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Israel's Brute Show of Military Strength Shows How Weak It Has Become
Similarly, the abilities of pro-Israel groups to pressure U.S. lawmakers or media outlet to take one-sided positions or impose regressive legislation may appear to demonstrate strength. In reality, it’s a function of their weakness and the weakness of their case.
May 13, 2024
The brilliant Palestinian Fayez Sayegh once wrote that when pro-Israel groups appeared to be at their strongest, they were only masking the fact that they were at their weakest. This is clear in the contrast of Israel’s sharp decline in standing among many demographic groups of American voters and the actions and statements by Congress and pro-Israel groups, particularly in evidence during the past week.
It’s an established fact that Israel has been losing ground in American public opinion since well before October 7th. Polls have shown that young people, Black, Latino, and Asian Americans hold somewhat more negative views of Israelis coupled with a rise in support for Palestinians. While Israel, in general, has retained support among Americans, the policies of the state are strongly opposed by majorities among all demographics, with most saying they want to cut US aid to Israel because of settlement construction and other violations of human rights.
During the past decade, in an effort to confront this, pro-Israel groups launched a multi-pronged offensive, components of which included: targeting and smearing both pro-Palestinian activists and members of Congress; passing laws in over two dozen states that penalized supporters of efforts to boycott or sanction Israel and in another dozen states to equate criticism of Israel with antisemitism; and a massive multi-million dollar “hasbara” campaign to improve Israel’s image in the US.
It’s clear that change is afoot. And so, in the face of their rapidly deteriorating position, pro-Israel groups have embarked on an all-out campaign not to make their case, but to stomp out their opponents. Their efforts are both ruthless and a threat to our democracy.
In the aftermath of the Hamas attack, Israel might have experienced sympathy for their tragic losses and made up some ground in lost support, but they squandered that opportunity with the sheer brutality and the wanton disregard for Palestinian lives they demonstrated in the months that followed. The results have only served to further weaken Israel’s standing among many groups of Americans, especially Democrats and key demographic groups that form its core base of support.
Still, Israel has been able to count on continued support from the White House, leaders in both parties in Congress, mainstream media outlets, and a majority of commentators and “analysts” who have remained receptive to the Israeli narrative of ongoing events. Biden administration officials have persistently defended Israeli behaviors, even when attempting to shift gears by suggesting that Palestinian civilians should be protected. There have been “leaks” from executives of major US television networks and newspapers telling their staff how to cover stories—what must be said and what may not be said—in ways that echo Israel’s positions. And statements by leaders in Congress have been especially shameful in their defense of Israeli actions.
Despite this top-down advantage, trouble is percolating from below. Israel continues to lose support from key Democratic constituents—young and “minority” voters—with that decline now also impacting support for the President. Much has been made of the precipitous decline in Arab American support and the more than one-half million voters who have so far voted for the Arab American-led “uncommitted” campaign in Democratic primaries. The problem is deeper. For example, a recent Washington Post poll shows a significant drop in President Biden’s support among Black voters, with his backing for Israel being cited by respondents as one reason for that decline.
The changing mood among voters toward Israel has taken an activist bent. Massive demonstrations have been held in most major cities. More than 200 local governments and major institutions, including major unions, have issued strong statements criticizing Israeli actions and calling for an immediate total ceasefire. Publicized statements by over one thousand leading Black clergy, another by the same number of Catholic leaders, most of the major Protestant churches, and prominent groups of young progressive Jews have also called for a ceasefire and for conditions to be placed on military aid to Israel. Sustained anti-war demonstrations on over 200 college campuses and, more recently, protest encampments at more than 50 colleges and universities have been led by students calling for an immediate permanent ceasefire and demanding that their universities divest from US companies supporting Israel.
Congress has also been impacted. While the leadership in both parties remain lockstep in support of Israel, a higher than ever number of Senators and Representatives have either signed letters calling for conditions be placed on aid to Israel or voted against pro-Israel legislation.
It’s clear that change is afoot. And so, in the face of their rapidly deteriorating position, pro-Israel groups have embarked on an all-out campaign not to make their case, but to stomp out their opponents. Their efforts are both ruthless and a threat to our democracy.
One pro-Israel lobbying group has earmarked $100 million to defeat members of Congress who have supported Palestinian rights. To understand the magnitude of this expenditure, note that at the high end a congressional election costs about $5 million. The $20 million they are committing to defeat Rep. Jamaal Bowman is obscene by comparison.
