No, Bibi won’t do what is necessary. He hasn’t before and won’t now.
He’s not Trump, he’s Mitt Romney. Always has been.
If the Israelis spare Gaza, they should destroy every motor vehicle (cars, trucks, busses, motorcycles and any boat other than some small fishing boats). Make future possession of same to be considered a military target. In the future, Shoot down any unauthorized small plane or paraglider entering Israeli air space from Gaza. Cut off all gasoline and diesel imports into Gaza. Construction equipment can be maintained at a minimum and no construction vehicle can enter within a certain safety buffer at the border.
If they let the people of Gaza live, insure they get plenty of exercise walking everywhere. If they want to invade again, they’ll have to do it on foot.
Siege warfare. No electricity. No water. No food. 60 days.
Well, Biden’s navy is standing by to pick up the pieces and bring them here.
Isreal should have developed a strategic bomber.
The Israel army is set on destroying Hamas. UN resolutions for restraint need not apply.
I suspect that there are plans in the works to retaliate against Iran in the near future.
To paraphrase, “Hamas is the enemy. Wade into them. Spill *their* blood. Shoot *them* in the belly.”
“Saudi Arabia is blaming Israel for provoking Hamas to attack.”
Screw the Saudis and the alliance they want to protect them from Iran. Let them stand on their own.
Iran depends on the Abadan oil refinery, once the world’s largest.
One air raid could do billions of dollars damage.
Iran has no air bombing capacity.
I am not sure that "what it takes" is achievable, by Israel or any other power.
Israel's situation is like Ukraine (and Taiwan) in that achieving their desired end state (peaceful neighbors or at least the ability to protect their women and children in perpetuity) relies on exterior forces intervening - NATO, in the case of Ukraine, the 7th Fleet in the case of Taiwan, and the "international community commanding a rules based order" (i.e., the US military) in the case of Israel.
All these exterior forces are to one degree or another unavailable (NATO), not up to the task (7th Fleet), or imaginary (an "international community").
I really don't see how Israel is going to get out of the strategic box they are in. Tactically, they remain superb. But strategically, they are in a very bad spot.
Carpet bombing comes to mind. From the Gaza border to the Mediterranean sea.
I hope so
OK, fine. Israel's right to defend itself is not in dispute.
That's a shibboleth. What's in dispute is what "supporting Israel's right to defend itself" involves.
“How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property - either as a child, a wife, or a concubine - must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.
Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen; all know how to die; but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science - the science against which it had vainly struggled - the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.”
pong and bookmark
Israel has a golden opportunity to draw the borders of it’s country the way it wants them.