Skip to main content

"Netanyahu May Be Trying to “Normalize” Never-Ending War in Israel, But There’s Nothing Normal About It- Dina Kraft (October 28, 2024)" Detailed overview of this article

 




Introduction of Ms. Dina Kraft.

Dina Kraft is a writer and journalist based in Tel Aviv.  She is the Opinion Editor for Haaretz English, and co-author of My Friend Anne Frank.



She has written from the region for over two decades for The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor and The Los Angeles Times, reporting on Israeli and Palestinian politics, culture and society.
 
Dina is drawn to stories featuring unlikely connections, dual narratives and the impact of conflict and crisis on ordinary lives. She hosts the podcastGroundwork" and previously "The Branch”, which tell the stories of relationships between Jews and Arabs, Israelis and Palestinians . She also hosts another podcast, “The Patient is In” sponsored by Stuffthatworks, which features conversations with people navigating chronic illness.
 
Dina is a long-time foreign correspondent who began her overseas career in the Jerusalem bureau of The Associated Press. She was later posted to AP’s Johannesburg bureau where she covered southern Africa. She’s also reported from Senegal, Kenya, Pakistan, Jordan, Tunisia, Russia, and Ukraine
 
She’s also an educator and has taught journalism classes at Northeastern University, Harvard University, and Boston University. 
Dina was a winner of the 2020 B’nai B’rith World Center-Jerusalem Award for Journalism Recognizing Excellence in Diaspora Reportage. She was a 2012 Nieman Fellow at Harvard University, and a 2015 Ochberg Fellow at the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia University.

Source
https://www.dinakraft.com/

Key Points with Explanations:


1. Public Protests Against Ongoing War and Hostage Crisis in Israel:

Weekly protests in Tel Aviv demonstrate public frustration with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s handling of the war and the lack of a deal to secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Citizens are increasingly vocal, signaling widespread fatigue and demand for resolution.


2. Continuous Military Action and Rising Casualties:

Israel is experiencing daily attacks and counter-attacks with significant losses, including soldiers and civilians. These events underscore the human toll of the ongoing conflict, with around-the-clock military funerals and constant news coverage of attacks and defenses.


3. Media and Public Disconnect on the Gaza Humanitarian Crisis:

Many Israelis are shielded from the humanitarian impact of the war on Gaza’s civilian population, as mainstream news largely avoids showing images from Gaza. This disconnect may contribute to a lack of awareness or empathy for the suffering and displacement of Gazans, despite its impact on the region.


4. Criticism of Netanyahu’s Strategy and Possible Political Motivations:

Analysts suggest Netanyahu’s approach to the conflict may be driven more by political survival than security strategy, as he resists compromise or de-escalation measures. Critics argue that he may be using the conflict to shift focus from recent security failures and avoid accountability.


5. Military Strategy Debates and the Limits of Force:

Experts argue that while military action has achieved tactical successes, force alone cannot deliver a lasting solution. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, for example, acknowledges that diplomacy is needed alongside military efforts. This view contrasts with the government’s hardline stance, which resists compromise for peace.


6. Desperation of Hostage Families and Moral Implications:

Hostage families are increasingly vocal, demanding the government prioritize the return of their loved ones. Public statements from these families highlight the moral and emotional strain of the crisis on Israeli society and challenge the government’s stance against concessions.


7. Escalating Impact on Civilian Life in Northern Israel:

The ongoing conflict has profoundly disrupted life in northern Israel, with schools closed, natural reserves off-limits, and constant military activity. Civilians endure frequent alerts and live with the reality of potential missile strikes, creating a pervasive climate of fear and instability.


8. The War’s Toll on Daily Life and Families’ Preparedness:

The conflict’s intensity has fo
rced families across Israel to prepare constantly for attacks, with measures like placing shoes by the door for quick access in case of air raid sirens. This illustrates how deeply the war has affected everyday routines and psychological well-being.


9. Emotional Strain and Persistent Anxiety Among Israelis:

The article closes with the author’s personal experience of enduring air raid sirens and reading tragic news of young soldiers’ deaths. Such firsthand accounts reflect the emotional toll on Israeli citizens, who live with the omnipresent fear and trauma of a seemingly unending conflict.

I would like to quote the last two lines of the Author from her article. 

"As this war continues, every night I line up everyone’s shoes in my family by the door in a neat row in case there an air raid siren sounds overnight and we have to dash quickly to our apartment building’s bomb shelter. That came in handy twice last week when we were awakened by missiles shot towards central Israel from Hezbollah. I tell my teenage kids to be as aware of their surroundings outside as possible, not to scroll through their phones as they walk, to keep their backs to walls and bus stops, lest they become easier prey in terror attacks which we hear of in growing frequency.
Two weeks ago, the night an Iranian-made Hezbollah drone exploded on an Israeli army training base, killing, as we would find out soon after, four 19-year-old recruits, I was texting with a friend. She was at a nearby hospital to where the attack occurred having brought her son there after he hurt himself at home in a cooking accident. While they were waiting to be seen in the emergency room, the secretary nearby was fielding calls from mothers trying to locate their sons.
As my eyes began to cloud reading her words, the wail of an air raid siren sounded in my neighborhood in Tel Aviv and across central Israel.
My tears would have to wait."

