Covid 19

  Another year is about to end as news of the variant omicron is raging across the globe. At this point, I no longer worry what it all means or how it will effect me and my family.  Nothing short of mental exhaustion to explain this lack of concern of the threat this virus posses. I should be worried or should I continue to detach myself from the impeding doom that awaits us all. I am unable to answer this question right now. 

2021 and My return to this blog

 I am afraid to see the exact number of years since I posted last. It has been too long. Much has transpired since then.  We had a few wars, several elections, and interesting to point out, I started this blog when Netanyahu was PM and only fitting I return to this blog after his ouster. 

I don't see him going anywhere. He will likely make a triumphant return in the not too distant future. 

When arguing with someone who is deluded

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It seems self-evident by Israel not agreeing to allow the Palestinians liberation in their own state or citizenship within Israel it stands to reason perpetual conflict and oppression is the default choice. This is why those who love Israel cannot under any moral rational support the state. It is impossible to defend the indefensible. A decision - be it by default or otherwise - to continue the oppression of people is morally repugnant. I see all the good in Israel but at the same time the bad consumes it like cancer. This is a bridge too far to cross for most people.

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  Maz214

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  A "Palestinian" state, no, the "Palestinian" project exists solely to obviate the existence of Jews from the Holy Land. There is no "oppression" of a people who are explicitly at war with you. You can be soldiers or victims, not both.

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  I can't help your delusions. I don't see soldiers, tanks, airplanes, or navy. I see human beings, mostly kids and women, if you dare or CARE to look at all the victims of Israeli might. You want to rationalize in such black and white terms to make it more morally palatable, that is your prerogative. That doesn't change the fact you are wrong and deluded. The notion Israel has anything to fear from rock throwers and kite flyers is a sick joke but I am not laughing!

Trump deal or no deal

 It is difficult to impossible to defend the Palestinian Authority and it's current leadership. The fact Mahmoud Abbas remains in power and rules with a iron fist is further reasons to be disgusted with how the Palestinians have allowed themselves to be dragged down a dead end road. There is nothing good that can come out of a dictatorship. There is nothing good to come out of tyrannical rule, be it by Fatah or Hamas. The tyranny secularists or Islamist's engage in is two sides of the same coin. They both want to maintain a grip on power and the people be damned. 

The Trump administration is in the process of presenting a plan that they argue is aimed at finding a final resolution to this seemingly intractable and insoluble conflict. A plan which the Palestinians have rejected before they even heard it. I don't dismiss the fact this plan will be co-written by Zionist hardliners - be they Jewish-American or Israeli officials - and undoubtedly be designed to benefit Israel the most. This is a fact of life when you have the United States acting as an Israeli puppet. Nevertheless, to dismiss the lessons of the past would be a grave error for the Palestinians. Each time there is a deal of some kind or an opportunity to improve the lives of the Palestinian people - which ALWAYS falls short of Palestinian demands and aspirations - but nevertheless it is something much better than what their so called leaders have been able to achieve by means of violence, rejection or resistance - hard to see why this time around when there is a serious deal in the works by Trump that the Palestinians would fall in the same trap that they always fall into by missing the only train available. In 1939, had they negotiated a deal with the Brits, could have salvaged something then. Had they accepted UN resolution 181, a Palestinian state would exist today. Had they negotiated after the 6 day war, no settlements then, they could have gotten most if not all land held after the war. This insanity continues with President Carter, when they refused to take part in negotiations. Egypt got all their land back and billions in aid while the Palestinians continue to suffer and got nothing.  The Clinton era saw more of the same with the Palestinians. The reality is they cannot and will not ever be in a position of strength when it comes to negotiations with Israel and get everything they want. Their position has dwindled over the years to the point of irrelevance.  This is because of failed leadership not seizing the moment when it presented itself. They need to start thinking about their people and what is possible over what is not ideologically palatable. 

It is possible the Palestinians can improve their lives dramatically if they abandon hard-line positions on land and statehood. They can reap enormous benefits by trying to work with Israel - rather than fight with them over land that is already lost. 

  

Recent exchange on JPOST

Maz2214

America and Israel complaining of bias at the UN is like the mafia complaining about crime. It is a joke! Here are some facts, of the 72 total vetoes the US ever used, 43 were used to protect Israel. Go figure!

BlueController to Maz214

 Here, I have figured it for you - if US were not using the veto as a part of the game, the anti-Israel bias would go beyond ridiculous and the lack of credibility and the crisis of trust and abandonment UN goes through now would come sooner and much harder. These votes benefited UN more than Israel, protecting the former from itself and hyperinflation of its already worthless resolutions.

Maz214 to BlueController

 The only worthless resolution is UN resolution 181 many would argue.  To follow your logic all the 43 vetoes were legitimate because Israel has never done anything wrong.  I know you believe that and I can't help the fact some can't see beyond their schnozzle and believe they are God's chosen.  The truth is the UN is corrupt and it was corrupt back in 1947 as well. We can agree on that right?

