rattlesnake

My bad about the paywall. The WP article I posted is free, I checked before posting it. The only one derailing the topic is you, by systematically posting pro-Israeli content. Until you do with credible links that prove its "widely disapproved" I will leave you alone, its the same as talking to a brick wall and derails the topic. I have posted loads, here is yet another one from the NYT. Or is that not a credible source anymore? A majority of Americans disapprove of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, in a pronounced shift from November, according to a new poll released by Gallup on Wednesday. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/27/world/middleeast/military-action-americans-gaza.html

I see this article is from last October. 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. You are entitled to disagree, but you are not helping your relevance by systematically turning this into a contentious argument.

Lots of people care, which is why it is the topic of articles by various outlets such as Newsweek and The Washington Post, which I posted here. I also quoted veteran State Department official Josh Paul, who resigned because of this issue, and I could quote lots more but you would still refuse to hear or acknowledge it.

Last week, the State Department authorized the transfer of 25 F-35A fighter jets and engines worth roughly $2.5 billion, U.S. officials said. The case was approved by Congress in 2008, so the department was not required to provide a new notification to lawmakers. The MK84 and MK82 bombs authorized this week for transfer also were approved by Congress years ago but had not yet been fulfilled. https://www.newsweek.com/us-congressman-blasts-netanyahu-maniac-1885352

It was approved by Congress in 2008, so the State Department was not required to get new approval or re-notify lawmakers. That is the whole point of congressman Bowman's stance, in the current context this is widely disapproved. U.S. signs off on more bombs, warplanes for Israel Some Democrats, including allies of President Biden, say the U.S. government has a responsibility to withhold weapons in the absence of an Israeli commitment to limit civilian casualties during a planned operation in Rafah, a final Hamas stronghold, and ease restrictions on humanitarian aid into the enclave, which is on the brink of famine. [...] Washington’s marginalization on the world stage over its support for Israel has rankled some Democrats in Congress, some of whom have called for more transparency in arms transfers and raised questions about whether the authorization of older unfilled cases is an effort to avoid new notifications to Congress, which could face scrutiny. [...] Biden’s recurring approvals of weapons transfers are an “abrogation of moral responsibility, and an assault on the rule of law as we know it, at both the domestic and international levels,” said Josh Paul, a former State Department official involved in arms transfers who resigned in protest of Biden’s Gaza policy. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/03/29/us-weapons-israel-gaza-war/

Yes, the Biden administration is going all in despite increasing overall disapproval, that was the point of my first post today, about them sending those weapons.

The stance of the AIPAC, an influential pro-Israeli lobby, is not surprising. What is notable, however, is the growing lack of support within the political apparatus. For example, Democrat congressman Jamaal Bowman was on MSNBC last Saturday, regarding this arms delivery issue: US Congressman Blasts Netanyahu: 'Maniac' "We need a permanent ceasefire, we need to bring in hundreds of trucks that are five miles away from Gaza right now of aid to save as many lives as possible. There's a humanitarian crisis. The majority of Gaza has already been destroyed through act of collective punishment by this maniac Benjamin Netanyahu." https://www.newsweek.com/us-congressman-blasts-netanyahu-maniac-1885352

Tens of thousands of Israeli protesters call for Netanyahu’s removal Thousands of people gathered in front of the Knesset in Jerusalem on Sunday to protest against the government and call for Netanyahu’s removal as prime minister. [...] Naama Lazimi, a member of the Knesset (MK) for the centre-left Labor party who was at the demonstration, said people had come out to protest because they recognised that the government was failing. “The people of Israel were deep in sorrow and pain after 7 October, that is why it took so long, but when they understood there is no other option, this government is not functioning and is hurting us economically, diplomatically, in our security and in our values […] that is why people are out,” she said. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/31/israeli-protesters-call-benjamin-netanyahu-removal

31 March: U.S. sends more weapons to Israel amid growing calls for cease-fire Even with precision guidance, these bombs likely lead to civilian deaths, and it’s believed that Israel has used them in its campaign in Gaza. “These are the bombs that can destroy entire blocks,” one senior administration official said of the MK84 bombs. [...] Israel receives $3.8 billion in annual military assistance from the U.S., but there is growing criticism of Washington’s continued supply of weapons to Israel six months into the war amid international scrutiny of Israel’s military tactics in Gaza and a mounting civilian death toll. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/us-sends-weapons-israel-growing-calls-cease-fire-rcna145760

Lots of people start in their teens. I doubt there are many full-grown adults who start smoking. I can confirm it is extremely hard to quit and requires a lot of willpower.

