Earlier today James North posted a piece criticizing Israeli army spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner for a statement to the Financial Times that Israel does not need proof of orders from Hamas to kidnappers in order to retaliate against Hamas for such acts. Not a very persuasive standard for killing people, North said. Adam tweeted the story out to Lerner and he responded.
First the director of social media for the Israeli army said that our piece “was an interesting way of drawing (false) conclusions. Please explain this.” Then:
.@Mondoweiss I said is that #Hamas terrorists need no direct order to abduct Israelis, 60+ attempts since 2013 foiled by ISA + #IDF
— Peter Lerner (@LTCPeterLerner) July 1, 2014
James North responded as follows from his account:
.@LTCPeterLerner @Mondoweiss In other words, you are saying that anyone #Israel contends belongs to #Hamas is guilty and deserves to die. — James North (@jamesnorth7) July 2, 2014
Love that picture, Pete! The way you stare straight into the camera looking all determined and manly. I can easily visualize you staying up well into the wee hours of the morning, toiling over a hot computer, seeking out and destroying all who would delegitimize and talk smack about your great and glorious country. Some might wonder why you do not concern yourself with those soldiers who post genocidal rankings, but you know that they are not the threat. No, sir, the threat comes from teenage Arab boys and Mondoites who have not gotten the message that as an elite Jewish male you are never to be questioned or doubted.
A dialogue between Mondoweiss and the IDF is a very interesting development, but conducting it pursuant to Twitter rules is an unhappy constraint. Similarly, the comparison and contrast between Hamas and IDF policies in dealing with their respective enemies deserves greater and more nuanced analysis than social media permit. It’s what many of us read Mondoweiss, along with Ha’aretz and many other sources in search of, since it isn’t being done by the NYTimes. But a handful of tweets does not a thoughtful analysis make.
I’m not very sure that this is truthful, but I think people should know this:
‘Islamic State in Jerusalem’ Claims Killings of Israeli Hebron Teenagers
Well done, James North. This rationalization process happens so often that there’s probably a Latin name for LtC Lerner’s circularity (or is it a discontinuity?).
Whatever it is it means a lot of innocent people will be killed ever so casually because it doesn’t even have to make sense when you set out to kill a few tens of women and children and old people penned up in a tiny overpopulated enclave. It’s not like LtC Lerner cares. He’s just part of the make-it-happen death machine.
Diseased thinking, imo, though I’m sure LtC Lerner is just dutifully following orders, diseased or not. Or maybe he’s a true believer. Who knows at this point? Who cares? Dead Palestinians are the objective. Death is the objective.
So many other ways to solve this.
Again, thanks JN/PW.
” I said is that #Hamas terrorists need no direct order to abduct Israelis”
Because they communicate by…mental telepathy!