2023 Israeli-Gazan War

[Monash]

Won't happen. Just absurd on its very face. Red meat for the Fox audience. If he suggested they be put on cattle trains to 'work camps' to be 'deloused' Fox viewers would cheer and Fox presenters would start debating which gas would do the best 'delousing' job. Maybe something from I.G.Farben.

These people don't make policy, they just whip the mob into a frenzy. Not even Egypt wants to take large numbers of Palestineans. No one else will offer. While I'm sure the quasi-fascist wing of Netanyahu's coalition is already leaning toward the 'call I.G.Farben' option, plenty of others won't tolerate anything remotely like this. And then there is America. You just know Biden, Blinken & who knows who else will be on the phone the moment anyone tries something like this telling Gantz & anyone else who will listen that this sort of thing will have serious consequences.

Of course not, but I do see some irony in the Israeli's slowly over time crowding the Palestinians in to increasingly crowded and impoverished ghettos while some elements of the Israeli population call for their mass expulsion if not extermination. I keep having flashbacks to some half remembered historical event.

It's bugging me I can't remembers what it was.

[Albany Rifles]

Of course not, but I do see some irony in the Israeli's slowly over time crowding the Palestinians in to increasingly crowded and impoverished ghettos while some elements of their population call for their mass expulsion if not extermination. I keep having flashbacks to some half remembered historical event.

It's bugging me I can't remembers what it was.

We have met the enemy and he is us!

[InExile]

And then there is America. You just know Biden, Blinken & who knows who else will be on the phone the moment anyone tries something like this telling Gantz & anyone else who will listen that this sort of thing will have serious consequences.

I wonder though, what is the red line beyond which, Israeli actions would bring real punitive measures from a US Administration; at times US support for Israel seems to border on near unconditional. Even though the Biden administration has apparently worked behind the scenes to persuade the Israeli's to minimize Palestinians casualties or allow more aid, at no time has there has been any suggestion of a real consequence for Israel, like withholding of aid or arms supplies. Or withholding a veto at the UN.

[Albany Rifles]

I wonder though, what is the red line beyond which, Israeli actions would bring real punitive measures from a US Administration; at times US support for Israel seems to border on near unconditional. Even though the Biden administration has apparently worked behind the scenes to persuade the Israeli's to minimize Palestinians casualties or allow more aid, at no time has there has been any suggestion of a real consequence for Israel, like withholding of aid or arms supplies. Or withholding a veto at the UN.

I definitely could see us vetoing in the UN. Arms shipments are a very tricky in a Presidential election year. ALso that money for Israel is Congressionally mandated and helps American firms.

[Monash]

I definitely could see us vetoing in the UN. Arms shipments are a very tricky in a Presidential election year. Also that money for Israel is Congressionally mandated and helps American firms.

Hmmm. What happens if the Senate tacks two words (and Ukraine) on to that supply bill?

[Albany Rifles]

Hmmm. What happens if the Senate tacks two words (and Ukraine) on to that supply bill?

It'd be shot down in the House more than likely.

Also, the munitions already on hand and being used would be an FY 22-23 appropriation. Anything new for Israel is refill stocks and is an FY 24 requirement.

[Albany Rifles]

Amled,

This should be in the South Asia threads and not here.

Could delete and repost in a new thread there, please.

[Amled]

Amled,

This should be in the South Asia threads and not here.

Could delete and repost in a new thread there, please.

Oops!
It is a spill-over from the Gazan-Israeli War. But you are right it does belong there !

[statquo]

IRGCs Syria intelligence chief and his deputy killed outside Damascus by a presumed Israeli strike.

Are we at the point that we start calling it a regional war?

[Monash]

IRGCs Syria intelligence chief and his deputy killed outside Damascus by a presumed Israeli strike.

Are we at the point that we start calling it a regional war?

I don't think so. I have no doubt Netanyahu wouldn't hesitate to start one in an instant if it thought it would keep his conniving arse in office and would probably welcome it if Syria actually started one but it takes two to tango and everything I've read suggests Syria simply isn't up to launching any significant retaliation. Nor could it really risk it.

