. If only you gave time to learn from actually good information, you might know more too.
here, I posted a source. Predictably no traction as it’s too clinical, boring, and doesn’t make wild claims. https://www.justsecurity.org/89489/expert-guidance-law-of-armed-conflict-in-the-israel-hamas-war/
And @moses tbis is what I mean. People just want to consume grief to backup their views. I’ve posted several excellent sources which nobody bothers to read or comment on, because they don’t give the sort of traction to juvenile consumption that people expect.
I can understand them though.
Germany send millions to improve the infrastructure and living conditions in Gaza. Also pipes to improve and increase the water supply.
Apparently Hamas took these pipes out of the ground and built missiles with them.
And don't anybody tell me Hamas aren't the Palestinians. Without strong support of the population Hamas couldn't rule Gaza and going what they do.
It genuinely baffles me you even think it's a question that needs to be asked.Philosophical question regarding the West Bank:
How is what Israel is doing in building settlements in the West Bank any different to any other similar historical situation.
Wars have been fought since forever.
One country wins a war and over time, the frontier changes.
And that country takes over and occupies the territory it has won.
Now I am not saying that I agree with what Israel is doing in the West Bank.
As I have indicated, this is a purely a philosophical question.
The issue will never be solved because people are not addressing the disease(Israeli occupation/apartheid), but rather the symptom(Hamas's attacks).
Remind me which country Israel is at war with in the West Bank?Philosophical question regarding the West Bank:
How is what Israel is doing in building settlements in the West Bank any different to any other similar historical situation.
Wars have been fought since forever.
One country wins a war and over time, the frontier changes.
And that country takes over and occupies the territory it has won.
Now I am not saying that I agree with what Israel is doing in the West Bank.
As I have indicated, this is a purely a philosophical question.
Philosophical question regarding the West Bank:
How is what Israel is doing in building settlements in the West Bank any different to any other similar historical situation.
Wars have been fought since forever.
One country wins a war and over time, the frontier changes.
And that country takes over and occupies the territory it has won.
Now I am not saying that I agree with what Israel is doing in the West Bank.
As I have indicated, this is a purely a philosophical question.
Philosophical question regarding the West Bank:
How is what Israel is doing in building settlements in the West Bank any different to any other similar historical situation.
Wars have been fought since forever.
One country wins a war and over time, the frontier changes.
And that country takes over and occupies the territory it has won.
Now I am not saying that I agree with what Israel is doing in the West Bank.
As I have indicated, this is a purely a philosophical question.
Remind me which country Israel is at war with in the West Bank?
People just want to consume grief to backup their views. I’ve posted several excellent sources which nobody bothers to read or comment on, because they don’t give the sort of traction to juvenile consumption that people expect.
It genuinely baffles me you even think it's a question that needs to be asked.
The Israel Palestine conflict goes far beyond Hamas. It started 1947
Palestinians (Arab world) and "the Arabs".You probably are also support Putin who always claims that NATO east expansion is the real reason for the Ukrainian war and his special military operation is just a symptom from it.
The Israel Palestine conflict goes far beyond Hamas. It started 1947 when the Palestinians (Arab world) didn't acknowledge the UN resolution 181 and started the war against the Jews. 2 further major wars followed. 1967 and 1973 both started by the Arabs.
So you're just looking for reasons to be able to say "bombing civilians in Gaza is ok"?And don't anybody tell me Hamas aren't the Palestinians. Without strong support of the population Hamas couldn't rule Gaza and going what they do.
Can you clarify any other countries currently in the world are settling land that is internationally recognised as not their own?
If Israel also enslaved Palestinians, would you be asking how this is different to any similar historical situation from a philosophical point of view?
Its not that they have choice, there's a democratic society there and Hamas is some kind, nice organization which would just say its ok we'll let someone else govern the people.I can understand them though.
Germany send millions to improve the infrastructure and living conditions in Gaza. Also pipes to improve and increase the water supply.
Apparently Hamas took these pipes out of the ground and built missiles with them.
And don't anybody tell me Hamas aren't the Palestinians. Without strong support of the population Hamas couldn't rule Gaza and going what they do.
Love the Palestinians (Arab world) part.You probably are also support Putin who always claims that NATO east expansion is the real reason for the Ukrainian war and his special military operation is just a symptom from it.
The Israel Palestine conflict goes far beyond Hamas. It started 1947 when the Palestinians (Arab world) didn't acknowledge the UN resolution 181 and started the war against the Jews. 2 further major wars followed. 1967 and 1973 both started by the Arabs.
Russia and China, quite blatantly and recently, I might add.Can you clarify any other countries currently in the world are settling land that is internationally recognised as not their own?
If Israel also enslaved Palestinians, would you be asking how this is different to any similar historical situation from a philosophical point of view?
Your 'philosophical question' is predicated on Israel being in war in West Bank and winning the land in West Bank in such war on which the settlements are continuing to be built. So, I ask again, in your 'philosophical question' which country is Israel in war with?You tell me please.
It’s not their land or their property. I’m not convinced you’re asking all these offensive questions under the guise of philosophy. You know people in Israel you said. How would they feel if I went over to their house, took over the house and kicked them out? How would they react if I said how is it any different to any other historical situation?Philosophical question regarding the West Bank:
How is what Israel is doing in building settlements in the West Bank any different to any other similar historical situation.
Wars have been fought since forever.
One country wins a war and over time, the frontier changes.
And that country takes over and occupies the territory it has won.
Now I am not saying that I agree with what Israel is doing in the West Bank.
As I have indicated, this is a purely a philosophical question.
It’s not their land or their property. I’m not convinced you’re asking all these offensive questions under the guise of philosophy. You know people in Israel you said. How would they feel if I went over to their house, took over the house and kicked them out? How would they react if I said how is it any different to any other historical situation?
Your 'question' was essentially just a statement, saying 'well this stuff has always happened, what's the difference here?'. It signifies that you basically don't see any issue with past occurrences of oppression and colonisation. If you did, then there would never be a 'question' to ask.So you never question what is going on???