This missive of yours has forced me to unsubscribe.
Israel did not indiscriminately bomb refugee shelters. Let alone did it happen three times. Despite what you yourself wrote. Where did you get info that Israel bombed a 'shelter'?
What was actually bombed was home to the bombers/murderers, and any "victims" -- if they were civilians, were not supposed to be in that part of the country, they were supposed to be evacuated. Instead of being evacuated, the UNWRA is run by those who are Hamas sympathizers, because the 'UN' hospitals with bombs in the basements knew the bombs were there, and that they would be used to harm Israeli civilians. Did they think the destination would not shoot back to where the missiles originated? Israel is the only nation-state that doesn't get to fight back?
...
This was the last article I received from you. I unsubscribed the moment I read that you were repeating slander. The idea that Hamas is anything but the representation of a people who want destruction of a people based on tribal God images has escaped your analysis -- it's written in their effing written founding Charter document. Destruction, not any kind of coexistence -- that is their actual goal and stated purpose. It's time you did some reading outside of your echo chamber. I recommend starting with Wikipedia. Facts are there for the world to see, and the world is ignoring them, including yourself.
These are the people you are supporting: The kinds of people they represent are the same kind of people that throw acid in Malala Yousafzai's eyes for wanting to study; that fact escaped your analysis. The kinds of people they represent are the same kind of people who murdered a woman (Armita Geravand) who succumbed to injuries sustained by the morality police in Tehran for a headscarf misadjusted; that fact has escaped your analysis. That's the kind of people who gave Gaza the weapons Gazans used to commit murder of Jews, more of whom were murdered on that day a few weeks ago and any day since the actual Holocaust. That is a verifiable figure, both the murders and the Holocaust. The placement of weapons in Gaza by those nations is specifically why this is a global war and not just between Israel and Gaza. That fact and context escaped your analysis. The fact that my trans son and gay family could walk down the street in Israel, Kiev, London, or Detroit, but not anywhere in Gaza, Teheran, Pyongyang, or Moscow, has escaped your analysis. The fact that my trans son is safer in Florida under deSantis than in Gaza under anything has escaped your attention. The fact that Bennu has a less than 1-in-2000 likelihood of impacting our planet in 159 years is not something that Hamas would ever address. The world is at War, a global geopolitical war, and you are playing games with baby images.
This missive of yours has forced me to unsubscribe.
Israel did not indiscriminately bomb refugee shelters. Let alone did it happen three times. Despite what you yourself wrote. Where did you get info that Israel bombed a 'shelter'?
What was actually bombed was home to the bombers/murderers, and any "victims" -- if they were civilians, were not supposed to be in that part of the country, they were supposed to be evacuated. Instead of being evacuated, the UNWRA is run by those who are Hamas sympathizers, because the 'UN' hospitals with bombs in the basements knew the bombs were there, and that they would be used to harm Israeli civilians. Did they think the destination would not shoot back to where the missiles originated? Israel is the only nation-state that doesn't get to fight back?
...
This was the last article I received from you. I unsubscribed the moment I read that you were repeating slander. The idea that Hamas is anything but the representation of a people who want destruction of a people based on tribal God images has escaped your analysis -- it's written in their effing written founding Charter document. Destruction, not any kind of coexistence -- that is their actual goal and stated purpose. It's time you did some reading outside of your echo chamber. I recommend starting with Wikipedia. Facts are there for the world to see, and the world is ignoring them, including yourself.
These are the people you are supporting: The kinds of people they represent are the same kind of people that throw acid in Malala Yousafzai's eyes for wanting to study; that fact escaped your analysis. The kinds of people they represent are the same kind of people who murdered a woman (Armita Geravand) who succumbed to injuries sustained by the morality police in Tehran for a headscarf misadjusted; that fact has escaped your analysis. That's the kind of people who gave Gaza the weapons Gazans used to commit murder of Jews, more of whom were murdered on that day a few weeks ago and any day since the actual Holocaust. That is a verifiable figure, both the murders and the Holocaust. The placement of weapons in Gaza by those nations is specifically why this is a global war and not just between Israel and Gaza. That fact and context escaped your analysis. The fact that my trans son and gay family could walk down the street in Israel, Kiev, London, or Detroit, but not anywhere in Gaza, Teheran, Pyongyang, or Moscow, has escaped your analysis. The fact that my trans son is safer in Florida under deSantis than in Gaza under anything has escaped your attention. The fact that Bennu has a less than 1-in-2000 likelihood of impacting our planet in 159 years is not something that Hamas would ever address. The world is at War, a global geopolitical war, and you are playing games with baby images.
There's so much here that it will take me quite a bit to process it all and work out a response, but a few immediate things come to mind.
1. I'm Jewish myself, and I do not believe that the horrors of our collective past justifies killing 10k people or 4k children. Nor do I believe that that ongoing slaughter does anything to make Jewish people safer around the globe.
2. I'm not pro-Hamas. Your comments seem to suggest that the people that have been killed were not actually civilians. That is ludicrous. And the idea that they should have been elsewhere is also absurd; would you like someone forcing you out of your home so that it could be bombed? Refugee convoys have been bombed, as well. There is no place for two million people to go.
3. This is not about how Iran treats anybody. This is not a war to liberate anybody. That is a red herring. Nobody expressed solidarity with any government there. They are abhorrent. But that is not what this war is about.
4. The charter of Likud says exactly the same thing about Israel owning all of the land from river to the sea. Ministers yesterday suggested dropping an atom bomb on Gaza. It is OK to be Jewish or pro-Israel and not in favor of such rabid right-wing maniacs.
5. If you don't believe any of the facts being reported by the UN or the NY Times, I don't think we can really have a discussion. You can't suggest that an otherwise trustworthy news outlet has an insane bias only on stories you specifically care about.
