Correction to Yesterday's entry: Even though it made the home page of The New York Times, the video of Representative Stefanik’s hearing in yesterday's post has been removed. Stefanik herself has promoted antisemitic narratives and individuals multiple times over multiple years. While the performance of the university presidents in the hearing is beyond belief, it is not the job of this blog to be a tool to further Stefanik’s use of the “topic du jour” for her professedly anti-democratic political goals. PDF about Stefanik here.
My larger thoughts about Israel-related grandstanding in the U.S. Congress are here.
Tags: 4 min read; 10 min of video (But 4 of those are a song!)
Entry 51...? This series started on Day 2. Given that I typically do not publish on Shabbat, my entry count lags the day count. At my apartment just now there is: Construction noise from outside (normal!); Truck horns from the big street a block away; The smell of the sea.
Remember--a month ago?--the scooter I bought, that dumped me on the ground? (Still for sale…). I rode it a few more times, and decided to stick with the heavier Lime rental scooters. Anyway a visiting friend just rode it and loved it. Maybe he'll take it with to Seattle?
Read
100+Hamas Terrorists Surrender to the IDF
The number I saw was 200. But I didn’t count that many, so I’ll say 100. Arabic language sources say that this footage is being widely shared on Palestinian channels, and that the absence of self-censorship is important.
In Haaretz
It sounds a little strange to say this after two months of hard war, but the fighting in the Gaza Strip is actually intensifying now. The Israel Defense Forces have significantly expanded their offensive in the southern Strip, entering the city of Khan Yunis on Tuesday. Meanwhile, troops are still fighting tough battles in some of the last Hamas strongholds in the northern Strip, where the terror organization continues to maintain control.
It seems that the fighting in Gaza has moved to a different phase, and Israel will soon find out if it has managed to cause further significant damage to Hamas military infrastructures, and whether such a move advances its ambitions of dismantling the organization’s military and governing capabilities. ... (The Palestinian health ministry, controlled by Hamas, always describes the casualties as civilians and doesn’t note the organization’s losses. Various estimates of Hamas’ losses thus far have been circulated in the IDF; the highest reached 6,000 on Tuesday.)
YouGov Poll: Do you agree with statement: “The Holocaust Is A Myth”
The most powerful antisemitic movement since WW2: American Gen Z are more likely to deny the Holocaust, say Jews have too much power in America, deny Israel's right to exist and believe in blood libels about Israel. Pay attention to the breakdown by age.
More Poll Data
Ron Hassner, Professor of Political Science at Berkeley, funded a survey and published the results in a WSJ Op Ed, summarized below. (Full Op Ed PDF here.)
Arabic Language Sources
Geneva Unconvention
The "rules of war," as I understand, assume states with armies. Applicable to the current situation? The approach of Hamas to operate in populated areas is long established.
Heard
Australian Band Chutney: Song of the Hour Released
Hebrew with English subtitles
Relief Area
Alef
Vis-a-vis the surreal comments by university presidents (seen in the video removed from yesterday's post):
Alef Part Two
Bet
The militarized nature of the State of Israel can give an aura that the state is "war loving."
It is quite the opposite. To a person, everyone is sick of the need to be in combat. In uniform or out. Combat is experienced as an existential need, so it is done. Every soldier in Gaza wants to be home, at university, in their day job.
Gimmel
Video, Hebrew with English Subtitles: Joking Soldiers (click the speaker to turn on sound)
Dalet: If they didn’t have double standards, they would have no standards at all
My muscles are sore from working out. Ate a tasty lunch. Should probably shower and go look at the ocean (A.U. doesn’t believe it is there unless I actually see it. g)
Jerusalem continues to be super quiet (I head up there tomorrow). Tel Aviv is basically open without crowds. Tonight I head to a Hanukah Concert (heck, better get a ticket). Hope it cooks.
Happy Hanukah!
Raf