Israel’s war on Gaza, now almost two months
old, has polarized the world and created a yawning rift between people and
governments in the West, with millions of Europeans and Americans marching for
a “free Palestine” and ending the occupation, while their governments continue
to support Israel’s military campaign in Gaza without calling for a permanent
ceasefire.
اضافة اعلان
But the initial blind support of Israel, in
the wake of Hamas’ October 7 attack, has slowly morphed, with the Biden White
House and most European capitals calling on Israel to adhere to international
humanitarian law, avoid targeting civilians, and allow for an uninterrupted
flow of aid to the people of Gaza. The most extreme support of Israel came from
President Joe Biden and his Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken. Both continue
to support Israel’s right to defend itself against “terrorist Hamas” while complementing
this with an almost vacuous statement that the US supports the two-state
solution, even when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu comes out and says that
he is the best man to derail it.
But where the White House speaks of the two-state solution, the mood on the Hill is different. The vast majority of US lawmakers have pledged unquestionable support to Israel.
But where the White House speaks of the
two-state solution, the mood on the Hill is different. The vast majority of US
lawmakers have pledged unquestionable support to Israel, providing billions of
dollars and openly calling for the destruction of Hamas at any cost. Senator
Lindsey Graham, a warmonger, responded to a question by CNN on the hefty
civilian cost of the Israeli war on Gazans by saying that Americans did not
care how many people died when US bombers were raining bombs on Tokyo! He
blames Hamas for every civilian death, repeating the Israeli claim that it uses
civilians as human shields.
Except for a handful of lawmakers, namely the
so-called Squad, an informal name for a group of eight Democratic progressive
members, who openly call for a ceasefire and an investigation into Israeli war
crimes, no key US senator or representative has echoed their calls. When it
comes to the two-state solution and the possibility of an independent
Palestinian state on 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, both
chambers are completely and vocally at odds with the declared US foreign policy
position on the Palestine/Israel conflict.
The solution to the occupation of Palestine,
resolving the refugee problem, and establishing a permanent and lasting peace
in the region will not come from Israel. That hope has dissipated long
ago—thanks to one Benjamin Netanyahu and his sponsorship of the Far Right over
the last 20-plus years. Following the Hamas attack, the percentage of those in
Israel who support a peaceful settlement with the Palestinians has dropped from
about 40 percent to less than 25 percent.
The Israeli left is dead. All polls show that
if elections were held in Israel today, Labor, the party that has led Israel
since its founding for decades, would not get the necessary votes to pass the
legal threshold to enter the Knesset. The Right and the Far Right now have the
upper hand and will continue to do so for some time.
The Palestinian answer to ending the occupation lies in Washington. And there is the problem. There are currently more than 50 pro-Israel groups active in the United States today.
The Palestinian answer to ending the
occupation lies in Washington. And there is the problem. There are currently
more than 50 pro-Israel groups active in the United States today. The most
prominent and influential American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has
sway over the most influential lawmakers and potential candidates. Last year pro-Israel pressure groups spent
over $4 million on lobbying alone. Much more goes into the so-called Super
PACS, which are defined as "independent expenditure-only political action
committees," and are unlike
traditional PACs in that they may raise unlimited amounts from individuals,
corporations, unions, and other groups to spend on, for example, ads overtly
advocating for or against political candidates.
American citizens elect these officials, but
AIPAC and other pressure groups own them afterward. These pressure groups
appeal to ordinary Americans through the mainstream media, which remains the
main source of news and information for millions of adult Americans. One
pro-Israel pressure group is CAMERA, Committee for Accuracy in Middle East
Reporting in America, founded in 1982; it is a non-profit pro-Israel media
monitoring, research, and membership organization. According to its website,
CAMERA is "devoted to promoting accurate and balanced coverage of Israel
and the Middle East."
Naturally, one can guess how CAMERA makes sure
that only the Zionist point of view of the Palestine/Israel conflict is
portrayed in US mainstream media. In addition, Israel has managed to penetrate
the US Christian community by focusing on the so-called shared Judeo-Christian
values. One such group, the Christians United for Israel (CUFI), which claims
to have more than 10 million members, has moved to raise more than $2 million
in support of Israel soon after the October 7 Hamas attack. But more importantly,
CUFI was able to issue a joint “Evangelical statement in support of Israel” by
the Ethics and Religion Liberty Commission–an arm of the Southern Baptist
Convention. This denomination has 45,000 churches in the US.
The Palestinians have no way of
counterbalancing this huge Israeli/Zionist infiltration of US politics and
religious culture. Arab lobbies in the US are more focused on promoting
bilateral military and economic ties with the US. The Palestinians have no voice
in American politics.
But things are changing slowly. The so-called
US Generation Z is a rebellious one; rejecting the corruption of Washington
politics and supporting the Palestinian cause. This is because they have
discarded mainstream media and are heading to social media platforms. They
could play a pivotal role in the 2024 presidential elections. According to the
Pew Research Center, 58 percent of people aged 18 to 29 have an unfavorable
view of Israel, versus 28 percent of Americans older than 65. An NBC News poll
released last week found that Biden’s approval rating among voters aged 18 to
34 fell from 46 to 31 percent between September and November. US Muslim voters
too are abandoning Biden.
That might not change the outcome of the
November elections. There are many other factors in play. But while a slim
majority of Americans still support Israel’s war on Hamas, according to
multiple polls released last week, more people are now asking questions about
the plight of Palestinians—thanks to social media platforms.
The sad reality is that the American
presidency has been weakened by bi-partisan squabbling in Congress, servility
towards Israel, and an unprecedented deep polarization over issues such as
abortion, immigration, traditional family values, taxing the rich, and climate
change among others. But while candidates for the highest office in the land
bicker over such issues; they all agree on one thing: Blind support for Israel.
The Palestinians have no way of counterbalancing this huge Israeli/Zionist infiltration of US politics and religious culture. Arab lobbies in the US are more focused on promoting bilateral military and economic ties with the US. The Palestinians have no voice in American politics.
The world wants a two-state solution but lacks
the political will to enforce it. Israel is in revenge mode but has no answer
on what to do about Gaza, the West Bank, or its Arab Israeli citizens. The
Israeli Far Right proposes radical solutions: mass displacements and even
transfer. How far will the US political establishment go in supporting bigots,
racists, and potential war criminals?
The Israeli political establishment is seeking
revenge at any cost. The world political order is about to kneel over as a
result. The Palestinians will not get their freedom so long as Israel is
defended and protected by the US. Something has to give and unless a major
change happens in America first, the Palestinians will have to endure more
years of Apartheid and oppression.
Osama Al Sharif is a veteran journalist and
political commentator based in Amman.
Disclaimer:
Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Jordan News' point of view.
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