6. I'm sorry to hear that you've unsubscribed and don't want to show your children dissenting information.
1. You used the word "slaughter". How else is war commenced but through such? You mention collective past; I didn't. How do you deal with those societies who specifically and only want you dead, and have *demonstrated* only willing efforts towards such deadness and never to coexistence? {Answer: You fight back any way you can.} Hamas has been escalating for years, if you've paid attention. How does Israel protect against that without fully sending Hamas packing? {If you've a better idea, the world is waiting; but allowing any pause will allow Hamas to rearm and to remain a willing murderer on your doorstep, waiting only to strike, and undo "Nakba", and never to have a future in peace.}
2. There's "nowhere for civilians to go"? There was never anywhere for citizens of Dresden to go in world war ii. There was nowhere for citizens of Hiroshima to go. There was nowhere for Londoners to go under the blitzkrieg. This is war, not a party. There's nowhere to go? That's also false, and not only were they given weeks of notice of the Israeli assault, but they've been used as human shields, and they've also shown up for a photo op after IDF levels a tunnel, claiming to have been in the area under the bomb; videos not from Reuters show this.
3. You're right, this isn't a war to liberate anyone. This war is literally about Israel's survival. This is also specifically about Iran, Iran is where the weapons came from! Iran is who gave weapons to houthis, and to Hezbollah. Ignoring that is like ignoring that Iran gave drones to Putin for use in Ukraine. Ignoring that Israel was taken off the map by the Chinese on the attack day is similarly naive about the global nature of this.
4. This is not about likud. Golda Meir would've done little different than what's happening now. As far as the right wing Knesset lunatics you mentioned, Israel loves its children more than oppenheimer's deadly toy (hat/tip to Sting), and it knows that any such maneuver would hurt itself, assuming such is even possible. Netanyahu may be many things, including apparently a brazenly corrupt politician, but stupid he and his cabinet are not. Nobody in actual power is making statements like that.
5. The new York times' position on Israel itself has been subject of independent study, and the result wasn't ever exactly "kind" to Israel. Yes, I can suggest that news outlets have a bias, but I never said they have an insane bias; I said that they all relied on Palestinian authorities about number injured/killed. Who is the Palestinian government there, if not Hamas?
6. You claim I don't show my kids descending opinions? I show my kids newsmax, you're kidding, right? I show them how to easily pick it apart. But you're not them. Claiming that the "attack on a refugee camp" is bias isn't false. Claiming that it was something or anything else but an attack on "refugees" requires nuance not yet displayed here. You're black and white about the civilians. I suggest you start looking at what caused this outbreak. They had two years of planning, in order to target military; and they targeted civilians. That's why this is a war. Not a place for children. Take the children and run, like advised by the IDF so that Israel can defend its existence and prevent recurrence. You never saw the other side warning a civilian before an attack. Ever. The "civilians" were given weeks to evacuate, though. Why is this absent from your analysis? Israel did better in Gaza than the US in Hiroshima, and better than the Nazis in London, and better than the Brits in Dresden. Why is this absent from your analysis? War is hell. The Gazans brought it on with murder. Their society voted for this madness and manipulation. Repeatedly. How is war inappropriate for any nation when survival at stake?
War is not always inappropriate. Sometimes, it's all that's left. Israel is done waiting for the world to wake up to the terror on its very doorstep, and to wake up to Iran fomenting it. Israel has seen that it cannot rely on anyone else for justice in this world, it has been let down too many times. Biden knew Hezbollah was about to open a second front, and sent a carrier group. Had he not done that, Chinese maps may have been prescient. This is war of survival, against an enemy of progressive politics itself. You would've probably been in favor of Neville Chamberlain making peace with Hitler like akin to the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. Fortunately for all of us then, clearer heads made some nasty bombs. Else you and I would never have ever existed, either of us, because we're Jews.
I haven't repeated false statements about a bombing at a hospital, creating riots world-wide. Al jazeera did. And also, briefly, and without retraction when words were 'corrected', did the venerable Times. So, yes, unless you can actually allow some doubt about the times' reporting, there really isn't a lot to discuss here. It was false, and slander. And anti-semitism. And you are perpetuating harm by quoting it.
Gazans have proven that they want only war. They named their civic organization after Jihad, which means war. War is ugly. War is what they've wanted for 75 years. They said so. They got it. And that makes *you* upset?
"When they love their children more than they hate Jews, there can be peace." --Golda Meir. She was right. Peace simply cannot be made to happen first. First, they have to believe first in not-martyring their children and themselves. The Imperial Japanese did this in World War II, it took a lot for them to learn to love a future first rather than seek a Kamikaze death. But the imperial Japanese are the example here as much as any historical analogy, in this regard.. they preferred martyrdom first, too.. Hirohito was smart enough to want a future. Hamas has no equivalent..
"Photographers for the AFP and AP agencies also documented the movement southward of large groups of Palestinians on Salah a-Din road in the Strip on Tuesday.
For weeks Israeli authorities have been urging civilians in Gaza to move to the southern part of the Strip, as its ground and air operations against have been mostly concentrated in the north. Israel has dropped fliers in the northern Strip urging people to leave and providing maps of evacuation routes."
This information available, but, unfortunately, not widely. Pretty relevant, tho; this was from today's Google news, the left-leaning Times of Israel. Again, the idea: that Israel deliberately targeted refugees, is slander, yet you quoted it. This is what actual responsible treatment is being actually given to actual civilians in the crossfire of an actual ground war. Not exactly targeted. Despite the truth: that the leaders these very civilians repeatedly elected were known to be targeting Jewish civilians. Facts matter.
Jazeera has slandered Jews generally, and caused harm to me personally. Do you not have any Arabic translators at the progressive report? Do you not have access to Google translate? Even Bing has a translator, and Babelfish still exists, too. How are you not reading Al Jazeera or Al Ahram in Arabic and yet still claiming that you know what news is? You repeated their known false statements, so you must be reading them in English, that's obvious; but it is also obvious that you have neither fact checked them, nor allowed the reality that the source you are quoting might be unreliable.
