Comment for Natasha Hausdorff at UKLFI on Barghouti, UNGA and Eurovision

10:40 PM Friday.

Just posted as a comment on Natasha Hausdorff on Israel Eurovision row, new UN Resolutions and Marwan Barghouti:

Brilliant analysis as usual, Natasha. Thank you so much. I would be living in great darkness without all that UKLFI has done to open my eyes over the years. Three quick comments, in reverse order. On Barghouti, a small number of top Israeli intelligence and security officials believe his release might have more benefits than costs, at least in the context of a future two-state solution if that is ultimately the direction this ends up going for demographic reasons (contrary to San Remo). On the UNGA resolution, I haven't had time to read it, but if it fails to call for the disarming of Hamas and other reasonable security co-requisites to IDF withdrawal from demilitarized and properly governed Palestinian proto-state territory, shame on the General Assembly. With respect to Eurovision, the problem is that we do have a plausible genocide allegation from the UN HRC COI dated 16 September 2025. The COI report is not an ICJ ruling, of course, and it is riddled with problems, but I fear it does create a context, alongside the ICJ Advisory Opinion of July 2024, and the ICC arrest warrants, in which the boycott of Israel by 4 Eurovision states is comprehensible. For this reason, some might advise Israel to express "understanding and regret" with respect to the boycott, instead of righteous indignation. But I am not an "8th-front" security consultant to Israel, just a friend in upstate New York, so I share this thought with all due reservation. 

End 10:42 PM.