In Congress they are pushing national legislation that would equate opposition to Israel with antisemitism and result in colleges and institutions being denied federal funding if they don’t pass the test of pro-Israel purity. Legislation has also passed the House (but not yet the Senate) removing the tax-exempt status of institutions deemed supportive of terrorist organizations—with “support” being so loosely defined that it can include simply advocating for Palestinian rights.
Congressional leaders have also threatened the International Criminal Court with stepped up sanctions should they charge any Israeli leader with crimes. And they’ve expanded the ban on any US funding to support UNWRA.
Congressional leaders and pro-Israel groups have also been echoing the rhetoric of Israel’s Prime Minister in smearing the protesting students calling them antisemites (even though a disproportionately large number of them are Jewish) and equating their protest with the Nazi antisemitic campaigns that led up to the Holocaust.
Finally, these same pro-Israel groups are “exposing” and smearing foundations supporting the progressive Jewish groups opposing Israel, calling for them to be shunned by the Jewish community.
The ability of pro-Israel groups to push the Administration, Congress, and major media outlets to take one-sided positions, pass repressive laws, smear and damage the reputations of members of Congress or students who oppose them may appear to demonstrate strength. In reality, it’s a function of their weakness and the weakness of their case. Their far-reaching efforts to police speech and to penalize and crush those who criticize Israel and its policies are reminiscent of the McCarthy era. But because Israeli behaviors will not change, the critics, especially those within the Democratic Party, will not “go quietly into the night.” Instead, their resolve will harden—and may ultimately damage President Biden’s bid for reelection.Keep ReadingShow Less
Put US Aid to Israel in an Escrow Account Until Human Rights Violations End
The U.S. must defend itself from indictment and prosecution as an accomplice to Israel’s violations of international law.
Apr 24, 2024
The inability of U.S. citizens, even a majority, to influence our country’s policies of war and peace in a rapid and effective way has long been obvious to many. Our support for Israel’s war in Gaza has made it painfully obvious—and now perilous.
The U.S. stands before the world as an accomplice to Israel’s flagrant violation of international law in Gaza. Yet Congress continues to pass aid because so many of our legislators—and their constituents and donors—cannot turn their backs on our ally, for valid reasons of historical memory and conscience.
So it is time to create an escrow account for further aid to Israel. With such an account we can still show support for our ally. But the aid will not be released until the U.N. certifies that Israel is in compliance with international law regarding the treatment of civilians in Gaza.
Many would argue, not without reason, that the U.N. is unlikely, at present, to certify Israel as being in any way compliant with international law. But Israel’s disputes with the U.N. and its member nations must be worked out there. The U.N. admitted Israel as a member state in 1949. The U.S. can help as a go-between. But not in an atmosphere where President Joe Biden’s warning to Netanyahu to avoid our country’s post-9/11 mistakes has been so violently ignored.
As congressional majorities continue to pass aid to Israel, let the escrow account signal U.S. refusal to comply any longer with collective punishment: blockade, planned starvation, and indiscriminate bombing.
Israel’s sovereign right to self-defense is always invoked as the bedrock principle that keeps U.S. aid flowing. Let our ally now respect that same right of self-defense for our country. The U.S. must defend itself from indictment and prosecution as an accomplice to Israel’s violations of international law. Our aid to Israel can be sequestered in an escrow account until it will not be used to commit such violations.
The Biden administration has been willing to acknowledge U.S. foreign policy mistakes that spiraled out of control. Let Congress encourage Israel to do the same by establishing this escrow account. As congressional majorities continue to pass aid to Israel, let the escrow account signal U.S. refusal to comply any longer with collective punishment: blockade, planned starvation, and indiscriminate bombing.
Members of Congress who have vowed to support Israel can honor their consciences by passing bills to aid Israel’s economic health and pragmatic self-defense. But we who feel the deep moral injury, to ourselves and Israel, and see the horrific physical suffering of Gaza and its people, can also honor our consciences by promoting this practical step to end U.S. complicity with these grave errors that are visible throughout the world as violations of international law. This can be achieved, without abandoning Israel, by placing our promised aid to our longtime ally in an escrow account. On behalf of the majority of Americans, we ask U.S. Senators to consider this option before continuing to approve military aid for Israel.Keep ReadingShow Less
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