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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 19h

"... So do your duty, boys, and join with pride
Serve your country in her suicide
Find a flag so you can wave goodbye..."
Phil Ochs sure could write a lyric.
#ShabbatShalom
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOs9...

Phil Ochs - The War Is Over

YouTube video by PHILOCHSVEVO

www.youtube.com

Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

The ceasefire deal stipulates that "If both sides agree to this proposal, the war will immediately end". But it's not clear if Israel's gov't did, or did not, officially, statutorily vote to end the war. @talschneider.bsky.social explains why that 'legalism' matters. www.zman.co.il/631104/

בממשלה מתעקשים: לא התקבלה החלטה על סיום המלחמה – למרות שהסכם שארם קובע זאת במפורש

למרות שהשר דרמר חתם על ההסכם כפי שנוסח בשארם א-שייח' כנציג ממשלת ישראל, אשר קובע כי "המלחמה תסתיים מיידית עם החלטת הממשלה הישראלית", המסמך אינו חלק פורמלי מהחלטת הממשלה שהתקבלה הלילה * גורם ממשלתי בכי...

www.zman.co.il

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Reposted by Ron Skolnik

Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 1d

Not only is Trump’s use of the term “insurrection” a wild exaggeration of protests in Portland, but it’s also an obvious wink to the Insurrection Act, which can unlock great presidential powers. bit.ly/3IWUMED

There Is No Insurrection

Troops are for national defense, not displays of presidential power.

www.brennancenter.org

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

It is curious that, at the last minute, not as a demand of Hamas, but "likely due to pressure from security officials and bereaved families", 11 prisoners affiliated with Fatah were removed from, and 11 Hamas prisoners added to, the list of those to be released.

Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

The release of some pretty gruesome folks, involved in murdering Israeli noncombatants, following the release of the hostages is emotionally probably going to be like Memorial-Day-leading-into-Independence-Day - but in reverse. www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...

Israel finalizes list of Palestinian prisoners to be released under Gaza cease-fire

Israeli Defense Officials Warned That Many of Those Released Could Rise to Senior Positions in Hamas and Fatah in the Coming Years. 'We Are Essentially Releasing the Next Yahya Sinwar,' a Senior Defen...

www.haaretz.com

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Reposted by Ron Skolnik

Lee Drutman @leedrutman.bsky.social · 2d

Not much left-wing violence in America, apparently.
(If you trust The Economist, that socialist rag.)
www.economist.com/graphic-deta...

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

Israel's rejection of Marwan Barghouti's release is a political calculation much more than it's a security consideration. www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_ent...

Israel won’t free Marwan Barghouti in deal with Hamas for now, gov’t spokesperson says

* * *

www.timesofisrael.com

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 1d

Lovely thought! Impossible to know, but one can (and must) indeed hope.

Reposted by Ron Skolnik

Partners for Progressive Israel @partners4israel.bsky.social · 2d

We Welcome The First Phase of a Ceasefire Deal Between Israel and Hamas. "This deal is a first step towards [a] future" in which Israeli and Palestinian rights to safety, self-determination are recognized, and occupation and domination are brought to an end. progressiveisrael.org/statement-fi...

Partners for Progressive Israel Welcomes First Phase of Ceasefire Deal Between Israel and Hamas

October 9th, 2025 – It is with celebration and relief that Partners for Progressive Israel greets the news of an announced agreement to the first phase of an enduring ceasefire between Israel and Hama...

progressiveisrael.org

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 2d

The Israel-Hamas deal is a positive step 1. It's crucial it not remain the only step. Even before October 7, the Israel-Palestine status quo was unacceptable. The opportunity is now, once the hostages are free, to surge aid to Gaza, to surge diplomatic pressure to end occupation.

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 2d

This is a positive first step. It's crucial that this not remain the only step.

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 2d

This isn't the breaking news, of course. But it's so telling about the reality on the West Bank.

Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 2d

The 'smart money' is on what you say; still, I hope you're wrong (not in the sense of trusting Netanyahu and co. - only in the sense of perhaps Trump not liking to be made to look like a fool).

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 3d

A "foreign diplomat", Israeli journo Gili Cohen reports on the other site, has similarly expressed this concern, saying the focus of the talks is "how to guarantee that the deal will be able to move forward beyond the first stage". x.com/kann_news/st...

כאן חדשות on X: "היעד של המתווכות - הסכם עד יום שישי. גורם דיפלומטי המעורה במו"מ: "השיחות מתקדמות טוב מאוד. הדגש העיקרי: איך להבטיח שהעסקה תתקדם מעבר לשלב הראשון" | @gilicohen10 עם כל הפרטים #מהדורתכאןחדשות עם @TaliMoreno_ https://t.co/6orZBiwg6z" / X

היעד של המתווכות - הסכם עד יום שישי. גורם דיפלומטי המעורה במו"מ

x.com

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 3d

Netanyahu is ever looking for out clauses. And when they're not there, he invents them, as he did with the January ceasefire. Back then, Trump gave it his blessing. Would he do that again?

