Dan Senor of "Call Me Back" podcast reports that Netanyahu's 2015 speech to Congress was a turning point in the Suni Arab states willingness to concider the Abraham Accords. Arab culture respects strength. Hopefully yesterday's speech can have a similar effect.
Sorry, but Bibi did talk about the day after. He mentioned how the US handled Germany and Japan after WW2. That is an after war vision. Was he supposed to lay out how a new government in Gaza will work, who will control it and who is responsible? Sure, so no one in the entire Arab world will help. The Arab world needs to take this lead and Israel is meeting with the UAE and others about this.
Also why would he say that he didn't want total victory? Of course that is what he would say. He should have said, "well we will only fight until maybe half of Hamas is gone and they can still control Gaza?" Sure lets let the enemy know that we will stop at some point in the future so they don't have to worry....
I loved “Schumer hasn’t said anything apolitical in 10 years”. I keep explaining to my friends here in Israel that Schumer is like a small flag in the wind, wherever the wind blows, he will move. But in all fairness one must admit that Schumer is a thousand times better than the Jewish antisemite Bernie Sanders.
I have a hard time believing that anyone really thought Bibi’s address was going to move the needle on the war and think any “grave concerns” Israeli officials had over the damage it could do to US-Israel objectives were largely overblown. The speech was a giant nothing burger—just as I thought it would be—and Bibi’s use of hostages and soldiers as political props was really off-putting. The one thing of consequence he said was the need for our relationship with Israel to remain ironclad. Whether people like it or not, the stability of the Middle East hinges largely on Israel’s security; for that reason, among many others, we can’t get into the habit of thinking we’ve now outdone our commitment to it.
That aside, the address was kind of useless. Bibi should have used it as an opportunity to demonstrate how he could possibly still meet his objectives nearly a year into the war and begin to lay out a post-war plan, but I (correctly) did not expect that much.
Great stuff. It's very instructive to have two opinions in argument. Very rare these days..
I think Netanyahu said that the protestors that are getting paid are "useful idiots." I read the speech, I suppose I should watch it.
Hamas surrenders and with Iran accepts Israel and peacefully engages with the West in the marketplace of ideas and the violence is over. And they go the way of Japan and Germany-- better off than before.
This conversation is a good example of two people talking past one another on the sensitive subject of Israel. I appreciate learning how the Netanyahu speech is viewed by certain establishment Republicans, but the comments Vice President Harris and Senator Schumer are gratutious and offensive.
Larry, Just because we don’t agree on everything doesn’t mean we talk past each other. I appreciate where Dany is coming from and she understands my point of view. About her comments - she is not writing for Foreign Affairs, it’s a substack called What The Hell?
Thank you for this. I favor Dany’s narrative, except for the unnecessary labeling of Harris (even if accurate). The speech was preaching to the echo side of the chamber, but still constructive to re-state in case anyone else catches it. Netanyahu definitely needed some re-energizing love, certainly not receiving it from anyone at home. People can criticize and accuse him all they want, nobody has suggested another Israeli soul who has the experience and strength to face every day of balancing interests at home and abroad. What might actually be substantively constructive would be if PM manages to educate Harris, and fully reconcile, define and level up STRATEGY beyond daily tactics, with both her and Trump. Netanyahu has a vision of how this ends and what the future looks like in Gaza, with Iran and its proxies, and in Judea & Samaria. He needs to finally realize his full leadership potential: be transparent and specific now, transcend his instinctive “stealth” action with inconsistent speech—no more confusing doublespeak. Clarity of just action and talk.
Dan Senor of "Call Me Back" podcast reports that Netanyahu's 2015 speech to Congress was a turning point in the Suni Arab states willingness to concider the Abraham Accords. Arab culture respects strength. Hopefully yesterday's speech can have a similar effect.
Sorry, but Bibi did talk about the day after. He mentioned how the US handled Germany and Japan after WW2. That is an after war vision. Was he supposed to lay out how a new government in Gaza will work, who will control it and who is responsible? Sure, so no one in the entire Arab world will help. The Arab world needs to take this lead and Israel is meeting with the UAE and others about this.
Also why would he say that he didn't want total victory? Of course that is what he would say. He should have said, "well we will only fight until maybe half of Hamas is gone and they can still control Gaza?" Sure lets let the enemy know that we will stop at some point in the future so they don't have to worry....
Ladies...really?
I loved “Schumer hasn’t said anything apolitical in 10 years”. I keep explaining to my friends here in Israel that Schumer is like a small flag in the wind, wherever the wind blows, he will move. But in all fairness one must admit that Schumer is a thousand times better than the Jewish antisemite Bernie Sanders.
I have a hard time believing that anyone really thought Bibi’s address was going to move the needle on the war and think any “grave concerns” Israeli officials had over the damage it could do to US-Israel objectives were largely overblown. The speech was a giant nothing burger—just as I thought it would be—and Bibi’s use of hostages and soldiers as political props was really off-putting. The one thing of consequence he said was the need for our relationship with Israel to remain ironclad. Whether people like it or not, the stability of the Middle East hinges largely on Israel’s security; for that reason, among many others, we can’t get into the habit of thinking we’ve now outdone our commitment to it.
That aside, the address was kind of useless. Bibi should have used it as an opportunity to demonstrate how he could possibly still meet his objectives nearly a year into the war and begin to lay out a post-war plan, but I (correctly) did not expect that much.
Great stuff. It's very instructive to have two opinions in argument. Very rare these days..
I think Netanyahu said that the protestors that are getting paid are "useful idiots." I read the speech, I suppose I should watch it.
Hamas surrenders and with Iran accepts Israel and peacefully engages with the West in the marketplace of ideas and the violence is over. And they go the way of Japan and Germany-- better off than before.
Thanks. Loved it.
Agree with Danny 100%.
Amo amas amat amamus amatis amant.
Another day another Amos.
This conversation is a good example of two people talking past one another on the sensitive subject of Israel. I appreciate learning how the Netanyahu speech is viewed by certain establishment Republicans, but the comments Vice President Harris and Senator Schumer are gratutious and offensive.
Larry, Just because we don’t agree on everything doesn’t mean we talk past each other. I appreciate where Dany is coming from and she understands my point of view. About her comments - she is not writing for Foreign Affairs, it’s a substack called What The Hell?
Thank you for this. I favor Dany’s narrative, except for the unnecessary labeling of Harris (even if accurate). The speech was preaching to the echo side of the chamber, but still constructive to re-state in case anyone else catches it. Netanyahu definitely needed some re-energizing love, certainly not receiving it from anyone at home. People can criticize and accuse him all they want, nobody has suggested another Israeli soul who has the experience and strength to face every day of balancing interests at home and abroad. What might actually be substantively constructive would be if PM manages to educate Harris, and fully reconcile, define and level up STRATEGY beyond daily tactics, with both her and Trump. Netanyahu has a vision of how this ends and what the future looks like in Gaza, with Iran and its proxies, and in Judea & Samaria. He needs to finally realize his full leadership potential: be transparent and specific now, transcend his instinctive “stealth” action with inconsistent speech—no more confusing doublespeak. Clarity of just action and talk.
Excellent comment and thank you for spelling my name correctly!
Good discussion. I side with the pro Israel one of you. Because creating double standards is not being pro Israel. Even if done respectfully.
Biden didn’t resign.