Reprinted from Bracing Views with the author’s permission.
Omer Bartov is a historian who specializes in German military history and genocide studies. I have three of his books: “The Eastern Front, 1941-45, German Troops and the Barbarisation of Warfare”; “Hitler’s Army: Soldiers, Nazis, and War in the Third Reich”; and “Germany’s War and the Holocaust: Disputed Histories.” He has studied the Holocaust closely; as a young man, he served in the Israeli Defense Forces and now teaches at Brown University. He is uniquely placed to judge what’s happening in Gaza and he’s quite clear about his conclusion. It’s a genocide.
I highly recommend watching this entire interview of Omer Bartov by LTC Danny Davis.
A few points from the interview:
- The IDF in Gaza is showing the effects of brutalization similar to that of the Wehrmacht in World War II. IDF soldiers are looting, killing, and showing similar manifestations of barbaric indiscipline, and they are almost never held accountable for their war crimes.
- The Israeli people are being encouraged to show no empathy toward Palestinian suffering. Zionism has increasingly morphed into a racist form of Jewish supremacism in which Palestinian lives and suffering simply don’t matter.
- U.S. politicians are enabling genocide in Gaza.
- What Bibi Netanyahu wants is a “Greater Israel” that is largely free of Palestinians. U.S. talk of a “two-state solution” is nonsensical in the face of Bibi’s ruthless goal.
- Israel is obviously pursuing a military solution to the Palestinian question. That “solution” involves mass killing, massive destruction of infrastructure, and deliberate efforts to promote starvation while doing little to prevent the spread of disease. The goal of forcing Palestinians to flee from their land, or to die if they choose to remain and fight, marks this as a genocide under international law, ironically law that was enacted in the aftermath of the Holocaust by Germany against European Jews during World War II.
- The U.S. is playing Bibi’s game. Bibi will keep going with this genocide because to stop it with a ceasefire would likely mean that he will be called to account for October 7th (failing to prevent the attacks) as well as crimes he’s previously been indicted for.
- Instead of the U.S. being the “best friend” of Israel, it is encouraging the worst impulses within Israel, setting the stage for further Middle East conflict and a possible war with Iran. It is also, let’s always remember, enabling the mass slaughter of innocent Palestinians.
Bartov suggests Netanyahu would prefer Donald Trump to be reelected as president, but he notes a Kamala Harris presidency would likely change little, since Netanyahu will bring all pressure to bear against Democrats to continue the current policy. Harris has already stated she supports Israel’s right to defend itself and is against any weapons embargo. If she wins, it’s likely she’ll continue current practices.
Bartov sees this as a disaster not only for the Palestinians but also ultimately for Israel in the long term.
William J. Astore is a retired lieutenant colonel (USAF). He taught history for fifteen years at military and civilian schools. He writes at Bracing Views.
And there it is – Bartov sees it as "a disaster for Israel". Just Macgregor and Wilkerson see it. What can one expect from people who all their lives had "respect" for Israel without understanding the history?
In fact, Israel never had a right to exist. This is an obvious historical fact now. So why is it a "disaster" if it ceases to exist? So millions of occupiers will be forced to flee their occupation – their flight brought on by their own failure to understand their own history and their own acceptance of a brutal repression?
I have zero sympathy for Israelis. They will get what humans always get: consequences.
As antiwar people, we need to have sympathy and understanding for ALL people. Not always easy but certainly it is necessary!
I have sympathy for Israelis. Israelis have been taught hate from their first moments in school. Some have the capacity to break away, but the dominate number of Israelis do not. It is so sad on so many levels.
The US just needs to exit. When Africans conflict, we get much less involved, care much less about who wins.
Israel and Europe should be the same. Europeans in Ukraine or Israel shouldn’t matter more.
This is excellent and very direct. I have a much clearer understanding of the situation. This IS a MUST see and hear!
I tend to prefer IOF, to IDF.
Israeli Occupational Forces.
Well known, as Jews know well!…
Bartov has come to the same conclusions that Miko Peled came to (The General's Son: Journey of an Israeli in Palestine).
Ah, Irán…
Outstanding!
I must add, I do have concerns about a propensity for a larger conflict and indeed, perhaps another World War…
“Let there be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me! With every step I take, a peace for eternity!!!”
“Bartov sees this as a disaster not only for the Palestinians but also ultimately for Israel in the long term.”
And while not explicitly mentioned, but even more relevant for most readers; the utter economic and ethical destruction wrought on the US by its support for this depravity.
The Gaza Ghetto sure looks lots like the Warsaw one…
Sep 13, 2024 Democracy Now! Hosts CNN’s Backpack-Sniffing Pro-War Shill Reporter!
After the Syrian gas attacks CNN reporter Arwa Damon famously went on air and sniffed a backpack that had been at the site of the attack, recoiling at the pungent odor. Despite the widespread mockery she received for ostensibly intentionally inhaling potentially deadly gas, Damon has continued her career, most recently appearing on Democracy Now! to tell host Amy Goodman that while the U.S. has been supplying hundreds of billions in military aid to Ukraine, what the war-torn country really needs is EVEN MORE military aid.
https://youtu.be/5qCKWvA1uE8?si=IZitdIv48I4pMkfS
Arwa Damon sniffed the backpack because she knew there was no nerve gas in there. If there really was nerve gas in it and she sniffed it, she'd become seriously ill or die from it.
The Media makes up stories to justify NATO's aggression towards MIdeastern Countries and portray Israel and Ukraine as victims.
I hope life is being kind to you and yours friend. You are correct on all counts here.