How do you get off buying the LIE of a Palestinian? The people now calling themselves Palestinians are a people that were created by the British, and before the British they were known as Ottomans and Arabs. Every encyclopedia on the planet summarizes that story accurately. The ultimate insult is that my grandfather, a Jew, was called a Palestinian by himself and by people everywhere he went in his childhood in russia 120 years ago, in his youth in paris in 1920s, and in his adulthood in New York City and Boston -- until 1948. Many Jews, world-wide, bore that label of "Palestinian" as an insult until that date, so you might want to start getting your facts straight.
The "Song of the Partisans" -- one of the anthems for the Warsaw Ghetto uprising during the Holocaust, is an improper translation. The literal word for word translation is the "Song of a Palestinian", my grandfather recorded that song for a US radio station in 1942 on a label written in Yiddish. With no small dose of irony, but instead a large dose of irony, it is Jewish history in the Levant, and not "Palestinian", is what is facing attempted actual Erasure here. Israel's Erasure is being attempted not just by proxy from iran, but by Hezbollah by proxy from Iran, and by the houthis by proxy from Iran, the same Iran who murdered a woman for having her hijab misadjusted, the same Iran who has proudly been demanding Israel's Erasure for over 40 years. Your silence on that issue has spoken volumes. Your hypocrisy is not opaque. You should apparently hang out with Kanye West more often.
I unsubscribed to your Progressive Report because of these falsehoods, and because progressivism -- the things you specifically (and supposedly) espouse, these are things that are impossible in Gaza. There are no gay rights in gaza under Hamas, nor would there be. There are no trans rights in Gaza, nor would that ever be expected under sharia law. There are no guaranteed women's- or equal- rights there. There are no Reproductive Rights there. There are no labor or Union supporting laws there. The only thing that is guaranteed to be taught in Gaza to children in kindergarten is to kill and hate jews -- not Israelis, but Jews worldwide; that last particular evil was the subject of multiple documentaries. How do you get off doing such "reporting" coming from Hamas as if it's real or factual? Or properly contextual? I expected this from Al Jazeera but not from you. You disgusted me by repeating lies about Israeli behavior that did not occur [ the supposed deliberate bombing of refugee shelters ], and you disgusted me by relying without comment on a source of which "facts/news" was evil [terrorist!], and which "facts" were designed as slander by their authors? I'm asking everybody I know to unsubscribe also, until you can allow some context, until you can own that your reported "facts" were either downright false or thin on verifiability. You, Jordan, are not being erased, I'm just taking your megaphone away from my family. It is unfortunate, because my teenagers need active politics from the progressive side that is healthy to show them. That progressive side once included words from you. Your words of hypocrisy yesterday became unhealthy to show my Jewish, progressive-liberal, upstate New York children (whom should be among your target market). Because, repeating words of Hamas, when Jews are being targeted worldwide, is an enabling of anti-Semitism I cannot allowed to expose to my Jewish family, and I am ashamed to have accepted your words. But I am Distributing your words as examples of things to watch out for, in ALL of my Democratic circles. I don't expect any kind of a confession from you anytime soon, but I hope that for all of our sakes you at least allow the possibility of your error here. Good luck in the upcoming election cycle. I really do hope I see us on the same side of the political fence next November. For, pretty much, the future of the planet..
Tsvi Gold
Albany, NY
Phi Beta Kappa Political Science graduate, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, State University of New York, 1994
Jordan, Great comments. Simply put…. we Democrats keep waiting for the “moderate” Republicans to stand up against “MAGA Madness”,
How about we stand up to demanding the administration “send no more money “ until the cease -fire is forever.
Bring our money home to help those who live under bridges here in America.
And, quit trying to divide humans every time some greedy, power hungry degenerate wants to take over all control just because “ they can”! Get the $$$$$ out of our egos and start demanding some actual progress away from demeaning one another.
Being an American does not mean that you have to use “skin” color to be right. It doesn’t mean having a certain religion to be right. It doesn’t mean having a certain sexuality to be right.
Being an American simply means you hope to be counted in on the march to civility, to acceptance, to kindness, and to safety in your community of like minded Americans.
If your idea of “being right” depends on how many you say are “ wrong”, then you should look inward more and start to ask yourself…. What am I afraid of?????
Thanks for this. After 10,000 dead in Gaza and Biden’s request for more than $14 billion to fund the atrocities there (this is mostly “military” aid), I can no longer vote for him, although I held my nose to do so in the past. In a majoritarian blue district, withholding my vote for president will not make a difference. I realize that the choice for others is more difficult, but I do not want blood on my hands. Four thousand dead children and bombing refugee camps is beyond the pale. I beseech my Democratic Party co-members to make better choices in the primaries. We need to reclaim our principles.
Nancy, we are never going to solve all the problems in the world. But truly, can you imagine where we would be with trump in charge? I can't, because that is a world I don't want to live in. We are facing a choice between democracy and freedom, or fascism and authoritarianism. To me, a simple choice. Unfortunately, there are no simple choices to be made in the Middle East today. It would probably be of great benefit to remove Netanyahu, but that is not our call either. So we are left to try and make the least poor choices of the impossible choices available. But at the same time, we do not want to abandon Israel, and stand by while millions are then annihilated. Oh, for there to be a simple black and white here......
I generally agree with your analysis, but reality is more complex.
There's a generational divide on the left concerning Israel. It's not an absolute divide, there are younger people who are adamant in their support of Israel, and older people who support humanitarian pauses/a cease-fire.
The word "genocide" has a highly specific meaning. Mehdi Hasan interviewed an Israeli-American leading expert on the topic, and he wasn't ready to apply the term. It's a triggering term and unnecessary to use, when war crimes and crimes against humanity are being reported.
There is something at play that's hard to pinpoint. There have been no mass protests against the self-declared genocide being perpetrated against Ukraine. Unspeakable atrocities suffered by Ukraine had not led to widespread demands for greater levels of support for Ukrainian citizens. Similarly, there's a massive deportation underway by Pakistan of Afghanis...where is the outrage?
What is driving this particular schism? I'm not sure that the Biden administration could be expected to anticipate that this time widespread protests would erupt.
