HYPOCRISY’S EVIL UNDERBENNY

Israel’s horrific genocide in Gaza has shocked the world but a closer look might produce less surprise and more condemnation.

It’s obvious Benjamin (“Benny the Bully”) Netanyahu is desperately trying to cover up his contribution to Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack using every magicians’ favourite – misdirection. He and his American pals made huge miscalculations pursuing regional Apartheid. Benny’s preferred distraction is exceptional brutality against innocents.

Context includes infamous 1993-1995 Oslo Accords establishing the Palestinian Authority (PA) as West Bank A and B “Government”. In 2006 elections, Hamas took over “Government” in Gaza on the express political platform of eliminating Israel. Since then, Israel has pursued a divide-and-rule strategy between Hamas and PA.

You’d think Benny the Bully would cozy up to PA as the lesser of two evils. Nope. Too easy. Truth is Benny misjudged Hamas from Day One. To him Hamas was just a nuisance; PA a burden. So Hamas needed to be made stronger (but not TOO strong) to keep PA in check.

So, in furtherance of that insane error of judgment, for years Benny encouraged Hamas funding from Qatar. Excellent investigative journalism by Mark Mazzetti, investigative reporter based in Washington D.C., and Ronen Bergman, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, based in Tel Aviv, published in The New York Times (December 10, 2023) disclosed:

“Just weeks before Hamas launched the deadly Oct. 7 attacks, head of Mossad [met with Qatari officials] in Doha, Qatar.

For years, the Qatari government had been sending millions of dollars a month into the Gaza Strip that helped prop up the Hamas government. PM Netanyahu not only tolerated those payments, he encouraged them.

During his [September] meetings with Qatari officials…., Mossad chief, David Barnea, was asked a question that [wasn’t] on the agenda: Did Israel want the payments to continue?

….Mr. Barnea said yes.

Allowing the payments was a gamble by Netanyahu that a steady flow of money would maintain peace in Gaza….keep Hamas focused on governing, not fighting.”

This wasn’t a secret in the region. Benny’s critics called it “buying quiet.” What we’re seeing in Gaza is the face of a ruthless reassessment of that policy. Meanwhile Israeli citizens are protesting en masse and Benny’s time in office resembles a St. Mary MP.

Dunn!

Mazzetti/Bergman:

“The payments were part of decisions by Israeli political leaders…based on the fundamentally flawed assessment that Hamas was neither interested in nor capable of a large-scale attack.”

So Israel’s reaction to October 7 is more akin to embarrassed bully lashing out at “Quaco’s shut” than “self defence.”

USA’s stubborn refusal to pivot from immoral support for Israel’s atrocities is also explained by USA’s approval of the Qatari funding. Mazzetti/Bergman:

“…in 2014, Netanyahu charted a new course emphasizing a strategy of trying to “contain” Hamas while Israel focused on Iran’s nuclear program…

Qatar, during this period, became a key financier for government operations in Gaza….

…Netanyahu even lobbied Washington on Qatar’s behalf. In 2017, as Republicans pushed to impose sanctions on Qatar over its support for Hamas, he dispatched senior defense officials to Washington. [They] told American lawmakers Qatar played a positive role in the Gaza Strip….

The administrations of three American presidents, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joseph Biden, broadly supported having the Qataris….funding Gaza operations….

Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right politician now Netanyahu’s finance minister, put it bluntly in 2015:

‘The Palestinian Authority is a burden. Hamas is an asset.””

So Benny the Bully’s strategy of containment is now abandoned after thousands of October 7 eggs on his face triggered an Olympian grade flip-flop.

What about good ol’ USA, defender of freedom? President Buddy, in Poland (February 2023), condemning Russia’s Ukraine invasion urged the world to be “clear-eyed” against nations operating based on “brute force”. Secretary of State Blinken (July 17, 2023): “Weaponizing food; using it as a tool, as a weapon in the war against Ukraine is unconscionable.”

Unconscionable! What when the same happens in Gaza? John Kirby, U.S. National Security Communications Advisor (January 30, 2024) replied “Absolutely, we’re concerned about that. No question about it.”

Concerned?

How does USA feel about attacks on journalists? White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre (March 30, 2023) after Russia detained an American journalist: “We also condemn the Russian Government’s continued targeting and repression of journalists.”

Condemn! What about the record number of journalists killed by Israel in Palestine? Karine (April 1, 2024):

“So, as it relates to Al Jazeera specifically we’ve seen the reports. If it’s true a move like this is concerning.”

Sigh.

America continues selling US$billions in arms to Israel. Jamaica follows USA policy pee-pee-cluck-cluck despite our proud legacy of leadership in international human rights.

Politics is polytricks everywhere.

Peace and Love

Tags: Biden, Blinken, Hamas, iSRAEL, Jean-Pierre, Netanyahu, Qatar