Deep thoughts: The value of journalistic integrity; South Africa and genocide; politicizing anti-Semitic murder

The news hasn’t stopped in he past 24 hours, at least on issues that interest me. This is what I want to know.

Deep thought #1: Wouldn’t Paramount/CBS be worth much less if the network’s journalistic integrity and credibility are sacrificed? One would think. So wouldn’t the sales price go down somewhat from $8 billion if that’s the case?

Paramount would reportedly have to pay a $400 million breakup fee to Skydance if the deal doesn’t close by the set deadline. That date is Oct. 4, after an automatic 90-day extension on July 6 if necessary. The holdup is FCC approval on transferring the TV station licenses.

We get a walkthrough when buying property, and we can kick the tires before buying a used car.

Companies tend not to make big moves when they’re being sold. Does the agreement give Skydance some sort of last-minute valuation?

Deep thought #2: Trump and South Africa on genocide.

What happened at the White House yesterday is well known, so I won’t go into those details. Let’s just say President Trump’s open meeting with his counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa didn’t go the way Ramaphosa expected. Maybe he should’ve expected the unexpected after Trump’s meetings with the leaders of Ukraine, Jordan, and Canada.

🚨 JUST SHOWN IN THE OVAL OFFICE: Proof of Persecution in South Africa. pic.twitter.com/rER1l8sqAU

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 21, 2025

What got me is the accused, South Africa, made more than a federal case over genocide against Israel.

The country – how many miles away? – alleges in the International Court of Justice that Israel’s military campaign to eradicate Hamas terrorists in Gaza for the Oct. 7, 2023, invasion, killings, and hostage-taking amounts to genocide.

What’s genocide?

The United Nations says genocide must include the “intent to destroy,” and “intent is the most difficult element to determine.”

And the G-word should not be thrown around, the U.N. insists.

“It is extremely important that United Nations officials adhere to the correct usage of the term, for several reasons,” which it lists, and then offers guidance in a nine-page document.

Israel is known for its steps to avoid harming civilians. And Hamas using those victims – yes, victims – as human shields makes that difficult.

Interestingly, using human shields is a war crime.

NATO’s 2008-14 investigation, Hamas’ Use of Human Shields in Gaza, looked at the terrorist group’s tactics before the current war.

It concludes, on page 20 of the 24-page booklet, “Israel’s efforts to avoid civilian casualties have been multifaceted,” and it lists examples.

Also, “Israel in turn has attempted to counter this practice of lawfare in various ways,” and it lists examples.

And finally, “Despite all these efforts, Israel has not dominated the narrative, with many international human rights organisations accusing Israel of using disproportionate force and even of committing war crimes.”

Life isn’t fair and neither is defense.

As for the current war, Al Jazeera looked into the issue of human shields – really! – in an article dated Nov. 13, 2023.

It says in part:

“The use of human shields is forbidden by Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions and is considered a war crime as well as a violation of humanitarian law,” and

“The presence of human shields does not render a site immune from attack. While they are protected people according to the laws of war, the military assets they shield can still be legitimately targeted.

“If they die, the responsibility for their death is placed on those who use them as human shields, rather than on those who kill them.”

Also worth noting: “The Palestinian population in Gaza grew significantly” according to the CIA World Factbook, since the Oct. 7 terror attack that started the war.

The details are reported here, along with the conclusion, “This may be the first ‘genocide’ in history in which the population grew massively larger.”

War is hell and nothing here is intended to diminish the suffering of all the innocent.

Yesterday, Trump was asked – in front of South Africa’s president – if he expects that country to drop its case against Israel.

Trump’s answer, according to The Times of Israel: “I don’t expect anything to be honest. I don’t know. They’ve got a case. There’s a lot of anger… We’ll have a ruling, and who knows what the ruling is going to mean.”

Indeed. Who knows?

Meanwhile, I wonder about the population of white Afrikaners.

Deep thought #3: “We have full confidence in the Trump administration to deliver swift and righteous justice.”

The only statement from a Jewish organization I’ve seen (and I’ve seen a bunch) that politicized last night’s disgusting, deadly case of anti-Semitism in Washington came from the Republican Jewish Coalition.

Sure, the RJC is a political organization, but I’m wondering if there’s any circumstance the group could simply leave politics out.

The email to me containing the statement arrived at 12:17 a.m. ET.

People were just learning how Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were gunned down, and the suspect was shown screaming “Free, free Palestine.”

Sure, I think the RJC was absolutely correct in writing,

“This horrific attack requires complete, total, and forceful condemnation from everyone. Silence is not an option—it is complicity.”

But calling out “the Trump administration” in the first paragraph, when any administration I could imagine would do its best “to deliver swift and righteous justice,” goes a bit too far and comes across as tone deaf.

Apparently, Lischinsky and Milgrim had not even been identified at the time of the email. They were just referred to as “two staffers from the Embassy of Israel outside the Jewish Museum.”

Of course, they were not just embassy workers, as they’re being labeled in the media.

Lischinsky, 30, grew up in Germany and moved to Israel, and then Washington.

Milgrim, 26, was from Kansas. She moved to Washington for a master’s degree, then volunteered at an Israeli organization promoting peace and dialogue, before starting work at the embassy.

The stages of grief begin with shock and denial. Some people may have progressed to anger by now. Playing politics doesn’t help anyone cope.