My morning started with this and I’m angry because of what happened . Of something like this happened to my family or friends, I’d want to lash out and punish those responsible in the harshest way but because Israel is Israel and antisemitism as it is , Israel can’t win public opinions by their actions.
Atrocities like what Hamas did must be punished by a global response force, not Israel and not because Israel is weak or can’t but because acts like what happened on October 7th must disgust anyone chanting for justice . The Cycle of violence will continue unless we learn to do that.
If Israel, at any point in it's history, had relied on the U.N. or any global entity for protection, it would no longer exist. Period. Independently conducting the current operations in Gaza, however flawed, is the only viable option for that nation.
I would disagree, Israel relied on the western world for support , military, financial and other that helped it survive. Case in point many special forces are in Israel now, including Canadian
Where did you read that bit of fiction? Israel has never relied on any foreign army, ever. There are no "Canadian forces" in Gaza. Yes, Israel gets aid from the U.S. to buy U.S. weaponry, but that's it. But you know who does get financial support out the wazoo? Hamas and the PA. That the Hamas leadership squanders it all on luxury homes in Qatar and a 500-km tunnel network (that they don't let Gazans use, even during bombings) appears to escape the narrative you've bought entirely.
Do a search on Canadian special forces in Israel and also Israel gets support from the western powers , military equipment at the forefront , since help is not supposed to be direct involvement and since you mentioned about foreign help , read about the Suez war, British French Israeli invasion of Egypt in 1956.
Man, are you ever desperate. Yes, Canadian forces are in Israel. Here's why: "Members of Canada's special forces command are on the ground in Israel to help the embassy and diplomatic staff there with planning should the situation deteriorate." In other words, they aren't there to help the Israelis in their war in Gaza. Duh. As for 1956, the British and French didn't help Israel, which needed no help. Their goal was to get control of the Suez Canal back. Israel's goal was to force open the strait of Tiran and the Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli shipping. Israel may have helped Britain and France in the short-term. Britain and France did nothing to help Israel milit;arily.
You are so right. In the wake of the terrible news of Hamas's (and PIJ's) October 7th atrocities, many world leaders and members of the opinion forming classes agreed that Hamas needed to be removed from power in Gaza and that Israel had every justification in doing so, but none seem to want to concede that Israel would need more than moral support and arms shipments to accomplish that end.
Thank you, Fred Litwin, for sharing your recent Israel experiences with us. I don’t know what to say other than I stand with Israel and I wish the world would as well. I have never understood why there is antisemitism, and why Israelis and other Jews can be so often scapegoated. Is it a matter of numbers (more Muslims) and envy (of Jewish successes) ?
Thanks Fred! I too visited Israel last month. Israelis are angry at the attacks and feeling very vulnerable. They thought that their neighborhood had moved on from 1947, but now they know that it hasn't. This is an existential war, I heard people repeat, that is only the beginning of the Israeli push-back on the question of a the legitimacy of a Jewish state. Finally, they are taking on the UN, UNWRA, and the rest of the anti-Israeli world who pretend to support coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians but are working towards the goal of Israel's demise and destruction. It is up to us to repudiate the ahistoric postcolonial narrative that our humanities departments have nurtured and to stand up to the illiberal values of Islamist rhetoric. Terry, you bring light to a darkening firmament.
This is so heartbreaking. I also feel only respect for the Israelis. No one should have to live under a constant death curse. The tragedy is that Israel is condemned for fighting for its survival. The horror is that Hamas is not universally condemned for committing atrocities.
Can’t help but think about how most nations would respond to the latest atrocity plus the constant historical provocations and acts of aggression by Israel’s neighbours. Would annexation of Gaza/the West Bank into some sort of Greater Israel help ensure their security? Honest question.
