Israel

Travis_Bickle

Djpekingman most Israelis oppose the sustained and permanent 'resettlement' of Gaza. 26% is the highest figure I've seen in recent polling in support of re-establishing the Gush Katif settlements in Gaza. Even in the relatively immediate aftermath of October the 7th, when attitudes might have been expected to harden, a Times of Israel poll in December of 2023 showed that 56% opposed the long-term annexation of Gaza with 33% in favour.

Travis_Bickle

cordshoes all polling in Israel for the last few months has the 'opposition coalition' (often referred to as the '36th government' and the first to include an independent Arab party) well ahead of Netanyahu's total support (usually between 60-65 Knesset seats where 61 is needed for a majority as against the low 40s to mid 50s). The current coalition has a 68 to 52 hold on power which potentially gives an indication of a shift in attitudes. There are nuances to the figures as some are dependent on who stands for particular parties and the inherent uncertainty of multi-party pacts.
Hadash-Ta-al, the Arab party partnership could secure around 5 seats.
A Times of Israel poll in March of this year found that 70% of Israelis didn't trust Netanyahu's government. 69% supported a deal to end the war and secure the return of the hostages.
Don't forget that the next election won't be held until October of 2026.

cordshoes

Travis_Bickle
I'm obviously not an expert on the Israeli constitution, but is there no option for a vote of No Confidence.

Travis_Bickle

cordshoes there is. It's a 'constructive' vote which requires a parliamentary majority for a successor. I'm not expert but Israel has a multiplicity of parties with large and often fractious coalitions. I think it's that which makes it difficult to coalesce around an alternative candidate.

90Piesanhour

Meanwhile, the indefensable genocide continues unabated.

Djpekingman

Travis_Bickle Its definitely a Judean Peoples Front - Peoples Front of Judea type situation. Python were spot on with that one!

Foxy_Dread

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/10/uk-lawyers-for-israel-condemned-over-claim-war-may-reduce-obesity-in-gaza

space

Foxy_Dread I saw this earlier and thought it was from the onion.com

YoungParisian_inExile

I read the Louis Theroux article in the G yesterday about his documentary. Didn't add much to what everyone already knows.
The West Bank is next .

doggybag

What I found interesting about the Theroux article was how he pushed back on those who would downplay the importance and the influence of the settlers. They are armed to the teeth; where did they get those weapons? They call in the army to remove Palestinians from their own property; their only crime that they're harvesting their crops on their land. They bulldoze people's homes while the army stands by and does nothing. Police and army train spotlights on Palestinian homes at night, keeping them awake and forcing them to remain indoors. They punish resistance. The army do not recognize international law as it pertains to settler activity.
They are a small, mad and bad, group but their leaders have ministerial functions in the Knesset and openly support the settlers in their plans and their actions (which go unpunished). Theroux was trying to underline, again, that these are dangerous and well connected people who don't care about anybody else but themselves. And their numbers are growing.

YoungParisian_inExile

Foxy_Dread

YoungParisian_inExile but some Israelis are critical of Netanyahu's handling of the hostage situation so everything is ok.

I forgot to mention they even march against his handling of the hostage situation. Let the election cycle run through and we might see change.

If not next time then the time after.

Travis_Bickle

Foxy_Dread she's vile. The 'quote' above isn't entirely accurate if the translation on this clip is, but the tenor is and her disregard for Palestinian lives is clear.

That she holds such views is no surprise. She's a member of the National Religious Party, a minority party helping to prop up Netanyahu's coalition. Whilst that affords them some influence, with 6 seats her views are hardly a reflection of wider Israeli attitudes in the same way Reform or the Greens aren't here in the UK.
Sadly, the election cycle is the only realistic mechanism that exists to try and change course in Israel.
Recent polling suggests that can hopefully be achieved.
https://www.palestinechronicle.com/israeli-opposition-bloc-maintains-lead-over-netanyahu-coalition-poll/

Loose_Lips

Travis_Bickle

I really hope so.

8% of the current Palastinians voted Hamas in an election for local and presidential candidates were completed in 2006.

A lot will now be dead through natural ageing and bombs.

75% were not old enough to vote. It's a country of under 18's being tormented.

YoungParisian_inExile

Travis_Bickle Sadly, the election cycle is the only realistic mechanism that exists to try and change course in Israel.

It's really not though is it ...

The world was outraged by Russia invading Ukraine. Sanctions, embargos against Russia, freezing assets , banned from all euro / international sporting events, financial and arms support for Ukraine.

But Palestine ... let's arrest people for speaking out in support of Palestine in the UK, WTF happened to free speech and the right to protest ? Labour still happily supplying arms to Israel to kill kids... kids, not terrorists ...

There's 2 sides to every story but this has gone way too far, it's obscene, immoral...
The international community has the power to stop this but is choosing not to .

The world and people are so fucked, wrapped up in an instagram/ tik tok world that Israel came second in the Eurovison ????

Travis, you're an excellent poster, very smart, informed & cultural guy, considerate to many posters on here when they have needed help, myself included , on the right (not in a political sense) side of life & I enjoy most of your posts... so can only assume that Israel is a personal matter for you.

Travis_Bickle

Loose_Lips increasing signs of dissent against Hamas in Gaza leading to executions and beatings. But I think it's fair to say that armed struggle against Jews (I say Jews and not Israel deliberately) still commands support.
That's the real tragedy and challenge. Bringing the populations along on a journey to a peaceful solution.
Trump not visiting Israel on his recent tour of the region was no accident. Nor was his approach to Syria's new leadership. The pressure will build. Netanyahu talks of 'going it alone' to appear strong. A lot of people don't believe him.

Travis_Bickle

YoungParisian_inExile all of the measures you mention could potentially bring the military action to an end but real change and sustainable solutions have to come from those in power in the conflict. That means the Israeli government and those who speak for the Palestinians.
That means that the religious extremists, racists and settlers on one side and the religious extremists, racists and terrorists on the other need to go. I don’t know if that's still possible.
But unless you advocate dismantling Israel as a state, there isn't anything else to aim for.

Travis_Bickle

YoungParisian_inExile if there's been a clampdown on free speech over Gaza, nobody told the police. Whatever your views, thousands march every week. And every week antisemitism, often accompanied by violence and aggression, is never far away.

Travis_Bickle

YoungParisian_inExile it's not personal. I have Jewish friends but no family connections.

YoungParisian_inExile

Travis_Bickle There's enough material out there to suggest, nay prove that that the police are clamping down, wether its official or not is another matter, but its happening.

I have no time for anti-semites, you're either anti-racist or you're not, there's no picking and choosing. Argumemts of 'Jewish people should know better' are trite and frankly 'racist' ... its an Israel matter not a whole religion.
Anti-Zinosim is another matter and for that I don't apologise. The behaviour of the Israel government and settlers need to be held accountable and the rights of Palestinians upheld .
"Israeli settlements in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, as well as in the Syrian Golan Heights, are illegal under international law. These settlements are in violation of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and in breach of international declarations."

There's no defence for the continued behaviour and policy of Netanyahu, none at all.
The acts of Hamas (while they shouldnt be forgotten) pale into insignificance compared to what we're witnessing .
It's just time for it to stop

Travis_Bickle

YoungParisian_inExile It's just time for it to stop

We can agree about that.

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