DAY 208 OF THE WAR: Religious Zionist Against Hostage Deal, Blinken in Israel, US Public Opinion, Ultra Orthodox Draft

Tel Aviv Diary April 1, 2024

This morning, Minister Orit Stroock of the Religious Zionist Party sparked a firestorm when she criticized a hostage deal during an interview, labeling it “a terrible deal”. Stroock argued that a government willing to sacrifice everything for 22 or 32 people forfeits its right to govern. Yesh Atid countered that a government responsible for the most profound disaster to befall the Jewish people since the Holocaust—resulting in 1,300 deaths and 133 Israelis still captives under its watch, also has no right to govern. Moreover, Yesh Atid demanded Stroock’s immediate resignation and called Stroock an embarrassment to the country.

It might be confusing why the most vocal opponents of a hostage deal are members of the two religious Zionist parties— especially since Jewish law regards the redemption of captives as one of the highest sacred duties. However, the MKs and cabinet ministers from these parties predominantly reside in West Bank settlements. To them, the settlement of the West Bank is the highest priority, and nothing else really matters. Many still dream of reestablishing the settlements dismantled when Israel, under Ariel Sharon, unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005. They view President Biden's dream of a mega-deal—including normalization with Saudi Arabia—as an anathema, primarily because it would necessitate concessions towards the Palestinians, which they staunchly oppose.

It has never been clear how those with maximalist demands envision the future of the Palestinians in the West Bank or Gaza; they seem to assume the Palestinians would just simply disappear. Their only perceived solution is defeating Hamas outright, without any negotiation. Notably, none of their current leaders possess substantial military experience nor a robust secular education—which may contribute to their lack of understanding regarding the potential consequences of a global boycott against Israel. As far as they are concerned, there is no need to worry. They do not run businesses that are tied to the global market, nor do they conduct scientific research with colleagues from around the world.

This isolation and detachment from the global community allows them to make extreme statements, such as those made by Smotrich in the video below, where he declares, “There are no half measures. Rafah, Deir al-Balah, Nuseirat—all require total annihilation. Blot out any memory of Amalek from under heaven.”

The Religious Zionist party MKs show no regard for how Israel’s actions might be perceived in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), nor are they concerned about the potential of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing arrest warrants for Israeli leaders traveling abroad. If the implications weren't so serious, it would almost be humorous.

Meanwhile, according to a poll released today by Israel’s Kan Broadcasting, 53% of the public supports a hostage release deal that would result in the release of 1,000 prisoners and a 40-day ceasefire, while 47% support such a deal if it means the end of the war, 26% oppose such an agreement, and 20% do not know.

ANTHONY BLINKEN RETURNS TO ISRAEL

U.S. Secretary of State Blinken is in Israel. His first meeting took place with President Herzog. The State Department released a transcript of the following remarks:

PRESIDENT HERZOG: Good morning, Mr. Secretary. Welcome to Israel.  I don’t know if you know which dateline you’re on, which hour of the day you are.  You’re —

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  I was hoping you could tell me.

PRESIDENT HERZOG: Now you’re traveling all over the world. I saw your interview at the World Economic Forum in Riyadh and I want to thank you for the strong support and the moral clarity in what you’ve said regarding the initiation of this terrible situation, the war that was waged upon us, the atrocities, as well as, of course, the plight of the hostages. We yearn for the immediate return of the hostages. It is and should be the top priority of the international community. I think this should be a unanimous decision of the international community that the freeing the hostages is an utmost priority.