As to Biden's administration, he doesn't have a magic wand to impose a cease-fire or a 2-state solution. Israel has no plans for what will happen the day after the war ends, or even a timeframe for ending the war.
Blinken and Biden have been coordinating with Arab neighbors, but these backdoor channels have to be carefully managed. There is widespread support among their citizens for Palestinians. There are a multitude of trade relationships that can't simply be obliterated by Executive Order.
Israel doesn't need US dollars...they have nearly $200B in reserves.
Realistically, other than increasing demands for humanitarian causes, what are Biden's options?
As to the calls to free Palestine...what does that mean? Palestinians would need non-Hamas leadership. Who would that be? Who would find the rebuilding of a decimated Gaza, the creation of an independent economy, a government? Who would ensure that new anti-Israel terrorists organizations would not again control leadership of Gazans. These are complex issues that must be addressed.
Finally, there can't be peace as long as Netanyahu and his religious extremists hold power. Who will remove him from power? Elections won't be held until the war is over, and the war won't be over while Netanyahu is in power.
Ultimately, Biden can use stronger words to condemn the unrelenting attacks, but he has few tools to contain Netanyahu.
Please forgive my ignorance here, and know that I share everyone's desire for peace and tranquility throughout the world. I'm just an old white guy, non-denominational, trying to understand. But my question is, why are none of the other, wealthy Arab nations offering to take in the Palestinian civilians caught in the crossfire here? Or even, taking in the women and children, until Israel and Hamas are through bashing each other's brains out? I don't understand this. I truly believe if there were some horrific conflict wreaking havoc in Mexico, we would offer our humanitarian assistance to those not directly involved in the conflict. We would take in the innocents, temporarily, until they could safely return to their homes. Is this a legitimate question? Can it be simply answered? I just don't understand.
From what I understand, the Arab neighbors are concerned about the disruption to their economic and political situations by accepting large numbers of refugees. They're worried that any temporary solution would morph into a long-term project. They're also concerned about Hamas ideology radicalizing their countries during a period of relative peace and economic stability.
Thank you for this. And it does make sense. But I think the same concerns would apply to our offering aid to another neighboring country, and yet, I believe we would proceed regardless. It would be the right thing to do, which is why I can't understand the reluctance by the Arab nations to assist the innocents. And truthfully, not just now, but in past horrible conflicts, as well. They just don't seem to want to help the Palestinians. Again, forgive my ignorance here; I truly am trying to comprehend this awful situation.
I think that is the longer term strategy of the Arab nations, to keep the Palestinian people miserable in refugee camps, fostering their anger at Israel. They could have stepped in to mitigate the misery decades ago, it they did not. Why do it now?
But that pressure is costing thousands of innocent lives. Does that not matter? Is hurting Israel more important than saving innocent Palestinians? Sadly, I think you may be correct.
I think the one thing that nobody is considering is that maybe two million Palestinians do not want to leave their homes. Generations have grown up in Gaza and it’s become miserable due to mistreatment and blockades. Liberalizing and creating a new kind of relationship with the Gaza civilians seems like a better way to root out the terrorists than carpet bombing and forcing two million people from their homes.
I agree, Jordan. I wouldn't want to leave my home either. But sometimes, circumstances beyond your control make decisions for you, and this is certainly one of those times. There are just SO MANY questions that may never find a reasonable answer.
They probably aren’t leaping to help Israel, that’s true. But there’s also simply no infrastructure available to take on that number of people so quickly. I live in NYC and our shitty mayor is losing his mind over refugees coming in and we’ve got more empty office buildings than anywhere else. There’s also a matter of taking in people being unpopular with existing citizens, and in many of these countries, autocratic rule depends on placating people.
Must disagree with the liberal slant of this post. israel needs to be treated with the same harsh sanctions as meted out against Venezuela or Cuba that are being economically strangled simply because they have a different form of government, ones that believe people really count and national resources belong to their own nation. I also strongly oppose this articles refusing to decry t he lie about Israel defending itself without granting the Palestinians the same right. Actually international law is on the side of the Palestinians who are occupied people under brutal conditions having the right to do whatever is necessary to secure their freedom. Such privilege does not apply to Israel that was founded by Zionist ideology which ALWAYs promoted ethnic cleansing of the people living in that land. The Nakba is as clear a demonstration of the ideology and its murderous intent as can be had and is now being played out in its final efforts to effect the total destruction of that People and its culture and society. Israel needs to be called out as strongly as possible as a criminal State which is a political and not religious criticism. If the US was even remotely interested in protecting the Palestinians it would immediately withdraw all financial and military support. The US is totally complicit in this genocide, which is what it is, and needs to held accountable. That is what the people of this country are demanding. The biggest payback is the opening the flood gates for real anti-semitism which is being expressed by the extremist on the Right, permission being given by Trump and the GOP. The second payback is the Democrats pending loss at with the vote. Dems vs GOP--a choice between 2 sides of fascism
You're not wrong. The decent people of Israel and Palestine are the meat in a fanatic sandwich. Maybe this latest eruption will be the catalyst for true solution. It seems everyone is sick of the status quo.
If the US is not brought to heel by the rest of the world, nothing will change. The US has given cover to Israel for decades and, so, nothing changes. Given Israel's extreme hubris, even the most severe sanctions will take a long time before we see any positive results. One problem that does have reality is the growing anti-semitism fueled by this Gazan genocide. There needs to be a serious campaign to educate people on the difference betw a political horror by Israel as a political State and Judaism as a religion. Further facts such as 70% of Zionists are not Jews but Christians. Such sects in the US need to be called out
This missive of yours has forced me to unsubscribe.
Israel did not indiscriminately bomb refugee shelters. Let alone did it happen three times. Despite what you yourself wrote. Where did you get info that Israel bombed a 'shelter'?
What was actually bombed was home to the bombers/murderers, and any "victims" -- if they were civilians, were not supposed to be in that part of the country, they were supposed to be evacuated. Instead of being evacuated, the UNWRA is run by those who are Hamas sympathizers, because the 'UN' hospitals with bombs in the basements knew the bombs were there, and that they would be used to harm Israeli civilians. Did they think the destination would not shoot back to where the missiles originated? Israel is the only nation-state that doesn't get to fight back?
