Weekend Quotables
Netanyahu says IDF will cross Biden's "red line." and invade Rafah. Artists, actors, speak out on Gaza at the Oscars.
Pres. Biden’s weak response to Israel’s aid blockade and threatened assault on Rafah was a green-light signal to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While Biden expressed dissatisfaction with the threatened invasion of Rafah, he then promised that arms shipments to Israel would continue no matter what.
After first threatening to have a “come to Jesus meeting” with Netanyahu, Biden went on to assure him, "I am never going to leave Israel," in a wide-ranging interview with MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart.
"The defense of Israel is still critical. There’s no red line [where] I’m going to cut off all weapons, so they don’t have the Iron Dome to protect them."
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Netanyahu now says he intends to press ahead with an invasion of the of Rafah on the southern border of the Gaza Strip in defiance of United States President Joe Biden, who has warned such an offensive would be a "red line."
Israel's prime minister also doubled down on his rejection of the possibility of a Palestinian state — a topic that pits Israel against most of the rest of the world.
“We've destroyed three-quarters of Hamas' fighting terrorism battalions. And we're close to finishing the last part in warfare,” the Israeli leader said. Fighting would not “take more than two months. Maybe six weeks, maybe four." — Politico
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At the Oscars
Several attendees, including Billie Eilish and Finneas, best song nominees for “What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie,” wore Artists for Ceasefire pins.
The pins were handed out by Artists4Ceasefire, a group of actors, celebrities, and entertainment industry members who have signed an open letter urging US President Biden to call for “an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel.”
Some 400 artists have signed the letter, including Mandy Patinkin, Jennifer Lopez, Richard Gere, and Susan Sarandon.
Jonathan Glazer after the Oscar award
In his speech after winning the Best International Film award for "The Hotspot" at the Oscars, Glazer speaks out against Israel's use of the Holocaust as a weapon to commit genocide against the Palestinian people.
"We are here as [Jewish] men who refute that their Judaism and the Holocaust are being hijacked by an occupation." — Guardian
Greg Mitchell
I did note the very few stars wearing red buttons calling for ceasefire amid general Hollywood cop-out (30,000 dead mainly via our weapons and with our support). — Between Rock and a Hard Place
Houston Chronicle Editorial slams Gov. Abbott on vouchers
What’s disturbing about the governor’s voucher obsession is his naked obeisance to wealthy special interests who manifestly do not have the best interests of the people of Texas at heart. Their ultimate aim, even if it’s not necessarily the governor’s, is to transform Texas into a Christian-dominated, biblically based state. — Chronicle
Sen. Bernie Sanders
The American people are increasingly disgusted by the destruction of Gaza and the unbelievable misery that is befalling the Palestinian people. This must end. No more taxpayer dollars to fund Netanyahu’s war machine. — Face The Nation