Israel-Hamas Thread II

Ireland's new president, Catherine Cnnolly, has been considered one of the loudest voices against Israel for years. But with her entry into the country's highest office, this political line takes on a new quality and a new responsibility. Her stance towards the terrorist organisation Hamas, her rhetoric about Israel and her long-standing political alliances suggest that Europe is facing a serious shift in its Middle East policy. For Israel, this means that Dublin will become a political outpost for those circles that not only criticise the Jewish state, but also seek to delegitimise it.

During her election campaign, Connolly publicly stated that Hamas was ‘part of the Palestinian people’ and ‘legitimately elected.’ She initially refused to clearly condemn the massacres of Oct 7 2023, a day on which hundreds of Israelis were murdered, tortured or kidnapped. Only after widespread criticism did she backtrack, later describing the act as ‘absolutely unacceptable.’ But her assessment remained contradictory. In the same breath, she called Israel a ‘terrorist state,’ thereby placing perpetrators and victims on the same level.

This choice of words is not just a political stance, but has real influence: as head of state, Connolly shapes the international perception of Ireland. Her statements are heard in a Europe that has seen a dramatic increase in anti-Semitic incidents since Oct 7 and where anti-Jewish narratives are increasingly fuelling violence.

For Israel, Connolly's election sends a warning signal: political voices that downplay Hamas or demonise Israel are gaining institutional weight. This also affects Jewish communities in Europe, which are coming under increasing pressure. The rhetoric of political leaders shapes social attitudes. When leaders adopt the narrative of the perpetrators, the threshold for aggression against the victims is lowered.

European history shows that enemy stereotypes rarely remain harmless. Over the centuries, Jews were expelled from dozens of countries: England, France, Spain, Portugal, Russia, the Arab world. Almost everywhere, political agitation was followed by social violence. Today, European Jews are once again witnessing demonstrations outside synagogues and hatred of Israel turning into open anti-Semitism.

Turkey is building a multi-layered air defence shield called ‘Steel Dome’, explicitly inspired by Israel's Iron Dome. Contracts worth billions have already been signed. A state that has sharply condemned Israel for years for its defensive measures is now claiming the same protection as if Erdogan's tirades defaming any Israeli self-defence as aggression had never happened.

While Ankara publicly announces a defence system against alleged Israeli threats, Turkey continues to offer safe havens for Hamas officials. Some of them live freely in Istanbul, travel unhindered, operate, recruit and plan. Even European intelligence agencies speak openly about the Turkish hinterland, on which the terrorist organisation can still rely today. It is therefore no coincidence that Israeli ministers are now openly calling for Turkey's diplomatic missions to be closed. Those who support a terrorist network cannot be partners in security matters.

At the same time, Erdogan is trying to position himself as an indispensable player in the debate about Gaza's future. He is signalling his willingness to participate in an international presence and gain influence in the post-war order. The political calculation behind this is transparent: Turkey wants to play the role of mediator without taking responsibility for its own years of support for Islamist structures. The fact that a country that offers Hamas operational protection wants to have a say in stabilising Gaza reveals the absurdity of international diplomacy.

But the more Ankara provokes Israel, Greece, Cyprus and the Kurds, the greater the fear of the consequences becomes. The Steel Dome is not a strategic necessity, but a political cover for the risks of Turkish foreign policy. In contrast, Iron Dome was born out of bitter necessity. Israel was confronted with incessant attacks that explicitly targeted civilians. The threat was real, concrete and life-threatening.

A country that destabilises the region by courting terrorists and putting pressure on minorities cannot ensure its security with steel and sensors. As long as Hamas operates in Istanbul, as long as Turkey disregards its international obligations, as long as anti-Semitic sentiments are reinforced by the government and the media, any defensive shield will remain nothing more than a façade.

For the first time in years, all perpetrators who murdered Israelis were arrested or eliminated. This is a turning point that shows how determined Israel is to crack down on terrorist structures in Judea and Samaria despite international criticism.

The final blow was dealt by the targeted operation against Sultan al-Ghani, the terrorist who killed security guard Gideon Perry in 2024. He hid in the Jenin area for over a year, changing safe houses and using the rugged terrain, local structures and proximity of armed groups to aid his escape. Then Israeli forces returned to the area and this time his escape came to an end. The man who destroyed a family was eliminated. His house near Kedumim had already been evacuated and demolished as part of measures against those who misuse their surroundings for terrorism.

Just one day earlier, Israeli forces had killed Ala Raouf Shetiyya, who was responsible for the murder of two soldiers from the Kfir Brigade, Eliya Hilel and Diego Shvisha Harsaj. He, too, had long evaded capture. The arrest and elimination operations of the past few months were complex, risky and characterised by precise coordination between the army, intelligence services and border police. But they followed a clear line: the perpetrators must no longer be allowed to find a safe haven.