...
This was the last article I received from you. I unsubscribed the moment I read that you were repeating slander. The idea that Hamas is anything but the representation of a people who want destruction of a people based on tribal God images has escaped your analysis -- it's written in their effing written founding Charter document. Destruction, not any kind of coexistence -- that is their actual goal and stated purpose. It's time you did some reading outside of your echo chamber. I recommend starting with Wikipedia. Facts are there for the world to see, and the world is ignoring them, including yourself.
These are the people you are supporting: The kinds of people they represent are the same kind of people that throw acid in Malala Yousafzai's eyes for wanting to study; that fact escaped your analysis. The kinds of people they represent are the same kind of people who murdered a woman (Armita Geravand) who succumbed to injuries sustained by the morality police in Tehran for a headscarf misadjusted; that fact has escaped your analysis. That's the kind of people who gave Gaza the weapons Gazans used to commit murder of Jews, more of whom were murdered on that day a few weeks ago and any day since the actual Holocaust. That is a verifiable figure, both the murders and the Holocaust. The placement of weapons in Gaza by those nations is specifically why this is a global war and not just between Israel and Gaza. That fact and context escaped your analysis. The fact that my trans son and gay family could walk down the street in Israel, Kiev, London, or Detroit, but not anywhere in Gaza, Teheran, Pyongyang, or Moscow, has escaped your analysis. The fact that my trans son is safer in Florida under deSantis than in Gaza under anything has escaped your attention. The fact that Bennu has a less than 1-in-2000 likelihood of impacting our planet in 159 years is not something that Hamas would ever address. The world is at War, a global geopolitical war, and you are playing games with baby images.
Full comment:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LQ7xoKsI4ruSqIAvFrOyRWcHQhQ4RVsxNZqXgBTv9bs/edit?usp=drivesdk
This missive of yours has forced me to unsubscribe.
Israel did not indiscriminately bomb refugee shelters. Let alone did it happen three times. Despite what you yourself wrote. Where did you get info that Israel bombed a 'shelter'?
What was actually bombed was home to the bombers/murderers, and any "victims" -- if they were civilians, were not supposed to be in that part of the country, they were supposed to be evacuated. Instead of being evacuated, the UNWRA is run by those who are Hamas sympathizers, because the 'UN' hospitals with bombs in the basements knew the bombs were there, and that they would be used to harm Israeli civilians. Did they think the destination would not shoot back to where the missiles originated? Israel is the only nation-state that doesn't get to fight back?
...
This was the last article I received from you. I unsubscribed the moment I read that you were repeating slander. The idea that Hamas is anything but the representation of a people who want destruction of a people based on tribal God images has escaped your analysis -- it's written in their effing written founding Charter document. Destruction, not any kind of coexistence -- that is their actual goal and stated purpose. It's time you did some reading outside of your echo chamber. I recommend starting with Wikipedia. Facts are there for the world to see, and the world is ignoring them, including yourself.
These are the people you are supporting: The kinds of people they represent are the same kind of people that throw acid in Malala Yousafzai's eyes for wanting to study; that fact escaped your analysis. The kinds of people they represent are the same kind of people who murdered a woman (Armita Geravand) who succumbed to injuries sustained by the morality police in Tehran for a headscarf misadjusted; that fact has escaped your analysis. That's the kind of people who gave Gaza the weapons Gazans used to commit murder of Jews, more of whom were murdered on that day a few weeks ago and any day since the actual Holocaust. That is a verifiable figure, both the murders and the Holocaust. The placement of weapons in Gaza by those nations is specifically why this is a global war and not just between Israel and Gaza. That fact and context escaped your analysis. The fact that my trans son and gay family could walk down the street in Israel, Kiev, London, or Detroit, but not anywhere in Gaza, Teheran, Pyongyang, or Moscow, has escaped your analysis. The fact that my trans son is safer in Florida under deSantis than in Gaza under anything has escaped your attention. The fact that Bennu has a less than 1-in-2000 likelihood of impacting our planet in 159 years is not something that Hamas would ever address. The world is at War, a global geopolitical war, and you are playing games with baby images.
Full comment:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LQ7xoKsI4ruSqIAvFrOyRWcHQhQ4RVsxNZqXgBTv9bs/edit?usp=drivesdk
Tsvi,
There's so much here that it will take me quite a bit to process it all and work out a response, but a few immediate things come to mind.
1. I'm Jewish myself, and I do not believe that the horrors of our collective past justifies killing 10k people or 4k children. Nor do I believe that that ongoing slaughter does anything to make Jewish people safer around the globe.
2. I'm not pro-Hamas. Your comments seem to suggest that the people that have been killed were not actually civilians. That is ludicrous. And the idea that they should have been elsewhere is also absurd; would you like someone forcing you out of your home so that it could be bombed? Refugee convoys have been bombed, as well. There is no place for two million people to go.
3. This is not about how Iran treats anybody. This is not a war to liberate anybody. That is a red herring. Nobody expressed solidarity with any government there. They are abhorrent. But that is not what this war is about.
4. The charter of Likud says exactly the same thing about Israel owning all of the land from river to the sea. Ministers yesterday suggested dropping an atom bomb on Gaza. It is OK to be Jewish or pro-Israel and not in favor of such rabid right-wing maniacs.
5. If you don't believe any of the facts being reported by the UN or the NY Times, I don't think we can really have a discussion. You can't suggest that an otherwise trustworthy news outlet has an insane bias only on stories you specifically care about.
