No doubt about it @Smokin Joe But, I don't think Netanyahu has yet come to fully appreciate how things have changed.
One change is the shift in Western demographics --- clearly heard not only on the streets of Western cities, but also in the halls of Western universities and governments. Netanyahu should recognize Western support is being tangibly diluted.
Western support is watered down by thuggish protesters who adhere to a fundamental belief system that is incompatible with most Western forms of government, people who despite all the heart wrenching tales of woe, illegally invaded western countries en masse.
In a nutshell, not only was that stupid on the part of those governments to let them in, but to let them establish no-go zones in Western centers of culture is the height of folly, one which may well have Europe longing for another Charles Martel.
Another change is the simple passage of time. Israel won the war 56 years ago and for nearly every one of these years the world has been drawn into every murder at a bus stop, intifada, lead up to war and the after battle critique --- making this the longest six day war in world history. It's simply time to end it.
Communism was pronounced "dead" a few decades back, but we have had "trained Marxist" let organizations make unholy mayhem of our cities since then. Some ideas, especially bad ones, never die.
In case you missed it, aside from the blowing up busloads of people with car bombs and suicide bombers, and the occasional random knife/gun attacks, why, it's just as placid as, say, Chicago, or some other American cities. Something about civilians being randomly attacked (known as "terrorism") that captures the headlines. Like any mass attack, most anywhere. Is that Israel's fault? Seems like the people randomly being attacked are the victims, here.
Keep in mind that Hamas started the latest hostilities, and that Israel is talking like they will end Hamas, and the problem.
The most significant change, IMO, is Israel's loss of invincibility. This aura is what allowed Israel to "manage" the Palestinian problem and Arab nations (and Russia) to look the other way whenever Israel sent a sortie to take out airport runways and weapons caches in neighboring countries.
But, Oct 7 changed all that --- and in the most public, dehumanizing, atrocious ways possible. A low life group of animals brought Israel quickly to its knees, and by surprise. Everyone in the ME now knows this: An Israel victory is no longer a foregone conclusion. This is why war could likely spread. And, Israel's moderate Arab neighbors really don't want this ---
Name one country, anywhere, that never lost a battle, that was never the victim of a surprise attack.
I'll wait.
Virtually all of those countries still exist, despite those sneak attacks and initial losses, and they prevailed in the longer conflict. So will it be with Israel.
The West (and Arab neighbors) want Israel to destroy as much of Hamas as possible ---- Israel deserves to and it helps the neighborhood. But, after the bombs and shelling stop, I don't think Israel walks away with the keys to the Gaza house. I think it becomes part of the State of Palestine. Netanyahu already proclaiming this will not happen will not help him. It will ostracize him.
So, I continue to hope Bibi stops bloviating and starts thinking about how Israel moves forward in the world as it is today.
From what I see, I hope Bibi hands them the key to the gate, and that is all that is standing. Face it, this has not happened in some sort of vacuum, foisted on poor, peaceful, unsuspecting innocent Palestinians. They're all in cahoots, Hamas is their selected governing group, and they are such a wholesome group that neighboring nations have thrown open their borders to let the poor, the halt, the lame refugees in. Oh, wait. That isn't happening, and that is the biggest tell of all. None there wants that bunch for next door neighbors in their 'hood. That says a lot. As for Bibi, well, they have put his ass against the proverbial wall. He has to annihilate them as a political entity, if for no other reason than for Israel to regain face after being sneak attacked. Anything less is merciful (and stupid). Whatever remains of them will be rebuilt using US dollars sent to Iran, because they are a useful thorn on the path to peace in the region.
