Morning, Threaders, Threadheads, and all in between. Sunday coffee.
Asymmetry.
Phase one of the ceasefire deal is over. In total, 33 Israeli hostages were returned (among which 8 bodies of those who were killed in captivity) plus five Thai nationals. Phase two has been stalled since Bibi’s last visit to the US. It was now abandoned. The deal is over.
The information available points to irreconcilable differences about what “ending the war” means, as part of phase two. We all remember how a Hamas made glitch paused the last stages of phase one and also the way many Jews praised TFG’s “I own Gaza” insertion as the reason for the reluctant compliance of Hamas to finish the trade off ending phase one. Turns out all it did was help putting an end to phase two.
Now TFG’s “special envoy” Steve Witkoff comes up with a new deal: a ceasefire during Ramadan/Passover with half the remaining hostages delivered at the start and the other half by the end (?). Of course there are no details or considerations for the day after or a permanent ceasefire or talks about who should and how to rebuild Gaza. A concept of a plan quickly renounced by Hamas, followed by Netanyahu’s declaration of a siege, blessed by Ben Gvir.
“Better late than never”, said the former Minister of National Security. He resigned a few days ago in protest for ANY deals made with Hamas. The siege means stopping all aid deliveries to Gaza. “This should be the policy until the last of the hostages is returned. (…) Not to settle for just half of the hostages, but to return to President Trump's ultimatum – all the hostages immediately or hell will break loose on Gaza.” - Ben Gvir added.
All this is smoke and mirrors to, while the world is focused on Ukraine, distract from what really happened. Netanyahu abandoned the phased negotiations that were allowing for the return of the hostages and embraced the all or nothing approach. That’s what happened. Considering who he’s dealing with, a bunch of suicidal maniacs with no interest in peace, nothing seems to be the most likely outcome, with tragic consequences for the hostages.
This tragedy is unfolding while we are focused on the collapse of post WW2 world order and the alignment of the US (and Israel) with the authoritarian Russia against NATO. Our governments (US and Israel) are betraying us on the world and the national stages and further dividing their citizens. Many Jews are saddened by the outpouring of support for Ukraine, wondering where has the support for Israel been since October 7.
The reason why there are so many Ukrainian flags flying on SM and our streets and so little Israeli flags are seen is not because fighting Russian invaders is so different from fighting Islamic terrorists. The reason is the face of Ukraine is Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the face of Israel is Benjamin Netanyahu. Most keep identifying the people with their leaders, a phenomenon we need to adjust to in the US as the world sees Americans through the actions of our elected government.
Like the millions of Russians who wept for Navalny’s murder and the millions of Israelis who reject their radical government we, who are fighting fascism at home, are about to be thrown under the bus with all the magats and seen as “crazy Americans” by the rest of the world. While this dark play progresses we must keep hope alive and express our support for the ideals our flags do stand for: the aspirations of the people to be free and live in peace.
The fight of the Ukrainian people is the same as that of the Israeli people: a fight for their independence, their sovereignty, and their territory. Unfortunately for Israel, their leader is nothing like Zelenskyy but that doesn’t mean the aspirations of the people are not equally valid and undeniable. Israel has the right to exist just as Ukraine does. Those who use old blood libels to say different are showing their antisemitism.
Eyes on Ukraine and eyes on Israel. May one day they both live in peace, free from the existential threats they face. Today, with fear for our humanity, in a sea of Ukrainian flags I choose to fly the flag of a people fighting for their independence, sovereignty, territory, and their very existence since 1948. You are not alone. May your loved ones be returned home against all odds.
Am Yisrael Chai.
