Notices by Preston Werner (pjw@fediphilosophy.org)

It is indefensible to bomb the only way for civilians to escape a war zone, and it is indefensible that even before this, Egypt was restricting who was allowed to flee Gaza.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israel-reportedly-bombs-crossing-between-gaza-and-egypt/

@Cousin_Isobel

As for (a). The Israeli government is a parliamentary system. The government in power contains roughly three factions (though its 5 parties).

Faction 1 - Netanyahu and his party. Look, Netanyahu at this point just wants to cling to power. I think historically his view has been to try as long as possible to keep the status quo - not annexing the West Bank, but not removing any settlements either. Slowly growing settlements in line with a 'facts on the ground' strategy. When speaking with Israelis Netanyahu has historically said there will never be a Palestinian state on his watch. With Americans, he nominally supports a two-state solution. I think he is happy to just kick the can down the road.

Faction 2 - Haredim (Ultra-Orthodox) parties. Historically, they didn't care so much about the Palestinian issue. They were looking out primarily for their own voter base. In recent years they seem to have become more hawkish on Palestine, because they have become increasingly tied up with Netanyahu, and more and more Haredim are settlers (not necessarily for ideological reasons, but because it is often cheap and Haredi communities trend lower SES).

Faction 3 - The fascists. I think it's clear that this group wants to deport all the Palestinians at best, to somewhere like Jordan. In recent years they have softened how they talk about it, speaking about loyalty pledges or some such, but I think everyone knows the score, and seemingly with every conflict they gain more and more support.

@useless_idiot
There were clashes in East Jerusalem earlier today, but nothing like what is going on near Gaza, more like a small riot, less like a military invasion.

Right now, at least West Jerusalem feels very calm, after a morning full of rocket sirens every 10-15 minutes. I was in the East during the morning - it was very calm where I was, but now and then you'd hear stun grenades in the distance.

@useless_idiot
I'm not sure exactly what you mean by mobilization, but the army reserves have been called up, and the "Brothers in Arms" group, which had been protesting Netanyahu's judicial reform proposal by refusing to show up for reserve duty, has called off their strike and asked everyone to show up for reserve duty.

@useless_idiot
Unsolicited addition: Rocket attack based conflict between Gaza and Israel is saddeningly common, happening almost every year.
What is so unique about this morning's attack is the border breach. Hamas broke through the border fence, and dozens of gunmen invaded several Jewish villages near the border of Gaza. Many hostages have been taken into Gaza - it is unclear how many right now, the army seems to have censored much reporting on this issue for the moment. Hamas claims that they have also kidnapped several IDF soldiers.

This is something that is incomprehensible to the Israeli public, who has been hearing for years and years about the technological wonders of the border wall between Gaza and Israel, which should have theoretically caught this breach immediately and not only did not, but left villages surrounding Gaza completely unprotected, with no army presence.

@racs @useless_idiot

Palestinians will face a lot of violence in the coming days, both institutional and vigilante. It is as foreseeable as it is tragic.

But I feel *very* uncomfortable with you suggesting that the Israeli civilians who have been killed and kidnapped are somehow not 'real victims', and I'd ask you to maybe rethink that framing, especially if/when you are talking to someone who spent a chunk of the day in a bomb shelter making sure friends in the south were ok.

@racs @useless_idiot
Ah I took a look at your profile and I see that you are also celebrating the death of Israeli civilians. Blocked. Stop making Pro-Palestinian activists look like a bunch of antisemitic assholes, thanks.

@ghast
I'm a leftist, I am engaged in pro-Palestinian activism. So no, it wouldn't be unbiased.
A quick scroll through your profile reveals that you are an antisemite who is happy to "see Jewish civilians slaughtered". Blocked.

Hi all, I been living in Jerusalem for 7 years, politically active for 4. There are many people who understand much better what is going on in Israel/Palestine right now as well as its context, but maybe you, reading this, don't know such a person.

Feel free to ask any questions that you might have for someone on the ground, and I will either answer them or find an answer from someone who would know.