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 3d

Official Israel's focus on "the first stage" of the latest plan is understandable from a human, and domestic psychology and politics, standpoint. But it also leaves an uneasy feeling that Netanyahu has returned to the idea from earlier this year of not progressing past Stage 1.

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 3d

OP at x.com/mossi_raz/st...

Mossi Raz | מוסי רז | موسي راز 🟣 on X: "מתנגדי נתניהו לא נפגשו. נפגשו שישה מתנגדים. כל עוד הם לא מזמינים את ראשי המפלגות הערביות שמתנגדות לנתניהו עדיף שלא יפגשו" / X

מתנגדי נתניהו לא נפגשו. נפגשו שישה מתנגדים. כל עוד הם לא מזמינים את ראשי המפלגות הערביות שמתנגדות לנתניהו עדיף שלא יפגשו

x.com

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 3d

Former Meretz MK Mossi Raz wisely, wryly commented (on the other site): No, "Netanyahu's rivals didn't meet. Six of them did. As long as they don't invite the heads of Arab parties opposing Netanyahu, it'd be better if they didn't meet." www.ynetnews.com/article/hkjg...

Netanyahu’s rivals meet in secret, vow to topple government 'by this winter'

In a closed-door meeting without photos or Arab parties, Lapid, Gantz, Bennett, Lieberman, Eisenkot and Golan discussed plans to oust Netanyahu and backed Trump’s plan to free hostages and form a 'hea...

www.ynetnews.com

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 3d

A transparent, and not-particularly-creative, Itamar Ben-Gvir, is trying to redo Ariel Sharon's Temple Mount stunt from 2000 and, akin to what Sharon did to Oslo, provoke violence that would undermine the possibility of ending the military assault in Gaza. www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...

'We are the owners of Temple Mount': Far-right Ben-Gvir visits Al-Aqsa compound

In a Video From One of the Region's Most Sensitive Sites, the National Security Minister Said, 'Two Years After the Terrible [Oct. 7] Massacre, We Are Winning at the Temple Mount. Every House in Gaza ...

www.haaretz.com

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 3d

No brief statement can be perfect (because 'brief' means there can be no real historical treatment - and, even if you offered one, the jumping-off point would be a bone of contention), but this one by @sanders.senate.gov is very, very good. bsky.app/profile/sand...

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 3d

I have certain criticisms of @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social's statement - but the lambasting it's been receiving in some parts of the Twitterverse has been way over the top. And compared to the simplistic effort of #andrewcuomo, it clearly has the upper hand.

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 3d

Sadly, it's looking more and more like Trump rushed out his 'plan', motivated by vanity and the misplaced hope he could be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this Friday (even though nominations were closed months ago). www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...

Hamas demands full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza at same time as release of last hostage

A Senior Official Hamas Spoke to Al Jazeera and Revealed the Demand, Despite President Trump's Proposal Not Stipulating an Exact Timeframe for Israel's Full Withdrawal From Gaza

www.haaretz.com

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Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 4d

By father of hostages David and Ariel Cunio.
Every time "the negotiating team seems to clinch a deal, [Netanyahu] wrecks everything... Israel isn't what it used to be. The Jewish people have changed. The mutual responsibility we once had here is gone." www.haaretz.com/opinion/2025...

I believed in Zionism, now I have questions | Opinion

***

www.haaretz.com

Ron Skolnik @ronskolnik.bsky.social · 4d

Some nerve that Gidon Sa'ar, Israel's FM, who said: "I hope we are the closest to a hostage deal since the deal in January [2025]. We are doing everything we can to bring our hostages back." Israel violated that ceasefire deal, which would've led to the their release. www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...

Israeli team to head to Egypt for talks with Hamas on IDF pullback and prisoner releases

A Key Sticking Point Remains Israel's Demand for Veto Power Over the Selection of Palestinian Security Prisoners to Be Released. Netanyahu Has Said Israel Will Not Release Terrorists From Hamas' Elite...

www.haaretz.com

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Reposted by Ron Skolnik

Lee Drutman @leedrutman.bsky.social · 4d

or we could just move to proportional representation, make one statewide multimember district for Utah, and stop all this goddamn endless litigation.

Democracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 4d

UPDATE: Shortly after Utah GOP lawmakers passed another congressional gerrymander, pro-voting plaintiffs challenging the current map submitted fair map proposals to the court, arguing the legislature’s plan still violates Prop 4. A judge will decide which map complies by November.

Utah GOP Passes Gerrymandered Map, While Handcuffing Courts