CNN reports that the IDF launched the biggest operation in years against the West Bank. Minister Smotrich said some time ago that the West Bank would get the same treatment as Gaza. Seems he's making good on his threat. Hamas, btw, doesn't govern the West Bank.
These are far right-wing folks that are pulling Netanyahu's strings. They know he'll do absolutely anything to stay in power. My big concern is that they are burning bridges with Americans. They are playing with fire and don't even realize it. If they lose our support then they are in very deep trouble.
Even Donald Trump, who is trying to thwart a ceasefire deal, has told Netanyahu that their attacks on Gaza look bad, and they're losing support. I'm not even sure that Trump would support an expansion of the war into the West Bank. He told Netanyahu to get this over with as quickly as possible. I don't know what Israel's removal process is, but it's been time to remove Netanyahu from office. Some of his top military officials say that Netanyahu has no long-term plan.
The other side of the coin: Israel realized they can't be inactive waiting for the terrorist attack from West bank. Hamas claimed responsibility for an explosion in Tel Aviv which it said was a suicide bombing conducted as a joint operation with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and vowed that further, similar attacks would follow. Before October 2023 and increasingly since October 7th, Iran has been actively working to smuggle sophisticated explosive devices into Judea and Samaria, intended for use in suicide bombings in the heart of Israeli cities. The State of Israel will not sit idly by and wait for scenes of buses and cafés exploding in city centers. The IDF’s operations in Judea and Samaria have a clear goal: preventing Iranian terror-by-proxy that would harm Israeli civilians. According to Sky News Arabia, during an address at a conference in Istanbul, Turkey, Mashaal (soon will join Haniyeh) said that the Hamas terror group wanted to “return to suicide operations. Israeli forces kill 5 gunmen shooting from West Bank mosque, including local terror leader Earlier in the week, a preemptive strike by Israel in Lebanon, destroyed more than 6000 rockets, Katyusha rockets, drones that were to attack North and Central Israel.
Israeli solders risked their lives rescuing an Israeli Muslim Arab, a Bedouin hostage. “It does not matter if they are Arab or Jewish, all have a family waiting for them,” said Alkadi, a father of 11 who was kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7 while working as a security guard at a packing plant near the Gaza border. “They also want to feel the joy,” he said. “I hope, I pray an end to this.” Alkadi was one of eight Bedouins abducted on Oct. 7 After more than 300 days in Hamas captivity, a frail and malnourished Farhan Al-Qadi sat in a large tent set up by his family and friends in the Negev desert, where loved ones came by to welcome him home on Wednesday.
An Israeli PM can be removed through the ballot box at an election. Elections can happen for various reasons. There must be an election every five years (I think it is), the PM can decide to call an election before that, or the Knesset passes a vote of no confidence. The next mandatory election is October 27, 2026. Before that, only the ruling coalition (including the PM) can remove the PM by calling an early election. Not gonna happen so long as Netanyahu continues to do the vicious will of the settler parties. Even if there were an early election, don't assume the results would look much different than things are now.
8th He wasn't found guilty in any of the cases against him. So the trial will have to be completed. Then if found guilty, then sentenced.
Historical days, Israel special operation in West Bank is being cleansed of terrorists. Not allowing the West Bank to become Gaza, as it was neglected in years past. For a first time, the uninvolved Palestinian civilian population was warned to evacuate. One of the last hopes of Hamas is to cause a third Intifada to inflame the West Bank, and call for attacks on Israel. There are terror tunnels in West Bank as terror cells in mosques.
The cases are ongoing but I assume he has more leverage to control and slow down the case while he's in power. I understand that his power grab to try to subjugate the judiciary to his whims didn't work out as well as he was hoping? Sounds like some well thought out talking points. Similar to what I heard about Gaza 10 months ago. I have to assume this operation will be over and done with in short order. If it turns out to start looking anything like Gaza then I personally will place Israel on my personal shit list, along with Russia and North Korea.
Not sure, how one compares Democratic state, a state that its existence is being heartened and attacked, a state where solders risking their lives to save a hostage, Palestinian Israeli or any other, to those two other jail tyrannical shit list states. I don't think Israel will do anything remotely close to West Bank to what was done to Gaza. These are limited weekly operations, from what I understand. Unless West Bank initiates massive terror attacks on Israel same as Gaza did.
October 7 was unforgivable. However, we've reached a point I believe that further killing in Gaza by IDF has passed the point where the good that is being accomplished is not likely sufficient to compensate for the bad being done. All I'm saying is that if Netanyahu starts bombing and killing many thousands of civilians in the West Bank like he's doing in Gaza then I will turn very anti-Israel.
I don't think it's Natanyahoo, who is bombing Hamas terrorists in Gaza, it's IDF. The civilians in Gaza and West Bank should be protected, but it's Terrorists who put the civilians in harms way. They are anti Israel for atleast 100 years. Arab countries used them, abuse them, and their religious leaders brainwash them.
Israeli PM is not a monarch and unlike in US is not a Commander & Chief. The IDF is headed by the Chief of the General Staff, who is subordinate to the Israeli Defense Minister. The decisions are made by a cabinet with PM and Ministers. For example latest vote on Philadelphi access in Gaza, 7 ministers with the PM voted to keep IDF in control of the access, Minister of Defence was against it, and one abstained, I think Smotrich if I remeber correctly. Quatari money, would have find it way to Hamas with or without Bibis support. Bibi thought he was buying quiet and also Gaza used some of the money to buy food, vegetables and fruits from Israel. Still most of it went to fund Hamas terror infrastructure and the heads of Hamas billioners lifestyle abroad. As to cases against Bibi. Some aare falling a part, some ongoing.
There is no argument that Hamas is evil, at least in my point of view. There is also little question that Lebanon is a very bad place to live.