Sorry there was so little time for you to see us while you were here, Fred. The important thing to do now is to make the case for Israel in middle-of-the-road publications. Terry has an incredibly good grasp of the situation, but I wonder how many ordinary people potentially “on the fence” read or really understand his superb columns in the National Post or therealstory.com. Shockingly inaccurate and deliberately misleading coverage of Israel is rampant on the CBC, CTV, and CNN, among others. Often, the just pick up Gazan reporters’ feeds and/or Hamas news releases. The reports on the Gaza food incident this past week, for example, weren’t “reporting”: they were written with evil intent. You and like minded people need to get Terry’s reports and your own views into simple sound bites, and build a strategy to disseminate them at a level that Grade 6 students can understand. This is the level we aimed at when we communicated our ideas while I worked in the labour movement. Regrettably, many ordinary folks know nothing about the history or current complexities, and won’t be swayed by logic that assumes they have a good or even mediocre background on the issues.
Every single news piece on the Palestinian protests, every news bite on Gaza, and any story on Isreal should include information about THE HOSTAGES!! The world should be demanding the release of the hostages! I do not understand why this is not in the forefront of the news!!
When this attack happened,many of us who've observed the ME for decades knew that eventually the weakness of Israel's western allies would cause this war to come to another unsuccessful conclusion. Our leaders have no resolve. Like with Ukraine, we will force the victims to accept a useless "cease fire",and the villains will be back in business shorty thereafter.
Hamas' entire "strategy" -- which they are stupid enough to proudly admit -- is to have as many women and children killed and injured as possible so guillible suckers will spew their propaganda for them. They purposely put their own civilians in harm's way, when not shooting them themselves for trying to flee after being warned by the IDF to do so. They put military HQs and arms depots under hospitals, schools, mosques, residences. They've spent billions on tunnels and rockets, but haven't built a single bomb shelter for their civilians, or allowing them to shelter in their tunnels. They admit this themselves, saying "we built the tunnels for us. Civilians are the responsibility of the UN and Israel. So who's really responsible for the "continued slaughter"?
What happened on 7 Oct was horrific and deserved to be addressed appropriately. The problem is that the horrific nature of that is being well surpassed by the tens of thousands of civilian casualties in Gaza. I am not sure what I would do if I was Bibi (and I completely understand that Hamas must be eliminated) but because of the method pursued, Israel is becoming more alone and will be so for awhile.
So you believe Hamas ? That’s what the health ministry of Gaza is. Hamas. They have not reported one Hamas terrorist dying in tne war. Hamas has bombed Israel incessantly since it took power. Ask yourself why no bomb shelters in Gaza? Do you not see that Hamas leaders want their people to die?
Sinwar admits it. He says the war is going well and by that he means that the number of civilians killed sets the world against Israel. He puts them out there to be killed for the "cause." The more the better, he implies. No bomb shelters, tunnel entrances and arms depots in schools, hospitals, mosques, UNRWA. It's disgusting.
I don’t trust Hamas. I also think many of these casualties are in fact Hamas. The problem is perception. The perception is that Israel is committing a war crime or even genocide. I don’t believe that but even formerly sympathetic media are beginning to question the tactics.
It never takes long for world leaders (e.g. Macron, Trudeau) and media to shift their sympathy from Israel to the perpetrators of the violence against it. This latest episode with the aid convoy is a classic case in point. Hamas says Israel killed 100+ as they were trying to get aid. The media run with it. Macron condemns Israel. the Israeli explanation is rarely even mentioned, though it's much more plausible than Israel deciding for no good reason to shoot 100 civilians trying to access a food convoy. (According to the IDF, Palestinians swarmed the trucks, prompting Israel to fire warning shots, which in turn led to a stampede. Now that sounds plausible, at least to me.) It's the Al-Ahli hospital story all over again.
My morning started with this and I’m angry because of what happened . Of something like this happened to my family or friends, I’d want to lash out and punish those responsible in the harshest way but because Israel is Israel and antisemitism as it is , Israel can’t win public opinions by their actions.
Atrocities like what Hamas did must be punished by a global response force, not Israel and not because Israel is weak or can’t but because acts like what happened on October 7th must disgust anyone chanting for justice . The Cycle of violence will continue unless we learn to do that.
