Constraining Israel

Options to save the Palestinians are complex and difficult to the point of impossibility.

I wish we lived in the perfect vacuum that most of the commenters seem to believe exists around Israel. In that perfect place, Biden could snap down hard on Bibi without consequences. But we live in a polycentric world of fluid and shifting alliances. In this real world holding back military support from Israel would most likely stimulate increased violence across the region.

The problem those desiring peace have is worse even than that. Bibi won't protect Palestinians and HAMAS (even if you imagine it is a Palestinian organization) won't protect Palestinians either. Bibi is the leader of an Israeli movement that is calculating and cutthroat. They intend the death or removal of all Palestinians from the land that is coveted by Israel. Since no one else will take the Palestinians, death seems the only option the Israelis pursue.

HAMAS is a terrorist organization committed to the destruction of Israel (not the salvation of Palestinians). Under this view of the facts, it is time to figure out something in the way of a solution.

What is needed is an international peace keeping force in Gaza and a demilitarized zone along the former border with Israel. This is of course so difficult as to be ranked impossible. But didn't the facts above persuade you that the current situation is impossible already? The Palestinians are facing genocide at the hands of the Israelis. The Jews are facing genocide at the hands of HAMAS and others. There is no way out of this as long as the combatants are in active conflict because all of the incentives are wrong for peace.

We need the United Nations, led by the United States, and if vetoed there, then a new treaty organization led by the United States that will commit to mounting a peacekeeping force in Gaza. This multi-national force which must first stop Israeli aggression. Immediately thereafter they must enforce a ceasefire and no-fly zone within Gaza. The multi-national peace keeping force must commit to a decade or more of supervision of the Palestinian situation.

Biden won't do this in an election year, Trump would never do it. No one else on earth could do it. So brace for continued hostilities and near genocide at least through Jan 20th when the new Administration takes office (Biden will need majorities in both houses of Congress in order to do anything in Gaza). Those who are angry at Biden and the Democrats for not doing more really need to get some education in international politics and the art of war.

So many have said to declare a cease fire. This is a glib and ignorant viewpoint which if carried out sets up HAMAS to prevail and sets up Israel for continued and increased attacks upon their people and their lands. A one-sided cease fire is exactly what this will be, clearly, because HAMAS is a terrorist underground unaccountable organization. People who really want a cease fire must face the reality of what it would take to accomplish. My suggestions above are the best I have seen.

What have YOU got to say?