To all intents and purposes Syria is a quasi failed State. It's been gutted by a decade of civil war and it's armed forces and other key government institutions are now focused almost exclusively on maintaining internal security and trying to reclaim territory lost to rebel groups. Nor is its main arms supplier and ally in a position to rush additional equipment and other support to it in a hurry if one started (It has it's own self inflicted problems). So my best guess is that Assad will just have to suck it up.

If Netanyahu really wants a regional war he'll have to start it by attacking someone with the willingness to fight and the capacity to strike back in at least a partly effective manner. No guesses needed as to which one he'd pick.

[statquo]

I don't think so. I have no doubt Netanyahu wouldn't hesitate to start one in an instant if it thought it would keep his conniving arse in office and would probably welcome it if Syria actually started one but it takes two to tango and everything I've read suggests Syria simply isn't up to launching any significant retaliation. Nor could it really risk it.

To all intents and purposes Syria is a quasi failed State. It's been gutted by a decade of civil war and it's armed forces and other key government institutions are now focused almost exclusively on maintaining internal security and trying to reclaim territory lost to rebel groups. Nor is its main arms supplier and ally in a position to rush additional equipment and other support to it in a hurry if one started (It has it's own self inflicted problems). So my best guess is that Assad will just have to suck it up.

If Netanyahu really wants a regional war he'll have to start it by attacking someone with the willingness to fight and the capacity to strike back in at least a partly effective manner. No guesses needed as to which one he'd pick.

Didn’t the Iranians hit a place in Iraq a few days ago where they claimed it was a Mossad outpost? The Israelis hitting them back in Syria almost brings credence to that claim doesn’t it?

[Monash]

Didn’t the Iranians hit a place in Iraq a few days ago where they claimed it was a Mossad outpost? The Israelis hitting them back in Syria almost brings credence to that claim doesn’t it?

Yes they did and I think an American base got hit as well. But as I noted the Israeli's have a long history of striking at targets in surrounding countries like Syria when they are being used as transit routes for weapon shipments or as safe havens for anti-Israeli terrorist groups. Iraq is just the latest on the list.

[rj1]

Of course not, but I do see some irony in the Israeli's slowly over time crowding the Palestinians in to increasingly crowded and impoverished ghettos while some elements of the Israeli population call for their mass expulsion if not extermination. I keep having flashbacks to some half remembered historical event.

It's bugging me I can't remembers what it was.

I always thought the biggest FU the Palestinians could ever do to the Israelis was withdraw their claims to a separate state, announce that Gaza and the West Bank are part of Israel, they're all now Israeli citizens, and come next election make certain every single Palestinian voted. Israeli politics operate on above a small threshold you get x percent of the vote you get x percent of seats.

If Israel tried to stop Palestinians giving them full citizenship rights and ability to vote in elections it would then become a South African apartheid situation.

[rj1]

Of course not, but I do see some irony in the Israeli's slowly over time crowding the Palestinians in to increasingly crowded and impoverished ghettos while some elements of the Israeli population call for their mass expulsion if not extermination. I keep having flashbacks to some half remembered historical event.

It's bugging me I can't remembers what it was.

I always thought the biggest FU the Palestinians could ever do to the Israelis was withdraw their claims to a separate state, announce that Gaza and the West Bank are part of Israel, they're all now Israeli citizens, and come next election make certain every single Palestinian adult voted. Israeli politics operate on above a small threshold you get x percent of the vote you get x percent of seats, and the Palestinians have a much higher birth rate.

[Amled]

Hamas armed wing says three Israeli hostages killed in Israeli airstrikes

https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/hamas-a...ikes-1.6765566

Two Israeli hostages rescued!
Purely coincidentally at the same time this is announced, Hamas announces that three of the Israeli hostages in their keeping,
has died of wounds received in an Israeli air attack!
Easily verified if Hamas would turn over the remains!