Posts tagged with "genocide"

US Military Aid to Israel Soars Amidst Ongoing Genocide in Palestine

Recent data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reveals a dramatic increase in US military aid to Israel. This surge in support of Israel’s brutal genocide of the Palestinian people has significant implications for both American domestic policies and the American people.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US supplied 69% of Israel’s arms between 2019 and 2023, increasing to 78% amidst escalating conflict.
  • By August 2024, the US had delivered 50,000 tons of weapons worth billions of dollars to Israel.
  • This aid has been transported via hundreds of planes and ships, highlighting the massive logistical effort involved.

Need to Know:

  • The ongoing genocide being carried out by Israel has resulted in a significant loss of life and displacement of civilians in Palestine and neighboring countries.
  • US military aid to Israel plays a crucial role in sustaining Israel’s military capabilities.
  • This aid has been a contentious issue in American politics, with some arguing that it is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and others maintaining that it is essential for Israel’s security.
  • Since Oct. 7, 2023, the Palestinian death toll has risen above 45,000 mostly civilians, including children and journalists however officials say that number is much higher.

Implications for American Domestic Policies and the American People:

  • Increased Military Spending: The substantial military aid to Israel contributes to increased US military spending, and diverting funds from other domestic priorities.
  • Foreign Policy Priorities: The focus on military aid to Israel shapes US foreign policy in the Middle East, and impacting relationships with other countries in the region.
  • Moral and Ethical Considerations: The human cost of the genocide and the US role in supporting it raises moral and ethical questions for the American people.
  • Economic Impact: The billions of dollars spent on military aid could have alternative uses in the US economy, such as infrastructure, education, or healthcare.

Another $8 Billion for Israel: 

The United States has recently informed Congress of another $8 billion weapons sale to Israel. This comes as Israel continues its genocide in Gaza. This significant sale raises questions about America’s role in the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people, the impact on regional stability, and the ethical implications of supplying weapons to a nation engaged in active genocide. While the specific details of the weapons included in the sale are not always immediately public, it’s likely that this package will include a range of military equipment. These could include:

  • Precision-guided missiles
  • Ammunition
  • Defense systems
  • Military aircraft or parts

    The escalating US military aid to Israel highlights the complex and contentious nature of US foreign policy in the Middle East. As the conflict continues, it is crucial for the American people to engage in informed discussions about the implications of this aid for both domestic and foreign policy priorities.

    The US provides substantial military aid to Israel compared to other countries. According to the Security Assistance Monitor, Israel received more than half of all US foreign military financing in 2022, significantly more than any other country.

    Arguments for Providing Military Aid to Israel:

    • Israel’s Security:  Aid ensures Israel can defend itself against potential threats, maintaining regional stability.
    • Shared Democratic Values:  Supporting a democratic ally like Israel aligns with US ideals and interests.
    • Strong Military Partnership:  Israel’s military capabilities and intelligence sharing benefit US national security.

    Arguments Against Providing Military Aid to Israel:

    • Perpetuating the Conflict: Aid enables Israel’s genocidal actions in Palestine, hindering a peaceful resolution.
    • Human Rights Concerns:  Human rights violations by Israel raise ethical concerns about US support.
    • Financial Costs:  The billions spent on military aid could be allocated to domestic needs or other foreign policy priorities.
    • Strained US Relations: Unconditional support for Israel could harm US relations with other Middle Eastern countries.

    The moral and ethical considerations involved in providing military aid to Israel stem from the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its human cost.

    • Alleged Human Rights Violations: Concerns arise regarding US complicity in alleged human rights abuses committed by Israel against Palestinians, including displacement, restrictions on movement, and civilian casualties during military operations.
    • Perpetuating the Conflict: Providing military aid could be seen as enabling the continuation of the conflict, hindering peaceful resolutions, and contributing to the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians.
    • Disproportionate Force: The power imbalance between Israel and Palestine, furthered by US military support, raises questions about the justness of the conflict and whether US aid contributes to disproportionate use of force.

