The US Government reacted very quickly after Hamas’s brutal 10/07/23 assault on southern Israel. From the highest Washington levels, America’s complete support for Israel and its right to defend itself, were repeatedly underscored. And then on 10/17/23, President Biden traveled to Jerusalem/ Tel Aviv to personally reassure the Israeli people, that America had their back.
Two US carrier battle groups were deployed to the Eastern Med, to deter others, particularly Iran and Hezbollah, from broadening the conflict. The United States had the initiative and dominated the story line, until 10-27-23 when Israeli ground forces entered Gaza and its air force continued its indiscriminate bombing.
The devastation of Gaza, the attacks on hospitals, the mounting death toll of Palestinian civilians, now over 11,000, including some 4,000 children, has placed the US Government on the defensive. Under US pressure, the Israeli Government reluctantly agreed to daily pauses to allow tens of thousands of Palestinians to move South safely and to receive the humanitarian assistance they need. However, Jerusalem continues to refuse all ceasefire suggestions, with somewhat wavering US support.
Sharp increases in anti-Semitic violence are widespread and international public opinion has divided: (1) Pro Palestinian, anti Israel, anti-US and (2) pro-Israel, but also blaming the US for not forcing Netanyahu to avoid the current high level of death and destruction. Large demonstrations of supporters of both views are taking place around the world. But, somewhat surprising, have been the student conflicts on US campuses, including against Jews.
Perhaps inevitably, the two positions have become politicized in the US. Republicans are exclusively pro Israel and identify pro-Palestinians as Hamas. The only House member who is Palestinian in origin, has been censored by her colleagues, for pro-Palestinian remarks. The Republicans also have shifted their support from Ukraine to Israel, but deleted aid to both from their Continuing Resolution.
Common sense and civility are MIA in Congress.
How can America Regain Control and Positive Momentum? Simply put, by dramatically changing the subject from the on-going Palestinian human catastrophe, to its (and Israel’s) long-term solution. The US government like most others can be captured by today’s crises because they are in-your-face, demanding immediate attention. In November 2023, examples re Israel, Gaza and the Palestinians are: longer combat pauses, humanitarian aid delivery and hostage exchanges.
But, what if President Biden, announced that the US will host a Conference at, for instance, Camp David in early 2024, to discuss the establishment of the independent state of Palestine. It would be leaked as international consultations get underway and would quickly monopolize the thrust of rampant speculation about how, who and where. Israel would not be pleased because the pressure on Netanyahu to negotiate a ceasefire, would increase ten fold and more quietly, would include the US.
It’s useful to recall that between June 30 and November 10, 1944, as WWII raged in Europe and the Pacific, the US organized two conferences (Bretton Woods, NH and Dumbarton Oaks, WDC), where the post war economic order, international reconstruction and the UN organization, were planned. Probably easier then, absent social media and TikTok.
Unhelpful Internal Political Dynamics: There is a surprising similarity between some aspects of today’s American and Israeli political situations. Netanyahu and his quite authoritarian government have been working to eliminate the only existing check on its power – the Supreme Court. During the summer and into the fall, massive public demonstrations took place, strongly opposed to this anti democratic action. Reserve Air Force officers, even announced they would no longer participate in regular training exercises, sending a very strong signal regarding the depth of the opposition.
Moreover, some important cabinet members are prominent fundamentalist Orthodox Jews with an agenda. Most Israelis and American Jews are reform oriented and more secular. That being said, there has never been civil marriage in Israel, and the agenda being pursued, includes possibly limiting automatic access to Israeli citizenship, to Orthodox Jews.
And finally, Netanyahu has been able to avoid prosecution for corruption and bribery as long as he is prime minister. However, once the war and elimination of Hamas no longer dominate Israel, e.g. proposed US conference on Palestine statehood, it’s likely the Netanyahu government would fall because of the “surprise” October 7 massacre and also their attempts to weaken Israel’s democracy. The efforts to introduce stricter Orthodox restrictions also wouldn’t help.
Tom Timberman is an Army vet, lawyer, former senior Foreign Service officer, adjunct professor at GWU, and economic development team leader or foreign government advisor in war zones. He is the author of four books, lectures locally and at US and European universities. He and his wife are 24 year residents of Kent County.
Holly Geddes says
The Hamas monsters are barbaric in the worst way. These monsters can’t be called animals. No animal kills for pleasure. Animals kill to eat or to protect themselves. These are barbaric monsters.
A couple of facts: the land has been continuously inhabited by Jews for 3,500 years. The next longest habitation has been by Christians. They have lived on the land for 2,000+ years. Muslims have only existed for 1,400 years, so they can not be the true long-term inhabitants of the land.
