Endloesung?

August 6, 2025

I have admired the many pieces Paul Heywood-Smith has written on Palestine. And also the contributions of many others. I have hoped that John Menadue’s Pearls and Irritations wasn’t just an echo chamber, but that its powerful facts and writings were influencing general public opinion.

But, alas, now I think we are watching Benjamin Netanyahu and the government of Israel preparing for the Endloesung (final solution) for Gaza and the West Bank. Some say the world won’t allow it. Well, it has allowed the 60,000 deaths of the last 20 or so months in Palestine to occur with no firm action beyond unenforced legal dicta and much handwringing (allowing that up to the first two months after 7 October could be considered a proportionate response by Israel).

The key to resolution of the conflict has always been held by the US, Biden, then Trump. But also many presidents before. Trump isn’t going to safeguard Palestine. Sadly, I believe modern-day Palestine, with its ethnic and religious diversity, and talent, is going to pass into history, its people dispersed far and wide. And people like Biden, Trump, Albanese, Starmer, Carney, Merz, Macron, and many Arab leaders would have allowed it.