October 7 was the worst calamity in Israel’s history. It is a national and personal turning point for anyone living in the country or associated with it. Having failed to stop the Hamas attack, the IDF has responded with overwhelming force, killing thousands of Palestinians and razing entire Gazan neighborhoods. But even as pilots drop bombs and commandos flush out Hamas’s tunnels, the Israeli government has not reckoned with the enmity that produced the attack—or what policies might prevent another. Its silence comes at the behest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has refused to lay out a postwar vision or order. Netanyahu has promised to “destroy Hamas,” but beyond military force, he has no strategy for eliminating the group and no clear plan for what would replace it as the de facto government of postwar Gaza.
I thought this was an outstanding write up that covers the history of, current political situation, and the likely (but depressing) path forward. It’s worth a full read.
Netanjahu did for Israel what Putin did for Russia and Trump will do for the US if he gets elected again. I really don’t understand how people can support disgusting assholes like that that will sell their country and their own mother just to cling on to power at all costs.