Israelis are going absolutely wild with denial and selective blindness. They are beginning to realize that despite assurances of an “absolute victory” and a “New Middle East”, one in which they alone would decide who would live and who would die, their “security” (the foundation of Israeliness - saving Jewish lives at the expense of all others) is no longer under their control.

https://x.com/ori_goldberg/status/1982157979353801180

Ori Goldberg

@ori_goldberg

My substack post: Israelis are going absolutely wild with denial and selective blindness. They are beginning to realize that despite assurances of an “absolute victory” and a “New Middle East”, one in which they alone would decide who would live and who would die, their “security” (the foundation of Israeliness - saving Jewish lives at the expense of all others) is no longer under their control. The American military HQ overseeing Gaza is likely seeking to implement some hare-brained scheme hatched by the Jared Kushners of the world. It cares nothing for the Palestinians and works closely with the Israeli military. Still, its very existence (headed by a professional American diplomat) is groundbreaking. The potentially infinite sweep of Israel’s power has, finally, been curtailed. It really is impossible to exaggerate Israel’s power in US political circles. It incorporates money (AIPAC), a highly devoted and institutionally capable Jewish leadership, less tangible psychological manipulation and a historical dependence on American aid and money in return for pursuing American interests in the region. The details matter less than the scope. The Biden administration’s behavior is a case in point. Despite clear indications of Israel’s genocide Israel could still do no wrong and deserved full support and backing at every level. This is changing rapidly. The change isn’t trumpeted. The Trump administration doesn’t like speaking about principles. This is instrumental, practical, ensuring American dominance by making potential dissenters offers they can’t refuse. The US is producing its own intel in Gaza, controlling a fleet of drones over a piece of land Israel sees as its very own Smash Room. The US is allowing an Egyptian relief team enter the Strip. They will come to seek the bodies of Israeli hostages. It is logical to assume they will then use their equipment to find Palestinians buried under tens of millions tons of rubble to which Israel has reduced Gaza. Once an Egyptian team is in place it will require a permanent logistical HQ. It may then welcome a Turkish or a Qatari team into the Strip. Israel’s ability to determine who and what enter and leave the strip will decrease. Israel’s ability to attack Gaza at will also be significantly hampered, because it would not want to start a regional war by killing Turks or Egyptians. These are all minor, limited moves when considered individually. Taken together they represent a momentum we have never seen before. Israelis, denying this (because if this is actually true, and it is, it means that Israel failed to complete its genocide) are beside themselves. Everything from Zorhan Mamdani’s expected victory in NYC to Trump’s tolerance for Hamas presence in Gaza is proof that it doesn’t matter what Israel does - it always was and always will be about antisemitism. It isn’t historical and it isn’t even causal. Israelis (who are the best type of Jews) simply “are”, and that is reason enough to read any criticism of Israel as a wish to annihilate both Israel and all the Jews. A typical argument would be: The Nazis wanted to destroy all the Jews -→ so did Hamas on October 7th, 2023 -→ Hamas are Nazis -→ Israelis are survivors of a second shoah (even if by intent alone) -→ Israelis can and should “destroy” those who wish to this --→ This quest has no expiration date and no constraints --→ If you oppose that last link in the chain, you are a Hamas sympathizer -→ Zorhan Mamdani is an antisemitic Hamas supporter who will be happy when Jews die in Israel and on the streets of NYC. Israelis are despairing. They are circling the wagons of solipsism. They are victims but even more than that, they are alone. If there is cause for cautious optimism, it is to be found in this despair. Time to stop expecting Israelis to initiate a reckoning. It will not happen. Time to force the truth down Israel’s collective throat.

5:51 AM · Oct 26, 2025

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