Israel/Palestine Thread

I think Israel is doing a pretty good job of isolationing itself all on it's own.

I wouldn't be so sure US support will change in any real way. There has been media narratives before that Trump (and Biden before him) were angry with Netanyahu, having arguments with him, threatening him etc. But it always seems to have just been a story with the US rowing in to support further israeli efforts to complete the genocide in Gaza, or to attack neighbouring countries. I really doubt a strike in Qatar is going to be the thing that reverses 80 years of US policy if outright genocide hasnt.

It is clear that israel is deeply unpopular in the US in a way that it hasn't been - ever. Even a majority of young US Republican voters are hostile to israel at this point. Genocide is a very bad look. Qatar is formally a US ally, with a huge US airbase in the country. There is a certain amount of performance that Trump and the wider US political leadership feels they have to do no doubt to keep Qatar pacified, but its just a performance in my opinion. It is going to take another 30 years before those young US voters who see israel for what it is are themselves the senators, congressmen and presidents who actually set US policy.

And even then, US security services feel they need Israel, Qatar etc onside. It'd take a major change in policy in more than just politics to have them disavow Israel.

Netanyahu still has serious influence with both political parties via major donors. Groups affiliated with AIPAC have primaried and removed multiple Democratic critics of Israel and bragged about it afterwards.

I agree, the idea of the US failing to veto a UNSC statement against israel is something that wouldnt have been thought possible 5 years ago. But in the context of what israel is doing in Gaza, and the US clampdown on any criticism of israel in the US it is very little. A real signal of a US breach would be for the US to interrupt military and economic aid to israel unless and until full access to food, medical and shelter was restored to Gazan civilians. That only sounds extreme because US political realities mean its impossible.

I think a country like the US is like an oil tanker, in that it will take decades for changing views on israel to work their way through to actual policymaking turning. If you look at Trump himself, and his cabinet - they're entirely convinced zionists. Maybe in 30 years time the changes in US views will have worked their way through to policy making level, but for now I am very cynical about US maneuvers on this point.

I’m afraid I’d be doubtful about that.

Unfortunately, Netanyahu still has a dominant influence over pro-Israel lobbyists in the US at the moment and their power is huge.

dmcdona's BBC link

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c740kk7vxkdo

Israel's representative, Danny Danon, defended the attack, telling the meeting: "This strike sends a message that should echo across this chamber. There is no sanctuary for terrorists, not in Gaza, not in Tehran, not in Doha.

In past months, Israel has attacked:

Lebanon,
Syria,
Iran (Beginning 13 June this year),
Yemen, And

Qatar (Precedent for Israel to attack a Gulf State)

‘A watershed moment: US-Gulf relations after Israel's attack on Doha’

‘The unprecedented Israeli attack on Doha will raise questions for Gulf states about the reliability of the US as a defence partner and security guarantor’
Giorgio Cafiero, 10 September, 2025

https://www.newarab.com/analysis/israeli-attack-doha-watershed-moment-us-gulf-relations

"In a move that stunned observers across the region, Israel targeted Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital, shattering longstanding assumptions that members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) were off-limits for direct Israeli military aggression.

Qatar was never an aggressor. So Danny Danon, isn't recognising Zionist coalition is a state terrorist…

Sean doesn't like the idea his fellow travellers could be critical of Israel so he needs to persist with the canard that criticism of Israel is exclusive to one side of the political spectrum. You may also have noticed a reccuring theme with him of repeating the same talking points no matter how many times they have been debunked.

And I just don't understand how there is simply no room for concessions on their part - every single critisism of Israel is defended to the hilt - including what any normal human being would consider indefensible.

Those types of posts make me think about the sort of hyperbolic statements people make about politicians at times 'well, he/she could kill a baby and people would still vote for them'. Well, Israeli is killing 10s of thousands of babies and children and people still defend them no matter what.

Mary Robinson putting it succintly:

Former Irish President Mary Robinson said she feels “ashamed” of the EU’s response to Israel’s war in Gaza, criticizing the bloc for failing to suspend its trade agreement with Israel despite calls to do so, Anadolu reports.

“I feel a bit ashamed as an EU citizen that the EU that speaks about human rights, that talks the talk cannot bring itself,” she told RTE’s The Late Late Show late Friday. “It is quite disturbing at this stage.”

The only appropriate response to a pro Palestine/pro Hamas march really. All credit to the Northern Ireland fans i say.

Mod - warned for trolling