You have a clearer understanding of this calamity than you realize.

On the one hand, we have a beleaguered nation with a ‘straight-up’, arguably ‘moral’ military tasked with defending this nation from a horde of ‘belligerent’ states. This volatile circumstance often leads to ‘paranoia’, thus mistakes, that this military, to say the least, is contrite about afterwards. Still, they ‘control’ what they can, but again, only out of necessity – being surrounded by hostiles tends to lend itself to controlling behavior, it appears.

And on the other hand, we have the hostiles, the hysterical, the hateful, the terrorists, the immoral, the bloodthirsty, the unhinged, the liars, and more, be it Hamas, Palestinians, their supporters and various UN and UN-like factions, not to mention neighboring states. This side killed 1200 people to boot, the other side, well, diddly squat it appears.

Well, your post is a poster-person refection of the media you read.

Since the beginning of the war I have deliberately dodged hysterical claims by any particular faction, which to my surprise now includes the UN and it’s various divisions. War is quite obviously hell, we know. Truth is the first casualty, we know. From what I can read, the IDF are one of the more straight-up military sources when it comes to telling anyone what they have done or will do. I think Netanyahu thinks of this when he offers his “most moral army in the world” statement. I’ve also managed to piece together that Hamas and whoever supports them are a seriously dangerous and unhinged bunch, who lie with great vigor if a journalist is anywhere nearby.

Despite this, I cannot say I am “pro-Israel”, and not for political reasons, though I am surely “anti-Hamas”. As I understand it, it is not possible to be pro-Israel during a time of war if you are not in Israel and Israeli. History shows us that they will shoot anyone in the vicinity, ally or not, with utmost prejudice – even Americans. They will apologise profusely and genuinely later, offering monetary compensation to families for personal loss. I am convinced they do this with the greatest solemn regret. I do not understand Israeli culture or their collective psyche, so I cannot be as equally honest and say I am pro-Israeli. This may be the motivation for Biden’s slow backing away towards the metaphorical door over the last few weeks. From this far away, there seems to be a cultural aspect where once a war starts, any well-meaning individual should immediately step far away from the nearest IDF soldier. Wave from behind the barricade, shout encouraging words, but do not lift you head up! I understand the general idea that everyone hates them and is trying to kill them at every opportunity. It could cause severe paranoia. And then Israel will say something like, “We didnt take as much care as we could have,” and here is me already thinking they have taken more care than the Americans would have. Do they even know what is happening? I don’t understand what it is that Israel’s enemies are connecting with in order to be that hateful. To me, it is the most baseless, dumbest – and yet most vicious – prejudice I’ve ever heard.

This strange cultural and geographical aspect has me entirely baffled as to how to understand any of it, honestly, truthfully. Israel’s neighbours sound like a real nice bunch. They’re all solidarity and “my people” when the bombs are falling on Palestinians, but ask them if they will contribute to governing Gaza after the war and they give a straight, “NO”. With friends like that, etc etc. They obviously aren’t working to the same text as us in NZ.

Look at the geographical location of the West Bank. If you can for a moment, forget it is Israel, and think of it as a piece of land inside a hostile territory, surrounded by beligerent states: could you gaurantee security in a region that is basically cut in half and just waiting for a small armed force to seperate the halves before conquoring the nation? Impossible. Whether you think their methods a crime or not, how is it possible for Israel to have a secure nation without controlling the West Bank? That being the case, there are only two options, neither are particularly peaceful at the beginning.

Back in NZ, Jewish and Palestinian youth organisations help each other out after political attacks, and say, “Leave all that stuff back in Israel. If you want to help, go there.” They know, and won’t touch it with a barge pole.

Is it possible to get an absolute moral grasp on the situation without living there? In my opinion, no. Yes, Hamas are terrorists. Yes they did what they did, and triggered a war that Palestinians have been baying for as long as you like. Yes killing 1200 people to make a political point is morally wrong, let alone the “kidnapping” which no legitimate army will do. No I don’t believe Gaza was a “segregated prison state”.

But I get the impression that there is so much that can’t be understood about the situation, without having spent some of my life there – really there, not as a spectator. Falling into the trap of over simplification, desperately making incorrect comparisons, personal projections, even claiming basic moral standards, all fall short.

One of the spouses of a hostage recently said something along the lines of, “I do not have the luxury of commenting on the situation because it causes such a disturbance in me.” The media often treat all these wars like a rugby game – whose side are you on? Who do you like the best? Who do you idenitfy with? Which team has the best uniforms? Is your skin colour similar to this team? They’re your team! yay!

Almost no one in NZ has experienced the social aptmosphere of war, or constant impending war. The closest collective distortion we’ve had is covid lockdowns. Not nearly as severe an effect. If we want to compare Free Palestine politics to maori struggles, why is it maori haven’t killed 1200 pakeha recently? I mean, haven’t they struggled for longer and suffered equal humiliations? There’s something about the place, and the culture and the people that doesn’t translate to a NZ reality. There’s a disconnect I cannot bridge with certainty.

I wait for the return of all the hostages, alive, I very much hope. After that I have to leave them to it. It exceeds my capability to understand.

“… – which one would you recommend?” Malcolm Evans

If Andrew doesn’t want to recommend you a book.
I recommend you this one;

The Impossible Revolution
by Yassin al-Haj Saleh

https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/the-impossible-revolution/

And this one;

Burning Country
by Robin Yassin-Kassab

https://www.wob.com/en-au/books/robin-yassin-kassab/burning-country-old-edition/9780745336220/GOR010881772?

Nonetheless, it is clear that you have won this argument – Israel does not control Palestine lock, stock and barrel.

Much like prisoners are not actually in prison, because the odd one escapes every now and then. Well, so it is true that controlling who is allowed to come and go in Palestine and what is allowed to come and go in Palestine including utility and water usage, this level of control is, well, what is this to you Theasus?

As for the Right and especially the far-right, they are mere pawns to be used by our powers-that-be and their corporate controllers, when it suits.

The Right-Left divide pitches people against people and with a cherry on top, one of these sides can then be blamed to suit, by our unelected masters. In a world of corrupt politics, the Right-Left divide is an illusion.

Malcolm Evans is a different kettle of fish. Malcolm is suffering from a bad case of ‘ “The anti-Imperialism of Idiots” syndrome, where he is under the delusion his chosen imperialists are the good guys. No amount of evidence can convince him otherwise.
Malcolm is not the only sufferer of anti-imperialism of idiots syndrome.
Malcolm Evans is matched on the other side of the imperialist divide by Ben Morgan who can’t bring himself to write a bad word to about his chosen imperialists.
Both Malcolm and Ben will wax lyrical about the atrocities committed by the other side but keep their lips sealed about the atrocities committed by their side.
Because sufferers of anti-imperialism of idiots syndrome have no understanding of imperialism, they can only react to the symptoms they see. This will lead them into supporting one imperialism against the other in the coming war between them.
Until the anti-imperialism of idiots syndrome is addressed and treated, for the mental illness it is, no effective international anti-imperialist movement can be built.
Both Ben and Malcolm are advocates of imperialist and colonialist conquest and war, albeit on different sides.

Try Lenni Brenner Zionism in the Age of Dictators.
https://www.marxists.org/history/etol/document/mideast/agedict/index.htm

I read little else Andrew, but happy to read another – which one would you recommend?