Hezbollah – mackaycartoons

Wednesday October 2, 2024

October 8, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday October 8, 2024

Animated making-of clip here!

A Year After October 7: The Dead End of Hamas’s Brutality and the World’s Inaction

September 28, 2024

As we mark the first anniversary of Hamas’s brutal assault on Israel, it is impossible to overstate the devastating consequences of that attack—not just for the Israelis and Palestinians but for the broader goal of peace in the Middle East. In his recent essay, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman forcefully condemned Hamas’s actions on October 7, calling them not only indefensible but also a severe setback to any hopes for a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He is right. Hamas’s violence, fuelled by hatred and driven by no goal other than destruction, has shattered any glimmers of hope for the long-term solution that should be the only acceptable outcome: two states for two peoples, living side by side in dignity and peace.

Thomas L. Friedman: What I’m Thinking About on the First Anniversary of the War

The attack, in which Hamas brutally murdered, kidnapped, and terrorized Israeli civilians, was horrific. It left communities devastated, families shattered, and deepened the abyss of mutual mistrust and hostility. But beyond the raw brutality, what is particularly tragic is how much this act has set back the cause of Palestinian statehood—the very cause Hamas claims to represent. By engaging in terrorism rather than constructive diplomacy, Hamas not only reignited Israel’s fury but also reinforced global skepticism about the possibility of a peaceful Palestinian leadership emerging in Gaza.

March 20, 2024

For decades, the two-state solution has been seen by many, including Friedman and countless international diplomats, as the only viable path to peace. Yet Hamas’s actions have pushed that vision further out of reach. It was a strategic blunder as much as it was a moral atrocity, handing Israel the justification to retaliate with overwhelming force and to focus on military victory rather than any long-term political solution.

And what of the innocent civilians on both sides? The war has inflicted untold suffering on ordinary people, caught in the crossfire of this seemingly endless conflict. In Israel, families live in constant fear of rocket attacks. In Gaza, civilians—women, children, the elderly—are paying the price for Hamas’s decision to embed itself in residential areas, hospitals, and schools. Gaza’s residents, already living in crippling poverty and under blockade, have been subjected to unimaginable horrors. Hospitals have been bombed, neighbourhoods reduced to rubble, and the humanitarian crisis has worsened by the day. Israel’s military actions, aimed at Hamas, have also caused widespread civilian casualties, deepening the despair of a people who have already suffered for far too long.

Yet as Friedman rightly points out, Israel, too, bears responsibility for its inability to offer a vision for Gaza beyond “total victory” over Hamas. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government has pursued a war strategy that, without a plan for what comes next, risks turning Gaza into an eternal battlefield. The relentless bombing of schools and homes to kill a few militants is not a long-term solution, and it only solidifies Israel’s image as a brutal occupier in the eyes of much of the world. Without articulating a vision for peace—a real future for the Palestinians who live in Gaza—Israel will never be able to claim victory in the broader battle for the moral high ground.

October 20, 2023

The international community, for its part, has failed miserably in its responsibility to broker peace and end the senselessness. For a year, global leaders have stood by, wringing their hands while the violence escalates, incapable or unwilling to step in and demand a cease-fire, negotiate a viable solution, or impose any meaningful consequences for war crimes. The United States, under President Biden, has sent mixed messages—offering tepid warnings to Israel while continuing to supply weapons. Meanwhile, Europe, once a voice for human rights, has largely remained silent as Gaza burns. The global community’s dysfunction and impotence are a tragedy of their own, enabling the continuation of violence and suffering.

News: War rages on multiple fronts as Israel marks a year since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack

Friedman also touches on a darker undercurrent in Israeli politics: Prime Minister Netanyahu’s apparent interest in prolonging the war to serve his own political needs. Facing corruption charges, Netanyahu has used the conflict to delay his day in court and to bolster his standing with his far-right allies, who demand total victory and the continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank. This political calculus, combined with a lack of coherent strategy, risks dragging Israel into a perpetual cycle of violence, one in which neither peace nor security can ever be fully achieved.

October 14, 2023

This anniversary is a grim reminder of what happens when extremism, short-term thinking, and cynical political maneuvering drive policy instead of a genuine commitment to peace. Hamas, with its embrace of terror and rejection of diplomacy, has done as much harm to the Palestinian cause as it has to Israeli civilians. Meanwhile, Israel’s military response, unchecked by the international community and lacking any clear endgame, has deepened the suffering of Palestinians and alienated the global moral support it once relied on.