When asked if there will be a compromise for recreational use, Srettha answered “no,” adding that problems arising from drug use have been “widespread lately.” Some tourism operators have welcomed the move to curb its use, citing problems caused by loose industry regulation. Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, group executive director of Sunshine Hotels and Resorts in Pattaya, said most of the cannabis shops open are meant for recreational use and there have been reports of marijuana overdose. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/22/thailand-to-clamp-down-on-cannabis-use-in-major-u-turn-on-drug-policy

It did and they are tightening them again.

I was counting the pages until someone finally noticed. 8 pages! And still on page 12 there are guys posting seriously.

Reading the Times of Israel article you posted, it is indeed reasonable to expect that the hostage talks will fail again. And yes, we don't have a crystal ball, but it sure looks like Bibi is still determined to go into Rafah no matter what. Let's hope the civilians will be spared and evacuated as he promised. But in any case, where will they go? They would only accept another part of Gaza, and so would neighbouring countries.

Netanyahu now vows to evacuate the civilian population before going into Rafah. So far, to my knowledge, there are no details on how and where this evacuation will take place. Israel, US set for virtual discussion on IDF's invasion of Rafah today https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-794644

I moved from the place over 10 years ago for those reasons and never went back… I dare not imagine what it is like now. Cesspit comes to mind.

"Provisionally" accepted, right. They're going into Rafah with the firm intention of finishing what they started 75 years ago. You do seem rather obsessed with my views on the shape of the Earth.

Now wait for her to be called an antisemite.

"had they not then preparations for Rafah would be on hold because of the ceasefire" Which part of the following do you not understand? 17 February: PM: IDF will operate in Rafah even if there is a new hostage deal; can’t leave a quarter of Hamas intact He says everyone wants to reach another hostage deal. “I also want it,” he says, and it’ll be “very good” if this can be achieved. But he reiterates that a new hostage deal with Hamas “does not appear very close” given the terror group’s demands. Yet “even if we achieve it, we will go into Rafah,” he stresses. “There is no alternative to total victory. And there is no way to achieve total victory without destroying those battalions in Rafah, and we will do so.” https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/pm-stonewalls-when-asked-why-idf-didnt-enter-rafah-at-outset-of-ground-offensive/ 22 March: But Netanyahu said Israel was prepared to go into Rafah with or without U.S. backing. "I also said that we have no way to defeat Hamas without going into Rafah and eliminating the rest of the battalions there. And I told him that I hope we will do it with the support of the U.S., but if we have to — we will do it alone," Netanyahu said in a statement. https://www.npr.org/2024/03/22/1240143220/blinken-netanyahu-israel-visit-un-gaza-ceasefire

False, c.f. Bibi quote above.

As has been repeatedly reminded, Netanyahu is going into Rafah. Any talks of ceasefire are either disingenuous or naive. Live coverage from today, 29 March: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country's military has “conquered” the north of Gaza and the southern city of Khan Younis and is “preparing to enter Rafah,” where more than 1 million people are sheltering in dire conditions. https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-03-29-24/index.html

The Israeli government's claim is duly noted. Now from independent NGO Refugees International, based in Washington DC, 7 March 2024: Siege and Starvation: How Israel Obstructs Aid to Gaza Despite its claims to be facilitating humanitarian aid, research and analysis by Refugees International shows that Israeli conduct has consistently and groundlessly impeded aid operations within Gaza, blocked legitimate relief operations, and resisted implementing measures that would genuinely enhance the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. [...] Israeli policies and conduct are causing a man-made humanitarian crisis. Refugees International found routine and arbitrary denial of legitimate humanitarian goods from entering Gaza; a highly complicated Israeli inspection and approval process without clear or consistent instructions; frequent denials of humanitarian movements within Gaza; clear indications that Israel has failed to establish functional humanitarian deconfliction; and persistent attacks on Gaza’s humanitarian, health, food, power, and other critical infrastructure that have simultaneously debilitated the aid effort and escalated needs. https://www.refugeesinternational.org/reports-briefs/siege-and-starvation-how-israel-obstructs-aid-to-gaza/

I'm sure there are a couple of posters here who had a good chuckle at that.

I don't use language such as "the Jews". The implementation of France's immigration policies has been a multifactorial process, which was essentially kicked off by President Valérie Giscard d'Estaing, a Catholic. This is a complex issue and I will not go further as it would be deemed off topic and probably "conspiratorial".

Incorrect.