'Buying Quiet': Inside the Israeli Plan That Propped Up Hamas

[Uncle Joe]

(snip)

Hamas has always publicly stated its commitment to eliminating the state of Israel. But each payout was a testament to the Israeli government’s view that Hamas was a low-level nuisance, and even a political asset.

As far back as December 2012, Mr. Netanyahu told the prominent Israeli journalist Dan Margalit that it was important to keep Hamas strong, as a counterweight to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. Mr. Margalit, in an interview, said that Mr. Netanyahu told him that having two strong rivals, including Hamas, would lessen pressure on him to negotiate toward a Palestinian state.

(snip)

Shlomo Brom, a retired general and former deputy to Israel’s national security adviser, said an empowered Hamas helped Mr. Netanyahu avoid negotiating over a Palestinian state.

“One effective way to prevent a two-state solution is to divide between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank,” he said in an interview. The division gives Mr. Netanyahu an excuse to disengage from peace talks, Mr. Brom said, adding that he can say, “I have no partner.”

(snip)

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/10/world/middleeast/israel-qatar-money-prop-up-hamas.html

[LuvLoogie]

1. Netanyahu played games with and risked Israeli lives, while abusing the Palestinians.

This arrogant, calculating fuck needs to strap up and air drop into Gaza.

[SlimJimmy]

2. Since he was Israeli Special Forces, he would probably know how to do it.

Remember Entebbe?

[LuvLoogie]

3. Yeah, I do. Let him go out in a blaze of glory.

He thinks killing all the Palestinians will make up for playing with Israeli lives.
.

[SlimJimmy]

4. Raping, murdering and torturing young girls is far beyond "playing with their lives." Don't you agree?

[LuvLoogie]

5. Well that's the point isn't it?

The IDF and Bibi had a year to prepare for the attack from the terrorist group they have been "finessing."

It took them like seven hours to respond, no?

Hubris will put your citizens in danger. I mean nobody ever heard of brutalized women and children before.

Not in Palestine in 1948. Not now in Ukraine.

I suppose Bibi will keep his job.

[SlimJimmy]

6. No, a mixed tank squad, commanded by women, was on scene within about 30 minutes,

and literally stopped the destruction of a Kibbutz (Kibbutz Holit) and the murder of its inhabitants.

It took them like seven hours to respond, no?

https://allisrael.com/a-female-idf-tank-squad-eliminated-50-hamas-terrorists-saved-kibbutz-holit-and-made-history

[LuvLoogie]

7. Yes. That was fire. Of their own initiative, yes?

You would have hoped rest of the army would have responded so quickly.

I mean I can imagine several people in command puckering up as this thing unfolded. Maybe even reading along hoping it was just a coincidence.

[SlimJimmy]

8. As I recall from the video, I think they heard radio traffic and responded.

I'll have to review the video again to make sure. Actually, I was pretty impressed with them the first time through it. I especially like their interviews and comments.