rattlesnake

JFK planned to stop the Israeli nuclear program, but after he was taken out, it was given the green light by FDJ. Also notable is the Samson Option, which is a means of pressure used by the Israeli government to obtain US support. Golda Meir used it with Nixon during the Kippur War: "either send in US troops or we nuke the world". Nixon yielded. There is a Wikipedia section on it too, for those who like this source. The Shimshon Option: How Israel's nuclear gambit changed the course of 1973 Yom Kippur War https://www.republicworld.com/defence/global-defence-news/the-shimshon-option-how-israel-s-nuclear-gambit-changed-the-course-of-1973-yom-kippur-war/

Netenyahu's doctrine is to implement what theologian Youssef Hindi refers to as "active messianism", which consists in interefing on events to bring about the end times, instead of waiting for them to happen. According to the beliefs of members of the Likud and of the Rabbis guiding Israeli policy, this is a necessary step before the coming of their Messiah, the rebuilding of the Third Temple and the total domination of Israel over the world.

This is such a divisive, contentious issue that there is bias, hyperbolic language and hatred on both sides. The best way to raise awareness and discuss this matter entails, in my opinion, providing views from all perspectives. Of course the aforementioned sources are biased, but they give essential context.

A word on the actual substance, maybe? Here is another source for you, Moonis Ahmar and Andrew Higgins: How and why Israel helped create Hamas? One, it was purely in the Israeli interest to support and patronise first Mujama al-Islamiya and then Hamas. It also means that like the US which created and nourished various Jihadi groups in Afghanistan and elsewhere, Israel cannot escape from the responsibility of creating Hamas. Two, Hamas’ rise and surge in 1990s and thereafter the weakening of PLO and the Palestinian community strengthened Israeli occupation over West Bank and the blockade of Gaza. https://tribune.com.pk/story/2302309/how-and-why-israel-helped-create-hamas

Israel actively helped create and supported Hamas, in order to weaken Arafat's PLO. The strategy was to use this engineered terrorism threat to justify retaliation and the implementation of the occupation as per the Greater Israel plan (cf. Oded Yinon's book The Zionist Plan for the Middle East, 1982) and stall the creation of a Palestinian state. The Intercept wrote a good piece about it (pasting excerpts and the link below). Andrew Higgins also wrote a very good article for The Wall Street Journal on the matter in 2009, How Israel Helped to Spawn Hamas, I am not posting it here as it is accessible behind a paywall, but I recommend it to those interested in furthering their knowledge on the issue. BLOWBACK: HOW ISRAEL WENT FROM HELPING CREATE HAMAS TO BOMBING IT “Hamas, to my great regret, is Israel’s creation,” Avner Cohen, a former Israeli religious affairs official who worked in Gaza for more than two decades, told the Wall Street Journal in 2009. Back in the mid-1980s, Cohen even wrote an official report to his superiors warning them not to play divide-and-rule in the Occupied Territories, by backing Palestinian Islamists against Palestinian secularists. “I … suggest focusing our efforts on finding ways to break up this monster before this reality jumps in our face,” he wrote. https://theintercept.com/2018/02/19/hamas-israel-palestine-conflict/

I detailed how Israel strategically bolstered Hamas to annihilate the two-State solution in the first pages of this topic. If the messianic party Likud had not eliminated Rabin, Arafat and the PLO in the name of their religious ideology instead of purposely arming Hamas, there would have been a two-state solution in the 90s and no second Intifada, no Operation Cast Lead and of course no October 7. The two-state solution is the last thing the Rabbi-led Likud wants and they will go all the way to achieve Greater Israel (which means no Palestine) if they aren't stopped. Iran is a related issue, but I can't go into that properly as it would be deemed off topic.

I've already told you I don't engage in the false "Hamas vs. Israel" dichotomy. Hamas in its current form is an Israeli creation. Prayers to the Palestinian people.

Agree. I like your avatar BTW.

8 April 2024: Israel’s war on Gaza live: Palestinians return to destroyed Khan Younis Palestinians return to destroyed homes in Khan Younis as most Israeli troops withdraw months after they invaded the city in southern Gaza. At least 33,175 Palestinians have been killed and 75,886 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 attack stands at 1,139, with dozens still held captive. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/4/8/israels-war-on-gaza-live-palestinians-return-to-destroyed-khan-younis

7 April 2024: Israel steps up preparation for Rafah invasion despite Western warnings The EU and U.S. have warned of a humanitarian catastrophe if Israel goes ahead with its planned offensive. The U.S. and other Western allies have repeatedly called on Israel not to launch an all-out attack on Rafah, the last remaining area that has not come under the control of the IDF; Washington has called for a more targeted approach that would minimize civilian casualties. In a statement when the operation was initially announced in February, the EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said the bloc “is very concerned about Israeli government plans for a possible ground operation in Rafah, where well over a million Palestinians are currently sheltering from the fighting.” https://www.politico.eu/article/israel-troops-prepare-rafah-invasion-gaza/

Big mistake IMO. Best to understand, intervene and rectify all erroneous assumptions being made.

