Let me begin with
the obligatory statements. What happened on
October 7, 2023, was horrible. Hamas launched
an attack on Israel that some describe as
“unprovoked.” But at an AIPAC (American Israel
Political Action Committee) conference during
the 2020 Presidential campaign, Israel’s Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bragged about
annexing Palestinian land. While decrying the
loss of life from October 7, one might also
look at the provocation that prompted extreme
action by Hamas.
There is another
obligatory statement. Israel has a right to
exist. But under what terms and on what land?
When the Prime Minister encourages Jewish
settlers to occupy Palestinian land, that’s an
act of aggression. No wonder there are so many
angry Palestinians, victims of Israel, who
demand self-determination but deny
self-determination to others. And if anyone
dares question these tactics, they become a
target for AIPAC. This rabidly pro-Israel
organization refuses to recognize that
Palestinians are human beings who also have
rights. The organization has gone after those
calling for a cease-fire and peace in the
Middle East. They are raising $100 million to
defeat progressive members of Congress who do
not toe the narrow Israel line. And they are
indifferent to the fact that as many as 13,000
children have been murdered by Israel’s
aggression.
AIPAC and its
co-conspirators spent nearly $7 million to
defeat progressive Donna Edwards because she
was not sufficiently pro-Israel. Instead, in a
safe Democratic district, AIPAC supported the
more moderate Glen Ivey, who was the State
Attorney for Prince George’s County. Except
for his blind support of Israel, Ivey and
Edwards are politically similar, though
Edwards’ positions are often to the left of
Ivey’s. AIPAC’s political interference meant
that Maryland’s Congressional delegation is
now entirely male.
AIPAC is up to its
old tricks in this election cycle. They’ve
targeted New York Congressman Jamal Bowman,
Pennsylvania Congresswoman Summer Lee, and
Missouri Congresswoman Cori Bush because they
aren’t pro-Israel enough for them. These are
all African American members of Congress who
have the best interest of the Black community
at heart. AIPAC has placed itself in direct
opposition to the African American community,
but why should it care about the African
American community?
Lee, Bowman, and
Bush aren’t the only targets of AIPAC’s ire.
They’ve gone after “The Squad,” especially
Congresswomen Ilhan Omar (Minnesota) and
Rashida Talib (Michigan). And they attempt to
define anti-Semitism broadly so that even the
slightest criticism of Israel is considered
objectionable. But members of Congress
abdicate their responsibility to raise budget
issues if they don’t question why. Even before
the April 20 Congressional action sending more
weapons to Israel, our country allocated $3.3
billion to Israel’s so-called “self-defense.”
I object to my tax
dollars being used to murder Gazan children.
Those members of Congress who are raising
questions are doing the right thing. Those
calling for a cease-fire are responding to a
moral imperative about the value of human
life. Israel is using food as a weapon,
blocking supplies to Palestine and killing
innocent relief workers and people who are
simply trying to provide food for the hungry
in Palestine.
Senator Bernie
Sanders, Jewish himself, described AIPAC as a
“platform for those who express bigotry and
oppose basic Palestinian rights.” He has
described Netanyahu as a “reactionary racist.”
Many in Israel oppose Netanyahu’s strong-arm
tactics and would love to topple his
government. He has cynically used the war with
Hamas to maintain his political position. And
Gazan children are dying. While many embrace
the notion of an eye for an eye, Netanyahu
wants twenty Palestinian eyes for every lost
Israeli eye. He has vowed to eliminate Hamas.
In practice, he is attempting to eliminate
Palestine with his aggressive policies toward
settlements and his ruthless land grabbing.
Negotiations about
a cease-fire and hostage exchange continue,
but children are dying, and AIPAC is blatantly
indifferent. Conscientious members of Congress
– Bowman, Lee, Bush, Talib, Omar, and others-
are targeted because they dare ask questions.
AIPAC’s bullying may help, not hurt, these
progressive legislators as their supporters
are rallying around them. Summer Lee raised
more than a million dollars in response to
AIPAC’s attacks, and they’ve decided to stop
targeting her. Voters are concerned about the
carnage in Gaza, some so concerned that they
may withhold support from President Biden,
potentially causing him the 2024 election.
I consider AIPAC
and its affiliated groups enemies of humanity
and decency. Their take-no-prisoners support
for Israel ignores the humanity of the
Palestinian people. Their fatwa against those
who criticize Israel amounts to censorship. As
the conflict continues to rage and more
children die, Israel has much to be ashamed
of. They are aided and abetted by the powerful
AIPAC lobby that believes that Israel can do
no wrong.
