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Israel-Gaza Megathread #3

This is a refreshed megathread for any posts on the conflict between (so far, and so far as I know) Hamas and the Israeli government, as well as related geopolitics. Culture War thread rules apply.

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I don't know what Israel's stance on an "internationalized" or "foreign-administered" Temple Mount would be, it would depend on the specific parameters. My guess would be they would be very much against it unless whatever body/country administers it has a solid reputation for taking Jewish interests to the site seriously. If a Jewish ethnostate is willing to take the step of banning Jewish prayer at the Mount, I guess that any other country (read non-Jewish ethnostate) would be willing to take even more concessions, especially when the opposite side of the pressure risks making them the target of a Jihadi holy war.

My guess would be they would be very much against it unless whatever body/country administers it has a solid reputation for taking Jewish interests to the site seriously.

My interactions with Israeli friends indicate that you could stop that sentence at the first clause -- the only reason they make any concessions at all to Muslim interests in the place is that kicking off an even broader holy war would be a big PITA.

That's the problem, writ small -- the underlying religious belief is that core-Israel is a land for Jews, and while they are prepared to fiddle with the actual geography of that around the edges, it's not a negotiable position, any more than 'river to sea' on the other side.

Admittedly I don't have an enormous sample, but from what I can tell these people are pretty representative of mainstream borderline secular Israel -- they don't like the Haredim much, and are supportive-ish of the WB settlers, if not super-keen. But giving an inch on territory is not on the table -- which seems pretty much of a mirror of that part of the Hamas position, and makes 'bloody war over religious differences' the only option on the table. Which is not something I approve of, although I guess it's lindy enough.