Hamas attacks Israel

[xenon]

I'm not even commenting on the substance of the vote. I just don't understand why it's a viable option for elected/appointed leaders to say "no comment". Isn't it your job to decide?

[George K]

@xenon said in Hamas attacks Israel:

I just don't understand why it's a viable option for elected/appointed leaders to say "no comment". Isn't it your job to decide?

Yeah, I understand.

But when diplomacy, the right thing and politics are involved in a three-way collision, the result is rarely brave.

[Renauda]

@xenon said in Hamas attacks Israel:

Maybe I'm just not hip to the way of diplomacy - but abstain seems like a cowardly option.

If the US or any other Permanent Member of the UNSC votes No it is a veto of the resolution in its entirety. By abstaining means that the Permanent Member supports the substance of the resolution but not all its details or how the resolution might be enforced.

[George K]

@Renauda good points. Perhaps reiterated in this story.

Meanwhile, the White House is surprised:

The White House said it was 'perplexed' by the fact Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a high-level meeting in Washington after the U.S. abstained on a UN ceasefire resolution.

'We're perplexed by this,' White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday.

Netanyahu accused the U.S. of 'retreating' from a 'principled position' with its vote. American officials said the U.S. abstained because the resolution didn't condemn Hamas. By abstaining instead of vetoing, the U.S. allowed the resolution to pass.

Kirby said that America's vote 'does not represent a shift in our policy.'

'We've been very consistent in our support for a ceasefire as part of a hostage deal,' he said. 'But because the final text does not have key language that we think is essential, such as condemning Hamas, we couldn't support it.'

'It seems like the prime minister's office is choosing to create a perception of daylight here when they don't need to do that,' Kirby noted.

[LuFins Dad]

Anything involving the UN and Israel has been a joke over the last 50 years.

[Copper]

I imagine perplexity is a regular occurrence in the Whitehouse

[George K]

[George K]

Israel is the same as Hamas, says The United States.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/blinken-warns-israel-risks-becoming-indistinguishable-from-hamas-if-it-doesnt-protect-gaza-civilians/

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warns that Israel risks becoming indistinguishable from Hamas if it continues to fail to protect civilians amid the Gaza war.

“What happened after October 7 could have ended immediately if Hamas had stopped hiding behind civilians, released the hostages and put down its weapons, but Israel is not Hamas. Israel is a democracy; Hamas, a terrorist organization. Democracies place the highest value on human life, every human life. As it has been said, whoever saves a life, saves the entire world,” Blinken says during a press conference in Brussels, quoting a Jewish proverb.

“That’s our strength. It’s what distinguishes us from terrorists like Hamas. If we lose that reverence for human life, we risk becoming indistinguishable from those we confront.”

“Right now, there is no higher priority in Gaza than protecting civilians, surging humanitarian assistance, and ensuring the security of those who provide it. Israel must meet this moment,” Blinken said.

He notes “important steps” Israel has taken to allow aid into Gaza, but clarifies that “the results on the ground are woefully insufficient and unacceptable,” with 100 percent of Gazans facing acute insecurity.

“This week’s horrific attack on the World Central Kitchen was not the first such incident. It must be the last,” the top US diplomat warns.

Shall we talk about the Afghan civilians that were killed by a US missile under your administration, Mr. Secretary?

[jon-nyc]

@George-K said in Hamas attacks Israel:

Israel is the same as Hamas, says The United States.

He literally said the opposite of that.

“… but Israel is not Hamas. Israel is a democracy;”

[George K]

Well what I meant is that he said something similar to it.

Israel risks becoming indistinguishable from Hamas if it continues to fail to protect civilians amid the Gaza war.

[jon-nyc]

“risks”

[Mik]

Rhetoric to allow the Biden admin to keep riding the fence.

[Mik]

Nothing about bombing the Iranian consulate in Damascus?

[LuFins Dad]

When multiple international aid organizations actively support and act as cover for Hamas, bad crap is bound to happen, even to legitimate aid organizations.

[Renauda]

@Mik said in Hamas attacks Israel:

Nothing about bombing the Iranian consulate in Damascus?

I can’t see any need for comment. Iranian Revolutionary Guard was using the Consulate’s diplomatic cover as a planning and command centre for Hezbollah attacks on Israel and Israeli assets. Legitimate military target.

[Jolly]

Brand Hamas as January 6 terrorists.

Biden will be raining ordnance on them in a heartbeat.

[Mik]

The Telegraph gets it right.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/britain-has-turned-against-israel-it-s-an-unforgivable-betrayal/ar-BB1laUAF?ocid=msedgntp&pc=LCTS&cvid=adba3ac4642b407c9be2cef93c70924b&ei=33

[George K]

The Return of Moral Equivalence

https://www.nationalreview.com/2024/04/the-return-of-moral-equivalence/?utm_source=recirc-desktop&utm_medium=homepage&utm_campaign=river&utm_content=featured-content-trending&utm_term=second

[Jolly]

I listened to a description last night about the IDF's attack on the aid convoy last week. Hamas set the IDF up by intermingling Hamas assets with the convoy at times. Even went so far as to have a terrorist climb on top of a vehicle and shoot his weapon, to draw attention.

The IDF took the bait and Hamas reaped the publicity rewards.

One side in this conflict has rules, the other does not. The Resident is supporting the terrorists.

[George K]

Joe Rogan on genocide.