    These considerations highlight the ethical dilemma faced by the US in balancing its support for Israel with its commitment to human rights and peaceful conflict resolution, as well as its domestic obligations.

    This is what Americans are paying for in the midst of rising homelessness, economic woes, and natural disasters:

    Democratic National Convention Kicks Off With Anti-War Protests

    The 2024 Democratic National Convention is starting today, August 19, in Chicago. The convention will feature speeches from prominent Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz.

    The DNC is expected to focus on highlighting the Biden administration’s accomplishments and outlining the Democratic Party’s vision for the future. It will also serve as a platform to rally support for Vice President Harris and her running mate Tim Walz as they seek their own term to lead a deeply divided nation. 

    Stay tuned for more coverage of the DNC as it unfolds this week.

    The DNC will focus on highlighting the Biden-Harris administration’s accomplishments and outlining the Democratic Party’s vision for the future. Key issues will include:

    • Economy: The Biden administration’s economic policies, job growth, and inflation.
    • Healthcare:  Affordable Care Act, prescription drug costs, reproductive rights.
    • Climate Change: Environmental policies, clean energy initiatives.
    • Gun Violence: Gun control measures, safety reforms.
    • Education: Student loan debt, college affordability, K-12 education.
    • Foreign Policy:  Relationships with allies, handling of global conflicts.

    These are areas based on common Democratic priorities and current political discourse. The specific issues emphasized will likely become clearer as the convention progresses on the heels of planned pro-Palestinian protests focused on ending the on-going genocide being carried out by Israel against the Palestinian people. According to officials, the death toll since the start of the recent Oct. 7 conflict has surpassed 40,000 people, mostly civilians; children, women and the elderly.  

    Protests Disrupt DNC Delegate Party

    As the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago, it’s not just party delegates and politicians making their voices heard. Anti-Israel protesters disrupted a delegate party on the eve of the convention, highlighting the range of views and concerns that will likely be present throughout the week.

    While the DNC is expected to focus on the Biden-Harris administration’s accomplishments and the Democratic Party’s vision, external demonstrations like these underscore the diverse political landscape and the challenges Democrats face in unifying their base. It remains to be seen how these protests and other demonstrations might influence the convention’s proceedings and messaging.

    Protests Continue to Shape the American Experience and Culture

    Anti-Israel protesters blocked major thoroughfares across the US Monday, creating traffic jams for drivers trying to reach Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and near San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge according to multiple major news outlets. It’s been reported that organizers of the protest said their goal was to send a message to Boeing, because the corporation sells weapons to Israel to be used in its war with Hamas.

    “On this Tax Day, when millions are paying taxes which fund the ongoing US and Israeli bombardment of Gaza, protestors seek to take dramatic action,” the group Chicago Dissenters wrote in an Instagram post. “O’Hare International Airport is one of the largest in the country, and there will be NO business as usual while Palestinians suffer at the hands of American funded bombing by Israel.”

     

    Protests – fiercely exercised and protected by the First Amendment – have played a significant role in shaping American culture throughout history. They have been a powerful force for social and political change, and have helped to bring about important reforms and advances. These on-going global protests aim to end the genocide and deliberate starvation efforts in Gaza that started as a was between Israel and Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. The groups, including many journalists, White House staffers, State Department officials and Union leaders are also calling for an immediate ceasefire to allow aid into Gaza and other impacted regions of Palestine. 

    Here are some of the ways in which protests have shaped American culture:

    • Raising awareness of social issues: Protests have helped to raise awareness of important social issues, such as civil rights, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ rights. They have also brought attention to environmental issues, economic inequality, and other pressing concerns.
    • Mobilizing people for change: Protests can mobilize people to take action and demand change. They can create a sense of community and solidarity among protesters and build momentum for social and political movements.
    • Influencing public opinion: Protests can influence public opinion and put pressure on policymakers to address certain issues. They can also help to shift the national conversation and shape the way people think about important topics.
    • Promoting social justice: Protests have been a key factor in promoting social justice and equality in the United States. They have helped to challenge discriminatory laws and policies, and have contributed to the advancement of civil rights for all Americans.
    • Preserving democratic values: Protests are a vital part of a healthy democracy. They allow people to express their dissent and demand accountability from their government. They also help to protect democratic values such as freedom of speech and assembly.