But there is a way forward—if only the world will seize it. As Friedman suggests, the key lies in rebuilding a legitimate Palestinian partner for peace, one that is capable of leading Gaza and the West Bank toward statehood. The Palestinian Authority, despite its flaws, remains the only viable alternative to Hamas. Israel must support its reform and empower it to govern Gaza, as part of a broader vision of two states. At the same time, the international community must pressure Israel to halt settlement expansion and recognize that permanent occupation and endless war will never bring security or peace.

It is a bitter irony that, one year after the October 7 attacks, the future seems bleaker than ever for both Israelis and Palestinians. But it does not have to be this way. There is still a path toward peace, if leaders on all sides are willing to take it. That path, however, requires an end to violence, an end to cynicism, and a renewed commitment to the only solution that can ever bring lasting justice and security: two states for two peoples, living side by side. Anything less is not just a failure of leadership—it is a failure of humanity. (AI)

Letter to the Editor, The Hamilton Spectator, Wednesday October 9, 2024

Cartoon an ‘inversion of reality’

October 9, 2024 letter

Graeme Mackay’s Oct. 8 cartoon depicted Israel’s prime minister fighting over a dove with Iran’s ayatollah, standing over a mountain of bones. This caricature drew an obscene moral equivalence.

One year ago, Hamas (an Iranian-backed terrorist proxy), launched the biggest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. The next day, Hezbollah, another Iranian proxy, began firing 10,000 rockets indiscriminately into Israel. Soon the Houthis in Yemen and other groups allied with Iran joined in. All of them are sworn to Israel’s destruction.

And yet Israel — for refusing to lie down and die — is put in the same category as the genocidal maniacs who seek to destroy it, and whose followers have been rampaging on our streets for a year? This is akin to showing Hitler and Churchill fighting over a mountain of graves and is an absolute inversion of reality.

Robert Walker, assistant director, Honest Reporting Canada

Letter to the Editor, The Hamilton Spectator, Thursday October 10, 2024

Innocents caught in the crossfire
Re: Cartoon an ‘inversion of reality’ Oct. 9

October 10, 2024

Graeme MacKay’s Oct. 8 cartoon depicted the reality of what is now happening in Gaza and the West Bank. What happened on Oct. 7, 2023, is pure horror for the people of Israel and for Jews around the world. As for how it was allowed to happen, the Israeli people deserve an honest answer.

For Israel, when it comes to defending its people, that is totally understandable. What the gentleman from HonestReporting Canada has failed to see is, peace is something that is earned. In all honesty whether it is Hamas, an extremely violent terrorist group, or prime minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu — both have caused the deaths of thousands of innocent people. The failure to see what has happened to these people is unconscionable.

Margo May Taylor, Ancaster

Saturday September 28, 2024

October 1, 2024 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday September 28, 2024

Animated making-of clip here!

Netanyahu’s Escalation Risks Broader Conflict While Peace Remains Abandoned

December 20, 2023

Thomas L. Friedman’s recent analysis of the Israel-Hezbollah-Hamas-Iran conflict in The New York Times frames the issue as part of a global battle between a “coalition of inclusion” and a “coalition of resistance,” with Israel standing at a critical junction. While this perspective offers a compelling geopolitical narrative, it glosses over key realities on the ground. As Benjamin Netanyahu’s military offensive expands from Gaza to Lebanon, it seems less about securing peace and more about consolidating power through the elimination of key leadership figures in Hamas and Hezbollah. The harsh humanitarian toll and the escalating risks of broader regional conflict suggest a more dangerous path—one where peace is sidelined and devastation deepens.

Opinion: What This Israel-Hezbollah-Hamas-Iran Conflict is Really About

October 14, 2023

The insightful reporting by Ben Hubbard and Alissa J. Rubin in The New York Times vividly documents the devastating impact of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The relentless bombardment, aimed at dismantling Hamas leadership, has destroyed civilian infrastructure, flattened entire neighbourhoods, and displaced thousands. This is not a fight that ends with the death of key leaders; instead, it’s a cycle that perpetuates destruction, creating a new generation of anger and despair among Palestinians. As Friedman correctly notes, Netanyahu’s military campaign against Iran’s proxies is framed as part of a larger international conflict, but it’s also clear that this strategy is profoundly damaging to those living under fire.