Source:
https://peacenow.org/entry.php?id=43600

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Columbia President ( Katrina Armstrong) Is Replaced as Trump Threatens University’s Funding. Key Points. NYTimes

Key Points & Further Details on Columbia University Leadership Change 1. Presidential Change at Columbia University Katrina Armstrong stepped down as interim president of Columbia University. Claire Shipman , a journalist and Columbia alumna, was named acting president . Armstrong’s departure marks Columbia’s third leadership change since August 2024. 2. Trigger for Leadership Change The Trump administration threatened to withhold $400 million in federal funding from Columbia. This funding is roughly 20% of the university’s operating revenue . The university ultimately complied with government demands , causing internal and external backlash . 3. Government Demands & Columbia’s Compliance Columbia agreed to: Employ 36 campus safety officers with arrest powers . Adopt a formal definition of antisemitism . Review admissions policies . Increase oversight of its Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Department . These changes sparked faculty and...

Why Netanyahu Chose to Blow Up the Ceasefire and Return to War" Key Points. Mondoweiss

  Key Points from the Article: "Why Netanyahu Chose to Blow Up the Ceasefire and Return to War" 1. Israel’s Resumption of War Israel resumed its military assault on Gaza early Tuesday, killing over 400 Palestinians , including 130 children . Key figures in Gaza’s civil administration were also targeted to weaken Hamas’s governance . 2. The Ceasefire Agreement and Israel’s Stalling Tactics A ceasefire deal was brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S . two months prior. The second phase of the deal included discussions about ending the war and reconstructing Gaza in exchange for Israeli captives . Netanyahu stalled , aiming to release captives without committing to ending the war . 3. Israel’s Blockade and Its Impact In early March , Israel blocked the Rafah crossing and cut off humanitarian aid , causing a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza . Prices of goods soared , bakeries shut down , and hospitals ran out of fuel . 4. Hamas’s Unexpected Move ...

Havens for Open Debate Or Enforcers of Political Orthodoxy. From Mahmood Khalil to Rumeysa Ozturk: The Rising Cost of Pro-Palestinian Activism on Campus.

 The case of Rumeysa Ozturk , a Tufts University student detained by federal authorities , along with earlier incidents like that of Mahmood Khalil of Columbia University, raises serious concerns about the targeting of international students  for their political views, particularly regarding Palestine-Israel discourse. This situation has broader implications for academic freedom, free speech, and the reputation of U.S. universities abroad , especially given the significant financial and intellectual contributions of international students to American higher education. --- 1. Impact on International Students: A Revenue & Reputation Concern - Financial Contribution : International students contribute $40 billion annually  to the U.S. economy, with universities relying heavily on their tuition fees (often at higher out-of-state rates).   - Chilling Effect : Cases like Ozturk’s and Khalil’s may deter prospective students from applying, fearing political perse...

Ignoring Massacres in Gaza City While Protesting for Democracy in Tel Aviv, Hanin Majadli. Key Points. Haaretz

  Brief introduction of Hanin Majadli  Hanin Majadli Hanin Majadli is a Palestinian Israeli journalist and editor at Haaretz , Israel's liberal-leaning newspaper. She holds a bachelor's degree in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic and Islamic Studies from Tel Aviv University. As an opinion columnist, Majadli focuses on the experiences and challenges of Arab-Palestinian communities in Israel , examining their complex relationships with the state and its Jewish citizens . She gives particular attention to the history of the Nakba and its deliberate omission from Israel's social and political narrative. In her role as editor of Haaretz 's Arabic edition , Majadli aims to broaden the reach of alternative Israeli perspectives, presenting journalistic work that diverges from mainstream Israeli media. Before joining Haaretz, Majadli founded a popular spoken Arabic school in Tel Aviv, promoting Arabic language and culture . She has also been active in addressing pol...

Price Tag Attackers: Extremist Settler Violence in the West Bank.

  Year-by-year breakdown of documented " Price Tag" attacks in the West Bank and Israel , based on reports from UN OCHA , B’Tselem , Yesh Din , and Israeli media (Haaretz, Times of Israel). Introduction to "Price Tag" Attackers  "Price Tag" attackers are extremist Israeli settlers , primarily affiliated with radical right-wing groups, who carry out violent acts agains Palestinians, Israeli security forces, and left-wing activists  in retaliation for perceived threats to Jewish settlements in the West Bank . The term refers to the " price " they seek to impose for actions like outpost demolitions or Palestinian attacks on Israelis.   - Vandalism, arson, or violence by extremist settlers against Palestinians, Israeli security forces, or left-wing activists.      - Often involves graffiti (e.g., "Price Tag," "Revenge," or "Arabs Out").     - Retaliation for Palestinian attacks, outpost demolitions, or Israeli gover...