    Biden Administration Sued For Actively Supporting Israel’s Genocide of Palestinians

    The UN’s top legal body —  the International Court of Justice (ICJ) —  that heard two days of powerful legal argument from South Africa against Israel on the crime of all crimes: genocide, is not the only legal body hearing a case of genocide. The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) is suing the Biden administration in federal court for its complicity in the war in Gaza by supporting Israel, a state that stands accused of an attempt to “destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, in whole or in part,” as defined by the 1948 Convention on Genocide.

    This report by Caira Piriano, first published in Medium, tells the full story that many are not aware of.

    Biden Administration Lawsuit

    If you follow news about Palestine (and if you watch something other than mainstream US news), you’ll know about South Africa’s ICJ case. However, you may not be aware that the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) has sued the Biden administration in US federal court for violating the genocide convention by failing to prevent genocide and instead actively supporting it.

    Let’s take – a quick look at this case.

    👉 Who are the plaintiffs?

    The CCR is suing on behalf of a group of Palestinian individuals and organizations, including Palestinian Americans and people in Gaza. The organizations include Defense for Children International — Palestine and Al Haq, and the individuals include Ahmed Abu Artema, who started the 2019–2019 Great March of Return protest movement. All of the individuals have had family members killed in Israeli attacks.

    👉 Who are the defendants?

    The lawsuit accuses President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken, and Secretary of Defense Austin, in their official capacities.

    👉 What is the dispute about?

    The plaintiffs say that the Biden administration has enabled Israel to commit genocide, in violation of international customary law and US law, causing direct harm to the plaintiffs and their families. Actually, in its most recent filing, the CCR says that one of their plaintiffs themselves may have been killed in Gaza since the case was filed. The Biden administration has moved for dismissal, saying that this issue is a political question and cannot be decided by the courts.

    👉 What law does the CCR say the Biden admin is breaking?

    The complaint is that the defendants have “violated their duty under customary international law, as part of federal common law, to take all measures within their power to prevent Israel from committing genocide.” Confused? Stick with me.

    The US is a common law system, meaning that the law isn’t just the statutes in the US code; what’s more important is the precedent of past legal decisions and established legal principles. All this precedent and tradition together is called common law.

    Customary international law is defined as “international obligations arising from established international practices”; prohibition of genocide and failure to prevent genocide, as one such established practice, was also codified in the UN Genocide Convention. Customary international law is part of common law and can be enforced in federal courts.

    👉 What is CCR asking the court for?

    The “relief” (action) requested by the plaintiffs is basically just that the defendants stop supporting genocide in Gaza through diplomatic, military, and financial assistance. They are also seeking injunctive relief, which is basically the equivalent of the ICJ’s “provisional measures — Biden et al. must stop their violation of international law immediately while the case is pending, because allowing the attacks to continue for years while the case is decided is too risky.

    👉 How has Biden responded? 

    The Biden administration’s lawyers have moved for the case to be dismissed because they say the court can’t act on political issues. Their response doesn’t address the genocide claims at all and uses only procedural arguments.

    You can access all the case files in a very well-organized page on the CCR’s website. https://ccrjustice.org/home/what-we-do/our-cases/defense-children-international-palestine-v-biden

    March for Gaza: Thousands Rally in DC for Global Day of Action

    Thousands rallied at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., Saturday as part of a global day of action calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war that started on Oct. 7 after Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel killing about 1,300 people.

    Since the start of the war, Israel has launched an aggressive bombardment of Gaza and other parts of Palestine in response, sending shockwaves across the world. More than 23,350 people have been killed – mostly children and women – during its retaliatory attacks on Gaza, according to the Palestinian health ministry. 

    Last week South Africa brought a case against Israel accusing it of committing the “crime of all crimes: genocide.”

    Judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are to decide whether Israel, in its war in Gaza, is guilty of an attempt to “destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, in whole or in part,” as defined by the 1948 Convention on Genocide.

    Freedom Plaza overflowed onto Pennsylvania Avenue with marchers chanting the popular “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” as they waved a sea of flags in support of the Palestinian people who remain under siege.

    Some marchers prayed on mats in the crowd, and outside the FBI building. Some of the speakers shared stories of losing hundred of people in their families and waiting helplessly for word on relatives surviving the night. The Biden administration has not called for a ceasefire in spite the urging of the international community, including the United Nations.

    Freedom of Speech, Until Facts Hurt Feelings

    “Facts don’t care about your feelings,” said Ben Shapiro famously in a staunch defense of his position on gender identity. Today, however, Shapiro is flipping the script to suit his own religious and cultural ideologies by demanding the heads of anyone who dares to disagree with him on the right of Israel to genocide the Palestinian people. This is a problem.

    This unwise move to censure speech and freedom of expression is no different than the 2005 incident when the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published a series of derogatory cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad that set off a global battle over the relationship between free speech and religion. In defiance, some newspapers across Europe and the Middle East reprinted the cartoons to reaffirm the right to publish offensive material, even as violent protests erupted across the globe.

    Human rights lawyer and author,  Jacob Mchangama said this about freedom of speech: “Elite panic is this recurring phenomenon throughout the history of free speech, where whenever the public sphere is expanded, either through new communications technology, or to segments of the population that were previously marginalized, the traditional gatekeepers, the elites who control access to information, tend to fret about the dangers of allowing the unwashed mob—who are too fickle, too unsophisticated, too unlearned—unmediated access to information. They need information to be filtered through the responsible gatekeepers and it may be even more dangerous to allow them to speak without adult supervision. That’s a phenomenon that we see again and again. And we’re seeing it play out now on social media. … [Elite panic is] one contributing factor to the free speech recession. Another is that democracies have shied away from protecting free speech and are much more likely now to view free speech as a danger rather than an unmitigated good. And so they don’t put in the same effort at protecting free speech, whether at home or away as they did, say, in the 80s, early 90s, when free speech was crucial to defeating communism.

    When asked if he was an advocate for absolute speech, Mchangama answered, “No, I don’t think that any serious person is in favor of absolute free speech. Where I may be more absolutist is when it comes to viewpoints. I don’t believe there’s any viewpoint in and of itself that should be prohibited.”

    The right to your thoughts and to speak them freely is legally protected under the first amendment. So why is it under attack when it comes to condemning Israel and the callous genocide being committed in Gaza? Since the start of yet another conflict between Israel and Hamas on October 7, Israel has embarked on a vicious and collective punishment campaign in response to Hamas’ attack that fateful day. Dialogue on all major news sites can’t even begin without securing condemnation of Hamas and the October 7 attack. Also, any mention of context or the historical significance of the conflict between Israel and Palestine is condescendingly dismissed, derided as inconsequential or irrelevant, to uphold the propaganda machine’s marching orders in favor of Israel.

    Must the whole world be wrong to make Israel right? Apparently so, and it’s evident with the retribution being exacted by large donors, congressional hearings to take to task university professors who dare to allow free speech on campuses, public shaming with forced apologies for risk of losing funding, and blatant threats launched by Wall Street CEOs with a stake in camp Israel. This is unprecedented and a dangerous slippery slope that is leading to loss of liberty. If there actually is a separation of church and state, why are Zionist Jews using our government to carry out their holy war against the people of Palestine? Are Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists next in line to use Congress against their enemies? The end game of this blind obsession to support Israel regardless of its crimes against humanity, regardless of the millions of Jews around the world denouncing the genocide in Gaza, regardless of the United Nations’ own call for an immediate ceasefire—in a nuclear weapon powered world—spells the writing clear on the wall. And tragically, the entire world will pay the heavy price to come. Because when elephants fight it is the grass that suffers.

