Frederic Eger’s Post

Growing Support for Ceasefire Among Israelis Amid Escalating Conflict A recent poll from The Times of Israel reveals that 60 percent of Israelis are in favor of a ceasefire, particularly in light of a proposed hostage-for-ceasefire deal. This sentiment is further supported by findings from the Israel Democracy Institute, which indicate that a majority of Jewish Israelis prioritize negotiating over continuing military operations in Gaza. However, the path to a ceasefire is fraught with challenges. High-ranking officials in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledge that completely eradicating Hamas is not feasible due to its nature as both a political entity and a militant organization. The IDF has also noted the complexity of achieving and maintaining a ceasefire given the current volatile situation. Despite the growing public support for a ceasefire, far-right members of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government continue to push for military action. Prominent figures like Justice Minister Yariv Levin and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir have voiced strong opposition to halting operations, arguing that continued pressure on Hamas is necessary for Israel’s security. This hardline stance has contributed to an increasingly polarized political landscape and heightened tensions within the country. The IDF has expressed concerns about the potential for a multi-front war, especially with increased hostilities from Hezbollah in the north and the persistent threat from Iranian proxies. The military’s top brass has emphasized the need for a strategic approach to avoid further escalation and to protect Israeli citizens. In the face of these challenges, it is clear that a significant portion of the Israeli population is advocating for a diplomatic resolution. The call for a ceasefire reflects a desire for stability and peace, even as the government grapples with internal divisions and external threats. #Israel #Ceasefire #IDF #Netanyahu #Hamas #MiddleEastConflict #Peace #Diplomacy #PoliticalTensions

Where is the West Media? Where is the Human Rights Organisations? See what these Terrorists are doing openly! Israel's Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir announced plans to continue arming settlers in the occupied West Bank and near Gaza and Lebanon. In a post on X, the minister stated that 120,000 weapons had already been distributed to Israeli settlers since the start of Israel's war on Gaza last October, with many more conditional approvals granted. "We intend to continue arming Israel. That's what we did, and that's what we'll continue to do!," the leader of the far-right Jewish Power Party wrote on October 7, pledging to "fight for complete victory" in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran until all "abductees are returned home." Despite UN calls for a ceasefire, Israel has intensified its Gaza offensive since October 7, 2023, killing nearly 42,000 Palestinians mostly women and children - and injuring over 97,300 others. The conflict has expanded to Lebanon, with Israeli air strikes killing over 2,000 Lebanese since September 23. Tel Aviv launched a ground invasion into southern Lebanon on October 1. Shame on the United Nations Humanrights Organization PLHRF International Court of Justice (ICJ) International Criminal Court Organization of Islamic Cooperation ( OIC ) #FreePalestine #BreakTheSilence #PalestinianLivesMatter #TerroristsIsrael #ISupportHAMAS

The fall of Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024, marked a historic moment as opposition forces declared Syria liberated after a swift offensive. This event ended over 50 years of Assad family rule, which began with Hafez al-Assad in 1970. For years, the regime held power through suppression, economic mismanagement, and reliance on international allies like Russia and Iran. However, economic collapse, corruption, and discontent among Syrians, including within the military, eroded its stability. https://lnkd.in/gZYTwQrc #Syria #BasharAlAssad #AuthoritarianRule #PoliticalTransformation #MiddleEast #SyriaCrisis #RegimeChange #HopeForSyria #ChallengesAhead #CivilWar #Revolution #Governance #InternationalRelations #PoliticalScience #PolticalScienceSolution #ugcnet #cuetpg #upscexam #psir

It is possible to uphold Israel’s right of self-defence, be concerned for family and friends - including those serving as conscripts and reservists - and still question the conduct and political leadership of this war. I sympathise with Israelis who feel isolated and that much of the world is against them - even after the most horrendous attack in living memory. I am disgusted by the comments and actions of Israeli politicians that have brought this shame on the State of #Israel. Israelis face violent extremists on many borders, trained and armed by a regional power with nuclear ambitions. Defending themselves against these threats often requires a military response. Violent extremists directing too much current Israeli policy undermine those military responses and scupper regional diplomacy that could bring genuine lasting security. Israelis and especially Israeli opposition leaders should properly consider the evidence and allegations that culminated in the #ICC issuing these arrest warrants for their Prime Minister and former-Defence Minister. The ICC seems to be focused on specific incidents regarding the targeting of civilians. The issues around aid and potential use of starvation as a weapon seem much broader. MKs’ words and far-right thugs’ deeds give credence to these allegations. Seeking to undermine international law and a rules based order because of specific incidents displays the same ignorance and simplistic thinking as those who seek to delegitimise Israel instead of redressing specific Israeli policies or action. Just today I have seen reports of a soldier killed in southern Lebanon “guarding a settler illegally brought there by commanders searching for ancient Jewish sites.” Israel’s new Defence Minister plans to end administrative detention (which is a bad tool) but only for Jewish terrorists in the West Bank. One defence Israel could have against the ICC is a robust independent legal system applied without discrimination based on ethnicity or nationality. Sadly this is being eroded by extremism and not just from Smotrich and Ben Gvir but from supposedly “centrist” MKs. #Gaza #Palestine #Democracy #HumanRights #Extremisim #Terrorism