If Israel, at any point in it's history, had relied on the U.N. or any global entity for protection, it would no longer exist. Period. Independently conducting the current operations in Gaza, however flawed, is the only viable option for that nation.
I would disagree, Israel relied on the western world for support , military, financial and other that helped it survive. Case in point many special forces are in Israel now, including Canadian
Where did you read that bit of fiction? Israel has never relied on any foreign army, ever. There are no "Canadian forces" in Gaza. Yes, Israel gets aid from the U.S. to buy U.S. weaponry, but that's it. But you know who does get financial support out the wazoo? Hamas and the PA. That the Hamas leadership squanders it all on luxury homes in Qatar and a 500-km tunnel network (that they don't let Gazans use, even during bombings) appears to escape the narrative you've bought entirely.
Do a search on Canadian special forces in Israel and also Israel gets support from the western powers , military equipment at the forefront , since help is not supposed to be direct involvement and since you mentioned about foreign help , read about the Suez war, British French Israeli invasion of Egypt in 1956.
Man, are you ever desperate. Yes, Canadian forces are in Israel. Here's why: "Members of Canada's special forces command are on the ground in Israel to help the embassy and diplomatic staff there with planning should the situation deteriorate." In other words, they aren't there to help the Israelis in their war in Gaza. Duh. As for 1956, the British and French didn't help Israel, which needed no help. Their goal was to get control of the Suez Canal back. Israel's goal was to force open the strait of Tiran and the Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli shipping. Israel may have helped Britain and France in the short-term. Britain and France did nothing to help Israel milit;arily.
You are so right. In the wake of the terrible news of Hamas's (and PIJ's) October 7th atrocities, many world leaders and members of the opinion forming classes agreed that Hamas needed to be removed from power in Gaza and that Israel had every justification in doing so, but none seem to want to concede that Israel would need more than moral support and arms shipments to accomplish that end.
Israel is our front line in fighting these terrorists. They already have a 5th column in Canada, in case no one has been paying attention.
Thank you, Fred Litwin, for sharing your recent Israel experiences with us. I don’t know what to say other than I stand with Israel and I wish the world would as well. I have never understood why there is antisemitism, and why Israelis and other Jews can be so often scapegoated. Is it a matter of numbers (more Muslims) and envy (of Jewish successes) ?
Thanks Fred! I too visited Israel last month. Israelis are angry at the attacks and feeling very vulnerable. They thought that their neighborhood had moved on from 1947, but now they know that it hasn't. This is an existential war, I heard people repeat, that is only the beginning of the Israeli push-back on the question of a the legitimacy of a Jewish state. Finally, they are taking on the UN, UNWRA, and the rest of the anti-Israeli world who pretend to support coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians but are working towards the goal of Israel's demise and destruction. It is up to us to repudiate the ahistoric postcolonial narrative that our humanities departments have nurtured and to stand up to the illiberal values of Islamist rhetoric. Terry, you bring light to a darkening firmament.
It's strange that so many in the media have forgotten (or ignoring) the barbarity of the Hamas attack.
They prefer the Israel is horrible narrative. That’s called antisemitism.
This is so heartbreaking. I also feel only respect for the Israelis. No one should have to live under a constant death curse. The tragedy is that Israel is condemned for fighting for its survival. The horror is that Hamas is not universally condemned for committing atrocities.
My respect and admiration for Israelis only continues to grow. In the face of evil, they have shown true strength of character.
Can’t help but think about how most nations would respond to the latest atrocity plus the constant historical provocations and acts of aggression by Israel’s neighbours. Would annexation of Gaza/the West Bank into some sort of Greater Israel help ensure their security? Honest question.
