Jonathan Tobin on France, Britain, and Recognizing a Palestinian State

International Pressure on Israel

• 🇫🇷🇬🇧 France and Great Britain are threatening to recognize a Palestinian state in September if Israel does not end its war in Gaza.
• 💡 This decision is partly driven by domestic politics, with a "red-green alliance" of the hard left and Islamists influencing political equations.
• ⚠️ The narrative of starvation in Gaza, largely created by Hamas, is also a factor, despite Hamas hoarding and reselling food.

Hamas's Strategy and Calculations

• 🎯 Hamas believes it can win by leveraging international pressure against Israel, aiming for a political victory rather than a military one.
• 🤝 They interpret diplomatic efforts and calls for a ceasefire as a "reward for terrorism" and a sign that they are succeeding.
• 📈 Hamas calculates that a ceasefire would allow them to emerge triumphant and regain control of Gaza, a dangerous ambition given perceived Western support.

The War in Gaza and Hostage Situation

• 😥 The war is described as a difficult and exhausting situation for both Israelis and Palestinians, with immense foreign pressure.
• ⚖️ Prime Minister Netanyahu faces a dilemma between continuing the war to destroy Hamas and releasing hostages, versus succumbing to international pressure.
• 🕊️ The choice is framed as either continuing the war or allowing Hamas to win, which would risk future attacks like October 7th.

University Settlements and Civil Rights

• 🏛️ Columbia University agreed to a $200 million settlement regarding the civil rights of Jews during pro-Hamas demonstrations.
• ⚖️ UCLA settled a $6 million lawsuit with Jewish students, and Harvard is reportedly preparing a significant settlement due to its failure to protect students from antisemitism.
• 🇺🇸 These settlements are attributed to President Trump's advocacy, with the argument that a Biden-Harris administration would have been the opposite.
• 🚀 This is seen as the beginning of rolling back DEI and "woke" indoctrination in the education system, benefiting not only Jews but all Americans.
• 🔍 Future enforcement and monitoring by the US government will be crucial to ensure these agreements are upheld.