Embracing Israel's new allies on the European right, despite troubling past In my latest column for The Jerusalem Post, I explore Israel's evolving relationships with right-wing parties in Europe. The recent European Parliament elections have solidified the rise of these factions, highlighting figures like Geert Wilders who have shown strong support for Israel despite their controversial pasts. Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), has been a controversial figure due to his anti-immigration stance and opposition to Islam. Yet, his vocal support for Israel, especially against threats like Hamas, presents a unique opportunity for Israel to garner backing within the European Union. Wilders’ political views were significantly shaped by his travels to Israel and the Arab world, and he has been under constant armed protection since 2004 due to his outspoken views. In light of these developments, Israel must adopt a more nuanced approach to its relations with European right-wing parties. Engaging with these parties can help Israel ensure continued support within the EU on critical issues such as security and counter-terrorism. However, it is crucial to remain vigilant about their historical and ideological baggage. For example, many right-wing parties have roots in xenophobic and antisemitic movements, such as Marine Le Pen’s National Rally in France and the Alternative for Germany (AfD). Despite this, leaders like Alice Weidel of the AfD and Jimmie Åkesson of the Sweden Democrats have expressed strong support for Israel, particularly in response to recent conflicts. This strategic engagement requires a careful balance, acknowledging past grievances while leveraging current political opportunities. Diplomatic efforts should focus on building alliances that benefit Israel's national interests while holding these parties accountable for any actions or rhetoric that contradict Israel's values. 🗞️https://lnkd.in/dRbZuHnW #Israel #GeertWilders #EuropeanPolitics #TheJerusalemPost #Diplomacy #Security Best regards, Zvika Klein Editor-in-Chief, The Jerusalem Post

I am quoted along with Michael Rubin and Dr. Majid Rafizadeh in Israel Kasnett's article in the Jewish News Syndicate regarding the likely position of a future #KamalaHarris administration on #Israel's #security and the #MiddleEast and how Israel can best protect its interests in light of the possibility of a #nuclear #Iran. I break with the currently popular conservative narrative on the #Israel-US relations and address the fact that US is still the greatest AND the most powerful ally Israel has, but that there is a practical need to get out of a ghetto mindset and develop both #defense and #diplomatic alliances and partnerships with other actors, such as strengthening the #AbrahamAccords by partnerships with Arab states against the #MuslimBrotherhood and growing strategic depth in relations with democratic countries like #Ukraine, #Japan, and #India which are either facing some of the similar threats or have been shifting towards a more supportive position on #Israel on various levels. #middleeast #arabworld #thegulf #GCC #southeastasia #asia #Islamism #Islamists #military #security #defense #terrorism #counterterrorism #extremism #counterextremism #GlobalSouth #Biden #Harris #Houthis #Yemen #proxies #maritimesecurity #foreignpolicy #foreignaffairs #diplomacy #geopolitics #Ukraine #Russia #China #SouthKorea

What if Israel fails to withdraw from southern Lebanon as agreed? In her latest analysis for Al Mayadeen, Laila Nicola explores the dangerous implications of Israeli military presence beyond the 60-day ceasefire deadline. From the legitimation of armed resistance to the potential destabilization of the region, Nicola delves into the legal and political consequences of Israel’s refusal to withdraw. Will the failure to adhere to the ceasefire trigger a new cycle of conflict? Read more here. #Lebanon #Israel #UNResolution #Resistance #MiddleEast https://lnkd.in/ge25WaYi

More moderate #Palestinian self-governance will have to be re-established gradually and realistically in #Gaza over the next decade or so after #Hamas is uprooted and if it is able to succeed in reconstituting itself, that will require another round. If there is no plan or even intention on the Israeli side to take the basic necessary steps to advance the two parties onto a longer term trajectory, however, bipartisan US policy should be to press for a long-term ceasefire now to restrain the Israelis from digging a deeper hole for themselves, ultimately; in addition to inflicting more unnecessary suffering on Palestinian civilians trapped in the middle of this. And there must be accountability up to the most senior political level for war crimes if it is credibly determined after thorough, impartial investigations that they occurred and who is responsible. #Israel #Palestine #Netanyahu

Turkey, under President Erdoğan, has positioned itself as a champion of Palestinian rights, often emphasizing the political dimension of Hamas as an elected faction in Gaza. However, this narrative overlooks Hamas’s military wing and its ongoing violent activities, which have caused significant loss of life and deepened the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By engaging with Hamas, Turkey risks alienating itself from allies and contributing to an environment where terrorism is seen as negotiable rather than condemnable. Moreover, Turkey’s intention to host Hamas diminishes Turkey’s credibility as a neutral mediator in Middle Eastern conflicts and casts doubt on its commitment to counterterrorism efforts. In a time when regional stability is fragile, and the humanitarian costs of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are immense, any action perceived as endorsing or legitimizing Hamas could exacerbate tensions rather than alleviate them.

Today, we commend the Government of Canada and Minister LeBlanc for extending the inadmissibility of senior Iranian regime officials to as far back as 2003. This welcome move sends a clear message that those responsible for gross human rights abuses and terrorism will find no refuge on Canadian soil. We support this initiative and urge the government to identify and remove any senior regime officials who may still be residing in Canada immediately. The Islamic Republic of Iran remains a chief sponsor of global terrorism and is responsible for arming Ansar Allah (the Houthis) and other proxies. To further protect our democracy from the tentacles of the Iranian Regime, it is pertinent that the federal government take the necessary steps to list all the terror proxies of the Islamic Republic that are not yet listed, including the Houthis, as designated terror entities. These actions are essential to ensure that we are truly safeguarding Canadian values and national security. The government’s decision to suspend arms sales to Israel stands in stark contrast to our commitment to uphold the rights of nations to defend themselves. Especially our democratic allies like Israel, who are constantly under threat from Iranian-backed forces. By refusing Israel access to essential defence tools, Canada is sending a mixed message that undermines our stated values of supporting democracy and human security. This contradiction casts doubt on our resolve to stand with those who share our principles in their fight against terrorism and oppression. We call on the Canadian government to reconcile these contrasting stances and ensure that all policies align with the principles of justice, security, and the defence of democracy. Read the government’s announcement here: https://lnkd.in/gaHepmFw #HumanRights #DefendDemocracy #CanadianValues