BlueController to Maz214

I do not remember the worthless UN resolutions by numbers. do not know how following my logic ascends Israel to the status of a saint entity. I do not know how the God's chosen fixation must do something with that or with me.

I also do not really know if UN was corrupt in 1947. What I do know, and it just might be relevant to your next question, that UN has no power under its own regulation to create independent states. So the idea that UN created state of Israel belongs to the same department of "Creation of Israel was the result of Holocaust". In the alphabetical index, that department shows between 'Br...' and 'Bt..."

Maz214 to BlueControler

Fair enough, I did not address your point directly. The notion those vetoes did more to help the UN as a institution than the state of Israel is absurd. Let us put aside the question who they did help and agree such vetoes did hurt the Palestinians and the cause of peace?  Keep in mind they are the victims of occupation and oppression. It is easy to argue those vetoes hurt the Palestinians and the cause of peace. The UN charter states: The UN Charter sets out four main purposes: Maintaining worldwide peace and security. Developing relations among nations. Fostering cooperation between nations in order to solve economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian international problems".  The vetoes served to derail meeting those objectives.  Some will argue because Israel can count on American veto it does not need to make peace much less feel the need to end the longest running military occupation in modern times.  The vetoes serve as a get out of jail card.  It stands to reason if criminals get a get out of jail card crime will be much higher than it is today.

BlueController to Maz214

 Your last claim holds. Human behavior can be that simple in simple circumstances. However, the step of induction to American veto as the get out of jail card fits into more complex situation. A situation in which UN activities are not only feedback mechanism, and far from being in the few top ones. There are trade and other ties with many countries in the world that would be immediately affected. I do not know how you view the UN role in the world, I do not see countries taking orders from it. Israel sells and buys by billions with countries like Britain and EU members which are known to be very sensitive on the subject of Palestinian rights violations. Trade ties with Muslim countries amount to billions as well. Part Turkey and Azerbajan (strategic partner on Iranian border) with whom the ties are open, there are others, even those with whom there are no diplomatic relations, who buy goods after they are white-labeled. The former keep an eye on the Palestinian affairs. The later could be gone in an eye-blink.

American Jews become more and more pro-Palestinian. Inexcusable escalation could turn away even those who are not indoctrinated. That could eventually undermine the American support we talk about altogether.Not last but definitely, absolutely not the least, even if we stay in the egoistic plan and keep the morals out of the simplistic behavior model, enough Israelis are smart enough to realize that crimes against others are danger to ones' own society.

PurpleDog to BlueController

 I must admit that I was disappointed to see extent of support of El'or Azariya ('the Hebron Shooter)' . On the other hand I could see another time correlation between success, intelligence on one hand, and decency , morality and comprehension how acceptance of such a crime cold quickly derail our society, on the other. BTW, this correlation is how I explain the frequent differences in understanding of situation of Israel and its needs between leaders of the world and the more loud and easily agitated parts of their nations.In the bottom line, I stand behind my claim that UN is not that important on which I based the rest. UN diplomacy is a game that humans play. A game that affects reality, but indirectly and weekly.

Maz214 to BlueController

 The complexities you outlined might in the end play a role in this shell game we call the UN. That somehow while these countries voted in support of a resolution against Israel knowing in advance a veto was forthcoming and this vote will serve their political interests while the veto protects their economic interests.  They will play the political card but do not want to disturb the economic cart at the same time. I don't doubt this game involves such self interest thinking.  This is probably a better explanation than PurpleDog analysis that the veto ultimately helps the institution of the UN.                                                                   When in reality, this veto protects the economic interests of other UN members - and gives them political cover. In the end, it is a convoluted shell game nations states play that involves game theory. Even beyond that, the UN is a tool that serves to camouflage political reality not shape it reality not shape it.

BlueController to Maz214

Now to "Keep in mind they are the victims of occupation and oppression".

It takes even more than that to study when the  just two states solution was the first proposed an whose stance has been what. Or to analyze who enjoys support to what extent between their population, and what the peope want because of complexity required, it is the part            

people more often fit the facts to their view of the   world rather than the other way around. It is easy and is considered noble to take the side of the weak and oppressed(here I cannot stop myself                                                

from to recall the scene of liberation of prisoners by   Don Quixote...). It is easy to keep that in mind becaus it is a simple, short piece of information. It takes more to

Charter.Keep in mind what year PLO    

founded at and what they intend to liberate. It takes It takes even more

to read a few long sentences from  Hamas.

