What is a rogue state? We've heard that term bandied around a lot in the past, particularly in the

northeast, particularly after 9-11, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, you get the gist. Well, if we're going

to start talking about rogue states again, I think we do need to talk about the state of Israel.

As I've been noting a lot since this will begin, Israel is a state which is in serial defiance

of international laws. Specifically, it's a legal occupation of Palestinian land, the theft of land

in the West Bank, those illegal settlements. But it is seriously breaking, again, as I keep

noting, international law right now in Gaza, the norms of war, collective punishment,

forceful displacement, mass bombardment of civilian populations we could go on. But now look at

their attitude towards the United Nations, which whatever you think about it will set up amidst

the carnage of World War II in an effort to prevent the great horrors humanity inflicted on each other,

repeating themselves. Now, we're totally worthy critiques of the United Nations to say the least,

given a lot of UN states are human rights abuses, like as well. The fact that in practice,

the world order isn't governed by a law in which all law equals, where none are above the law,

in practice great powers and their allies can behave with impunity, which in the current context

means that the only super power that remains the United States can behave in impunity.

And it's allies, the likes of Saudi Arabia, for example. And yes, like Israel.

Now, going to war against the United Nations is a bit, well, how do we put it, rogue-statey,

I would say. This week the Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that what to any rational,

sensible, reasonable person assessing the facts should be uncontroversial. He specifically condemned

Hamas and the atrocities that they committed. He said Hamas's October 7 murder and kidnapped

attacks were appalling. He said nothing can justify the deliberate killing,

injuring a kidnapping of civilians or the launching of rockets against civilian

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