US Secretary of State Blinken is back in Israel to pressure Netanyahu for more concessions in order to get a cease-fire. Nobody seems to understand that neither side is prepared to accept conditions that amount to a victory for their opponents (and no one really pushes Hamas leader Sinwar, because no one has any real leverage). Hamas isn’t going to release any of their kidnap victims cheaply. They are the most valuable asset they have (even if they were acquired by openly violating international humanitarian law; something CNN doesn’t want to repeat.). Besides, most of them are already dead (but that fact also just keeps getting swept under the rug).
On the Israel-Lebanon border the rocket fire and drone attacks continue. Hezbollah started this last October. This behavior was once considered an act of war, but Hezbollah is just a terrorist organization, not a government, so it seems everyone in the world is prepared to give them a free pass.
Iran is delaying striking Israel. At least one Israeli commentator has said the delay is because Iran is afraid of an Israeli counter strike (Israeli, NOT American). That’s probably true. But Iran is using the time to improve their defenses against such a move. There have been several cargo planes from Russia arriving in Iran, reportedly delivering advanced air defense systems. Other shipments of similar equipment have been sent to Iran from neighboring Pakistan (another little item that the mainstream media don’t tell you).
In Israel, Netanyahu hasn’t got time to run the war. He’s too busy trying to get the government to approve a 600,000 shekel renovation of his personal home to prevent possible leaks from rain during the coming winter. Is he really going to trade this little bit of personal corruption for support for added ultra-orthodox benefits? Maybe he’s trying to emulate Kamala Harris and avoid saying anything about real policies.
Wetherhorn 