Nathan Thrall’s recounting of the events leading up to the current war in Gaza for the London Review of Books should be must-reading for anyone who wants to understand what is going on. It cuts through the propaganda from all sides and gets down to the nitty-gritty.
When all of this violence is over, someone is going to have to govern Gaza, and that government is going to need to be able to raise the revenue somehow to pay its functionaries. The economy of Gaza cannot be strangled forever. It can’t remain totally isolated in perpetuity.
For these reasons, Israel will have to accept something less than total victory.
somewhat less than a total military victory…
a great deal less than a moral vistory
somewhat less than a total military victory…
a great deal less than a moral victory
Excellent article and analysis! Now hoping enough people read and appreciate it.
This ought to be required reading for Congress and everyone touching the ME in the State Department – not to mention the rest of America. Lamentably, most people have their minds made up and wouldn’t appreciate being confused by the facts.
It still wouldn’t change their minds. They’d just be more convinced Israel should level Gaza to the sea or it will be too late.
This forever war will start to end when Israel gives up the “We don’t negotiate with terrorist” talking point.
Who is going to make Israel accept something less than total victory?
The Israelis don’t want peace. They want all the land, they want total victory, and they’re not squeamish about killing Palestinians.
“When Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice knocked his girlfriend (now wife) unconscious in an Atlantic City elevator back in March, he was arrested and sentenced to undergo counseling.”
She still married him? Seems like she needed counseling more than he did. On the other hand, it would have been about as useful. Guys who do that don’t generally stop doing it, I hear.
I’m confused. You previously said Hamas is winning this conflict. Did you mean to say that Hamas has to settle for less than total victory? And for Gaza and the West Bank to improve economically, they will have to give up the idea that trickle down economics works. When Meshal is worth $2 billion, Abbas is worth more than $100 million and Abbas’ sons monopolize various consumer products, the economic viability of the Palestinian areas is next to zero.