Israeli officials are facing backlash after years of Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu quietly allowing Hamas to remain in power.

But reporting in the New York Times has revealed that Netanyahu’s government was more hands-on about helping Hamas: they helped a Qatari diplomat bring suitcases of cash into Gaza, indirectly boosting the militant organization, according to the report.

The calculus — the Times reported on Sunday, citing Israeli officials, Netanyahu’s critics, and the man’s own reported statements — was to keep Hamas strong enough to counteract the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, allowing Netanyahu to avoid a two-state peace solution and keep both sides weak.

Israeli security officials got it wrong; they didn’t think Hamas was capable, or even interested, in launching a large attack against the Jewish state.

  • dlpkl@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    I believe they’re talking about the Haavara agreement. From my understanding the Jewish community worldwide was boycotting Nazi Germany by not doing business with them, and the Haavara agreement was seen as cooperation with the Nazis and their anti-Semitic policy.

    • nonailsleft@lemm.ee
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      11 months ago

      That agreement was about paying nazi Germany to facilitate migration to Israel. But riccosuave is making a comparison with Bibi sacrificing a few thousand of his citizens to create a casus belli. So I guess/hope he’s talking about something else?