6. I'm sorry to hear that you've unsubscribed and don't want to show your children dissenting information.
1. You used the word "slaughter". How else is war commenced but through such? You mention collective past; I didn't. How do you deal with those societies who specifically and only want you dead, and have *demonstrated* only willing efforts towards such deadness and never to coexistence? {Answer: You fight back any way you can.} Hamas has been escalating for years, if you've paid attention. How does Israel protect against that without fully sending Hamas packing? {If you've a better idea, the world is waiting; but allowing any pause will allow Hamas to rearm and to remain a willing murderer on your doorstep, waiting only to strike, and undo "Nakba", and never to have a future in peace.}
2. There's "nowhere for civilians to go"? There was never anywhere for citizens of Dresden to go in world war ii. There was nowhere for citizens of Hiroshima to go. There was nowhere for Londoners to go under the blitzkrieg. This is war, not a party. There's nowhere to go? That's also false, and not only were they given weeks of notice of the Israeli assault, but they've been used as human shields, and they've also shown up for a photo op after IDF levels a tunnel, claiming to have been in the area under the bomb; videos not from Reuters show this.
3. You're right, this isn't a war to liberate anyone. This war is literally about Israel's survival. This is also specifically about Iran, Iran is where the weapons came from! Iran is who gave weapons to houthis, and to Hezbollah. Ignoring that is like ignoring that Iran gave drones to Putin for use in Ukraine. Ignoring that Israel was taken off the map by the Chinese on the attack day is similarly naive about the global nature of this.
4. This is not about likud. Golda Meir would've done little different than what's happening now. As far as the right wing Knesset lunatics you mentioned, Israel loves its children more than oppenheimer's deadly toy (hat/tip to Sting), and it knows that any such maneuver would hurt itself, assuming such is even possible. Netanyahu may be many things, including apparently a brazenly corrupt politician, but stupid he and his cabinet are not. Nobody in actual power is making statements like that.
5. The new York times' position on Israel itself has been subject of independent study, and the result wasn't ever exactly "kind" to Israel. Yes, I can suggest that news outlets have a bias, but I never said they have an insane bias; I said that they all relied on Palestinian authorities about number injured/killed. Who is the Palestinian government there, if not Hamas?
6. You claim I don't show my kids descending opinions? I show my kids newsmax, you're kidding, right? I show them how to easily pick it apart. But you're not them. Claiming that the "attack on a refugee camp" is bias isn't false. Claiming that it was something or anything else but an attack on "refugees" requires nuance not yet displayed here. You're black and white about the civilians. I suggest you start looking at what caused this outbreak. They had two years of planning, in order to target military; and they targeted civilians. That's why this is a war. Not a place for children. Take the children and run, like advised by the IDF so that Israel can defend its existence and prevent recurrence. You never saw the other side warning a civilian before an attack. Ever. The "civilians" were given weeks to evacuate, though. Why is this absent from your analysis? Israel did better in Gaza than the US in Hiroshima, and better than the Nazis in London, and better than the Brits in Dresden. Why is this absent from your analysis? War is hell. The Gazans brought it on with murder. Their society voted for this madness and manipulation. Repeatedly. How is war inappropriate for any nation when survival at stake?
War is not always inappropriate. Sometimes, it's all that's left. Israel is done waiting for the world to wake up to the terror on its very doorstep, and to wake up to Iran fomenting it. Israel has seen that it cannot rely on anyone else for justice in this world, it has been let down too many times. Biden knew Hezbollah was about to open a second front, and sent a carrier group. Had he not done that, Chinese maps may have been prescient. This is war of survival, against an enemy of progressive politics itself. You would've probably been in favor of Neville Chamberlain making peace with Hitler like akin to the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. Fortunately for all of us then, clearer heads made some nasty bombs. Else you and I would never have ever existed, either of us, because we're Jews.
I haven't repeated false statements about a bombing at a hospital, creating riots world-wide. Al jazeera did. And also, briefly, and without retraction when words were 'corrected', did the venerable Times. So, yes, unless you can actually allow some doubt about the times' reporting, there really isn't a lot to discuss here. It was false, and slander. And anti-semitism. And you are perpetuating harm by quoting it.
Gazans have proven that they want only war. They named their civic organization after Jihad, which means war. War is ugly. War is what they've wanted for 75 years. They said so. They got it. And that makes *you* upset?
"When they love their children more than they hate Jews, there can be peace." --Golda Meir. She was right. Peace simply cannot be made to happen first. First, they have to believe first in not-martyring their children and themselves. The Imperial Japanese did this in World War II, it took a lot for them to learn to love a future first rather than seek a Kamikaze death. But the imperial Japanese are the example here as much as any historical analogy, in this regard.. they preferred martyrdom first, too.. Hirohito was smart enough to want a future. Hamas has no equivalent..
"Photographers for the AFP and AP agencies also documented the movement southward of large groups of Palestinians on Salah a-Din road in the Strip on Tuesday.
For weeks Israeli authorities have been urging civilians in Gaza to move to the southern part of the Strip, as its ground and air operations against have been mostly concentrated in the north. Israel has dropped fliers in the northern Strip urging people to leave and providing maps of evacuation routes."
This information available, but, unfortunately, not widely. Pretty relevant, tho; this was from today's Google news, the left-leaning Times of Israel. Again, the idea: that Israel deliberately targeted refugees, is slander, yet you quoted it. This is what actual responsible treatment is being actually given to actual civilians in the crossfire of an actual ground war. Not exactly targeted. Despite the truth: that the leaders these very civilians repeatedly elected were known to be targeting Jewish civilians. Facts matter.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-of-gazans-waving-white-flags-head-south-along-idf-evacuation-route/amp/
Jazeera has slandered Jews generally, and caused harm to me personally. Do you not have any Arabic translators at the progressive report? Do you not have access to Google translate? Even Bing has a translator, and Babelfish still exists, too. How are you not reading Al Jazeera or Al Ahram in Arabic and yet still claiming that you know what news is? You repeated their known false statements, so you must be reading them in English, that's obvious; but it is also obvious that you have neither fact checked them, nor allowed the reality that the source you are quoting might be unreliable.
