Bloomberg Television’s Post

It's interesting to see an American President grovelling to bring what they have labelled a terrorist organization to the negotiating table. My questions: What happens if Hamas accepts this deal, but refuses to accept Israel's right to exist and attacks continue? And, what guarantees exist to get Israel and its ethnic cleansing settlers and military out of the West Bank? I guess every peace agreement has to start somewhere. https://lnkd.in/ga-vQsEP

#Europe Daily Summary: Explore the key events across Europe from February 4, 2024. Highlights include a stabbing attack in Paris, protests in Ireland related to migration, journalist detentions in Russia highlighting media repression, and governmental changes in Ukraine that could influence military strategy. The report underscores the diverse challenges facing Europe, from security concerns to political unrest. Read more about these critical developments here >> https://hubs.ly/Q02jM-Nc0 #EuropeSecurityUpdate #PoliticalUnrestEurope #EuropeElections2024 #GeopoliticalRisk

The world needs fresh ideas and a new type of politics and politicians, representing mankind as a whole and each of us as equals instead of fragmented political interests! We have to grow together in order to urgently address the issues that impact all of us like conflict, climate change, inequality and forced migration together. This we can only do without any dominance, as equals. Collectively in Solidarity. www.convergence.ngo & www.pax.ngo

The First Intifada (1987-1993) 🇮🇱: An Israeli Perspective The First Intifada, from December 1987 to 1993, was a pivotal conflict between Palestinians and Israelis. Sparked by Palestinian frustration over Israeli occupation, it involved widespread demonstrations, strikes, and violence. For Israel, the Intifada posed a severe security challenge. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) worked to restore order and protect civilians, often resulting in clashes and casualties on both sides. The conflict significantly impacted Israeli society, sparking debates on security policies and the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations. Politically, the Intifada led to the Madrid Conference in 1991 and the Oslo Accords in 1993, marking the first direct talks between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The legacy of the Intifada highlights the need for a lasting peace agreement to ensure regional stability.

Great, necessary and important analysis. Habitual pacifism and one sided longing for mediation, diplomacy, dialogue, facilitation is driving into cul-de-sacs. Especially in Germany where after the fall of the wall lots of folks dreamt about eternal peace and beeing pampered eternally by the USA. In the SPD there is still a long standing tradtion of thinking in terms of Entspannungspoltik in the line of Brandt and Bahr. I was social democrat myself in the 1970`s and at that time quite enthusiasic about such peace approaches. Now in post heroic times its crucial for any Zeitenwende to face it. There is a good article written by ECFR co-founder Mark Leonard which summarizes in a very straight way the "European War Project".

🛑 Uncensored Trusted News Are Needed all the OPT. The situation in all the Occupied Territories after 1967 including the ‘OPT’ needs to be monitored, followed and reported on from independent, trusted outlets and sources free from misinformation and lies. We have an ever increasing acceleration of violence and aggression causing casualties, death and destruction on many scales and fronts. These cannot be left uncovered. It is unacceptable that complete communities and populations to be subjected to violence and terror and at the same time totally isolated and screened from reality and the rest of the world as well. It is the responsibility of ICC and the ICJ as well to carefully consider these issues. How can we and juridical institutions live in vacuum? Violence and killing of journalists as well as shutting down of news outlets must be strongly condemned and responsible actions must be taken, e.g. by ICC. We cannot live in vacuum of trusted information where the intentions is to wipe out whole populations. Access to well trusted and independent information on all fronts is a prerequisite for military abuse, asymmetric escalation and propagation of insecurities.

