As you will recall, in previous posts I predicted that the Israeli ceasefire in Gaza would follow a familiar pattern, which we saw play out in Lebanon.
“Trust us” the Israelis said. “If you can’t trust them, trust us” said the Americans.
Israel agreed to a cease-fire guaranteed by the United States – who did nothing when Israel broke the cease-fire agreement —they have done continually from the beginning.
For Israel, cease-fires are only temporary reductions in ongoing violence, allowing breathing space to recoup and reorganize and rearm – with American support. Both Israel and the US betray any agreement they make in the end.
In Lebanon, the Zionists needed timeout for the invasion of Syria – as well as to mollify public opinion, increasingly nervous about missile strikes on northern Israel and by the Houthis and Axis of Resistance. With Israel failing in all areas— militarily, economically, and diplomatically, they needed something positive. The ceasefire was a PR stunt to give the sense that the government had some degree of direction.
In the case of Gaza, the cease-fire had several benefits for the Zionists. One was cementing Netanyahu government's relationship with the new regime in Washington, which was perceived as mercurial and unstable.
Israel gave Trump a PR win making him look like he was the Man with a Plan – and in return they got promises of $8 billion in aid, including bunker buster bombs--plus a pre-Valentine’s day hug and kiss meeting between Netanyahu and Trump in Washington reassuring them that only Americans and Israelis are really human.
Naturally, the Israelis had no intention of observing the terms of the ceasefire in Gaza any more than they observed the terms of the ceasefire in Lebanon. Nor did the Americans really expect compliance or care if there was any at all. The idea was a pretend truce before getting back to the real business of genocide. In the meantime, they would focus on “cleansing” the West Bank, trying to force the Palestinians to flee to Jordan or Egypt. Musk was probably thinking Mars. .
The gold-plated pager that Bibi gave the Donald was worth a thousand words.
I guess the wooden backing was supposed to represent an explosion.
The Israeli pager attacks were blatant terrorism targeting civilians – crimes against humanity. Trump’s acceptance of this gift shows how lacking he is in morality and humanity. Did the gold come from gold teeth pulled from the jaws of Palestinian prisoners?
Trump then proceeded to trumpet his ridiculous Gaza “Riviera” Plan which confirmed:
a.) the Gazans have no right to self-determination because they are not a "people” — in fact not people at all.
b.) they must be forced to flee to Egypt and Jordan of anywhere else and disappear forever
c.) the US hopes to make money from Israeli expansion
Not mentioned are the oil and gas deposits in Gaza waters that would be open to US and Israeli exploitation. Nor, the ongoing pogroms against Palestinians in the West Bank which promise a newer bigger theater for more mass murder.
Nor the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative offering the Palestinians their own state – just 22% of their original territory.
Some analysts like Larry Johnson and the two A’s on the Duran were talking like this was a clever plan to neuter Netanyahu and force him to play nice with new American policy. I argued this this was ascribing a degree of rationality and benevolence to Trump and American policy that does not exist. Trump just wings it.
Sure, his style is different—it’s flashy, erratic and theatrical—something I am sure he learned to do when he had his TV show - but the substance of his policy remains the same as that of previous Presidents.
American policy IS Israeli policy. Netanyahu may be an asshole. But he is America’s asshole. And his shit is theirs.
Don’t judge them by their words — but by the smell.
Now, the Israelis are looking for any excuse to end the ceasefire. Hamas had said it would not proceed with hostage release unless Israel complies with the terms of the agreement, which they were pretty much doing while Israel was not.
Netanyahu threatened to resume attacks and Trump backed him up. As a result, a few hours ago at the time of writing, Hamas had released three more hostages as agreed. I am sure they expected to have to. But they wanted to draw attention to Israeli and American bad faith.
Which they did successfully.
Here’s what Al Jazeera published on the ceasefire issues. We
Did Israel violate the ceasefire?
Yes.
Israel is still killing people in Gaza, according to daily reports from the Ministry of Health in the enclave.
In terms of aid, Israel allowed only 8,500 trucks of food and basic aid items into Gaza so far, when according to the ceasefire terms, it should have been 12,000 trucks.
In terms of shelter, 200,000 tents are stipulated in the first phase, but only 10 percent have been allowed in so far – halfway through the first phase – and none of the promised 60,000 mobile homes.
On top of that, 50 desperately sick or injured people were supposed to be allowed out of Gaza daily with family members accompanying them – that should have been 1,000 people so far but the Health Ministry says only 120 patients have been allowed to leave.
Also at issue was Israel dragging its heels on allowing people to return to their homes in northern Gaza, a clear part of the agreement.
Did Hamas violate the ceasefire?
Hamas says it has met all obligations so far.
But on January 25, Israel said Hamas had not freed a female Israeli civilian captive as promised, and retaliated by delaying the return of Palestinians to their homes in northern Gaza.
The captive, Arbel Yehoud, was eventually released.
So much for agreements. So much for guarantees. So much for the even-handedness of the guarantor. So much for “trust”m
Tellingly, the MSM responded to Hamas’ decision to continue the agreement, despite Israeli violations, with photos of aid trucks from a few days previously. We don’t know if provision of aid has actually improved.
Keep in mind that only 8500 trucks delivered their goods to the starving people of Palestine compared to the 12,000 promised.
Lebanon and Iran
Now, that same guarantor has apparently authorized Israel to break its ceasefire agreements in Lebanon and maintain military outposts there. Ah yes…trust!
Israel is also threatening an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, perhaps using bases in southern and south eastern Syria, assuming an American withdrawal, form the southeast.
Wheels within wheels.
All this prejudices Trump’s attempt to win the trust of the Russian, which was pretty much impossible any.
How can Trump do a “deal” with Russia when to do that he must somehow convince the the Russians to trust him as a Man of his Word, when over and over again he demonstrates his promises are meaningless.
Watch the Russians, string out “negotiations” while Ukraine collapses.
What they have in mind may be very different from the West wants.
TASS laid out the basics in an article by Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Director Sergey Naryshkin who says that “Ukraine” has always been a fake state, cobbled together as a federation of various ethnic group but principally Russian. In other words, it was Russian before; it will be Russian again.
The article was an indirect message.
On Trust and Animals
Servals are African wild cats that are bred with domestic cats to create “Savannah cat” hybrids. They are, as you see, very social. But don’t think of getting one a pet! They are still wild cats and they need special environments. You couldn’t afford one anyway. Still, you can get along with them if you earn their trust.
The first thing I learned working in a zoo was to respect each animal for its nature. Something I have tried to do with people, too.,
Chappy thinks he is a Wild Cat. Ichi thinks he is a Dog. Everybody these days has identity issues. I am not sure what I am. ??
Working now on Putin for the next Special Article. The deeper I go, the more fascinating! For one thing, his accomplishments are vastly understated—as are his unique personality and abilities.
'“Trust us” the Israelis said. “If you can’t trust them, trust us” said the Americans'.
I can't decide which of those is more hilarious.
I don't write much these days because I am sick of listening to rhetoric. I would advise everyone to do the same.
Let us just watch actions!