Deep context of Israel-Hamas war

+ Saudi-Israel normalization on hold; how Iran wins in war US Edition - Today's top story: Deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust spurs a crisis of confidence in the idea of Israel – and its possible renewal [View in browser]( US Edition | 19 October 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( I’ve long wanted to steal the unofficial motto of the news publication edited by my brother in Europe: “We give you the background of the news, not the foreground.” That’s what we do at The Conversation, too, and that’s how we have covered the war in Israel-Gaza that started almost two weeks ago. You can tune into CNN or read The New York Times or AP’s websites for up-to-the-minute reporting. You can read our coverage to understand why those things are happening. This newsletter is a showcase of our coverage since the beginning of the war. Here are some notable recent stories: - [Deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust spurs a crisis of confidence in the idea of Israel – and its possible renewal]( - [Gaza depends on UN and other global aid groups for food, medicine and basic services – Israel-Hamas war means nothing is getting in]( - [Saudi plans to ‘de-risk’ region has taken a hit with Gaza violence − but hitting pause on normalization with Israel will buy kingdom time]( - [A reflexive act of military revenge burdened the US − and may do the same for Israel]( - [Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system works well – here’s how Hamas got around it]( Last week in this newsletter, I said we would keep covering this war, which was nowhere near over. We commit to the same thing today: To cover the context, history and ramifications of this tragic event via the expertise of scholars who know the subject at the deepest level. Like I said, the background, not the foreground. Naomi Schalit Senior Editor, Politics + Democracy Family and friends of those taken hostage by Hamas during an attack on Israel react during a press conference on Oct. 13, 2023, in Tel Aviv, Israel. Leon Neal/Getty Images [Deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust spurs a crisis of confidence in the idea of Israel – and its possible renewal]( Avner Cohen, Middlebury Institute of International Studies Israel’s foundational social contract – that the government would keep Israelis safe – was severed with the deadly attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. The 1973 Yom Kippur War proved a watershed moment in Middle East conflict and Israel’s politics. Daniel Rosenblum/Keystone/Getty Images [Hamas assault echoes 1973 Arab-Israeli war – a shock attack and questions of political, intelligence culpability]( Dov Waxman, University of California, Los Angeles Failings leading up to the Arab-Israeli War of 50 years ago cost the then Israeli prime minister their job. Could history repeat? Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Riyadh on Oct. 15, 2023. Royal Court of Saudi Arabia/Anadolu via Getty Images [Saudi plans to ‘de-risk’ region has taken a hit with Gaza violence − but hitting pause on normalization with Israel will buy kingdom time]( Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Rice University A decade of de-escalation among Gulf states could be at risk if Israel-Hamas violence spills across region. And that could threaten Saudi plans to transform the kingdom. [The Israel-Hamas war: No matter who loses, Iran wins]( Aaron Pilkington, University of Denver The Palestinian fighters who launched deadly attacks into Israel on Oct. 7 are not Iranian puppets – but they are doing the work Iran wants done. [Hamas and Hezbollah: how they are different and why they might cooperate against Israel]( Julie M Norman, UCL Hezbollah’s full involvement in the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict would likely open up a regional war. [Israel has no good options for dealing with Hamas’ hostage-taking in Gaza]( James Forest, UMass Lowell An estimated 150 hostages were taken by Hamas in Israel and brought back to Gaza. The government of Israel faces tough choices in dealing with the crisis. [Gaza depends on UN and other global aid groups for food, medicine and basic services – Israel-Hamas war means nothing is getting in]( Topher L. McDougal, University of San Diego Many people in Gaza are reliant on the United Nations and other international aid groups to meet their basic needs, like food and medical care. A scholar of peace and conflict economics explains why. - [How the ‘laws of war’ apply to the conflict between Israel and Hamas]( Robert Goldman, American University A scholar of the laws of war explores the complex issues raised by Israeli bombing of Gaza in retaliation for the slaughter of its citizens. - [Hamas was unpopular in Gaza before it attacked Israel – surveys showed Gazans cared more about fighting poverty than armed resistance]( Nathan French, Miami University Politicians have used their assumptions about Gazans to support their policies. But the people in Gaza experience these policies far differently, writes a scholar of Islamism. - [Decades of underfunding, blockade have weakened Gaza’s health system − the siege has pushed it into abject crisis]( Yara M. Asi, University of Central Florida Hospitals have been destroyed, and doctors and health care staff killed. Gaza’s health services may take years to recover, warns a Palestinian health specialist. - [A reflexive act of military revenge burdened the US − and may do the same for Israel]( Peter Mansoor, The Ohio State University The US response to 9/11 included a declaration that America would destroy its enemies. The effort took decades, and thousands of lives on both sides, and never really succeeded. - [How did Israeli intelligence miss Hamas’ preparations to attack? A US counterterrorism expert explains how Israeli intelligence works]( Javed Ali, University of Michigan Israel’s intelligence capacities are considered some of the best in the world – but unlike the US, it does not have a central organization coordinating all intelligence. - [Israel-Gaza conflict: when social media fakes are rampant, news verification is vital]( - [Egypt’s Rafah crossing is a lifeline to Palestinians living in Gaza – but opening it is still unresolved]( - [Intelligence failure or not, the Israeli military was unprepared to respond to Hamas’ surprise attack]( - [Reflections on hope during unprecedented violence in the Israel-Hamas war]( - [Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system works well – here’s how Hamas got around it]( Like this newsletter? 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