A recent analysis led by Freddy Khoueiry with input from myself on how escalation can unfold in Lebanon. Both sides want concessions. Neither side wants to concede anything. This is a recipe for conflict. But conflict does not have to go straight to a full-scale Israeli invasion, and, wary of 1982 and 2006, Israel will climb the escalation ladder deliberately, hoping that in doing so it will produce the buffer zone it want. Meanwhile, Hezbollah aims to break Israel's political resolve for another war, as the country remains on an unprecedently-long war footing. https://lnkd.in/gSnC8bUK

"Recent Hezbollah-Israel Escalations Raise the Specter of Another Major War" (RANE) June 25, 2024 "#Israel and Hezbollah are ... on an escalatory path that could shift their conflict from cross-border attacks to limited Israeli incursions within southern #Lebanon and (possibly) to a full-on war that could eventually also involve the United States and #Iran. On June 18, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) approved operational plans for a cross-border operation into southern Lebanon. ... On June 19 ... Hezbollah's chief Hassan Nasrallah threatened Israel with a war without redlines ... amid growing threats of an Israeli military offensive against Lebanon. The Hezbollah chief also threatened European Union member #Cyprus for the first time, declaring that if Cyprus allowed the IDF to use its bases or territories to attack Lebanon, it would be considered as part of the war and a legitimate target for the group's missiles and drones." "Hezbollah is now increasingly acting as a pressure card for Hamas in its stalling negotiations with Israel on a cease-fire deal in #Gaza. Hezbollah is also trying to deter an Israeli offensive against Lebanon by escalating its attacks against Israeli military targets. ... This strategy is designed to feed into Israel's internal divisions as well ... Israel's military leaders favor escalation more than some Israeli political leaders." "Israel's goal is to establish a buffer zone inside of southern Lebanon at a distance that prevents Hezbollah from using anti-tank guided missiles against Israeli border communities. ... Israel's priority is ensuring Israelis who have been displaced amid the ongoing border clashes can return to their homes in the north. ... Hezbollah's goal ... is to prevent an Israeli war on Lebanon and to maintain the status quo ante that the group assesses has so far deterred Israel from launching such a war since the 2006 conflict. ... The United States is pressuring both Israel and Hezbollah to avoid a wider war that may drag the United States and Iran into the conflict." "While both Hezbollah and Israel are interested in avoiding a full-on war, they will continue to push the limits of their conflict by intensifying their cross-border exchanges. ... As Israeli forces are freed up and retrained after the Gaza campaign, Israel will increase its pace of airstrikes on mainly Hezbollah military targets but also potentially on civilian infrastructure and Hezbollah positions deeper in Lebanon. ... Israel could also launch a wider air campaign against Hezbollah targets in Syria. ... In response, Hezbollah will deepen its target set inside Israel, striking military assets further from the northern border, attempting to shoot down Israeli drones, fighters and other aircraft, and increasing the scope of its strikes on Israeli troop positions along the border in a bid to increase Israeli military casualties." "Israel may see a Gaza-style mass combat operation ... as its only option to secure its northern flank."

🇦🇲🇦🇿 Tensions in the Caucasus have risen again in recent weeks: Armenia and Russia have sealed their final divorce, while Azerbaijan has escalated its conflict with France, supporting pro-independence movements in its overseas territories over their arms supplies to Armenia. Georgia has imploded domestically with anti-government and pro-European protests, while terrorism has once again violently shaken the Russian Caucasus republics. In light of this, I wanted to share this short 600-word piece I wrote a few months ago, about the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. It provides insight into the past, present and future of this often-overlooked conflict, and how the passivity of the international community (especially the EU) will continue to shape it.

📣 How far would Israel 🇮🇱 go in Rafah 🇵🇸? So far, so far! Global protests denouncing recent military actions in Rafah underscore the urgent need for international intervention. Despite these calls, the international community's ability to influence the situation has been notably limited from the war's outset. President Netanyahu appears unmoved by external pressure, indicating a resilience to such challenges. 🔔 To catalyze change, a dual approach is necessary: pressure from within Israel, where a significant portion of the population advocates for peaceful solutions, and external pressure from the USA, a staunch supporter of the Israeli regime. 🎙 Signs of change are emerging both domestically and internationally, emphasizing the significance of standing in solidarity with individuals in Israel who advocate for peace, as well as with American politicians who acknowledge the critical need to utilize their country's influence to prevent further loss of life and uphold its credibility in addressing global conflicts.