Both-siderism is alive and well

[Happy Hoosier]

21. Very true.

Unless one genuinely advocates for teh dossolutiobn of Israel (which, simply put, WIL NOT HAPPEN), Israel has a right, and even a responsibility to defend itself and it's citizens.

Putting aside what are (IMO) legitimate criticisms of how Israel has managed this conflict, the brutal attack by Hamas, targeting primarily civilians in Israel demands a response. More that that, it demands that Hamas be removed as the controlling authority of Gaza.

No question.

The attack can in NO WAY be seen as legitimate "resistance."

So, the desctuction of Hamas has to happen. If Israel doesn't do it, a murderous entitiy can declare victory.

But destroying Hamas in Gaza means that Israel must, necessarily, utterly devastate Gaza. And there's the rub

Hamas embeds itself, deliberately, in civilian concentrations, an dindeed, in normally protected civilian structure... apartment high-rises, hospitals, schools. And more than that, Hamas WANTS there to be massive civilan casualties. The horror of their initial attacks will fade as week after week, video and photos of children dead in the rubble are plastered all over media.

Even if Hamas' power is destoyed (which it will be), Another generation of Palestinians will be radicalized. And some segment of the world's population will have forgotten the horror of 10/7 and will remember the horror of what's about to happen.

It's a complete shit sandwhich for Israel.

Israel can MAYBE come out ahead, if, after crushing Hamas, they all, or even facilitate and support, a massive humanitarian reconstructin in Gaza. There is a chance to to change the course of this conflict. But it will take a lot.