Weekly Signals - Oct 23, 2023
Walking The Tightrope Edition
Three articles
How the Media Got The Hospital Explosion Wrong - The Atlantic
This is emblematic of the changing nature of media, and the flow of information. In their quest to be 24/7/365, and in competition with non-media intel sources, primarily on Twitter/X, the mainstream media has been forced to report information at a breathtaking speed. This is too much for their current infrastructure, as well as their social contract of reporting the news. Unfortunately, retractions easily written (like the one in the NYT) do not gain back the trust of the population, and that social contract is becoming more and more invalid as the days go by. They walk a tightrope of news vs “news”.
I Negotiated Israel’s Hardest Hostage Deal. Here’s What’s Next in Gaza. - NYTimes
Gershon Baskin, a noted peace activist and probably the most effective mediator between Israelis and Palestinians, gives a grim view here (and in Foreign Policy) of what is to come in the weeks ahead for the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Not good.
The End of Netanyahu - The Atlantic
This is a little deeper dive into Israeli politics than articles like one in The Guardian, but it’s a subplot that we Americans can tend to lose in all of the chaos. Simply put, Bibi is the prime minister of a country who’s top three priorities are national defense, national defense... and national defense. And he has totally failed at them, but is now in charge of leading them out of this situation.
One Question
Have you read the declaration of independence of Israel? Have you read the charter of Hamas or the PLO? What would a two-state solution look like? What would a one-state solution look like?
One Person To Explore
My friend Brent Beshore (@BrentBeshore on X/Twitter) is the most down-to-earth private equity investor I’ve ever met, as well the kindest. He drops practical, real gems of wisdom for business operators, and does it in a way that exudes humility and graciousness. Give him a follow.