Thanks Patrick for this - Gilbert Achcar hits the nail on the head for both myths. It has been astounding to watch the myth of Trump putting "pressure" on Netanyahu to bring about the Gaza truce and prisoner exchange. The ENTIRE evidence for this seems to be the story that his envoy may have spoken a little rough to Bibi at their meeting. Really? That's it? Does anyone think that Trump and his arch-Zionist envoy threatened the cut-off of US arms? Come on. There are no more targets in Gaza (like the famous quote during the Korean war), Netanyahu needed an out, Trump wanted a gift (which Netanyahu had basically promised him), and in return Israel will be richly rewarded in the West Bank. Already happening. Achcar is also completely correct about the "victory"/defeat questions. Perhaps you could say there are elements of political defeat for Israel and political victory for Hamas in as much as absurd and impossible stated goals such as the "destruction" of Hamas were not achieved; perhaps you could say that the Palestinian resistance did help stop an even worse, more complete, Israeli victory, such as pushing the whole population out, but it is impossible to know since it was the reactionary Egyptian regime that prevented this for its own reasons (it hates Palestinians and so doesn't want them in Egypt). But the stark reality is that before October 2023, Gaza had no Israeli troops inside but was under blockade, while the West Bank was under increasing attack; today, only IF the second stage of the truce is completed (which is doubtful), then Gaza will again have no Israeli troops, but remain under blockade, with the West Bank under far more significant attack, but with the big difference that some 80 percent of what was standing back then is now rubble, including everything necessary for human life.
On Wed, Jan 22, 2025 at 9:39 PM Patrick Bond via groups.io <pbond= [email protected]> wrote: > A different view, reminding of Cabral's "Tell no lies and claim no easy > victories": https://gilbert-achcar.net/gaza-ceasefire > > -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#34773): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/34773 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/110749212/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. #4 Do not exceed five posts a day. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/13617172/21656/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
