Israel is making the Russian position increasingly untenable. The last thing that the Russian government which really doesn't pretend to be concerned about "Human Rights" issues, wants is to be drawn into any further opposition to Israel. (It already has had in Syria, plenty of reasons to take steps to discipline Israel.)
Israel, on the other hand, goes out of its way to antagonise the Russians: being a bully it instinctively sides with US bullying but there is more to it than that.
As Hudson recently reiterated (the argument goes back decades) Israel is far from independent- it depends entirely on the US and any ideas that it has of owning the US via Congress and AIPAC are childish delusions. A brief hiccup in US military and financial aid (which includes allowing massive investments under the pretense that they are charitable donations) would cause an immediate crisis: Israel lives from pay cheque to pay cheque and has a vast debt in need of service.
Israel really is America's primary west asian base, and, unlike the rest of them, it doesn't require an expensive garrison -it provides its own defence. It also keeps the Middle East in order- it is not the US they are afraid of but of the US's agent, always happy to attack designated targets.
It may seem callous (it is, politics are) but right now Russia has no need to intervene: Israel and the US are covering themselves in the sort of shit that will take centuries to wash off (ask the Turks about Armenia.) Russia doesn't need to make any claims about protecting human rights-it just doesn't involve itself in genocide. Blinken etc say otherwise but the world has no difficulty in seeing the gulf between what the SMO involves and what is being done to Gaza. If it does it just has to catch some of the Israeli videos merrily documenting the abuse in which they have come to delight.
And yet Russia has lost the ability Putin has always enjoyed of being able to blame both parties. Lavrov's careful speech showed that. Not only is the evidence so clear that Israel is breaking every law in the international book and daily inventing new crimes in its operations but it is also abandoning (it has to the Master has spoken) its pretence to be other than a full blown satrap of the Empire, a branch office of Washington Inc.
Most likely it will soon throw its weight into the scales against Russia in Ukraine- it already has done but surreptitiously- just in time to get in publicly on the defeat.
The US, as is proper, will share both the defeat in Ukraine and that, coming, in Palestine. While Russia, much to its embarassment, will end up with a share of both victories, along with Iran and China too.
There are other points that came out in Zakharova's marathon briefing yesterday, some of which I'll soon provide. IMO, the moral bashing is now more aimed at the Zionists than Hamas with tie-ins made with Ukraine.
"Do you understand the Zionists well publicized plans for Palestine?—to uproot them all utterly and completely so as to steal all their possessions and wealth?"
He probably does. but in geopolitics, especially between two countries with close connections such as Russia and Israel, stating so outright as accusations isn't going to help the situation. Russia is likely to continue to be diplomatic about this while trying to find ways to maneuver or manipulate Israel to do the right thing - right up to the moment Israel or the US attacks Syria at which point they'll do what they have to do. After all, Israel is a nuclear power with real deliverable and credible nuclear capability. Such countries get treated carefully.
As Alex Christoforou just said on the Duran video I'm listening to right now, even if one calls Netanyahu a crazy fanatic, one has to remember these people have motivations which have to be taken into account - and can be used against them if one is clever enough. I'm sure Lavrov understands this.
Personally I'm with you - call a spade a spade, then put a bullet in the enemy's head. As SEAL Richard Marcinko once quoted a Chinese general, "Always treat the enemy as the enemy because he will invariably treat you that way."
As reported in one of your earlier posts, this is the most dangerous time in the transition to a multipolar world. I hope peace between Palestine and Israel can be achieved. It's people power against big money and military interests. It'll take a lot of strategy and solidarity I think. And BDS is so appropriate right now.
Sounds like the Russians are going to sit back and watch Israel and US do a genocide and destroy Gaza -- and do nothing. Lavrov is clear that Iran and Lebanon don't want to get involved either.
To your point, he glosses over what happens next, which is that Israel does an ethnic cleansing. It removes as many Palestinians as possible from Gaza and then reoccupies whomever survives under greatly reduced territory.
IMO, you need to read Lavrov more closely. He condemns the Zionists by using UNSG Gutterres's words and correctly says both sides employed terrorist methods. Yes, Russia has an extremely complicated relationship with Occupied Palestine which some might say began with a big mistake by Stalin. But it was made, and policy flowed from that action for several decades, and was then altered further by the mass emigration of Russian-Jews to Palestine in the 1980s. However, Lavrov also reiterated Putin's statement that the Outlaw US Empire doesn't seek peace but aims to foment chaos so it can profit from it. And the points made about the UN Charter also condemn the Zionist's actions.
We'll see what happens next, but for the long haul, the Zionists will find very few trading partners as their economy tanks.
short of starting ww3, what is your suggestion to russia here? they have made resolutions at the un that have been rejected, as have others resolutions for a ceasefire... what do you propose?
