Saturday, October 18, 2025

Final Thoughts upon Returning to Chicago

Now that the war is over (hopefully), and I’ve had a chance to think about it, I realized that I was here when the war began on October 7th — and I’m so grateful to be here for its conclusion. I pray that this will truly be the end. That Hamas will ultimately disarm.

The fact that they haven’t yet, and seem to have no intention of doing so, is very concerning. My hope is that they will come to their senses, just as they did regarding the return of all the living hostages.

My sense is that those hostages were their only leverage — and that they gave them up out of fear of being annihilated by an American-backed IDF that promised to do just that. They must know that if they don’t disarm, all bets are off, and the IDF will go back in and finish the job — with the full blessing of the U.S. I’d hate for that to happen, but if it must, it will.

Still, I pray that there will be no more fighting or bloodshed, and that — moving forward — peace between Israel and her neighbors will finally be achieved.

My wife and I are off to Chicago, having just completed a wonderful Yom Tov with my son and his family, which now includes five of the most adorable great-grandchildren anyone could ever ask for.

New post on Monday.

14 comments:

  1. If the war is over-Hamas in control of areas where Israel left-maybe elsewhere too. Israel has lost the war-Hamas still in control of Gaza, strategic loss of world support-good chance should have stopped the war anyway to minimize further losses but did it under US Prez orders.US would never have given close to 50-1 for hostage returns. Not a celebration.

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    1. Your TDS is so overwhelming that you pray for this being the answer. You forget that Trump and Israel will not let that happen. Having lost the leverage of hostages, Hamas is kaput.

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    2. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/hkx3thzrxg

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    3. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-870914 note heavy US pressure on Israel

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    4. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjldmqe0ex#autoplay shows US bosses Israel around

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  2. Israel now facing very close Trump allies Edrogan, Qatar-both big supporters of Hamas. Trump much more concerned about them than Bibi or Israel-money and geopolitics. Interesting blinders on people refusing to see any RW who is not pro-Israel but more pro Keseph and power.

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    1. Trump established a 21-point program that he is committed to pursuing; Qatar and Turkey are in no position to interfere. IAC, we will shortly see how wrong you are.

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    2. We will see eventually who has been correct and who has not been. Trump has an interesting ability many people on opposite sides of issues believe Trump is on their side-or due tio the well known fact that he will destroy a country if he is not treated as all knowing all powerful everyone has to lie and say how great he is. Neither of us know what Trump-the one who forced Israel not to annex both in 1st term and now? the one who praises Arab dictators for their wealth? Nobody knows.

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    3. Your negativity is astounding, mycroft. Your critics are correct. You would actually prefer that Israel suffers if it makes Natanyahu and Trump look bad.

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    4. Nonsense-it is people who have Trump Devotion Syndrom e who can't admit that Trump wants a deal at all costs-couldn't care less about Israel-see e.g. latest news doesn't blame Hamas https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-870985

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    5. pathetic; you are beyond belief. Trump brought the hostages home and will bring Saudi Arabia into the Abrahamic accords

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    6. Forcing Israel to release 250 terrorists with life sentences, plus 1700 more in exchange for 20 hostages by itself a big defeat which Trump forced on the democratically elected government of Israel.Ah Trump Devotion Syndrome-see Trump Qatar, Edrogan big Hamas supporters.

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    7. You sound like Ben-Gvir. According to you, w should have just let Hamas torture them all to death, Right. mycroft?
      They would surely have done so eventually. Especially to people they consider to be their Amalek!

      Continuing to hold them hostage would not have led to a cease fire anyway. So why not get the Mitzvah of killing Jews?!

      Very brave rhetoric for someone who doesn't have a close relative as one of the hostages.

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    8. As Guelah Cohen was once asked what would she do if it were her child-she said as mother would want everything to be given away to save her child, but as a government minister who'd have to look at future of the state and total lives lost would have to look at that as criteria. Note obviously what was war for NOT to save lives of hostages-far more Israelis killed fighting in Gaza than hostages that came out. None because of war-it was at the end Israel being forced to capitulate-after all Trump promised hostages be released-was obvious back then that it would mean pressuring Israel. Note Trump has dealt with Hamas and is so desperate for the agreement to hold that when Hamas killls Israeli soldiers his answer is leaders of Hamas were not violating but variouis groups-note NO other US Administration be it REP or DEMS has put so much pressure against Israel to do things as Trump. Bibi can't admit facing election and he destroyed bipartisan suppport for Israel putting all his eggs in GOP. Israel can't compete with leaders in the MidEast who Trump loves starting with Qatar and Edrogan. Trump respects money-Qatar Arab Gulf has it and has made deals with Trump and his family.
      I don't have close relatives as hostages but have had during this war close relatives in IDF and another close relative becoming a chaysal boded but irrelevant-precisely as Guelah Cohen states can't run a country on doing everything for an individual-see Maharam MeRouthenberg and his answer to excessive ransom. I have nothing against Shalit family doing everything to get their son released but that comparatively minor ransom led to thousands of Israeli deaths-how many Sinwars released among the 250 who were serving life sentences?
      If going to give more ransom because Hamas will torture them more-what have you guaranteed for the next hostage? More torture-they've got prison almost clear of terrorists what's next return of Beth Shemesh and Jerusalem to Arab for hostages?
      Does US or ANBY other country give close to the ratio of ransom that Israel does? Why do you think hostages are taken you get a lot.
      Hate to say it-if not willing to fight in the MidEast won't exist as a country -ones opponents are willing to fight.

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