Analysis: Facing a Big Test, Iran’s ‘Axis of Resistance’ Flails

Hubbard and Rubin emphasize the cost of this war not only in terms of lives lost but in the complete collapse of basic services and governance in Gaza. Hospitals are overwhelmed, water supplies are compromised, and electricity is scarce. Civilians bear the brunt of a war in which they have little say, caught between the militant tactics of Hamas and the overwhelming military power of Israel. Netanyahu’s military strategy may succeed in taking down Hamas leaders, but at the cost of eroding any prospects for a peaceful future in the region.

October 20, 2023

Netanyahu’s widening offensive in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah in the north, risks expanding the humanitarian catastrophe beyond Gaza. Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah, now killed in an Israeli strike, was seen as a destabilizing force, but his death, like the toppling of Hamas leadership, is unlikely to bring about the peace Israel claims to be fighting for. As Hubbard and Rubin detail, the fear in Lebanon is palpable. The nation is already teetering on the edge of collapse due to its political paralysis, economic crisis, and a vast influx of refugees. Further destabilization from Israeli military actions could push Lebanon into outright disaster, echoing the ruin seen in Gaza.

Reader comments on Friedman’s analysis rightly point out the complexities Israel faces. One reader highlighted the entanglement of Israel’s military leadership with its far-right settler movement. Many high-ranking Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) officers come from these settlements, complicating any move toward a two-state solution or territorial concessions. The settlements—long supported by Netanyahu’s government—are not just political bargaining chips; they are deeply entrenched in Israel’s defence and security infrastructure. As one reader argued, Israel may be stuck in a “bear trap” of its own making. Any serious disengagement from the occupied territories risks not only international fallout but potential civil unrest within Israel itself.

November 10, 2023

The parallels Friedman draws between Israel’s regional struggle and the broader post-Cold War global order are illuminating but ultimately incomplete. While Israel is fighting proxies of Iran, Russia’s war in Ukraine is driven by similar attempts to resist Western inclusion. Yet, as one reader commented, America itself seems to be straddling the line between inclusion and resistance, particularly given the rise of populist, authoritarian-leaning movements at home. In this sense, the struggle between inclusion and resistance is not just an external geopolitical dynamic—it is one that many countries, including the U.S. and Israel, are grappling with internally.

Friedman’s argument that Israel can emerge as a stabilizing force through an alliance with Saudi Arabia overlooks the core issue of Palestinian sovereignty. While Netanyahu’s government seeks to normalize relations with Arab states like Saudi Arabia, the price of such an alliance—ignoring the plight of Palestinians—will likely prove unsustainable. As Ben Hubbard and Alissa J. Rubin report, the Israeli offensive against Hamas and Hezbollah has sparked widespread condemnation across the Arab world. Social media is flooded with posts calling out the destruction and human cost in Gaza and Lebanon. Saudi Arabia and other regional players may see the long-term benefit of aligning with Israel, but public opinion in these countries cannot ignore the ongoing suffering of Palestinians.

October 18, 2022

One of the key questions raised by both Friedman and the reader comments is whether Netanyahu has a plan beyond the military victories he seeks. The answer seems to be no. As one commenter noted, Netanyahu’s far-right coalition has shown little interest in pursuing peace or reconciliation with the Palestinians. The maps Netanyahu held up during his UN speech may reflect his vision of Israel’s place in the world, but their omission of Gaza and the West Bank underscores his government’s unwillingness to confront the realities of occupation and Palestinian statehood. Without a diplomatic strategy that addresses the core grievances of Palestinians, Netanyahu’s military victories will only be pyrrhic, ensuring more instability in the long run.

Hubbard and Rubin’s reporting, along with Friedman’s broader analysis, paints a picture of a region on the brink of broader conflict. The elimination of key leadership figures in Hamas and Hezbollah may satisfy short-term military objectives, but it is unlikely to lead to a lasting peace. Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas, will not simply abandon its proxies, and its response may come in ways that Israel and its allies are unprepared for. The risks of escalation, both within the region and involving global powers like Russia and China, are very real. Moreover, the humanitarian cost of these wars—particularly in Gaza and Lebanon—will only deepen the divides between Israel and the Arab world, making the prospect of normalization with Saudi Arabia ever more complicated.

While Netanyahu’s strategy may deliver tactical victories by eliminating Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, it is a strategy that comes with severe humanitarian costs and escalates the risk of broader conflict. True peace will require more than military dominance—it will demand a commitment to diplomacy, reconciliation, and a genuine effort to address the root causes of conflict, particularly Palestinian self-determination. Until Netanyahu and his government are willing to engage in meaningful peace efforts, the region will remain locked in cycles of violence and destruction. (AI)