LogFAQs > #977192097

streamofthesky posted...

Wow, this almost seemed unbiased, I bet a lot of people viewing it will think so. I'm all for criticizing Netanyahu, but the fact he didn't do a similar deep dive into Hamas's manifesto is insulting. He says there's one other major player...Iran? No, of course not! The state sponsor of terror that arms all these groups is irrelevant, look the other way! Instead, let's talk about the U.S.! While ignoring that Israel/Palestine has been a proxy war for 70 years and the Russians have funded and propped up the other side the entire time. This is intentional. It makes it seem "unfair", like the outside world is only funding and supporting one side. When it's a complete lie.

A lot to unpack here.

First of all. John Oliver doesn't have a responsibility to represent every neoconservative comeback in the Israel-Palestine argument. The moral impetus of this video is the collective punishment Israel is conducting on the civilian population of Palestine-- a punishment for the actions of a group that Netanyahu's government has cultivated as an asset for this exact purpose.

The "manifesto of Hamas" isn't discussed because Oliver from the word go understands Hamas is a terrorist organization and its actions reprehensible. He doesn't need to fearmonger about them because their actions are self-explanatory.

Oliver's section about "one other major player" is in concern to Israel's open-air prison management and policies toward Gaza. Putting aside the fact the US dwarfs Iran in spending power and international influence by orders of magnitude. Either way you cut it, John Oliver is right to name the United States the biggest player in this conflict outside Israel & Palestine, because it is true.

It is further disingenuous to paint Iran's funding of Hamas like the other side of the same coin when considering that 1) as expressed in the video, Netanyahu has encouraged and funded Hamas. Radicalization by Hamas is useful to Netanyahu's efforts to de-legitimize Palestine and eventually expel the people and settle its territory; and 2) Gaza is not just another state playing in a proxy war, but is actively occupied and oppressed by the state of Israel. The humanitarian crises stemming from that management is a major factor allowing Hamas to radicalize and recruit combatants, because their messaging about Israel's intentions for the people of Gaza clearly rings true. No, the United States is the biggest outside player in this conflict. Not only through its funding and influence that dwarfs opposing states, but by shielding and condoning the malevolent policies that Israel exacts on the people of Gaza.

To call Israel's management of Gaza "unfair" to the people living there, ~half of them children, is an understatement. But to frame funding to Israel or Hamas as a matter of "fairness" once again smuggles the idea that Gaza is just like this neighboring self-managed state that collectively wants to annihilate Israel and gets its butt whooped for it. It misrepresents reality.

We need different leadership on both sides? I agree! The thing is, Israel will actually have that happen. 76% want Netanyahu gone, and they have free and fair elections. What about the other side? You want peace in the Middle East, you should be supporting the demise of Hamas, who will never relinquish power of their own free will.

This is a video about how Hamas has been used and supported by Netanyahu to justify the de-legitimizing of a Palestinian state and Palestinian people, expelling them, and seizing their homes. With clips of US congressmen comparing Palestinian civilians to Nazis and stating there are no innocents. (an assertion repeated by Israeli politicians.) So to respond to it with "you should be supporting the demise of Hamas" comes off like you do condone this mass violence. Collective punishment is a war crime. You aren't justified in destroying a people after your policies lead to radicalization in a minority of them.