Sorry there was so little time for you to see us while you were here, Fred. The important thing to do now is to make the case for Israel in middle-of-the-road publications. Terry has an incredibly good grasp of the situation, but I wonder how many ordinary people potentially “on the fence” read or really understand his superb columns in the National Post or therealstory.com. Shockingly inaccurate and deliberately misleading coverage of Israel is rampant on the CBC, CTV, and CNN, among others. Often, the just pick up Gazan reporters’ feeds and/or Hamas news releases. The reports on the Gaza food incident this past week, for example, weren’t “reporting”: they were written with evil intent. You and like minded people need to get Terry’s reports and your own views into simple sound bites, and build a strategy to disseminate them at a level that Grade 6 students can understand. This is the level we aimed at when we communicated our ideas while I worked in the labour movement. Regrettably, many ordinary folks know nothing about the history or current complexities, and won’t be swayed by logic that assumes they have a good or even mediocre background on the issues.
Every single news piece on the Palestinian protests, every news bite on Gaza, and any story on Isreal should include information about THE HOSTAGES!! The world should be demanding the release of the hostages! I do not understand why this is not in the forefront of the news!!
Many of us are listening. We cannot fight the battles on the ground, but provide support in other ways. Israel deserves to exist, survive and thrive.
When this attack happened,many of us who've observed the ME for decades knew that eventually the weakness of Israel's western allies would cause this war to come to another unsuccessful conclusion. Our leaders have no resolve. Like with Ukraine, we will force the victims to accept a useless "cease fire",and the villains will be back in business shorty thereafter.
Israeli voices are overwhelmingly drowned out by their continued slaughter of innocent women and children.
Hamas' entire "strategy" -- which they are stupid enough to proudly admit -- is to have as many women and children killed and injured as possible so guillible suckers will spew their propaganda for them. They purposely put their own civilians in harm's way, when not shooting them themselves for trying to flee after being warned by the IDF to do so. They put military HQs and arms depots under hospitals, schools, mosques, residences. They've spent billions on tunnels and rockets, but haven't built a single bomb shelter for their civilians, or allowing them to shelter in their tunnels. They admit this themselves, saying "we built the tunnels for us. Civilians are the responsibility of the UN and Israel. So who's really responsible for the "continued slaughter"?
What happened on 7 Oct was horrific and deserved to be addressed appropriately. The problem is that the horrific nature of that is being well surpassed by the tens of thousands of civilian casualties in Gaza. I am not sure what I would do if I was Bibi (and I completely understand that Hamas must be eliminated) but because of the method pursued, Israel is becoming more alone and will be so for awhile.
So you believe Hamas ? That’s what the health ministry of Gaza is. Hamas. They have not reported one Hamas terrorist dying in tne war. Hamas has bombed Israel incessantly since it took power. Ask yourself why no bomb shelters in Gaza? Do you not see that Hamas leaders want their people to die?
Sinwar admits it. He says the war is going well and by that he means that the number of civilians killed sets the world against Israel. He puts them out there to be killed for the "cause." The more the better, he implies. No bomb shelters, tunnel entrances and arms depots in schools, hospitals, mosques, UNRWA. It's disgusting.
Yes for sure. That’s the plan. I do think he’s a bit shocked by the Israeli response on the ground. The UNWRA gig is up. The hospital gig is up.
The numbers of civilian casualties come from Hamas or Hamas-controlled agencies.
Do not trust Hamas.
I don’t trust Hamas. I also think many of these casualties are in fact Hamas. The problem is perception. The perception is that Israel is committing a war crime or even genocide. I don’t believe that but even formerly sympathetic media are beginning to question the tactics.
It never takes long for world leaders (e.g. Macron, Trudeau) and media to shift their sympathy from Israel to the perpetrators of the violence against it. This latest episode with the aid convoy is a classic case in point. Hamas says Israel killed 100+ as they were trying to get aid. The media run with it. Macron condemns Israel. the Israeli explanation is rarely even mentioned, though it's much more plausible than Israel deciding for no good reason to shoot 100 civilians trying to access a food convoy. (According to the IDF, Palestinians swarmed the trucks, prompting Israel to fire warning shots, which in turn led to a stampede. Now that sounds plausible, at least to me.) It's the Al-Ahli hospital story all over again.
I hope that is what occurred. If so it won’t take much to prove that.