Netanyahu: End the War. Please.

"There are still parents who have been waiting for 635 agonizing days. Every one of them, every day. Waiting to see their children or spouses or parents — dead or alive. Netanyahu: Cut the deal."

By Michael Golden

It has been 635 days. More than 90 weeks. Two-hundred and fifty-one innocent hostages who were kidnapped, then tortured, starved, or killed. Fifty remain, 28 dead, 20 alive and two in question.

It is time for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war. And there’s a window. He should take it.

Jewdicious was launched six weeks before Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel and the ensuing war. Since that point, I’ve written much in this space about the ongoing conflict, mostly about Hamas’s and other Palestinian governing bodies’ intractable position going back decades. I’ve driven the point home that if all you want to do is eliminate Jews from the planet — which by definition includes a refusal to negotiate any peaceful coexistence — then you put Israel in an impossible position. And you reap what you sow.

Beyond that, I’ve chosen not to criticize Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government in how it executed the war. This was my personal decision and it has been my practice long before the war. There have always been two reasons for it:

1) Israel and the Jews have been cornered forever by a world bent on scapegoating us — and when taken to its furthest point — trying to remove us via murder from the planet. Israel has it hard enough being attacked and getting constant criticism from most of the world; how could it be productive for me to pile on?

2) As a diaspora Jew living in America, I have always felt that I don’t have the proper level of “skin in the game” to go popping off about Israel’s government. I don’t live there under constant threat. I don’t vote. I don’t contribute to their economy. I haven’t served in the Israel Defense Forces. To me it always felt like it would be an arrogant and counterproductive action to just rip the things I disapprove of.

Maybe I was wrong.

A few days ago I read an open letter that was sent to The New York Times by a group called Commanders for Israeli’s Security. The relevant portion:

“As a movement of over 550 retired senior officials from Israel’s defense, security and diplomatic services, our lifelong mission has been to secure the future of Israel as the strong, democratic home of the Jewish people… Recent events have led to passionate and sometimes painful debates within Jewish communities worldwide, particularly regarding the situation in Gaza. Many in the diaspora have voiced concerns publicly. Consequently, some have faced harsh criticism. Accused of weakening Israel or betraying their connection to the Jewish state, they are told that those who live abroad or do not serve in the I.D.F. must keep silent. We categorically reject the notion that Jews in the diaspora must remain silent on matters concerning Israel… To those who fear that public criticism undermines Israel, we say that open, honest dialogue only reinforces our democracy and our security."

It definitely made me think. I have no illusions about my own minuscule voice having any effect on what’s going on. But the Commanders’ point is that it all adds up.

To be clear, as I have stated time and again, the responsibility of starting this war and the repercussions that were sure to follow will always rest squarely in one place: the terrorist regime of Hamas. Israel, like any country or entity or individual — cannot negotiate across any table if there’s an empty chair on the other side of it. And the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7 — I still haven’t been able to find the right words to describe the barbarity of these killers. Animals.

I have marched in different states to keep focus on the hostages and make the ask for their release. I have written and posted #BringThemHomeNow dozens of times. But I have never asked or demanded for Israel’s Prime Minister to end the war. Until now.

Marching last week with "#RunForTheirLives in Phoenix, Arizona.

I cannot find evidence anywhere that indicates there are additionally meaningful gains to be made in this war against Hamas, and especially versus the “collateral damage” that comes with it. And then reputational damage that comes with that. Israel is always up against world criticism, but giving critics a cudgel to better do the job on it doesn’t seem wise. That ship may have sailed anyway.

But there are still parents who have been waiting for 635 agonizing days. Every one of them, every day. Waiting to see their children or spouses or parents — dead or alive. It pains my fingers to even type the words.

I’ve never liked Benjamin Netanyahu’s politics, private dealings or publicapproach. If I lived in Israel during the weeks leading up to the Oct. 7 assault, I would have been out on the streets protesting against his far right government’s power grab to weaken the Supreme Court. And once Hamas successfully carried out its mass murder and abductions, I would have been back out on the street calling for Netanyahu’s resignation. Or a promise to resign after the war. Take responsibility. Like a leader.

In his defense, it’s no small thing what the IDF has accomplished over the last 19 months in the Middle East: Israel has reshaped the regional order. Through incredibly skillful and brave military action, Israel has flipped the power balance in its favor versus vengeful states and proxies: Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, Syria and Lebanon. It’s huge. And now it’s a new day.

Please, Mr. Prime Minister: Cut the deal being mediated by Qatar and the United States. No excuses or protracted cease-fires that give you the wiggle room to wiggle out of. The consensus I see from all of the data out there is that you’ve done that before. Only the two negotiating parties know for sure, but I and a whole lot of other people simply don’t trust your word. And if Hamas does not deliver the hostages, or violates other agreed to provisions — just as in Iran — you can always go right back in.

Lastly, your country’s public opinion should matter. Resent polls indicate that 61% of Israelis want the war to end in exchange for the remaining hostages.

Whether all of the steps you took in Gaza to defend and protect Israelis following Oct. 7 were all justified, I have serious doubts. A ton of others are a lot more certain in their opinions. But all wars are fucking hell. And one more time — there’s only one party that triggered this hell.

But right now, you have the chance to salvage what’s left of the 251 innocents who were kidnapped, beaten and starved. The 50 who still remain in captivity.

You’re the only one with the power to do it, and a massive amount of leverage right now.

MICHAEL GOLDEN is the Editor-In-Chief of JEWDICIOUS and The Golden Mean.

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