The beginning of the week was actually a joyful one in the Middle East when a new ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect resulting in the release of the remaining living hostages taken on October 7 and the pulling back of Israelis military forces to agreed upon positions.
The 20 point peace plan, which has many fathers including Joe Biden, Tony Blair, and even Donald Trump, is currently in phase one with the return of the hostages (alive and dead,) the pulling back of Israelis forces, increased deliveries of aid, and the disarming of Hamas.
Phases Two and Three call for the reconstruction of Gaza, the securing of it with a multinational Arab force, a new governing body administered by a reformed Palestinian Authority, and a path to developing a two state solution.
Except Hamas is not disarming.
In recent reporting by outlets like the New York Times, the terrorist organization is using this phase one of the ceasefire to consolidate its power in the war ravaged area, including going on execution raids against rival power centers and local opposing Palestinian clans, some of whom helped the Israelis in fighting to overthrow Hamas.
Where is the outrage on social media on this?
Where is the activist and political condemnation of Hamas for what they are doing to these people?
It seems the condemnation for violence against Palestinians only comes when Israelis commit it.
With all of Netanyahu's faults, and there are many that this writer has written about including his actions towards Gaza and Palestinians in the West Bank, he is not sending death squads out to execute Israelis at protest rallies condemning his Premiership.
Gaza will continue its move to be like Lebanon in the late 1970's and 80's if Hamas does not disarm and its leaders either arrested or exiled.
There will be no sustainable phase two or three of the peace plan if that does not happen now.
In a joint interview with Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris on CNN, President-Elect Biden announced that he had asked Dr. Anthony Fauci to stay on in his current capacity of overseeing infectious diseases and Chief Medical Advisor. He also revealed that he would request the American People to wear masks after he is sworn in on January 20, 2021, for 100 days.
The President-Elect and Vice President-Elect also said they would publicly take the Coronavirus Vaccine when made available to them and if Fauci states it is safe. They both emphasized that the first responders and most vulnerable communities should receive the medication first.
Their Administration would be the most diverse in history. Please click here, here, and here to see the selections already. They are off to a good start.
Their partnership is strong and Vice President-Elect Harris reaffirmed that she will be the first one in the room and the last one there when decisions need to be made on vital issues.
They support the current bipartisan compromise COVID 19 relief legislation proposal. Both said they would push for more relief after taking office in January.
It would be good for the country and the United States' image around the world if Trump attends the inauguration.
There should be coordination between educators and health care experts on safely reopening and keeping school doors open.
Biden and Harris committed that, unlike the Trump Family, their relatives would not influence Administration policy for personal gain.
"I'm determined. And I'm confident that what I've said from the outset -- and I've never changed my view this whole campaign for over going on 600 days -- exactly what had to be done. We have to restore the soul of this country, meaning honor and decency, honesty, basic, basic fundamental decency. The second thing, we have to rebuild the backbone in this country, the middle class, that -- and this time bring everybody along. And, thirdly, we have to unite the country. They're all going to be difficult to do, but I have never -- I've never veered from those three principles. And so I look at it as an opportunity to make an incredible contribution to the country. But I am not -- as I said to you on other interviews, I will take responsibility. When I fail, I will acknowledge it, and I will not deny that I made a mistake, and I move on. This is a little bit not unlike what happened in 1932. There was a fundamental change, not only taking place here in the United States, but around the world. We're in the middle of the fourth industrial revolution, where there's a real question of whether or not what -- all the changes in technology. Will there be a middle class? What will people be doing? How do they -- and there's genuine, genuine anxiety. That's why you're going to see me reaching out, continuing to reach out, not just to the communities that supported me. I'm going to reach out to those who didn't support me, I mean for real, because I think a lot of people are just scared and think they've been left behind and forgotten. We're not going to forget anybody in this effort."
Vice President-Elect Harris relayed:
"I believe that we are all very fortunate that Joe Biden is going to be the next president of the United States.
The American people deserve, in their president, to behave like someone who is truly patriotic, who loves our country, who puts the people of the country first, not themselves. That's Joe Biden. Joe Biden is truly a kind human being.
Joe Biden is someone who has endured real struggle and sacrifice and pain. He also is someone who knows love. He is someone who has dedicated his life to public service. And there couldn't be a more extreme exercise in stark contrast between the current occupant of the White House and the next occupant of the White House.
And I do believe our country is going to be the better for the outcome of this election and the election of Joe Biden as president."
One could just imagine the Chief Executive Demagogue in the White House fuming upon hearing Harris's closing comments if he was watching.
Other Biden Personnel Moves
The President-Elect also officially announced several personnel moves in addition to announcing during the CNN interview that Dr. Fauci would stay on. Mr. Biden:
Appointed Brian Deese as his first head of the National Economic Security Council.
According to reports will be nominating Dr. Vivek Murthy to resume his post as Surgeon General in an expanded role.
Is expected to, if Donald Trump does not fire him first, to keep Chris Wray as the Director of the F.B.I.
To be fair to Doug Ducey, Biden's asking Americans to wear masks without a national mandate and relying on Governors to spread the word is fairly similar to the policy the Arizona Governor is incorporating in the Grand Canyon State with local mayors.
That said, at least the American People are going to get an American President in January who cares about them, believes in science and reality, and will endeavor to move the nation forward.
Please click here for more information on the Biden/Harris Transition.
UPDATE
President-Elect Biden held a press conference today where he discussed some of the same topics he and Vice President-Elect Harris entertained in their interview with CNN. He also discussed:
The December Jobs Report and how it is vital Republicans and Democrats pass the latest phase of COVID 19 relief legislation.
The Vaccine distribution schedule and getting it to all vulnerable populations (including Blacks and Latinos) as soon as possible.