Hi. Excellent question. US is driving the bus on Israel's attacks on Gaza. I think all the Arab states + Iran wld have to join together and push back, w/ China and Russia behind them, but they've signalled they won't do that.
My reaction to the Q&A is Lavrov is being pretty explicit that Russia won't intervene.
Russia has already intervened--in Syria. From roughly 2014 onward, Russia has made it clear that Iran's under Russia's nuclear umbrella, and China entered onto Iran's side when it initiated what it calls a strategic partnership with Iran. Both Russia and China are behind the maneuvering of the rapprochement between Iran, Syria and the Arab world. Russia has also intervened on a daily basis with its representatives meeting with the Zionists. Here's a further Q&A asked by RT:
"Question: How do you assess Egypt's role in resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict?
"Sergey Lavrov: The summit convened by Cairo was the first event after the events of October 7 and what followed. It was important to show that the international community did not want to watch in silence, but to stop all military action, release all hostages, allow civilians from other countries to leave the area, and ensure peace and security for the people of the Gaza Strip.
"Let me remind you about the West Bank of the Jordan River, where no one has formally declared hostilities. But there are also raids by the Israeli army, which does not add to the conditions for the beginning of the transition to peace and eventually (after all humanitarian problems have been resolved) to direct negotiations on the creation of a Palestinian state.
"Cairo plays an important role in these processes. Its capabilities as a state and a global player go beyond the Middle East and the African continent. Egypt is already a global player."
Almost the entire world has intervened in some manner, but not armed intervention as of now. The idea is to deny the Outlaw US Empire the wider war it desires, not to expand it and give it what it wants.
they are pushing back! but they are not turning into a greater war here.. that is the difference! the usa and zionist controlled israel are shooting themselves in the foot here big time... you'd like russia to intervene in this too, but i can't see that as a longer term solution here... the bullies are shown to be the bullies they are and this won't go on indefinitely.
<blockquote>Question (retranslated from Spanish, addressed to Mr Gil): What is the Venezuelan government's assessment of Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip? Does Caracas consider it possible to send humanitarian aid to Gaza?
Sergey Lavrov (speaking after Immanuel Gil): We talked in detail about the Gaza Strip today. I would like to reiterate our position.
We categorically condemn terrorism in all its manifestations. <b>But we are also categorically against countries fighting it with methods that grossly violate international humanitarian law (indiscriminate bombing of residential areas, hospitals, kindergartens and other public premises). As a result, thousands of innocent civilians, including children, are losing their lives</b>.
As for the position of the international community, yesterday the UN Security Council shamefully asked for only one humanitarian pause and could not support the wording of the General Assembly, which called for a humanitarian truce as a step towards a ceasefire. That says a lot. <b>First of all, about the position of the United States and its closest allies.</b>
We insist on an immediate cessation of bloodshed and a solution to the humanitarian problems that are literally screaming in the Gaza Strip and now <b>in the West Bank. Little is said or written about it now, because all attention is focused on the Gaza Strip, but there are also dozens of victims there, raids are being carried out</b>. It's disturbing.
In the long term, this problem can only be resolved through the creation of a Palestinian state, as provided for by the UN Security Council resolutions. <b><i>The longer the implementation of this issue is delayed, the more difficult it will be to ensure stability in the entire region</i></b>.
We reiterate our position on the need to sit down at the negotiating table and agree on the establishment of a Palestinian state without delay, as soon as the hostilities are stopped and the humanitarian needs of the people of the Gaza Strip are met.
It's a complicated matter. If you look at the map, you will see that there is little left of the territories on which a Palestinian state is to be established (especially in the West Bank). As a result of the unilateral actions of the Israeli authorities, settlements have been established. They are not recognized by the laws of any country in the world. Even the United States condemned Tel Aviv's actions.
There is a lot of work to be done. The League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have clearly confirmed that the two-state solution and the creation of a Palestinian state that will coexist side by side with Israel in security and good-neighborliness remains the only path that everyone should follow. [My Emphasis]</blockquote>
The double emphasis is aimed at highlighting why the Outlaw US Empire has continued to block a just settlement over many decades. It thrives on the continuing chaos and quite probably wants the war to expand as I wrote in https://karlof1.substack.com/p/war-in-west-asia-another-point-of "War in West Asia: Another Point-of View". Russia clearly condemns the Zionist's actions as being equal to or even more hideous than Hamas's.
they eye for an eye philosophy is really messed up and reflects an unwillingness to find a resolution to this ongoing situation.. thanks for all your work on this karl and keeping it in focus as you have with greater understanding and knowledge..