     

    The Unfolding Genocide In Gaza…

     

    A GENOCIDE, By Israel

    Illustrated by the U.S.

    “There was never a good war, or a bad peace.” – Benjamin Franklin

    Our eyes are not wide shut. Technology has flung open the blinds to an unimaginable cruel and unjust world. From police brutality, corrupt officials, abuses of unimaginable sorts, blatant racist injustices to the barbaric genocide being carried out against the Palestinian people by Israel. Compounding the atrocities the global community is witnessing, is America’s leading role in the callous inhumanity being exacted. And Israel, with gleeful indifference, has answered pushback with threats, insults, firings, doxing and even congressional punishment for anyone who dares to condemn the violence being carried out by the IDF. Holocaust survivors, including anti-Zionist Jews are not immune. Also, anyone against the purge of Palestinians off their lands is anti-Semitic. History is in spin cycle bringing back McCarthyism and even stoking memories of the holocaust that forced Jews from their homes in Europe to Palestine.

    “Genius without education is like silver in the mine.”

    It is abundantly clear, Congress is compromised. And the road to this outcome has long been paved with AIPAC’s passionate bricklaying for Israel’s manifestation of what they say God owes them: Palestinian land. Because what Israel wants, Israel gets. Whether We, The People or the entire world agrees, or not. That is the terrifying message that is copiously clear amid this global humanitarian crisis. Folks, we are in big trouble. And if you think the revolution is going to be about a man identifying as a woman or a Border Collie, you’ve sadly been dragnetted by the tactical distractions of the culture wars that are consistently being thrown at us like red meat. Divide and conquer still works as designed. Notice how we can’t tolerate one another in this beautiful “melting pot” we call America? Notice how the rich are getting richer, the poor, poorer? Notice what’s happening at our southern borders under big brother’s watchful eyes? Notice the decaying of a promising nation yet to actualize its full potential? Everywhere one turns, another is prepared to squeeze whatever they can from them, to fill the gaping hole being dug by our elected officials’ egregious disregard of the needs of the people they’ve taken an oath to serve. It’s a dog-eat-dog world for the working class, and a numb or drugged-out existence for the poor. And we are manipulated to believe that there’s absolutely nothing we can do to turn the tides of this blatant imbalance of power and defilement of the Constitution. Democracy, please stand up. Democracy? … Democracy? Hello, is there anybody out there?

    “Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor liberty to purchase power.”

    Because we’ve proven how easily fooled we are by the same old rhetoric, empty promises and propaganda, Biden and Harris—backers of the genocide—are working to secure your vote for another round of White House idiocracy, complete with the president’s wayward son, still a national liability. Completing the circus that our political arena has become, we have a batch of rotten war mongering bananas in red prepared to sell you their own brew of lies for votes and another chance at fattening their personal pockets as they serve the real ruler of the world, Israel.

    “They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security.”

    Apparently, as the planet breaths and the tides turn, it regurgitates the same sea scum we blindly vote for over and over again, no matter how many times they’ve circled the oceans certifying what they are; corrupt. Even so, we keep voting repeat, hoping this time, we will have a different outcome. Einstein surmised this phenomenon as insanity. America’s political industry has perfected the art of mass manipulation, and tactical bullying of an entire population, now living under an increasing military industrial complex where most of our tax dollars go, whether we like it, or not. Our elected officials in the highest office are no longer working for We, The People. They’re working to feed the profitable war machine that has kept us engaged in battle across the globe since the birth of this nation. In America’s 247 years, apparently only 15 of them have been without a war. Imagine that.

    “Where sense is wanting, everything is wanting.”

    Land of the free, home of the brave, indeed. But who are these freemen, and where are the braves we need to stand up right now and demand an end to the genocide? As one looks across the country, they will struggle to find evidence of these free brave men calling for a ceasefire because they’re too busy writing and passing a Resolution to reaffirm their unwavering support for Israel’s war crimes and equating anti-Zionism to being anti-Semitic. On the contrary, what you will see is desperation and hopelessness, weariness and apathy, fear and confusion. And it’s by perfect design, courtesy of the people who turn glutenous elites once elected to office. If you’re wondering what’s behind the curtain, just open your eyes. You’ll clearly see another genocide revealing the great Oz who now identifies as AIPAC.

