Weary but ever resilient, the people of Israel await the resolution of the war with Iran.
When will that be achieved? No clue. Not if we are speaking about a genuine resolution and not some pretense.
But even with regard to a genuine resolution the matter is complicated. As it is broadly understood, bottom line, that Iran can never be permitted to become a nuclear state, is it sufficient to secure all of its enriched uranium and render the Islamic state incapable of producing more? Or is it necessary to take down the regime?
There are serious differences of opinion on this matter.
Of course there is also the complicated but critical matter of control of the Strait of Hormuz; as matters stand the world economy is being affected adversely by the Iranian actions. Any real resolution would have to address this matter.
Nor should we forget about ballistic missiles in Iranian hands or Iranian support for terrorist proxies. With all of the talk about a non-nuclear Iran and control of the Strait, there has been less focus on these very important issues.
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Trump was going strong regarding military attacks on Iran, until he declared the war over. This was for domestic reasons of genuine concern to the president, which I have discussed before and will not revisit here. At this juncture he attempted a different approach: blockading Iranian ports, thereby costing Iran billions in oil revenue. There was hope that in due course this would bring the regime down. And he was attempting to break the Iranian control of the Strait by escorting ships.
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But then Trump turned on a dime, announcing that the Iranians were ready for negotiations – which would begin shortly. I saw the position of Saudi Arabia as critical to Trump’s embrace of this new approach: Trump had been utilizing Saudi air space and coastline for its operations without having notified the Saudis first or securing permission.
In response, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman temporarily denied the US use of its air space and the Prince Sultan air base.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/426682
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OK, negotiations it would be. Never mind that Trump had said negotiations would not be held until there was unity in the regime, and this still was not the case.
The US was seeking a memorandum of understanding that would declare the war over and establish a one-month negotiation period to iron out details. Iran had a week to respond to this preliminary proposal, which addressed the Strait of Hormuz – with both sides lifting restrictions; Iran’s nuclear program; and US sanctions against the regime. Apparently this memorandum called for a halt to fighting in Lebanon as well.
Iran’s response was transmitted to the US on Sunday by Pakistani “mediators.” Trump’s response was that it was “totally unacceptable.”
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-895737
I placed “mediators” in quotes for this reason, which came as no surprise:
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And so, here in Israel, we sigh and speak about how soon Iranian missiles will be overhead again. For most of us the need for this is obvious. Negotiations with the perverse Islamist regime are pointless.
Very simply, we get it. The world at large does not.
On this, see the important piece by Dan Diker, president of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA): “Confronting Iran’s ideological strategy.”
“The lesson of October 7 is what Israel’s enemies have been teaching us since 1979: they are prosecuting a forever war. The West must finally internalize that the main battlefield is ideological. Naming the threat is the precondition for winning the war…”
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-895793
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We have been burnt ourselves with regard to negotiated settlements with Muslim entities – most disastrously with the Oslo Accords. Arafat had no intention of honoring his commitments when he signed on, not even for a day. It was no more than a stratagem. But, as I said, we have learned. And as we have learned, we have become stronger and wiser.
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Yet there is more to our strength, which is growing as I write, than having learned some painful lessons. We are marked by resolve and determination. I don’t know anyone who enjoys being jolted out of a sound sleep at 3 A.M. in order to rush to a safe space. During war everyone’s nerves are on edge and a heaviness sets in. But hell, if it needs to be done, we want to see it done.
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The obscenities of October 7 and following marked an exceedingly low point for us as a nation. There was not only the massacre and the fact of Israeli hostages – there was incomprehensible hostility to Israel that arose within the world, including large segments of the Western nations. Accusations of genocide in Gaza, rallies for Hamas. Israel was suddenly at fault for everything.
But now the situation is shifting significantly, precisely because we have that resolve and determination.
When women hostages were brought out from Gaza, they reported on sexual abuse by their captors. Incredibly, in many quarters their testimony was rejected as falsehoods intended to malign members of Hamas. A painful, painful time. Women’s rights groups had promoted the concept that women who claim to be sexually abused must be believed. But there was a proviso: unless the women are Israelis who claim to have been abused by Hamas. Feminist groups were silent.
This Instagram was put together to illustrate the situation:
https://www.instagram.com/reels/Czv7Audo4zM/
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Yet today, we are turning the situation around because of our extraordinary resolve and determination.
A 300-page report, called “Silenced No More,” has just been published by the Civil Commission on Crimes by Hamas against Women and Children. The most comprehensive report to date, it meticulously documents the terror group’s systematic use of sexual violence, rape, and “kinocide” (attacks on members of a family gathered together and forced to watch, intensifying the horror).
What makes it even more horrifying is that Hamas was proud of what they were doing and filmed their actions.
Now the truth will be known.
Please make a point of watching the powerful interview of Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy, chair of the commission (pictured), by Ruth Marks Eglash. .
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/jpost-podcast/article-895652
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And then, please! share this as broadly as possible.
Elkayam-Levy describes a feminist scholar who, confronted with charges that Hamas was raping, said, “I haven’t seen the evidence.” When, asks Elkayam-Levy, did a feminist demand evidence if a woman said she had been raped?
Now the evidence is available.
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And there is more:
“The Knesset plenum passed on Monday, by a unanimous vote of 93 to 0, the final second and third readings on a bill to prosecute terrorists involved in the October 7 massacre, granting authority to impose the death penalty and conduct public trials for the perpetrators of the attacks at a Jerusalem military court.”
The bill was sponsored by MK Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionist Party) and MK Yulia Malinovsky (Yisrael Beytenu). It is highly unusual for legislation to be advanced by a member of the coalition (Rothman) and a member of the opposition; this signified the unanimity on this bill, which passed 93-0. Justice Minister Yariv Levin (Likud, center below) supported this
This move is not revenge, it is justice, and it is enormously welcome. Now, the world will know. The trial will be public, and critical parts of it will be filmed and stored in an archive for public viewing. The trial will be held in a special military court in Jerusalem. Scrupulous care will be take with regard to selection of judges, and all administrative details.
The law does not permit trading of any of these defendants.
As thousands of terrorists are being brought to trial, the process will be complex and expensive.
“Everyone will see how the State of Israel is a sovereign country that knows how to hold accountable those who harmed it. Everyone will see how the victims and their families look directly into the eyes of those murderers, rapists, and kidnappers,” said Malinovsky.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-895843
I celebrate this mark of our growing self-confidence and strength.
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As there is a great deal more to celebrate, I will close here and continue in my next posting.
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I ask, as I always do, that you please pray.
©Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