Maz214 to BlueController

 Facts are Israel maintains the longest running military occupation in modern history. Facts are Israel claims - and I tend to agree, they possess some of the brightest minds all this intelligence - which can unlock the complex mysteries of nature and in the world.  It begs the question, with - why military occupation, oppression and imprisonment are the only solutions biology - to date failed to resolve the simple question - and it is VERY SIMPLE all the complexities and all the culpability of Arabs states and Palestinians this smart start up nation can up with? Not discounting everything you said,themselves, why no humane MODERN answer to this old question of HUMAN RIGHTS we can remove racial component. The answer is religion.  A state built on a religious identity and and self-determination?  The answer is clear. Obviously, it is not racism because many Sephardi are of Arab descent so to me. How Judea and Israel hated each other to no end and fought each other -- religious supremacy is one that will inevitably be in a perpetual war until it's demise. The fact this history lesson from the bible is missed is amusing undivided city - or eternal this and that while 3.5 million of inhabitants are and made alliances with the enemies of the other - but today Zionism keeps

selling this mythical unity between the "Jewish people" - or behind walls and fences denied basic human rights.  Sorry, I think Jews are smarter than that.

PurpleDog to Maz214

and finally, the most intriguing, " Let us put aside the question who they did help and agree such vetoes did hurt the Palestinians and the cause of peace".

The cause of peace could enjoy a splendid victory. There could be a Palestinian state in the so called "West Bank" and Gaza

and the East Jerusalem who would absorb the Arabs identifying as Palestinians

from abroad (I do not know if you are familiar with numbers of Arab Muslim lands in 1940s-1950s as the result from the conflict. In case you do not exiles /refugees from Israel in 1948 and of the Jewish exiles/refugees form know, the share of Jewish ones that came into Israel alone was higher).

The Right of Return that they celebrate in Gaza in the Great March and which is incompatible with existence of Israel as a Jewish state and thus cannot be a part of two national states solution, is the main obstacle for peace. I dare to imagine that if there were no UNWRAH with the unique model of entitlement to an inherited refugee status and other forms of exceptional biased support and Palestinian cause promotion, the peace that I to settle things down as it took between Pakistan and India, or less, since the described would become reality before I was born. It would take the same time

scale is smaller.

Maz214 to

PurpleDog

 I don't disagree with your narrative to a degree, but I do think you overly under

estimate the role Israel plays in peace making or lack of it. As a regional superpower

and the backing of a global power, despite all the misdeeds by the other side, reality that makes peace closer at hand than more distant. That is the problem. due to their ignorance, hatred and vengeful proclivities, it has the power to shape No Pollyannish  viewpoint from my end but after the 6 days war the hold on the land was for leverage until the Arabs came Israel in my view has made moves that keeps peace from becoming a reality. You tell me, was it not enunciated for years by previous Israeli governments that will things be different? You cannot underestimate the radicalization of to their senses? That was the game plan, the policy and had Israel stuck to that policy, how would things be different? Had Rabin not been assassinated how religion, the reaction of the other side was predictable, they go full blown  Islamo with Hamas. Now this conflict has Zionism. It has become Messianic and religious based and less reality based. As Israel  turns more fanatical towards

help us allf bias is like the turned into my God is better than your God. And I say to that, God                                                                           

France to recognize Palestinian state if international peace conference fails

An archive photo from August 24, 2013, shows Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, right, and France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius shaking hands following their meeting in Ramallah REUTERS PHOTO

REUTERS

JERUSALEM. The proposal on Friday by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius for an international peace conference was the latest sign of Western frustration over the absence of movement toward a two-state solution since the collapse of U.S.-brokered negotiations in 2014.

Fabius said that if the French plan did not break the deadlock, Paris would recognise a Palestinian state.

Such a step would raise concern in Israel that other European countries, also long opposed to its settlement-building in occupied territory, would follow suit.

In public remarks to his cabinet, Netanyahu did not explicitly reject the notion of an international conference - an aide said Israel would examine such a request once it was received - but he made clear that reported details of the plan made it a non-starter.

Netanyahu said a "threat" to recognize a Palestinian state if France's peace efforts did not succeed constituted "an incentive to the Palestinians to come along and not compromise".

"I assess that there will be a sobering up regarding this matter," Netanyahu added. "In any event, we will make effort so that there is a sobering up here, and our position is very clear: We are prepared to enter direct negotiation without preconditions and without dictated terms."

On Saturday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the French proposal, telling an African summit in Ethiopia that "the status quo cannot continue".

But Washington responded with caution to the French move, saying it continued to prefer that Israel and the Palestinians reach an agreement on final-status issues through direct talks.

While aware the initiative may struggle to get off the ground, French officials said Paris had a responsibility to act now in the face of ongoing Israeli settlement activity and the prospect of continued diplomatic inaction as the United States focuses on a presidential election in November.

And, the officials said, Netanyahu had gone a step too far in accusing U.N. Secretary of State Ban Ki-moon of giving a "tailwind to terrorism" by laying some of the blame for four months of stabbings and car rammings by Palestinians at Israel's door. Ban angered Israel by saying last week that it is "human nature to react to occupation".

The United States, European Union - Israel's closest allies - have also issued unusually stern criticism of Israel in recent weeks, reflecting their own frustration with the policies of Netanyahu's right-wing government.

The criticism, particularly about the settlements, where some 550,000 Jews live in around 250 communities scattered across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, has raised Palestinian hopes that world powers might finally be minded to support a U.N. resolution condemning Israel's policy outright.