Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country is “embarking on a long and difficult war” as it deals with an unprecedented hostage crisis after Palestinian militants launched a surprise land, sea and air attack from Gaza, killing hundreds and infiltrating into Israeli territory.
Saturday’s shock attacks by Hamas led to the deadliest day in decades for Israel and come after months of surging violence between Palestinians and Israelis with the decades-long conflict now heading into uncharted and dangerous new territory. Questions are also swirling over how the entire Israeli military and intelligence apparatus appeared to be caught off guard in one of the country’s worst security failures.
Israel’s political-security cabinet convened late Saturday and made a “series of operational decisions aimed at bringing about the destruction of the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, in a way that would negate their ability and desire to threaten and harm the citizens of Israel for many years to come,” according to a statement from the office of Israel’s Prime Minister.
Why do they back and support them so much? Pragmatically, what do they get in return???
Relief of white guilt and a democratic ally in a strategically important region dominated by theocratic regimes.
This “long war” business is a pack of bullshit. The Gaza Strip, Hamas’s stronghold, could be occupied by the Israeli army in a week.
Netanyahu will be looking to drop the “democratic” part of what the West gets from the alliance with the surge in public support for “extreme measures,” there isn’t a doubt in my mind.
No one in politics gives a shit about “white guilt”, that’s some Fox-esque talking point that means nothing.
And a country that promptly installs and supports authorities and genocidal dictators gives no shit about democracy in the M.E.
The reasons are much simpler, oil, conflict, and Christi-Fascist end days dogma.