A ‘war against humanity itself’: José Andrés still reeling from Israeli attack that killed his workers Chef José Andrés described Israel’s siege of Gaza as a “war against humanity itself,” days after the Israeli attack that killed seven workers from World Central Kitchen, Andrés’ aid organization that provides meals to civilians suffering from hunger due to conflicts. […] This doesn’t seem anymore [to be] a war about defending Israel. The Israelis at this point seem it’s a war against humanity itself,” Andrés said during an interview on ABC’s “This Week,” that aired Sunday. https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/07/jose-andres-israel-world-central-kitchen-workers-00150942

I have clocked a good couple of hundred thousand km on roads here and I am used to seeing morons recklessly swerving between cars (the worst, in my experience, being the motorway between Bangkok and Pattaya), but as I stated above, this is above average, it's plain crazy, literally. It's not like there was an unexpected change to the environment, the SUV and the truck were consistently on their lanes and he still attempted the impossible without even braking. He was probably off his head on drugs, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was also addicted to video games (i.e. he forgot this was real life, not Need for Speed).

As much as I agree people drive terribly here, this is a couple of notches above average. If I had a guess, I would say he must have been sky-high on yaba to actually attempt to do that and expect it to work.

I am sure you understand just fine.

150 antisemites? Over 150 Jewish creatives sign open letter defending Jonathan Glazer for Oscars speech on Gaza “I signed this letter to help counter the climate of silencing that many workplaces and industries are facing around Israel’s war on Gaza, now entering its seventh month,” Ilana Glazer told Variety. “This controversy surrounding Jonathan Glazer is just one example.” Schamus added: “It has been weeks since Jonathan Glazer’s acceptance speech at the Academy Awards, but, as we’re reminded by this week’s unconscionable killing of seven World Center Kitchen aid workers — and of countless more Palestinian civilians — his plea for humanity has only become more urgent, as has our duty as Jewish creatives to protest the vicious smear campaign waged against him.” https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/jonathan-glazer-open-letter-oscars-speech-gaza-b2524348.html

It takes about 1h15 - 1h30 from announced landing time. If the announced landing time is 6, I would arrive there at 7:00 and they should be there by 7:15-7:30 if nothing delays them.

Founded by Estonians, based in the UK.

They are required by law to periodically ask those questions and have been doing it for years.

Yes, but unfortunately that is what they do and they will keep on doing it, so we have to adapt to it and anticipate what they do, in lots of cases I will be looking at the rearview mirror as much as the road itself. Dan O's story is a perfect example of the mentality here in this respect. They can't drive but they think that "farang mai roo ruang" (farangs don't have a clue) and in case of a road accident they are preprogrammed to blame it on us. All we can do is perfect the art of defensive driving, know them and know what they are going to do before they do it, and as stated before, have cameras and a top insurance that will cover us in the unfortunate case it should happen.

Also nothing democratic about dumping ballots at 3 am until you get the desired election result.

European countries are going through catastrophic decline. It seems that several retired people on this forum don't realise it as they have been away from the reality of these countries for too long, but I definitely agree with your stance. Precarious finances: 38% of Europeans no longer eat three meals a day https://www.euronews.com/business/2023/11/26/one-in-four-europeans-say-their-financial-condition-is-precarious

I recently saw a guy with a GoPro at the back of his bicycle, beneath the saddle, and one on his helmet. It didn't seem that cumbersome. I actually thought that I should do that on my motorbike. All the bike dashcams I see have cables running along the body of the bike, which puts me off, so despite my advice above I actually currently ride without a camera - if people on this thread know of a good brand, I would be interested.

Potentially very dire situation, especially with an injured kid involved, the chances are high that it will be the farang's fault, period. The solution? To begin with, front and rear cameras (even on a bicycle) and an insurance such as AXA which are used to dealing with foreigners and have contractual clauses for bailing them out/defending them.

No, my claim was "The point I am making is that the general opinion on this issue is shifting and Israel's supporters are damaging their image and therefore their cause by so steadfastly refusing to take a step back on this issue." For the third time in this thread, your position is intenable.