And I would like to add in that respect as well and in other respects that whilst we are waging war to defend our citizens and to bring about a different future in the Middle East, our enemies and other elements are trying to kind of undermine the entire process by using international legal forums that were established in order to have a world order that pursues peace and pursues the values and norms that we all believe in in the modern world. Especially I mean the efforts done through the International Criminal Court. Israel has a very strong legal system, a very strong adjudication and law enforcement system, and it has pursued legal steps from the highest authorities in this land to any other citizen.  We are very proud of it, and the rule of international law regarding complementarity is a basic world norm. And therefore, trying to use the International Criminal Court against Israel, which is fighting terror, is a clear and present danger to democracies and to free and peace-loving nations who pursue the norms of international law, and I call upon all our allies and friends to object and reject any such efforts. Thank you very much and welcome.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, thank you, Mr. President. It is always very, very good to be with you, even in these very difficult times. We are determined to get a ceasefire that brings the hostages home and to get it now, and the only reason that that wouldn’t be achieved is because of Hamas. There is a proposal on the table, and as we’ve said, no delays, no excuses. The time is now, and the time is now long past due to bring the hostages home to their families.

At the same time, even as we’re working with relentless determination to get the ceasefire that brings the hostages home, we also have to be focused on people in Gaza who are suffering in this crossfire of Hamas’s making, and so focused on getting them the assistance they need – the food, the medicine, the water, the shelter – is also very much on our minds and in the work that we’re doing.  I look forward to discussing all of that with you and many more things as well.  Thanks for seeing me again this morning.

After his meeting with President Herzog, Secretary of State Blinken met with American relatives of the hostages and then addressed the demonstrators outside:

I just wanted to tell you I just had an opportunity to meet with some of the families of some of the hostages, as I have on every visit to Israel, and of course as President Biden has done and so many of my colleagues have done.  And I just wanted to share with you what I just shared with them:  Bringing your loved ones home is at the heart of everything we’re trying to do, and we will not rest until everyone – man, woman, soldier, civilian, young, old – is back home.  There is a very strong proposal on the table right now.  Hamas needs to say yes and needs to get this done.  That is our determination, and we will not rest, we will not stop until you’re reunited with your loved ones.  So please keep strong, keep the faith.  We will be with you every single day until we get this done.  Thank you.

After meeting with hostage families, Blinken met with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Blinken expressed to Netanyahu that the U.S. does not support his plan to enter Rafah. In response, Netanyahu insisted that nothing would prevent Israel from entering Rafah. Blinken also informed Netanyahu that Israel has one month to decide whether to accept the deal with Saudi Arabia. Faced with the choice between Rafah or Riyyad — and unless Netanyahu is willing to call a new election— I fear Netanyahu will choose Rafah.

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ON U.S. CAMPUSES

The situation on the campuses has taken several turns in the last 24 hours. At Columbia University, the administration took the only action they deemed viable, finally calling in the police to clear Hamilton Hall and the rest of the campus. Police officers will remain on campus until May 17th, two days after the University’s graduation, to ensure the peace during this period.

Meanwhile, on the West Coast, clashes developed between anti-Israeli protesters and supporters of Israel. Two very troubling developments occurred at Brown University and Northwestern. The administration at Brown University has agreed to bring a divestment from Israel proposal to a vote. Northwestern University has agreed to offer an unspecified number of full-ride scholarships to Palestinian students and to hire an unspecified number of Palestinian faculty members. The latter is the most concerning, as some of the most problematic faculty members have been Palestinians. Increasing the number of Palestinian faculty members on college staff is unlikely to make the campuses safer for Jewish and Israeli students.

I had a disagreement with a colleague at i24News yesterday when he stated that the events on campuses are a direct continuation of events from the 1960s and early 1970s. Setting aside the fact that the issue then was the Vietnam War, with college students facing the draft. A significant difference also lies in the makeup of the faculty. During my undergraduate years at Columbia, the faculty—many from the Greatest Generation—were serious scholars, whether politically liberal or conservative. They all maintained a conservative demeanor; they were not radicals. Today's senior faculty members, often radicals from the ‘60s, have influenced college curricula and culture shifts.

NEW HARVARD CAPS OPINION POLLS

Harvard CAPS/Harris released a new set of public opinion polls. The phrasing of the questions has been criticized. Here are five more results; the final five will appear tomorrow.