Law, Power, and Justice

Tuesday 31 October 2023

Morning News Notes

Netanyahu has still not taken the blame for the breach in security that led to the Hamas attack.  He maintains this position after reporting in the New York Times that Netanyahu and his administration were repeatedly warned that something important was brewing in the region and that the actions of the Netanyahu government were making Israel more vulnerable.

Netanuahu seems determined not to acknowledge his responsibility even though there’s a reason it’s called the “Netanyahu administration.  He is making, and is ultimately responsible for, the decisions.

After refusing publicly in a press conference to take responsibility for the Hamas attack, Netanyahu then felt compelled (at 1 AM) not only to tweet about the situation, but to blame everybody else.

He is receiving praise in some quarters for quickly taking down the post and apologizing, but from what I am reading, he apologized for posting the tweet, not for telling a lie.  According to Netanyahu’s statement, the post was inopportune.  Well, according to the evidence and according to the fact that he was in charge, it was a lie.  He never apologized for lying to the Israeli people.

(Note: How the f..k George Bush was allowed to make himself a hero after 9/11 instead of a pariah as Netanyahu should be, and I suspect is, in Isael, I don’t know.  Well, I do know.  PR.  Teams and teams of “communications” people just like MSNBC Host, Nicolle Wallace, used to be.  They turned what was a massive security failure (which by the way did involve warnings) into a major PR victory.  Remember Bush swaggering around on the fighter carrier wearing what looked for all the world like a codpiece and announcing, “Mission Accomplished?”)  (Note: George Bush has never apologized for lying to the American people about the invasion of Iraq.)

My partner believes that Netanyahu not only knew, or highly suspected, but wanted the attack to happen.  He may have been duped about the scale of the attack, but it certainly fits in well with the goals of the right-wing people in his administration (as did 9/11 with the goals of the right-wing Bush administration).

Gaza

People in Gaza are not being allowed to leave the 25 by 7 mile strip.  This is thought to include some 600 Americans (although I hate quoting the Nationality of hostages, or victims).

Violence (The President’s Daily Brief with Mike Baker: Podcast)

Dagastan people roaming an airport searching for Jews coming off a plane from Israel.  This is a Muslim-dominated region of Russia.  There were people even on the runway.  They were targeting Jewish individuals.  Banners “We are against Jewish refugees” and “There is no place for child killers in Dagastan” were paraded outside the airport. 

Putin is claiming that Western spy agencies and Ukraine were responsible for the riot in Dagastan.

One of the best things I’ve read this morning is “I Feel a Human Deterioration.” An interview in the NYT with Etgar Keret.