[D]isruption [N]ever [C]ame
The Big Flop, Negotiating with Terrorists, An IDF Mission, A Hostage's Story, Conflict on the Horizon: The Weekly Conquest Week of 8.18.24 – 8.24.24
Welcome to the ZioKnight
Week of August 18th, 2024
In the lead-up to the Democratic National Convention, the media predicted a scorched-earth, violent riot involving tens of thousands of people descending on the streets of Chicago to protest the Democratic Party’s support of Israel.
Headlines before the convention
In reality, a few thousand people protested and barely eked out a mention from the press. Harris’ Israel indecision has been hinged on whether she must appease her party’s far-left anti-Israel fringe.
The movement’s failure to cause a stir during the convention weakened the perception of their cause and may affect Harris’ calculus about Israel going forward.
Keep reading to learn how the ambiguous nature of US-Israel politics right now affects strategic negotiations on the ground!
Sunday 8.18
Publicly advocating for a ceasefire deal is the worst way to achieve one. The US proposed a “bridging” offer to Hamas that was rejected since it didn’t include a permanent ceasefire and complete withdrawal of Israeli forces. In previous rounds of talks, Israel and Hamas agreed that those conditions would be negotiated once the first round of the hostage-release deal commenced.
So, why did Hamas renege on these topics? The answer lies closer to home. The US is unilaterally calling for a hostage release and ceasefire deal, which puts all the pressure on Israel, leaving Hamas with control of the situation. They could sit on their hands and watch Israel be criticized by the international community and continue the war they started without any negative consequences.
This is not a productive path toward peace. [1][2][3]
Monday 8.19
Location of the bombing
A Palestinian suicide bomber exploded himself, injuring one, on a street in Tel Aviv. Israeli reports indicate that he intended to detonate the powerful explosive device in a synagogue with over 50 attendees but accidentally did so en route. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.
If he had accomplished his goal, the attack would’ve had the possibility of being an Israeli national tragedy. [4][5]
Tuesday 8.20
Iran successfully hacked Trump’s reelection campaign, but their attempts to breach Harris' were unsuccessful. They worked their way into the system by impersonating powerful individuals, utilizing social engineering.
Iran is doing so to rouse tension within American democracy. We are unsure of who they’d like to win. Regardless, it is in their interest to stoke discord within America to undermine its institutions to weaken the country. [6]
Wednesday 8.21
The six hostages whose bodies were recovered
The IDF found the bodies of six hostages in a tunnel in Khan Yunis. The autopsy report shows that there were bullet wounds in each of the victims, suggesting they were each shot and killed by Hamas.
During this conflict, Israel has recovered 30 bodies utilizing information harvested from spying operations. Israel can act on such intelligence comparatively easily since there isn’t the risk of Hamas murdering hostages if the IDF soldiers are detected.
The intelligence is taken as signal data and by spies on the ground. Afterward, it is analyzed by data scientists and AI software. Especially since the assassination of Fuad Shukr, a top Hezbollah Official, Yahya Sinwar has been more careful about sending messages, as he realizes that there are spies among his ranks. Sleep with one eye open Yahya… [7][8][9]
Thursday 8.22
Harris struck her usual tone on Israel in her address to the DNC. She promised strong support for Israel while expressing sorrow for the Palestinians. She also made clear that she would be tough against Iran.
Her rhetoric is balanced. Right now, we can only judge her on what she says, since her website lacks an “issues” page.
As she clarifies her policy positions by explaining how she intends to reach her goals, we will have a better idea of what a Harris Presidency will look like for the US-Israel relationship. [10][11][12]
Friday 8.23
Former hostage, Agam Goldstein-Almog
Agam is a released hostage who told her story of being in Hamas captivity. Her father and sister were murdered on 10/7, and she was forbidden from mourning, forced to wear a hijab, mandated to pray Islamic prayers, and made to face down. She spent time with six fellow female hostages who were all sexually assaulted while showering and remain in captivity. She was told that she would live the rest of her life as a slave wife and that the next time Hamas would attack Israel, they’d kill everyone instead of taking hostages.
She had a powerful moment of hope while connecting with Palestinian children until they cheered in jubilation at the sounds of rocket attacks into Israel. The experience was “just” psychological torture for her. The six other women–still in Gaza–can’t say the same. [13]
Saturday 8.24
Smoke rising from Israeli strikes on Lebanese missile batteries
Israel launched a preemptive strike on Lebanon’s missile launching facilities to weaken their response to the Israeli assassination of Fuad Shukr.
Hezbollah was still able to launch hundreds of rockets towards Israel in the “first round” of their response. Iran also threatened to join them. Israelis sheltered in place and the airspace was closed. [14][15]
Question: How is the Boycott, Divest, and Sanction Movement antisemitic?
Answer: The BDS movement specifically targets Israel as opposed to any other country. Israel holds itself to an extraordinarily high moral standard when fighting, breaking minimal laws in the process. For example, the IDF drops pamphlets, roof knockers, and designates humanitarian zones before launching strikes into civilian zones.
These are just a few of the precautions taken by the IDF. Most other militaries do not even take distinctly similar measures. Colonel Richard Kemp, of the British Army, is quoted saying, "[t]he IDF did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than any other army in the history of warfare.”
So specifically labeling Israel as the ultimate evil that must be boycotted, sanctioned, and divested from is not morally consistent.
There is an asymmetrical treatment of the Jewish State, compared to others, which is prejudiced against the Jews.
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