Response/s to friends posts on Facebook.
THE fact is Israel is the top recipient of U.S. military aid since the end of World War II or around the birth of Israel as a nation, 1948. Occupation of the 3 territories–West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip (4 before, with Golan Heights)--also started in those years, the longest military occupation in history.
I don't think the U.S. is sincere in protecting civilians in Gaza. Few days after the Oct 7 Hamas attack, Congress approved an additional $14.5 billion military aid to Israel, on top of the annual $2.67 billion arms package. And yesterday (13 Nov, as I typed this up) the U.S., on orders from President Biden, bombed Iranian-controlled weapons facilities in Syria, for the 3rd time in a month's time.
Of course, Iran and Syria are known supporters of Hamas. Points of fear: Syria has been accepted back to the Arab League a few months ago around the time Saudi Arabia and Iran shook hands. Saudi Arabia is the de facto leader of the Arab League.
An important backstory: In January next year, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt and UAE are set to join BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa), whose primary concern is mutual economic goodness, over military high-handedness. (I maintain my previous insight that Russia was goaded to invade Ukraine and if Kyiv sits with Moscow, as Washington pulls back military support to Volodymyr Zelensky, that war will end.)
Meanwhile, while Iran is not a member of the Arab League, China is the top buyer of Tehran’s oil, and recently Riyadh and Beijing struck billion$ trade deals. Which brings us to China’s influence in the region, especially with the major players.
As we speak, U.S. officials are set to meet with Chinese counterparts in Frisco to agree on economic matters. That'd lead to President Biden's possible meeting with Xi Jinping. Take note, Biden failed to coax China to invade Taiwan. What if Joe failed again to convince China on whatever the U.S. wants on the trade table? 🇮🇱☮️🇵🇸
IF Israel and the Arabs sit and discuss territorial issues, they'd be able to resolve this. I stay positive. The two-state solution doesn't make sense and so I don’t think Hamas will leave Gaza, even if the entire place is pulverized by Israeli bombs and surviving civilians in there have already fled to Lebanon, Egypt, or Jordan. Tragically, displacing Palestinians out of Gaza will only heighten Hamas’ rationale to launch pocket attacks on innocent Israelis.
Palestine (including the occupied territories) is tiny, maybe the size of Delaware. Israel's size is about 4x (estimate). I mean, why not give them up and then co-exist in trade and soccer? Simplification of a grimly complex issue? Israeli occupation of the 3 or 4 disputed territories is the longest military occupation in history. This fact: Israel has always been the top receiver of U.S. military aid. Ergo, what if Tel Aviv doesn't get that much arms aid?
Meanwhile, what does Israel get from the occupation? Because Israel is mainly Jewish and Palestinians are majority Sunni Muslim? The Philippines (+ tiny East Timor) is essentially the only Christian nation in Asia. But we co-exist with the rest despite intermittent “neighbor quarrels,” which didn’t escalate to country to country war, at least in modern times.
Also, Iran is mainly Shia but popular belief is Iran supports Hamas (Sunni). Of course, the Arab League is Sunni. Yet de facto leader Saudi Arabia shook hands with Iran recently. And before the Oct 7 attack, Saudi Arabia and Israel were on the table talking.
What power really pushed Hamas to kill 1,400 (and take hostage more) on Oct 7? Iran just had huge oil deals with China and on the brink of going back to the shuddered nuke deal with the U.S. Heightened conflagration will only derail those trade deals (and lifting of West economic embargo) which Iran needed to get back on its economic feet.
Then there's Syria accepted back to the Arab League. The Saudis are high with pro sports, Hollywood stuff and dancing these days. Riyadh doesn't need this war. Or maybe because the BRICS bloc is set to sign up Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Iran? Etc etcetera. Powers who pushed for this war want this derailment. And, as ever civilians (both Palestinians and Israelis) are wasted on crossfire .🇮🇱☮️🇵🇸
THE sad issue with dissent these days is--many say those who protest the revenge bombing of Gaza or gungho strikes of innocent Palestinians and call for a ceasefire are also pro-Hamas. Similar with those who consign critics of Joe Biden as pro-Donald Trump. Etcetera. There is no way to condone any act of terrorism. Yet there are also state-sponsored acts of terror. In both assaults, civilians are hit in the crossfire. 🇮🇱☮️🇵🇸
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