Israel Just Admitted It — The World Has Had Enough | Max Blumenthal

The Summit as a Legacy Performance [00:00]

• The summit was framed as an "endgame" to resolve the Israel-Palestine crisis, with Donald Trump positioned as the peacemaker.
• The event was described as a public relations exercise for Trump, designed to enhance his legacy and secure a Nobel Peace Prize.
• Arab states present were perceived as attempting to exert leverage on Trump, an effort deemed "ridiculous" or "delusional."
• Trump's Knesset speech was interpreted as consolidating his image as a protector of "greater Israel."

"And Trump appears as though he has solved the most intractable problem in recent human history. And it gives the image of a resolution to the Israel Palestine crisis."

Allegations of Bribery and Policy Influence [03:57]

• Miriam Ad, a significant donor and frequent White House visitor, is alleged to have influenced US policy.
• It is claimed that Miriam Ad's money was used to bribe Trump to relocate the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
• This embassy move is considered a provocative act that may have contributed to subsequent escalations, such as events on October 7th, by increasing pressure on Palestinians in East Jerusalem and invalidating a Palestinian state capital there.
• Trump himself allegedly acknowledged being bribed by an "Israel first" billionaire for her country's interests.

"In fact, it was through Miriam Ad's money that Donald Trump was bribed to relocate the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which was an extremely provocative move that I think actually was a factor in October 7th..."

Suspicious Deaths and Unreliable Narratives in Egypt [06:01]

• The deaths of four Qatari negotiators in Egypt are highlighted, with the official story of them falling off a balcony being met with skepticism.
• Egypt is described as a difficult place for journalists, making it impossible to ascertain the truth of such incidents.
• The official explanation of a steering column breaking in a Mercedes Sprinter is deemed unbelievable.
• This pattern of dissidents and activists "falling off balconies" in Egypt is noted as a dark, recurring theme.
• There is a suggestion that these events could be acts of revenge, possibly linked to Israel targeting the Hamas negotiating team in Qatar.

"Um, actually, they just fell off a balcony, so I can't tell you. Um, that's what I was told. Our team just fell off a balcony."

Trump's Persona and Political Tactics [09:09]

• Trump's performance in the Knesset is described as humiliating his own position and that of the United States.
• His personal style is likened to that of a casino owner who enjoys entertaining an audience, reminiscent of old-school Vegas figures who applied "dirty tactics behind the scenes."
• Trump's public humiliation of his own daughter is noted, stemming from her perceived liberal leanings and involvement in a different power network.
• His comments on Netanyahu's legal issues are viewed through the lens of Trump's own accusations of corruption, suggesting a comparison where Netanyahu's alleged offenses pale in comparison.

"It's sort of like an old school almost like like like when the mafia owned Vegas and they would just come out and you know Bugsy and the guys would come out on stage with Dean Martin and the Rat Pack and they would joke around in front of the audience and at the same time they would apply some very dirty tactics behind the scenes."

The Political Calculus of Netanyahu's Pardon [13:13]

• A clever aspect of Trump's actions is seen in his comments regarding Netanyahu's potential pardon.
• It is argued that if Netanyahu is not pardoned, he is more likely to initiate a war with Iran to unite his coalition and distract from his legal troubles.
• Trump's suggestion that Netanyahu should be pardoned is interpreted as a strategic move to prevent such a war and keep Netanyahu out of power until his legal issues are resolved.
• Biden is criticized for not applying sufficient leverage to force a ceasefire, which would have destabilized Netanyahu's coalition.

"But finally, there is a clever piece to what Donald Trump is doing because if Netanyahu is not pardoned, and this is I mean it kind of took me too long to get to this point, so I apologize. But if Netanyahu is not pardoned, he is more likely to launch a war on Iran..."

Hamas Disarmament and Trump's Shifting Stance [15:01]

• The rhetoric of disarming Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza is questioned regarding its benefit to Trump's position.
• Trump's statements suggesting he would disarm Hamas are seen as unlikely to occur, pointing towards more conflict.
• A shift in Trump's position is observed, where he later conceded that Hamas was given permission to maintain order and "clean up" Gaza, acknowledging an agreement around Hamas retaining weapons.
• This development is viewed as a significant political blow to Netanyahu, who had promised his base total victory and disarming Hamas.

"So disarming Hamas for now is off the table. Maybe next week Donald Trump will say they need to be totally destroyed."

Israeli Political Factions and Gaza Settlements [21:36]

• A distinction is drawn between the religious nationalist messianists like Smotrich and Ben Gvir and the secular Netanyahu.
• Smotrich and Ben Gvir are described as having acted as "spoilers" in ceasefire negotiations until Trump intervened.
• Smotrich is portrayed as speaking for a religious nationalist camp seeking to re-establish settlements in Gaza, reminiscent of Gush Katif.
• The feasibility of settlers returning to Gaza is deemed unlikely due to Hamas still possessing weapons and the general failure of past settlement attempts in Gaza.

"They are different. I mean they're religious nationalist messianists. Netanyahu is completely secular."

Iran's Absence and Israel's Strategic Ambitions Towards Iran [26:02]

• Iran's decision not to participate in a conference in Egypt is attributed to US aggression and sanctions, though security concerns are also cited.
• The conference is viewed as a spectacle designed to showcase US dominance, which Iran chose to opt out of to maintain its independence.
• Israel's approach to Iran is characterized by a delusional belief in achieving regime change and engaging in "wars between wars."
• This strategy is seen as unlikely to succeed against Iran, which possesses stronger deterrence than Lebanon.
• The 12-day war is described as a political failure for Israel, having united the Iranian public against it due to civilian casualties and perceived terrorism.

"So they're specifically recruiting Iranians in uh the diaspora, but also inside Iran who work in these facilities. And weirdly, the Mossad is running these ads, this ad campaign through an LLC in Atlanta, Georgia..."

US-Iran Dynamics and Israeli Influence [41:15]

• The Trump administration's initial approach to the Houthis is contrasted with the current situation regarding Iran.
• A faction within the White House is identified as believing they can defeat Iran, influenced by figures like John Ratcliffe, who is described as Mossad's "stenographer."
• Ratcliffe's alleged role in convincing Trump that Iran was on the verge of nuclear weapons development is highlighted.
• The influence of Israeli intelligence and organizations like Aipac on US officials is a recurring theme.
• Despite potential internal divisions and public opposition to war with Iran, the political survival of Netanyahu and the fanaticism of some segments of the Israeli public are seen as driving factors towards conflict.

"I think the faction in the White House that believes it can defeat Iran was seated in the Knesset or the figures were seated in the Knesset. One of them right in front of Miriam Ad and that was John Ratcliffe..."