Israel is making the Russian position increasingly untenable. The last thing that the Russian government which really doesn't pretend to be concerned about "Human Rights" issues, wants is to be drawn into any further opposition to Israel. (It already has had in Syria, plenty of reasons to take steps to discipline Israel.)
Israel, on the other hand, goes out of its way to antagonise the Russians: being a bully it instinctively sides with US bullying but there is more to it than that.
As Hudson recently reiterated (the argument goes back decades) Israel is far from independent- it depends entirely on the US and any ideas that it has of owning the US via Congress and AIPAC are childish delusions. A brief hiccup in US military and financial aid (which includes allowing massive investments under the pretense that they are charitable donations) would cause an immediate crisis: Israel lives from pay cheque to pay cheque and has a vast debt in need of service.
Israel really is America's primary west asian base, and, unlike the rest of them, it doesn't require an expensive garrison -it provides its own defence. It also keeps the Middle East in order- it is not the US they are afraid of but of the US's agent, always happy to attack designated targets.
It may seem callous (it is, politics are) but right now Russia has no need to intervene: Israel and the US are covering themselves in the sort of shit that will take centuries to wash off (ask the Turks about Armenia.) Russia doesn't need to make any claims about protecting human rights-it just doesn't involve itself in genocide. Blinken etc say otherwise but the world has no difficulty in seeing the gulf between what the SMO involves and what is being done to Gaza. If it does it just has to catch some of the Israeli videos merrily documenting the abuse in which they have come to delight.
And yet Russia has lost the ability Putin has always enjoyed of being able to blame both parties. Lavrov's careful speech showed that. Not only is the evidence so clear that Israel is breaking every law in the international book and daily inventing new crimes in its operations but it is also abandoning (it has to the Master has spoken) its pretence to be other than a full blown satrap of the Empire, a branch office of Washington Inc.
Most likely it will soon throw its weight into the scales against Russia in Ukraine- it already has done but surreptitiously- just in time to get in publicly on the defeat.
The US, as is proper, will share both the defeat in Ukraine and that, coming, in Palestine. While Russia, much to its embarassment, will end up with a share of both victories, along with Iran and China too.
They also serve who only stand and wait.
There are other points that came out in Zakharova's marathon briefing yesterday, some of which I'll soon provide. IMO, the moral bashing is now more aimed at the Zionists than Hamas with tie-ins made with Ukraine.
"Do you understand the Zionists well publicized plans for Palestine?—to uproot them all utterly and completely so as to steal all their possessions and wealth?"
He probably does. but in geopolitics, especially between two countries with close connections such as Russia and Israel, stating so outright as accusations isn't going to help the situation. Russia is likely to continue to be diplomatic about this while trying to find ways to maneuver or manipulate Israel to do the right thing - right up to the moment Israel or the US attacks Syria at which point they'll do what they have to do. After all, Israel is a nuclear power with real deliverable and credible nuclear capability. Such countries get treated carefully.
As Alex Christoforou just said on the Duran video I'm listening to right now, even if one calls Netanyahu a crazy fanatic, one has to remember these people have motivations which have to be taken into account - and can be used against them if one is clever enough. I'm sure Lavrov understands this.
Personally I'm with you - call a spade a spade, then put a bullet in the enemy's head. As SEAL Richard Marcinko once quoted a Chinese general, "Always treat the enemy as the enemy because he will invariably treat you that way."
As reported in one of your earlier posts, this is the most dangerous time in the transition to a multipolar world. I hope peace between Palestine and Israel can be achieved. It's people power against big money and military interests. It'll take a lot of strategy and solidarity I think. And BDS is so appropriate right now.
Sounds like the Russians are going to sit back and watch Israel and US do a genocide and destroy Gaza -- and do nothing. Lavrov is clear that Iran and Lebanon don't want to get involved either.
To your point, he glosses over what happens next, which is that Israel does an ethnic cleansing. It removes as many Palestinians as possible from Gaza and then reoccupies whomever survives under greatly reduced territory.
IMO, you need to read Lavrov more closely. He condemns the Zionists by using UNSG Gutterres's words and correctly says both sides employed terrorist methods. Yes, Russia has an extremely complicated relationship with Occupied Palestine which some might say began with a big mistake by Stalin. But it was made, and policy flowed from that action for several decades, and was then altered further by the mass emigration of Russian-Jews to Palestine in the 1980s. However, Lavrov also reiterated Putin's statement that the Outlaw US Empire doesn't seek peace but aims to foment chaos so it can profit from it. And the points made about the UN Charter also condemn the Zionist's actions.
We'll see what happens next, but for the long haul, the Zionists will find very few trading partners as their economy tanks.
Thanks for the response, Karl.
short of starting ww3, what is your suggestion to russia here? they have made resolutions at the un that have been rejected, as have others resolutions for a ceasefire... what do you propose?
