Israel continues to wage a merciless assault against the Palestinian people
Even before Israel broke the fragile ceasefire on March 17, with approval from the Trump administration, it had cut off humanitarian supplies to the desperate inhabitants of Gaza.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, the Israeli military has killed over 50,000 identified people, most of them civilians, including more than 15,000 children. These numbers don’t include those still buried under the rubble or victims of lack of food or disease. 90 percent of Gaza’s population has been displaced.
Israel has been “carrying out ethnic cleansing” in Gaza (Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem), with “massive” and “deliberate” forced displacement (Human Rights Watch); Gaza’s health care system has been “targeted and destroyed” (Doctors without Borders), the educational system has been subject to “deliberate destruction” (respected scholar Avi Shlaim), journalists have been “directly targeted” (Comm. to Protect Journalists), and the Israeli prison system is a “network of torture camps” (B’Tselem). On the West Bank, since Oct. 2023, Palestinians have been facing “drastic escalation in unlawful killings [and] displacement” (Amnesty International).
These horrors are made possible by U.S. military aid and diplomatic support
In the first year after October 7, 2023, Washington spent $17.9 billion in military support of Israel. The Trump administration has approved $4 billion in military assistance and another $12 billion in military sales, while removing the very limited conditions placed on the aid by Biden. Resolutions proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders to block the transfer of some offensive weapons to Israel received 15 votes from Democrats (including NJ’s Andy Kim) and none from Republicans.
Palestine is the issue where the views of voters and electeds are most at odds
The latest Gallup poll shows that fewer than half of Americans support Israel, and that among those who identify as Democrats, Palestinians are supported over Israel by an incredible 59%-21%. According to an Economist-YouGov poll, a plurality of voters want to decrease military aid to Israel; among Democrats 46% want to decrease it, compared to 27% who want to leave it as is and 6% who want to increase it. Nevertheless, most officeholders, including most Democrats, are totally silent about Israel’s crimes and vote to provide the arms that enable the atrocities.
It is not antisemitic to criticize Israel’s crimes
Charges of antisemitism have been weaponized to justify war crimes abroad and an antidemocratic crackdown on dissenters and immigrants at home. This has to stop!
What can you do?
- Call your representatives in Congress and demand the US stop funding the war
- Join demonstrations, rallies, and vigils that are happening throughout the US