Summary

Israeli settlers in the West Bank, emboldened by Trump’s return and a far-right Israeli government, are pushing for formal sovereignty over the territory.

Settlement activity has surged to record levels under Prime Minister Netanyahu, with nearly 6,000 acres designated as state land in 2024 and dozens of new outposts established.

While settlers see this as fulfilling Biblical claims, Palestinians view it as erasing hopes for a future state.

Critics warn annexation could jeopardize regional stability and U.S.-brokered normalization efforts, such as those with Saudi Arabia.

  • WoodScientist@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    4
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    17 days ago

    Because utilitarian ethics isn’t the be and end all of moral decision making? Elections are just as much about holding people accountable as they are about choosing the utilitarian optimal future policy path.

    It is crucial to remember that most of history’s greatest atrocities were justified on utilitarian grounds - the greatest good for the greatest many. That’s how eugenics was justified. That’s how the crimes of the Nazis were justified. That’s how the Tuskegee Experiment was justified. And it’s how powerful men get away with being sexual predators. (“Yes, he may be a monster, but he’s doing important work…”)

    Utilitarian decision making has its place. But at some point you also have to hold people accountable. And that’s what you’ve missed. Remember, this is the only shot the voters ever got at holding Biden/Kamala responsible for their actions. This is literally the only way we as citizens have of directly holding these people accountable. Protests have their place, but voting is all we get in terms of direct accountability.

    What is the point that you would stop using utilitarian ethics and start holding leaders accountable? What crime would be so bad that you wouldn’t vote for a leader if you thought their overall policies would be superior to their opponent? Where do you personally draw the line? Because if you have no line…well God help you. Because you are already lost.

    • ObliviousEnlightenment@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      17 days ago

      While I sympathize with the goal of wanting to hold people accountable, it is the simple fact of the matter that Republicans were THE alternative. This was the wrong decision in this case

      -cold utilitarian