    “Even peace may be purchased at too high a price.”

    We have reached a critical juncture where We, The People can keep swimming in the fishbowl avoiding all risks and insanely voting for a repeat, or risk a chance at taking back the power that has always belonged to us. The time has come for us to truly unite within the boundaries we’ve been corralled into and compartmentalized under personalized culture wars, identity politics and nonsensical ideologies. Because as I see it, we have nothing left to lose. Let’s hold hands. Let’s trust each other. Let’s risk a different choice for peace, and end all opportunities for future genocides. Together, I believe, we can face all we fear, including our own government, for a chance at a world where all people can enjoy true freedom and equal human rights.

    “The nearest way to come at glory, is to do that for conscience which we do for glory.”

     

     

    Open letter to President Biden: we call for a ceasefire now

    , Ben Lerner,  and others

    We are a group of Jewish American writers, artists and academics. We oppose what the Israeli government is doing with US assistance

    President Joe Biden:

    We are a group of Jewish American writers, artists and academics. Being Jewish means different things to all of us, but we all have at least one Jewish parent, which means we could move to Israel and qualify for Israeli citizenship.

    We condemn attacks on Israeli and Palestinian civilians. We believe it is possible and in fact necessary to condemn Hamas’ actions and acknowledge the historical and ongoing oppression of the Palestinians. We believe it is possible and necessary to condemn Hamas’ attack and take a stand against the collective punishment of Gazans that is unfolding and accelerating as we write.

    Cutting off resources to more than 2 million people, demanding families flee their homes in the north, indiscriminately bombing a trapped population – these are war crimes and indefensible actions. And yet the United States government is offering “moral” and material support for the dehumanization and murder of innocent Gazans. We write to publicly declare our opposition to what the Israeli government is doing with American assistance. We call on the US government to seek an immediate ceasefire and to use our resources towards providing aid ensuring the safe return of hostages and building a diplomatic path towards peace.

    As Jews, as Americans, we will be made to feel a sense of safety in our communities, and in the world, not by unequivocal US support for Israel, but by our government’s insistence on the universal human rights that so many of us take for granted.

    Timo Andres

    Annie Baker

    Timo Andres

    Annie Baker

    Susan Bernofsky

    Judith Butler

    Michael Chabon

    Deborah Eisenberg

    Madeleine George

    Masha Gessen

    Francisco Goldman

    Andre Gregory

    Nan Goldin

    Alena Graedon

    Amy Herzog

    Marianne Hirsch

    Gabriel Kahane

    Cindy Klein

    David Klion

    Lisa Kron

    Rachel Kushner

    Tony Kushner

    Ben Lerner

    Jonathan Lethem

    Sam Lipsyte

    Zachary Lockman

    Kenneth Lonergan

    Andrew Marantz

    Ben Marcus

    David Naimon

    Benjamin Nugent

    Howard Rodman

    Dana Sachs

    Ira Sachs

    Lynne Sachs

    James Schamus

    Adam Shatz

    Wallace Shawn

    Leo Spitzer

    V (formerly known as Eve Ensler)

    Paula Vogel

    Ayelet Waldman

    Laura Wexler

    Hannah Zeavin

     

    ISRAEL’S BOMBARDMENT OF GAZA IS A GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN CRISIS

    The images and horror stories coming from the Middle East are unbearable. Israel’s relentless bombardment of the Palestinian people is not just a humanitarian crisis of global proportion, it is a genocidal act of revenge and hate, reminiscent of WWII. Please listen to this very important dialogue between Tucker Carlson and Colonel Douglas MacGregor on the serious and real risk this recent escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas poses to the rest of the world.

    We must all do what we can to pressure our elected officials to call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

    Tucker Carlson Interviews Col Douglas MacGregor: