A three part XPost, and a fascinating tale. Here’s the first part:
If Israelis had heard how the President of the United States spoke about the hostages, it’s doubtful that he would have received such thunderous cheers at Hostages’ Square last Saturday night. To say they were a secondary concern for him would be an understatement — and even that understates it.
Donald Trump favored eliminating Hamas the American way, and 20 living hostages (he was always confused about their number and minimized it — I wonder what Sigmund Freud would have said) seemed to him a marginal matter, collateral damage.
Only belatedly did he perceive how strategic the issue was for the Israelis, and therefore for their government as well. In the United States, presidents have usually not been criticized for meeting hostages’ families too little, but for doing so too often (for details, Google “Ronald Reagan”).
In one of the discussions before Operation Gideon’s Chariots B began, Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about the scar that would remain in Israeli society if the IDF conquered Gaza City at the cost of the hostages’ lives. Allow me to guess that he never really believed that moment would come.
Indeed, in recent months, Netanyahu and Ron Dermer’s assessment was that an operation to conquer Gaza City, if it happens, may well begin, but most certainly would not reach completion. Here is the inside story.
Following the successful war in Iran, Israel tried to use the momentum to reach a partial deal in Gaza. The idea was to release half the hostages and, during a 60-day ceasefire, arrive more or less at the conditions achieved this week.
But Hamas, inspired by a Gaza starvation campaign that was gaining international traction, refused. President Trump, still in the shadow of Israel’s victory in Iran, thought the IDF could eliminate the remnants of Hamas as quickly as it smashed Tehran’s nuclear program. Ultimately, the combination of Hamas’ refusal and the president’s ambition led Israel to decide to enter Gaza City.
The idea was proposed by former Shin Bet chief and current Minister Avi Dichter: conquering the city is the end of Hamas, he said at one meeting. The magic happened almost immediately: “Even before our forces entered the city,” Dermer recounted, “three days of talk about the operation did what three months of negotiations failed to do. Hamas suddenly agreed to a partial deal. But by then time had already run out.”
Israel faced two options: one, to conquer the remainder of the strip and establish a military government with American support. Dermer and Netanyahu, however, believed that would require national unity and backing from Trump. The first component did not exist, and the second was highly unlikely.
The second option was a plan manufactured by Israel, led by the Americans, and supported by Arab states. President Reagan once told his people: you’ll write the plans, and I’ll be the presenter who markets them.
This plan was no different, with Dermer filling the role of the writer. It was clear that any plan presented as purely Israeli would be pronounced dead before it was even born. That doesn’t mean every tweet was coordinated, Dermer said at a cabinet meeting this week, but on the big matters, Jerusalem and Washington moved together.
Thus began arduous negotiations with Middle Eastern countries. During a round of talks in New York, it seemed impossible to get all those elephants into the same private room. Nevertheless, Israel’s representatives returned from there with 17 substantive comments from the Sunni states and even an agreement in the offing.
1/3
When I was a kid I saw Joan Crawford in films like “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” (1962) I liked mystery & horror movies. It was only in my 50’s that I saw films like Mildred Pierce (1945). Great film with Cain and Faulkner writers. She is quite young in the dance video. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything of her in that age range.
I think the film clip is either from Dance, Fools, Dance or Laughing Sinners, both in 1931.
“Shocked Hollywood” how? They’re all immodest. That would irritate an ordinary person. If it irritated producers, directors, studio executives, and performers, the scene would not have seen the light of day.
Ha! Great point Art. Hollywood itself was never shocked. It always was the rest of America that became shocked from time to time. I read about silent film actress Alla Nazimova who bought a huge fancy home on Sunset Blvd. and regularly held “tatting” or sewing parties, that were really wild get-togethers for her and her lesbian friends. Dozens of other stories as well.
One story has it, that WR Hearst built his castle with the Neptune pool because he wanted to “out do” Alla Nazimova and the large swimming pool that she built.
If Israelis had heard how the President of the United States spoke about the hostages, it’s doubtful that he would have received such thunderous cheers at Hostages’ Square last Saturday night. To say they were a secondary concern for him would be an understatement — and even that understates it.
Author obviously is fair and balanced, neutral, and has no agenda.
sdferr:
I’ve read quite a few articles- including the one you quote – purporting to have the inside scoop on how it went down. They all tell a different story from each other. For example, I’ve read that Trump was obsessed with the hostages and their fate.
The one you quote doesn’t conform with anything I know about him, and I basically think the tale it tells about Trump and the hostages is garbage.
In China news, several high-ranking military leaders, some of whom are said to be close to Xi Jinping, have been expelled oestensibly for corruption and graft. It’s clamed by an official spokesman that they’re all “suspected of serious duty-related misconduct, involving an extremely large amount of money”.
I’ve always assumed that pretty much the entirety of the top figures in the CCP are deeply corrupt and venale. It’s just the natural state of affairs that arises when you have a group of people with unaccountable, near absolute power – or at least they’re only accountable to each other at any rate. So I guess this may indicate that party elders are perhaps losing faith in Xi?
“I basically think the tale it tells about Trump and the hostages is garbage.”
I have come to the point that I believe almost nothing I read ABOUT Trump, and very little purported to be said BY Trump, as so much is obviously snipped from a larger context and probably creatively so!
A perfect example is the many “trade with China” -related clips that are spewed out, but with absolutely no reference to the major power struggle occurring WITHIN China, and the current very real doubt about who is running the show!
Xi Jinping may well not even be relevant (or alive) by month-end, and Trump is keenly aware of that, but the U.S. media is too busy presenting him as a bumbling oaf to point out that little complexity!
Donald Trump favored eliminating Hamas the American way, and 20 living hostages (he was always confused about their number and minimized it — I wonder what Sigmund Freud would have said) seemed to him a marginal matter, collateral damage.
The writer seems to be doing a lot of mind-reading here, not to mention armchair psychology and spin. In any case, advocating an Israeli defeat of Hamas and takeover of Gaza over doing whatever it takes to get the hostages released (including releasing hundreds of Hamas murderers) is not unreasonable–many Israelis held this view. To characterize it as viewing the hostages as “a marginal matter” is just designed to inflame. One could as easily characterize the opposite view as putting the lives of the hostages above the risk to millions of Israelis and to the future of Israel.
Dan Senor, Call Me Back podcast, with Ari Shavit reporting the behind the scene development of the deal (49:30): https://youtu.be/f1cINMyXTb0
Oh wait, this sounds familiar. Can’t be, can it?
sdferr:
I watched that yesterday, too, among others. I don’t buy it. Plenty of people with inside info say differently. Who’s correct? Whoever you wish to believe.
I wrote a post on this sort of thing today – optimists vs pessimists.
You can’t risk the fate of a nation on account of hostages. Consider them dead. If, on the other hand, a deal can be made to get them back whose provisions don’t risk the nation’s fate–destruction or handicaps which lead to serious and possibly fatal circumstances–then good. But that requires some muscle which can be applied. Hamas doesn’t care about the things the IDF can do to them. They always have recruits and the dead civilians are their best ammo anyway. So, between Israel and the US, the sponsors felt it necessary to get with the program. That was the muscle which allowed the hostages to be a consideration.
I think a lot of Americans sympathetic to Israel felt the way that Richard Aubrey does. The hostages are casualties of war, and Israel should fight as if there were no hostages. It wouldn’t surprise me if Trump felt similarly, but that’s just a hunch. It certainly seems that most Israelis do not feel that way, and it’s their war.
The Obama Library Center looks like a prison. Coincidence?
Surely, neo, a Journalist(TM) would not stoop to making something up just to make Trump look bad! Bring me smelling salts …
The Obama Library Center looks like a prison. Coincidence?
==
It’s what happens when a committee of the well-connected selects an architect. We live in decadent times.
They’re building flak towers in Chicago!
I’ve seen the Obama tower compared to an upside down Chinese takeout container. Whatever the comparison, it’s UGLY.
She’s recognizable as the same actress in Grand Hotel. (One of the few roles I actually like her in. Another being The Women.) She was never a favorite of mine. But she was actually likeable in Grand Hotel.
The Women was a great film.
==
Not enough retrospective attention to Clare Boothe Luce
Sennacherib, they’re thinking ahead – just in case Canada decides it’s finally had enough one day.
Sells,
Lol!
The Federalist gives the truth about the Pentagon news media access hoax. Even faux conservative news outlets like Fox and newsmax are boycotting. What do you think about the article? I agree with them
“When other credentialed outlets and journalists spread lies about the Russia collusion hoax, or the Covington kids hoax, or the Kavanaugh rape hoax, or the Ukraine impeachment hoax, or the COVID-19 natural origin hoax, or the peaceful BLM riots hoax, or the suckers and losers hoax, or the Hunter Biden laptop hoax, or the Biden’s-brain-is-totally-fine-you-guys hoax, The Federalist fearlessly reported the truth.”
“Where were these self-styled First Amendment defenders when we were illegally censored and targeted for debunking Deep State lies and hoaxes? Many of them not only refused to defend us, but cheered the illegal censorship efforts against us. NBC News, for example, colluded with Big Tech to demonetize and deplatform us for criticizing the government and the corrupt corporate news media.”
“Those are the actual facts. And as usually is the case, we are likely the first outlet to report them. We look forward to eagerly covering the Pentagon, both on-site and from a distance, with the same fearlessness and courage and devotion to the truth that we have exhibited since we were created. And if the new guidelines result in fewer professional con artists and media hoaxers roaming the halls looking for new lies to peddle, so be it.”
Amit Segal, “Behind Closed Doors: How the Deal With Hamas Was Born.”: https://x.com/AmitSegal/status/1979167579101913136
A three part XPost, and a fascinating tale. Here’s the first part:
When I was a kid I saw Joan Crawford in films like “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” (1962) I liked mystery & horror movies. It was only in my 50’s that I saw films like Mildred Pierce (1945). Great film with Cain and Faulkner writers. She is quite young in the dance video. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything of her in that age range.
I think the film clip is either from Dance, Fools, Dance or Laughing Sinners, both in 1931.
“Shocked Hollywood” how? They’re all immodest. That would irritate an ordinary person. If it irritated producers, directors, studio executives, and performers, the scene would not have seen the light of day.
I see that Obama’s currently under construction presidential library is an absurd Soviet brutalist eyesore. Usually most Leftist politicians are more circumspect in their preferences and proclivities but I guess he figures there’s no longer a reason to hide his oppressive, communist sensibilities.
Ha! Great point Art. Hollywood itself was never shocked. It always was the rest of America that became shocked from time to time. I read about silent film actress Alla Nazimova who bought a huge fancy home on Sunset Blvd. and regularly held “tatting” or sewing parties, that were really wild get-togethers for her and her lesbian friends. Dozens of other stories as well.
One story has it, that WR Hearst built his castle with the Neptune pool because he wanted to “out do” Alla Nazimova and the large swimming pool that she built.
If Israelis had heard how the President of the United States spoke about the hostages, it’s doubtful that he would have received such thunderous cheers at Hostages’ Square last Saturday night. To say they were a secondary concern for him would be an understatement — and even that understates it.
Author obviously is fair and balanced, neutral, and has no agenda.
sdferr:
I’ve read quite a few articles- including the one you quote – purporting to have the inside scoop on how it went down. They all tell a different story from each other. For example, I’ve read that Trump was obsessed with the hostages and their fate.
The one you quote doesn’t conform with anything I know about him, and I basically think the tale it tells about Trump and the hostages is garbage.
In China news, several high-ranking military leaders, some of whom are said to be close to Xi Jinping, have been expelled oestensibly for corruption and graft. It’s clamed by an official spokesman that they’re all “suspected of serious duty-related misconduct, involving an extremely large amount of money”.
I’ve always assumed that pretty much the entirety of the top figures in the CCP are deeply corrupt and venale. It’s just the natural state of affairs that arises when you have a group of people with unaccountable, near absolute power – or at least they’re only accountable to each other at any rate. So I guess this may indicate that party elders are perhaps losing faith in Xi?
“I basically think the tale it tells about Trump and the hostages is garbage.”
I have come to the point that I believe almost nothing I read ABOUT Trump, and very little purported to be said BY Trump, as so much is obviously snipped from a larger context and probably creatively so!
A perfect example is the many “trade with China” -related clips that are spewed out, but with absolutely no reference to the major power struggle occurring WITHIN China, and the current very real doubt about who is running the show!
Xi Jinping may well not even be relevant (or alive) by month-end, and Trump is keenly aware of that, but the U.S. media is too busy presenting him as a bumbling oaf to point out that little complexity!
The writer seems to be doing a lot of mind-reading here, not to mention armchair psychology and spin. In any case, advocating an Israeli defeat of Hamas and takeover of Gaza over doing whatever it takes to get the hostages released (including releasing hundreds of Hamas murderers) is not unreasonable–many Israelis held this view. To characterize it as viewing the hostages as “a marginal matter” is just designed to inflame. One could as easily characterize the opposite view as putting the lives of the hostages above the risk to millions of Israelis and to the future of Israel.
Dan Senor, Call Me Back podcast, with Ari Shavit reporting the behind the scene development of the deal (49:30): https://youtu.be/f1cINMyXTb0
Oh wait, this sounds familiar. Can’t be, can it?
sdferr:
I watched that yesterday, too, among others. I don’t buy it. Plenty of people with inside info say differently. Who’s correct? Whoever you wish to believe.
I wrote a post on this sort of thing today – optimists vs pessimists.
You can’t risk the fate of a nation on account of hostages. Consider them dead. If, on the other hand, a deal can be made to get them back whose provisions don’t risk the nation’s fate–destruction or handicaps which lead to serious and possibly fatal circumstances–then good. But that requires some muscle which can be applied. Hamas doesn’t care about the things the IDF can do to them. They always have recruits and the dead civilians are their best ammo anyway. So, between Israel and the US, the sponsors felt it necessary to get with the program. That was the muscle which allowed the hostages to be a consideration.
I think a lot of Americans sympathetic to Israel felt the way that Richard Aubrey does. The hostages are casualties of war, and Israel should fight as if there were no hostages. It wouldn’t surprise me if Trump felt similarly, but that’s just a hunch. It certainly seems that most Israelis do not feel that way, and it’s their war.
The Obama
LibraryCenter looks like a prison. Coincidence?Surely, neo, a Journalist(TM) would not stoop to making something up just to make Trump look bad! Bring me smelling salts …
The Obama Library Center looks like a prison. Coincidence?
==
It’s what happens when a committee of the well-connected selects an architect. We live in decadent times.
They’re building flak towers in Chicago!
I’ve seen the Obama tower compared to an upside down Chinese takeout container. Whatever the comparison, it’s UGLY.
She’s recognizable as the same actress in Grand Hotel. (One of the few roles I actually like her in. Another being The Women.) She was never a favorite of mine. But she was actually likeable in Grand Hotel.
The Women was a great film.
==
Not enough retrospective attention to Clare Boothe Luce
Sennacherib, they’re thinking ahead – just in case Canada decides it’s finally had enough one day.
Sells,
Lol!
The Federalist gives the truth about the Pentagon news media access hoax. Even faux conservative news outlets like Fox and newsmax are boycotting. What do you think about the article? I agree with them
“When other credentialed outlets and journalists spread lies about the Russia collusion hoax, or the Covington kids hoax, or the Kavanaugh rape hoax, or the Ukraine impeachment hoax, or the COVID-19 natural origin hoax, or the peaceful BLM riots hoax, or the suckers and losers hoax, or the Hunter Biden laptop hoax, or the Biden’s-brain-is-totally-fine-you-guys hoax, The Federalist fearlessly reported the truth.”
“Where were these self-styled First Amendment defenders when we were illegally censored and targeted for debunking Deep State lies and hoaxes? Many of them not only refused to defend us, but cheered the illegal censorship efforts against us. NBC News, for example, colluded with Big Tech to demonetize and deplatform us for criticizing the government and the corrupt corporate news media.”
“Those are the actual facts. And as usually is the case, we are likely the first outlet to report them. We look forward to eagerly covering the Pentagon, both on-site and from a distance, with the same fearlessness and courage and devotion to the truth that we have exhibited since we were created. And if the new guidelines result in fewer professional con artists and media hoaxers roaming the halls looking for new lies to peddle, so be it.”
https://thefederalist.com/2025/10/15/statement-on-department-of-war-media-access-guidelines-from-the-federalist-ceo-sean-davis-and-editor-in-chief-mollie-hemingway-1/
The Trump dump video LOL
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115398251623299921