Now, let’s get to some background facts that those who demonstrate don’t seem to know. Hamas is a puppet for the Shia Muslims who live in Iran and are not Arabs. The Arab Muslims are usually the Sunni. They are not the same. Saying that they are is the equivalent of stating that the Baptists and the Catholics are the same because they are both Christians. The more dogmatic, extreme, radical Muslims are the Shia who pay for Hamas, Hezbollah, The Muslim Brotherhood and other extreme organizations. The Shia/Hamas are very happy to sacrifice the Sunni/Palestinians in this war. Most people don’t know the difference and will buy the propaganda that the Jews are killing the people of Hamas. Shia/Hamas are only creating “martyrs” for their cause by using the Sunni/Palestinian as human shields.
I can’t think of any army in the past who would warn civilians to leave an area because it will be attacked. No army at war has ever shipped fuel into a combat zone so that hospitals can care for their enemy. Incubators have never been shipped into a hospital within a combat zone to care for the infants of the enemy. But Israel has done all of that. Why are there so many casualties? Because their own government, Hamas, will not allow the Palestinians to escape. Hamas has food, fuel, medical supplies and other supplies in the tunnels that they have kept from the Palestinians. Hamas are Shia monsters.
The two state solution is never going to happen. The Israelis have offered a two state solution 4 or 5 times since 1948 and have been turned down by the Palestinians each and every time. The Palestinians don’t want to share. They want to take over what is not theirs.
However the Israelis structure their government is not for us to say. This fight is not about internal governmental issues. It is about western civilization and values on one side and the imposition of totalitarian Sharia law on the other. The Shia advocate the genocide of all Jews world wide and the obliteration of the nation that is the Jewish safe haven. The Christian population has already been mostly eliminated in the Muslim sections of the West Bank and Gaza. They are safe in the state of Israel. If the Jewish state is destroyed, the Christian population will probably be eliminated as well.
The monsters who attacked Israel on October 7th were just that, … monsters. If you want, I could describe the horrendous atrocities committed against babies, children, pregnant women and the babies within them, grandparents and others. Hamas deserves everything Israel can pound them with.
As to all the spontaneous “peaceful” demonstrations, I have a few questions. How did so many Palestinian flags get made and distributed world wide in only three days after October 7th? Who paid for these flags and organized the demonstrations.
Furthermore, how “peaceful” were the Pro-Hamas/Palestine demonstrations when compared to the huge bi-partisan Pro-Israeli demonstration led by Mr. Chuck Schumer?
Richard Copper says
Holly, the Jews have killed over 11,000 innocents, 4000 of them children. The 2 fuel trucks that you imply are generous is only a drop in the bucket compared to what the true needs are. Do you remember how long it took for the humanitarian trucks to be given permission to deliver the aid? Did you know that over 6,000 Palestinians are in Israeli prison with no charges? Do you know about 1948? Over 750,000 Palestinians were evicted from the homes that they owned. Flatbed trucks were equipped with loudspeakers to broadcast psychological warfare with such noises as mortar, bombs, gunfire and the sounds of people screaming in pain. Palestinians were also shot when attempting to retrieve their belongings! These so called “settlers” are actually land thieves. They didn’t acquire what they have with cash. They used guns. Why you would think this is okay, is beyond comprehension.
Holly Geddes says
Richard, according to Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (https://www.pcrf.net/information-you-should-know/what-was-palestine-before-1948.html#) “Before 1948 Palestine was home to a diverse population of Arabs, Jews, and Christians,… In 1947, the United Nations proposed the partition of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states,…. While the Jewish community largely accepted this plan, the Arab community rejected it, leading to the outbreak of civil war.”
In this civil war there were numerous casualties including displacements from homes. Yes, many Arabs were expelled during this war. The easiest solution would have been for those who were displaced to be accepted as citizens of the neighboring Arab countries of which there were many. At the same time, Jews were being expelled from Arab countries from Morocco to Iraq. They had only one piece of land to go to as a refuge. That was Israel.
But across the world that was a time of refugees. Not unexpected during and at the end of a World War. The only separately designated refugees that are still receiving care from the UN after 50 years are the Palestinian Arabs. (UNRWA). Again, they could become citizens of the neighboring Arab countries. Instead they are still being kept in camps that are horrendous.
That is old history at this point. The sympathizers of Hamas keep asking for a ceasefire. Israel was abiding by a ceasefire until October 7th. Hamas broke the ceasefire with repulsive raids. So if I sucker punch you and then cry for you to stop responding to my attack, do you owe me anything? These poor, sad Palestinians have turned down a separate state 4 or 5 times since Israel became a nation. Why do the demonstrators keep asking for what Palestinians don’t want?
Again, in which other war has the offended country warned civilians to leave and given them time to do so? Have the Russians brought any fuel to the Ukrainians? Have they cared if Ukrainian hospitals run short on supplies or have babies in the NIC-U? And who is keeping the patients in the hospital from escaping the battlefield? Hamas is the set of monsters who don’t care about their own people! Hamas would rather have martyrs than a safe population. How is that Israel’s fault?
Just today, Israel evacuated the babies to Egyptian hospitals. They have a philosophy of valuing life. Hamas has a philosophy of death to all who oppose their dictatorship.
This is a fight between Western values of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” on one side and dictatorship or death, pure evil on the other.