At the same time, Israel carried out a broad campaign in Judea and Samaria against arms trafficking, terrorist cells and logistics chains. Within a few days, more than 60 wanted persons were arrested, including 18 operational members of Hamas. In villages, towns and rough terrain, the forces encountered explosive devices, weapons caches, means of communication and cash flows, a dense network that enables and finances terrorism. The operations aimed to curb these structures before they could produce new attacks.

While European governments morally pressure Israel, consider sanctions and bow to political campaigns, Israel works tirelessly to ensure the safety of its citizens. Every step, every night-time raid, every precision operation, every arrest, serves to protect the people of Jerusalem, Samaria, the Jordan Valley, Gush Etzion and all the places that have been targeted by "Palestinian" terrorist groups for years.

Anyone who sees Judea and Samaria merely as a map is misjudging the reality. The area is a network of civilian populations, strategic transit points, arms flows and ideological tensions. Terrorist groups use it as a breeding ground, Israel is trying to stabilise it.

Those who know the region know that the danger has not disappeared. New cells are forming, old networks are waiting for opportunities. But Israel's success in recent weeks demonstrates a principle that has proven itself time and again: terrorism is not defeated by incantations, but by determination. And for the first time in years, this determination has produced a result in Judea and Samaria that gives cause for hope, a rare moment that will remain.

The PA, led by Mahmoud Abbas, is set to play a central role in the Gaza Strip of tomorrow. In the eyes of the EU, the UN and other actors, the PA is Israel's peace partner par excellence. Germany alone plans to pay hundreds of millions of euros in taxpayers' money directly to the PA as reconstruction aid. Trump's peace plan speaks of a ‘reformed’ PA. These are reforms that have been half-heartedly demanded by donors for decades but never implemented.

Israel has ruled out the PA in its current form as a peace partner because it glorifies and finances terrorism and teaches hatred of Jews in its school textbooks. Nevertheless, Israel acts as the PA's bodyguard in Judea and Samaria. Without Israeli military and intelligence cooperation, Abbas and the PA would not be politically or physically viable. This is because the rival party Hamas has a large following in the "West Bank" and would win elections. Hamas, as a common enemy, is the only glue that binds Israel and the PA together.

There was great jubilation within the PA after Oct 7 2023. Several representatives openly celebrated the massacre on social media. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade even boasted of having been directly involved. The brigade is the military wing of Fatah, which in turn is the largest faction in the PLO, which governs the "West Bank". Abbas, who heads Fatah, the PLO and the PA, took almost two years before he condemned the massacre for the first time in 2025 under international pressure.

The PLO officially renamed its autonomous authority the State of "Palestine" in 2013. It therefore already sees itself at the head of a "Palestinian" state. However, it does not share the West's dream of a two-state solution. The Palestinian National Charter of 1968 calls for the violent destruction of the entire Jewish state. It has deliberately not been updated to this day.

Benaiah468 said:

The PA, led by Mahmoud Abbas, is set to play a central role in the Gaza Strip of tomorrow. In the eyes of the EU, the UN and other actors, the PA is Israel's peace partner par excellence. Germany alone plans to pay hundreds of millions of euros in taxpayers' money directly to the PA as reconstruction aid. Trump's peace plan speaks of a ‘reformed’ PA. These are reforms that have been half-heartedly demanded by donors for decades but never implemented.

Israel has ruled out the PA in its current form as a peace partner because it glorifies and finances terrorism and teaches hatred of Jews in its school textbooks. Nevertheless, Israel acts as the PA's bodyguard in Judea and Samaria. Without Israeli military and intelligence cooperation, Abbas and the PA would not be politically or physically viable. This is because the rival party Hamas has a large following in the "West Bank" and would win elections. Hamas, as a common enemy, is the only glue that binds Israel and the PA together.

There was great jubilation within the PA after Oct 7 2023. Several representatives openly celebrated the massacre on social media. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade even boasted of having been directly involved. The brigade is the military wing of Fatah, which in turn is the largest faction in the PLO, which governs the "West Bank". Abbas, who heads Fatah, the PLO and the PA, took almost two years before he condemned the massacre for the first time in 2025 under international pressure.

The PLO officially renamed its autonomous authority the State of "Palestine" in 2013. It therefore already sees itself at the head of a "Palestinian" state. However, it does not share the West's dream of a two-state solution. The Palestinian National Charter of 1968 calls for the violent destruction of the entire Jewish state. It has deliberately not been updated to this day.

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No quotes around the P in PA and PLO, disappointing.