Sunday 20 September 2026

LIFE NOTES

RUSSIA

LIFE AND NEWS NOTES

· Putin has declared that war veterans should form the “leadership cadre” of the Russian future. He has created a program to fast track them into senior political and corporate positions. Polling indicates support for the war against Ukraine, but polling is notoriously inaccurate in Russia, and supporting the war is not supporting the effects of the war on daily life. The point of all this is to “build a political class capable of sustaining endless war, no matter the cost” (Newsweek).

ISRAEL

· Last week Israel’s most influential and respected newspaper reported that Netanyahu was not only funneling billions to Hamas, but was warned in advance of Oct. 7. The rationale goes that the massacre provided a justification for dragging the U.S. into an all-out war with Iran, and thus reclaim Gaza (Pennlive). A colleague of mine theorizes that Netanyahu knew in advance, he just didn’t know how extensive and devastating the attack would be. It would make sense to replace Netanyahu, but the potential successors “may be further to the right than he is” (Pennlive)

· The Jerusalem Post, however, published an opinion piece (Greer Fay Cashman) that evidently sums up the feelings of a lot of Israelis. Netanyahu was elected, and if you believe in democracy you must support the government. “Internal squabbles” make Israel look weak. “An attack on the leaders contributes to paving the path to anarchy.” Ehud Barak, whose voice is frequently heard in the anti-Bibi circles is attackin Bibi’s character, in interviews with foreign media. “

· “To do so. Encourages further character assassination, such as that displayed in the AI Generated Judicial Reform Campaign video released by Benazir Smoltrich, in which he showed Chief Justice Isaac Emmett and Attorney General Gali Baharov. Sarah being arrested by police and dragged through the streets. This was so outrageously below the belt that even people on the right who supported judicial reform were outraged.”

· “While I understand what it means to bereaved families, have BB either admit to being accountable or having COM a Commission of inquiry, decide that he’s accountable, it doesn’t really serve any purpose. It doesn’t bring back the dead, it doesn’t heal the wounded, it doesn’t stop the grief in the morning” (The Jerusalem Post 9/19/26).

LIFE NOTES

Beautiful Fall Leaves