About Being Closed Minded

Netanyahu apologizes for the deaths of the 6 hostages (Jerusalem Post)

One of the most telling things about those who are furious with how Israel’s prime minister is conducting the war is who they are. As far as I can tell, those who are so vehemently protesting the prime minister to the point of  blaming him for the cold blooded murder of 6 hostages – are the same people that were just as vehemently protesting him before October 7^th .  They are in effect using the hostages as an excuse to keep bashing Netanyahu. 

Several of the protesters interviewed by the mainstream media said that they place those murders squarely on the back of Netanyahu. Not a word about who actually killed them. To a man (or woman as the case may be) media interviews are solely of those who say he doesn't care at all about the hostages and is prolonging the war for his own selfish reasons.  

The media who hates him just as intensely have saying the same thing – loves to focus on these Israeli protestors as though they are the entire country . The media has hated Netanyahu ever since he dared to call former President Obama’s Iran deal - terrible The media whose love affair with Obama remains unrequited then turned Netanyahu into the anti (you know who).  That is how they view him to this day. How dare he address to congress with that declaration! That he was invited by then House Speaker, John Boehner, and not the president himself made him persona non grata and his speech considered  Chutzpah of the highest order. 

When viewed through this lens, the thought that Netanyahu might actually care about his people doesn’t occur to the media or the left wing protestors who hate his right wing politics. In their minds all he cares about is himself. Thus, whatever decision he makes is by definition wrong and self serving

None are so blind as those who will not see. It doesn’t take that much to know who actually killed those hostages. Nor does it take much rational thought to realize that refusing to agree to a cease fire that will enable Hamas to reconstitute their numbers, restore their infrastructure, and their stockpile of deadly weapons to use against the Jewish people - is the right choice. And to know who is gong to eventually break the cease fire first. (Hint: Hamas!)

Israel has no choice but to insist on measures that will best insure its security. The funny thing is (actually it isn’t funny at all) is that I have been hearing for weeks if not longer that a\cease fire deal was at hand. That Netanyahu actually agreed to a deal proposed by the US along the lines of the following: About 700 Palestinians criminals (some with blood on theirhands) would be exchanged for about 30 of the over 100 remaining hostages. Then there would a be a six week cease fire in place during the next phase of the negotiations. 

The US had mostly blamed Hamas for not agreeing. The main sticking point was the Philadelphi corridor. This is the entry point to Gaza from Egypt where weapons supplied by Iran had been smuggled in. Netanyahu insists that Israel must be in control of it lest it revert to its former smuggling status. Hamas insists that Israel must leave that area. Can anyone figure out why they don’t want Israel there?

What about the hostages?  If Israel doesn’t give up the Philadelphi corrider, Hamas won’t agree to a deal. Israeli protesters - and even Netanyhu’s own defense minster say  it’s worth theprpice to get the hostages back. 

OK. For the sake of argument, let us say it is.  How much of a price should Israel be willing to pay? Should they be willing to risk another October 7^th?  Protestors are tired of the war. They want to see it end, and want to see the hostages released. 

I get it. I’m tired of this war too. too many people have died already. I too want to see the rest of the hostages back home. But is there no price too high for that to happen? 

One might argue, as I did when it came to making a deal for the release from Hamas captivity of Gilad Shalit that trading 1500 Palestinian terrorists in Israeli custody in exchange for Shalit’s safe return was worth it. My argument then was to worry about the danger of releasing those terrorists later. Let us get Shalit back to his family. I thought that Israel was well prepared to thwart any serious terrorist attack from Gaza that might be perpetrated by any of those released terrorists

The problem is that the Holocaust level massacre of Jews on October 7^th proved me wrong. I’m not so sure that making the same mistake again is such a good idea. But even if it is. It is certainly legitimate to believe it isn’t. And to insist on conditions that will help to better prevent another October 7^th.To deny Netanyahu this motive for rejecting a cease fire deal (as do the protestors (and their willing accomplices in politicians and the media) is to ignore the reality of the security consideration it is legitimately based upon.

But convincing  Netanyahu haters that his motives are anything other than self serving is impossible. They have made up their minds about him long before now. And nothing anyone can say will change them. They believe with absolute certainty that he is indifferent to the suffering of the hostage families. And is responsible for the death of those six  hostages. Hamas? Iran? What do they have to do with anything?!

They refuse to acknowledge that there might be a valid reason for Netanyahu’s conduct of the war. They refuse to even hear it. Which makes it impossible to argue with them

In my view the best outcome for the people of Israel is to defeat Hamas. Of course priority number one should be for Israel to do whatever they can to get the hostages out. But capitulating to their demands for a cease fire will (with the eager help of Iran) restore Hamas to its former glory and a possible repeat performance of October 7^th. And that must never be allowed to happen again.