Michael Sauers
October 27, 2024
I have, with great uneasiness, watched Kamala Harris give her answers to the questions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She measures and weighs every word, always beginning with the Hamas attack on October 7, 2024. This is painful to watch as most informed people know that this lethal dispute began many decades earlier. Both the Israelis and the Palestinians have committed atrocities. This is very easy to research. Google “suicide bombers”, “Hamas shelling”, “Deir Yassin”, “Sabra”, “Shatilia”, “Hezbollah”, “Yemen”, “Ariel Sharon”, “Yasser Arafat”, “Meir Kahane”, “Gaza”, “West Bank”, “illegal settlements”, “international criminal law”, “Menachem Begin”, “Baruch Goldstein”, “Zionism”, “Hebron”, “Susya”, “terrorist organizations”, etc.
The current government of Israel is led by Netanyahu and a very right wing, religious coalition in the Israeli Knesset. Some of these people are basing their actions on biblical/religious teachings. The ultra-Orthodox or Haredim have exempted their young men and women from military service since the founding of Israel. It is difficult to debate religious dogmas. There are many and people have very strong disagreements about religious dogmas. Unfortunately, some believe that a religious dogma gives them a carte blanche for their actions even if it comes under intense scrutiny inside and outside the dogma’s domain.
Britian/United States have been supporters and defenders of Israel from its inception. Israelis and American Jews have formed powerful lobbies in many countries, especially the United States. AIPAC is one example of such a lobby. Our elected officials have taken tens of millions of dollars from AIPAC and other pro-Israel lobbies. Some say they are bought and paid for. We have supported them to the tune of many billions of dollars and billions of dollars in military aid. We have now sent soldiers! We support the current killings in Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon and Yemen.
The United Sates has been party to numerous attempts to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The two state solution has been attempted ad nauseam. There is always a lot of finger pointing for the failures and the hatred continues.
Independent and credible estimates of men, women, and children killed/missing in the current conflict are well beyond 100,000 and not the often reported 42,000. Many in the world are calling Israel’s actions genocide. Bombings, ground troop attacks, denial of food, water, shelter, forced moving, medicine and medical care are the modus operandi of the Israeli operation. International news agencies are not allowed in. All news comes from Israeli government officials and many have labeled it propaganda. Palestinians are being killed daily. Israel believes it has a right to “defend” themselves. From whom, traumatized children? The world stands by and watches!
Israel has broadened its attack to the West Bank, Lebanon and Iran. In fairness, Israel is being attacked from Lebanon and by agents of Iran.
The Biden-Harris Administration and the Harris-Walz Campaign dance around the issue as if it is a maypole. Why are they not taking a much stronger approach with Israel? Why don’t they enforce an arms embargo? Why don’t they insist on renewing negotiations? Why?! Why?! Why?! Netanyahu seems to be giving Biden the middle finger and openly wishing for a Trump return to the White House. Obviously, Harris-Walz are intimidated by the possibility of losing some segment of Jewish votes. Polls indicate a very tight election. Harris could very well lose the election because of her lack of historical perspective on Gaza and her purposeful reluctance to drill down on the issue. It is seen as weakness. We will see!
As I have pointed out before, this disastrous fighting could very well lead to a worldwide catastrophe. Countries are taking sides. Issues are beginning to be blurred. We need courage, honesty and sanity.
For some additional perspective read, The Message, by Ta-Nehisi-Coates.