Israeli officials are facing backlash after years of Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu quietly allowing Hamas to remain in power.

But reporting in the New York Times has revealed that Netanyahu’s government was more hands-on about helping Hamas: they helped a Qatari diplomat bring suitcases of cash into Gaza, indirectly boosting the militant organization, according to the report.

The calculus — the Times reported on Sunday, citing Israeli officials, Netanyahu’s critics, and the man’s own reported statements — was to keep Hamas strong enough to counteract the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, allowing Netanyahu to avoid a two-state peace solution and keep both sides weak.

Israeli security officials got it wrong; they didn’t think Hamas was capable, or even interested, in launching a large attack against the Jewish state.

  • @TserriednichThe4th
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    -111 months ago

    And was immediately called a lunatic by his own conservative colleagues on television right after

    • @[email protected]
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      011 months ago

      Doesn’t matter. An Israeli minister in a government elected by the Israelis said it. That’s their true intention.

      Obviously they will ridicule him, because who would support that? People only support normal indiscriminate bombings of innocent civilians, but nuking is just a bit much. Maybe if Palestinians lived a little farther away, then it would be viable.

      • @TserriednichThe4th
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        011 months ago

        That is ridiculous. It is like saying matt gaetz represents the intentions of all americans.

        • @[email protected]
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          011 months ago

          You’re free to study the history of Zionism, and watch recent and current videos of many Israelis (incliding Israeli soldiers) saying that all the land belongs to them (Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq).

          Those aren’t a couple of people. Those are the beliefs of Zionists.

          • @TserriednichThe4th
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            -111 months ago

            Except when you poll and find out how deeply unpopular the conservatives are. Common trend…. Elected officials dont always represent a population. Similar situation with hamas tbh. Except hamas stopped holding elections.

            • @[email protected]
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              111 months ago

              So you’re saying that the government of the only democracy in the middle east doesn’t actually represent their people?