Gaza Conflict: No Military Rationale – The Irish Times
Here’s a breakdown of the key points from the provided text, focusing on Barack Obama’s statements regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict and broader political observations:
On the Israel-Gaza Conflict:
* Acknowledges Both Sides: Obama believes it’s possible to condemn the October 7th attacks as “horrendous and inexcusable” while also acknowledging the dire situation in Gaza.
* Humanitarian Crisis: He states the current level of bombardment in gaza is unacceptable and there’s no military rationale for it, notably regarding the humanitarian crisis in Southern Gaza. He specifically says “children can’t starve.”
* Two-State Solution: He insists on the necessity of finding a path towards a Palestinian state and autonomy existing alongside a secure Israel. He acknowledges this won’t be immediate.
* breaking the Cycle: He emphasizes the need to break the cycle of violence, requiring “a certain level of courage.” He discourages comparisons of suffering (“What about this is? What about that? That’s worse than that.”) as unproductive.
Broader Political Observations:
* Post-War Consensus: The postwar democratic consensus was built on the foundation of WWII,bringing former enemies (Germany,Japan) into the fold with US support.
* Western Complacency: The West became “smug” after the Cold War, believing in the “end of history.”
* Globalization’s Losers: There was a failure to recognize the winners and losers of globalization and the people “left behind.”
The text also notes that Obama and Fintan O’Toole had a conversation lasting over an hour and 20 minutes without directly mentioning Donald Trump, though O’Toole alluded to him (“the T-word”).