Hendrix's Eccentric Commentary

4/18/2026

Thoughts about the War in Iran:  In terms of who’s winning and who’s losing I am of the school that thinks that Iran, through seizing control of the Strait of Hormuz, is winning at the moment, and probably will be seen as empowered when things finally come to a finish.

There is one clear winner however in this war however:  Netanyahu and the political right wing of Israel.  The United States has had no discernible strategy in its War in Iran, but it is becoming clear that Israel is fighting, and largely succeeding. in becoming the hegemonic power in the Middle East and has cleverly maneuvered the United States into supporting this effort and helping to take down their greatest foe, Iran.

Israel is currently seizing and occupying chunks of Lebanon and Syria, and has made it clear that they intend to hold this territory, apparently for ever.  Bluntly put, Israel seems to feel emboldened to attack and bomb its neighbors, and seize whatever land it wants, anytime it wants to.

Beyond this, Israel has de facto annexed the West Bank and it is only a matter of time before this becomes de jure as well — and member of the Israeli government are quite happy to wink and nod to this reality, and sometime say so explicitly as well.  Meanwhile the settlers are busy ethnic cleansing, making life as unpleasant as possible for the Palestinians so that they will leave the West Bank.  The “two-sate solution” is gone and pretending that it a realistic alternative is simply defying reality — not least because Netanyahu says exactly that.

Beyond this, Gaza is a disaster area and there is no realistic sign that Israel intends to allow that to change.

Bluntly put, Israel is seizing territory to assemble a “Greater Israel” that will not only stretch from the river to the sea, but includes “buffer zones” of occupied territory seized from its neighbors as well.

Domestically, Israel is becoming an ethno-religous state with politics that seem to be becoming more authoritarian and a two-tiered, at best, citizenship in Israel proper, and what really does look like apartheid in  the occupied territories.

I am sorry to say all this.  Like most of my generation I grew up with an image of Israel and Israeli’s as heroic.  Yes, Israel lived in a bad neighborhood but as one of the good guys.  Sadly it seems that those days have passed

Looking from the point of view of the other side, would you want to live next-door to Israel?  Are they good neighbors — or have they turned into the bullies who beat up.on the weaker kids at will?

All of this is my lead to saying that, like many other people, I believe that it is time for the United States to sever most of its  ties with Israel. This War with Iran is many different things, but a very big part of it is the expansion of the Israeli Empire.  I see no reason for the United States to support a hegemonic Israel that is expansionistic, offers, at best, an apartheid state for the Palestinians who remain within their borders, and seem more interested in fighting regular wars with its neighbors instead attempting  to live with them, and are busy turning themselves into some sort of militant Jewish state.   There might be little that the United States can do to stop this but we have been enabler for to long and it is time to stop doing so.