How do you get off buying the LIE of a Palestinian? The people now calling themselves Palestinians are a people that were created by the British, and before the British they were known as Ottomans and Arabs. Every encyclopedia on the planet summarizes that story accurately. The ultimate insult is that my grandfather, a Jew, was called a Palestinian by himself and by people everywhere he went in his childhood in russia 120 years ago, in his youth in paris in 1920s, and in his adulthood in New York City and Boston -- until 1948. Many Jews, world-wide, bore that label of "Palestinian" as an insult until that date, so you might want to start getting your facts straight.
The "Song of the Partisans" -- one of the anthems for the Warsaw Ghetto uprising during the Holocaust, is an improper translation. The literal word for word translation is the "Song of a Palestinian", my grandfather recorded that song for a US radio station in 1942 on a label written in Yiddish. With no small dose of irony, but instead a large dose of irony, it is Jewish history in the Levant, and not "Palestinian", is what is facing attempted actual Erasure here. Israel's Erasure is being attempted not just by proxy from iran, but by Hezbollah by proxy from Iran, and by the houthis by proxy from Iran, the same Iran who murdered a woman for having her hijab misadjusted, the same Iran who has proudly been demanding Israel's Erasure for over 40 years. Your silence on that issue has spoken volumes. Your hypocrisy is not opaque. You should apparently hang out with Kanye West more often.
I unsubscribed to your Progressive Report because of these falsehoods, and because progressivism -- the things you specifically (and supposedly) espouse, these are things that are impossible in Gaza. There are no gay rights in gaza under Hamas, nor would there be. There are no trans rights in Gaza, nor would that ever be expected under sharia law. There are no guaranteed women's- or equal- rights there. There are no Reproductive Rights there. There are no labor or Union supporting laws there. The only thing that is guaranteed to be taught in Gaza to children in kindergarten is to kill and hate jews -- not Israelis, but Jews worldwide; that last particular evil was the subject of multiple documentaries. How do you get off doing such "reporting" coming from Hamas as if it's real or factual? Or properly contextual? I expected this from Al Jazeera but not from you. You disgusted me by repeating lies about Israeli behavior that did not occur [ the supposed deliberate bombing of refugee shelters ], and you disgusted me by relying without comment on a source of which "facts/news" was evil [terrorist!], and which "facts" were designed as slander by their authors? I'm asking everybody I know to unsubscribe also, until you can allow some context, until you can own that your reported "facts" were either downright false or thin on verifiability. You, Jordan, are not being erased, I'm just taking your megaphone away from my family. It is unfortunate, because my teenagers need active politics from the progressive side that is healthy to show them. That progressive side once included words from you. Your words of hypocrisy yesterday became unhealthy to show my Jewish, progressive-liberal, upstate New York children (whom should be among your target market). Because, repeating words of Hamas, when Jews are being targeted worldwide, is an enabling of anti-Semitism I cannot allowed to expose to my Jewish family, and I am ashamed to have accepted your words. But I am Distributing your words as examples of things to watch out for, in ALL of my Democratic circles. I don't expect any kind of a confession from you anytime soon, but I hope that for all of our sakes you at least allow the possibility of your error here. Good luck in the upcoming election cycle. I really do hope I see us on the same side of the political fence next November. For, pretty much, the future of the planet..
Tsvi Gold
Albany, NY
Phi Beta Kappa Political Science graduate, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, State University of New York, 1994
Juris Doctor and NYS State Bar Admission, 1999
Jordan, Great comments. Simply put…. we Democrats keep waiting for the “moderate” Republicans to stand up against “MAGA Madness”,
How about we stand up to demanding the administration “send no more money “ until the cease -fire is forever.
Bring our money home to help those who live under bridges here in America.
And, quit trying to divide humans every time some greedy, power hungry degenerate wants to take over all control just because “ they can”! Get the $$$$$ out of our egos and start demanding some actual progress away from demeaning one another.
Being an American does not mean that you have to use “skin” color to be right. It doesn’t mean having a certain religion to be right. It doesn’t mean having a certain sexuality to be right.
Being an American simply means you hope to be counted in on the march to civility, to acceptance, to kindness, and to safety in your community of like minded Americans.
If your idea of “being right” depends on how many you say are “ wrong”, then you should look inward more and start to ask yourself…. What am I afraid of?????
Thanks for this. After 10,000 dead in Gaza and Biden’s request for more than $14 billion to fund the atrocities there (this is mostly “military” aid), I can no longer vote for him, although I held my nose to do so in the past. In a majoritarian blue district, withholding my vote for president will not make a difference. I realize that the choice for others is more difficult, but I do not want blood on my hands. Four thousand dead children and bombing refugee camps is beyond the pale. I beseech my Democratic Party co-members to make better choices in the primaries. We need to reclaim our principles.
Nancy, we are never going to solve all the problems in the world. But truly, can you imagine where we would be with trump in charge? I can't, because that is a world I don't want to live in. We are facing a choice between democracy and freedom, or fascism and authoritarianism. To me, a simple choice. Unfortunately, there are no simple choices to be made in the Middle East today. It would probably be of great benefit to remove Netanyahu, but that is not our call either. So we are left to try and make the least poor choices of the impossible choices available. But at the same time, we do not want to abandon Israel, and stand by while millions are then annihilated. Oh, for there to be a simple black and white here......
I generally agree with your analysis, but reality is more complex.
There's a generational divide on the left concerning Israel. It's not an absolute divide, there are younger people who are adamant in their support of Israel, and older people who support humanitarian pauses/a cease-fire.
The word "genocide" has a highly specific meaning. Mehdi Hasan interviewed an Israeli-American leading expert on the topic, and he wasn't ready to apply the term. It's a triggering term and unnecessary to use, when war crimes and crimes against humanity are being reported.
There is something at play that's hard to pinpoint. There have been no mass protests against the self-declared genocide being perpetrated against Ukraine. Unspeakable atrocities suffered by Ukraine had not led to widespread demands for greater levels of support for Ukrainian citizens. Similarly, there's a massive deportation underway by Pakistan of Afghanis...where is the outrage?
What is driving this particular schism? I'm not sure that the Biden administration could be expected to anticipate that this time widespread protests would erupt.