Hi. Excellent question. US is driving the bus on Israel's attacks on Gaza. I think all the Arab states + Iran wld have to join together and push back, w/ China and Russia behind them, but they've signalled they won't do that.
My reaction to the Q&A is Lavrov is being pretty explicit that Russia won't intervene.
Russia has already intervened--in Syria. From roughly 2014 onward, Russia has made it clear that Iran's under Russia's nuclear umbrella, and China entered onto Iran's side when it initiated what it calls a strategic partnership with Iran. Both Russia and China are behind the maneuvering of the rapprochement between Iran, Syria and the Arab world. Russia has also intervened on a daily basis with its representatives meeting with the Zionists. Here's a further Q&A asked by RT:
"Question: How do you assess Egypt's role in resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict?
"Sergey Lavrov: The summit convened by Cairo was the first event after the events of October 7 and what followed. It was important to show that the international community did not want to watch in silence, but to stop all military action, release all hostages, allow civilians from other countries to leave the area, and ensure peace and security for the people of the Gaza Strip.
"Let me remind you about the West Bank of the Jordan River, where no one has formally declared hostilities. But there are also raids by the Israeli army, which does not add to the conditions for the beginning of the transition to peace and eventually (after all humanitarian problems have been resolved) to direct negotiations on the creation of a Palestinian state.
"Cairo plays an important role in these processes. Its capabilities as a state and a global player go beyond the Middle East and the African continent. Egypt is already a global player."
Almost the entire world has intervened in some manner, but not armed intervention as of now. The idea is to deny the Outlaw US Empire the wider war it desires, not to expand it and give it what it wants.
they are pushing back! but they are not turning into a greater war here.. that is the difference! the usa and zionist controlled israel are shooting themselves in the foot here big time... you'd like russia to intervene in this too, but i can't see that as a longer term solution here... the bullies are shown to be the bullies they are and this won't go on indefinitely.
Lavrov on Gaza at https://mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/1915062/ the presser with Venezuela's FM Immanuel Gil:
<blockquote>Question (retranslated from Spanish, addressed to Mr Gil): What is the Venezuelan government's assessment of Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip? Does Caracas consider it possible to send humanitarian aid to Gaza?
Sergey Lavrov (speaking after Immanuel Gil): We talked in detail about the Gaza Strip today. I would like to reiterate our position.
We categorically condemn terrorism in all its manifestations. <b>But we are also categorically against countries fighting it with methods that grossly violate international humanitarian law (indiscriminate bombing of residential areas, hospitals, kindergartens and other public premises). As a result, thousands of innocent civilians, including children, are losing their lives</b>.
As for the position of the international community, yesterday the UN Security Council shamefully asked for only one humanitarian pause and could not support the wording of the General Assembly, which called for a humanitarian truce as a step towards a ceasefire. That says a lot. <b>First of all, about the position of the United States and its closest allies.</b>
We insist on an immediate cessation of bloodshed and a solution to the humanitarian problems that are literally screaming in the Gaza Strip and now <b>in the West Bank. Little is said or written about it now, because all attention is focused on the Gaza Strip, but there are also dozens of victims there, raids are being carried out</b>. It's disturbing.
In the long term, this problem can only be resolved through the creation of a Palestinian state, as provided for by the UN Security Council resolutions. <b><i>The longer the implementation of this issue is delayed, the more difficult it will be to ensure stability in the entire region</i></b>.
We reiterate our position on the need to sit down at the negotiating table and agree on the establishment of a Palestinian state without delay, as soon as the hostilities are stopped and the humanitarian needs of the people of the Gaza Strip are met.
It's a complicated matter. If you look at the map, you will see that there is little left of the territories on which a Palestinian state is to be established (especially in the West Bank). As a result of the unilateral actions of the Israeli authorities, settlements have been established. They are not recognized by the laws of any country in the world. Even the United States condemned Tel Aviv's actions.
There is a lot of work to be done. The League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have clearly confirmed that the two-state solution and the creation of a Palestinian state that will coexist side by side with Israel in security and good-neighborliness remains the only path that everyone should follow. [My Emphasis]</blockquote>
The double emphasis is aimed at highlighting why the Outlaw US Empire has continued to block a just settlement over many decades. It thrives on the continuing chaos and quite probably wants the war to expand as I wrote in https://karlof1.substack.com/p/war-in-west-asia-another-point-of "War in West Asia: Another Point-of View". Russia clearly condemns the Zionist's actions as being equal to or even more hideous than Hamas's.
they eye for an eye philosophy is really messed up and reflects an unwillingness to find a resolution to this ongoing situation.. thanks for all your work on this karl and keeping it in focus as you have with greater understanding and knowledge..