"I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts." - Sherlock Holmes, A Scandal in Bohemia

“Gaza fooled everyone,” as Eylon puts it, in large part because it seems Israel did not study the propaganda and narrative methods that Russia separately and then with the Resistance Axis and their broader ecosystems used in Ukraine and Syria, respectively. So when it confronted those same adversaries (and someone please remind the current occupant of Balfour Street that Russia is an adversary) during the October 7 War, it was entirely unprepared to deal with that very critical element of the conflict — both from the POV of countering blatant falsehoods and fabrications and not scoring own goals that the other side could exploit.

Multisyllabic words confuse Mehdi

The person who entered the site after Israeli strike on Hezbollah’s headquarters 2 years ago said that Hassan Nasrallah’s body was intact, supporting previous Israeli claims that he died from suffocation after toxic fumes seeped into the underground shelter where he had been hiding. He also said a colleague at the scene died there from the same cause.

Looks more like you’re faking them, bruv. Which tracks 👍

The BBC has reported the deaths of 53 “journalists” in Gaza who have been claimed as terrorists by Hamas and other groups. Some of them took part in the Oct 7 attacks and several have been hailed as “martyrs” by their terrorist organisations. 🔗: telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2…

Ultra orthodox parties —representing the groups exempt from service — are hardly right wing. They’re not politically ideological at all. They’ve historically also served in many left wing cabinets and taken positions on the conflict that have enabled what this individual would consider moderate policies — example, Shas’ abstention during the vote on the Oslo Accords enabling their adoption. Even a far left rag like +972 Mag has conceded this much: 972mag.com/israels-ultra-ort… Ultra Orthodox parties care about, primarily, securing their communal interests — which have become increasingly inimical to the interests of the State of Israel. Part of that is that these parties are protecting their community’s position against serving in the IDF — BUT they will align with any party or coalition, right or left, that will promise to protect those communal interests. So if a left wing coalition said: we’ll guarantee no service, but support a two state solution, or at least don’t block it, they would readily take that bargain. In recent years, the Bibi-aligned right — which is not the totality of the Israeli right wing — has been the faction offering them that bargain, in exchange for supporting that coalition’s policies.

"The former bodyguard of Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Hamas, was given asylum and citizenship in the UK — then “plotted” huge foiled terror attack targeting Jews in Europe last year" thetimes.com/uk/crime/articl…

I’ve always respected @LTCPeterLerner.

Important piece by @LTCPeterLerner "The ability to distinguish between killing an active threat and killing someone after that threat has passed is not weakness. It is the difference between a disciplined military and an armed mob." jpost.com/opinion/article-90…

🤷‍♂️ nitter.net/hraoui17/status/210264…

‘Tis the season…so let the electoral tricks begin timesofisrael.com/liveblog_e…

Always lovely to chat with Lina!

How Hezbollah reframed the battle for Ali al Taher as Israel advanced @DavidADaoud in FDD's @LongWarJournal: bit.ly/4Ar5lG8

Because engaging in performative self-flagellation is what Jews who care about Judaism do on Yom Kippur. Mahmoud, I really hope you got the High Holiday discount on these RentAJews…

Why are they doing simanim in broad daylight? And why is this recorded on Rosh HaShana/presumably Shabbat? Abdul, if you’re going to try to tokenize us, at least try to have it done correctly. If there’s anything about these progressive freaks that irks me the most: it’s that you know they hate you, you know they hate everything real Judaism — not the hollowed out political prop Judaism preferred by their adherents — stands for, but they still put on this fake, saccharine, condescending theater. The entire movement is propelled by deliberately deceptive insincerity.

“Only toddlers and Zionists think everything they touch is theirs forever.” Even more interesting —

Interesting.