As to Biden's administration, he doesn't have a magic wand to impose a cease-fire or a 2-state solution. Israel has no plans for what will happen the day after the war ends, or even a timeframe for ending the war.
Blinken and Biden have been coordinating with Arab neighbors, but these backdoor channels have to be carefully managed. There is widespread support among their citizens for Palestinians. There are a multitude of trade relationships that can't simply be obliterated by Executive Order.
Israel doesn't need US dollars...they have nearly $200B in reserves.
Realistically, other than increasing demands for humanitarian causes, what are Biden's options?
As to the calls to free Palestine...what does that mean? Palestinians would need non-Hamas leadership. Who would that be? Who would find the rebuilding of a decimated Gaza, the creation of an independent economy, a government? Who would ensure that new anti-Israel terrorists organizations would not again control leadership of Gazans. These are complex issues that must be addressed.
Finally, there can't be peace as long as Netanyahu and his religious extremists hold power. Who will remove him from power? Elections won't be held until the war is over, and the war won't be over while Netanyahu is in power.
Ultimately, Biden can use stronger words to condemn the unrelenting attacks, but he has few tools to contain Netanyahu.
Please forgive my ignorance here, and know that I share everyone's desire for peace and tranquility throughout the world. I'm just an old white guy, non-denominational, trying to understand. But my question is, why are none of the other, wealthy Arab nations offering to take in the Palestinian civilians caught in the crossfire here? Or even, taking in the women and children, until Israel and Hamas are through bashing each other's brains out? I don't understand this. I truly believe if there were some horrific conflict wreaking havoc in Mexico, we would offer our humanitarian assistance to those not directly involved in the conflict. We would take in the innocents, temporarily, until they could safely return to their homes. Is this a legitimate question? Can it be simply answered? I just don't understand.
From what I understand, the Arab neighbors are concerned about the disruption to their economic and political situations by accepting large numbers of refugees. They're worried that any temporary solution would morph into a long-term project. They're also concerned about Hamas ideology radicalizing their countries during a period of relative peace and economic stability.
Thank you for this. And it does make sense. But I think the same concerns would apply to our offering aid to another neighboring country, and yet, I believe we would proceed regardless. It would be the right thing to do, which is why I can't understand the reluctance by the Arab nations to assist the innocents. And truthfully, not just now, but in past horrible conflicts, as well. They just don't seem to want to help the Palestinians. Again, forgive my ignorance here; I truly am trying to comprehend this awful situation.
I suspect that another reason is not accepting refugees keeps pressure on Israel which none of the Arab nations really like.
I think that is the longer term strategy of the Arab nations, to keep the Palestinian people miserable in refugee camps, fostering their anger at Israel. They could have stepped in to mitigate the misery decades ago, it they did not. Why do it now?
But that pressure is costing thousands of innocent lives. Does that not matter? Is hurting Israel more important than saving innocent Palestinians? Sadly, I think you may be correct.
I think the one thing that nobody is considering is that maybe two million Palestinians do not want to leave their homes. Generations have grown up in Gaza and it’s become miserable due to mistreatment and blockades. Liberalizing and creating a new kind of relationship with the Gaza civilians seems like a better way to root out the terrorists than carpet bombing and forcing two million people from their homes.
I agree, Jordan. I wouldn't want to leave my home either. But sometimes, circumstances beyond your control make decisions for you, and this is certainly one of those times. There are just SO MANY questions that may never find a reasonable answer.
They probably aren’t leaping to help Israel, that’s true. But there’s also simply no infrastructure available to take on that number of people so quickly. I live in NYC and our shitty mayor is losing his mind over refugees coming in and we’ve got more empty office buildings than anywhere else. There’s also a matter of taking in people being unpopular with existing citizens, and in many of these countries, autocratic rule depends on placating people.
Thank-you for your insights and courage.
Must disagree with the liberal slant of this post. israel needs to be treated with the same harsh sanctions as meted out against Venezuela or Cuba that are being economically strangled simply because they have a different form of government, ones that believe people really count and national resources belong to their own nation. I also strongly oppose this articles refusing to decry t he lie about Israel defending itself without granting the Palestinians the same right. Actually international law is on the side of the Palestinians who are occupied people under brutal conditions having the right to do whatever is necessary to secure their freedom. Such privilege does not apply to Israel that was founded by Zionist ideology which ALWAYs promoted ethnic cleansing of the people living in that land. The Nakba is as clear a demonstration of the ideology and its murderous intent as can be had and is now being played out in its final efforts to effect the total destruction of that People and its culture and society. Israel needs to be called out as strongly as possible as a criminal State which is a political and not religious criticism. If the US was even remotely interested in protecting the Palestinians it would immediately withdraw all financial and military support. The US is totally complicit in this genocide, which is what it is, and needs to held accountable. That is what the people of this country are demanding. The biggest payback is the opening the flood gates for real anti-semitism which is being expressed by the extremist on the Right, permission being given by Trump and the GOP. The second payback is the Democrats pending loss at with the vote. Dems vs GOP--a choice between 2 sides of fascism
You're not wrong. The decent people of Israel and Palestine are the meat in a fanatic sandwich. Maybe this latest eruption will be the catalyst for true solution. It seems everyone is sick of the status quo.
Everyone….. except no one! Like those so sick of gun violence in the US. Talk is cheap!
If the US is not brought to heel by the rest of the world, nothing will change. The US has given cover to Israel for decades and, so, nothing changes. Given Israel's extreme hubris, even the most severe sanctions will take a long time before we see any positive results. One problem that does have reality is the growing anti-semitism fueled by this Gazan genocide. There needs to be a serious campaign to educate people on the difference betw a political horror by Israel as a political State and Judaism as a religion. Further facts such as 70% of Zionists are not Jews but Christians. Such sects in the US need to be called out
Oh wow, of course that’s what I meant. Embarrassing editing slip. Will fix, thank you for pointing it out!
You're welcome, Jordan. I really enjoy your writing.
Yes, that was a pretty egregious error and have to wonder if it wasn't the proverbial Freudian slip.