The visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the United States highlights the role of imperialism in the genocide in Gaza.
Since the beginning of the Al-Aqsa Storm on October 7, 2023, the administration of President Joe Biden has emphasized its support for the Israeli regime as being “ironclad”.
However, the high visibility of Palestine solidarity activism, and the resulting rapid shift in public opinion has prompted a change in the rhetoric emanating from the White House. Although no fundamental changes have been made to Washington’s foreign policy positions towards Tel Aviv.
Rehashing the failed notions of a “two-state solution” to the Palestinian question, a proposal which even successive U.S. administrations have undermined in theory and practice, and which the Israeli Knesset recently voted against, is proving inadequate in addressing the concerns of many within the U.S. electorate. Since the escalation of the genocidal onslaught in Gaza and other areas of the occupied territories, the Biden administration has sent 20,000 bombs to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to be utilized to further the destruction of the Palestinian population in Gaza.
By the concluding days of July 2024, official figures estimate that more than 39,000 Palestinians have been killed, with a possible total of 186,000 which includes unrecovered bodies and deaths from hunger, lack of sanitation, and damaged infrastructure. Approximately 90,000 have been wounded and injured while the entire population of the Gaza Strip of 2.3 million are being displaced and imperiled.
The deaths, injuries and dislocations are rendering Washington just as culpable, if not more so, as Tel Aviv. In fact, if it was not for the large-scale weapons transfers, intelligence sharing, logistical support and diplomatic cover from the U.S., the State of Israel would not be able to carry on its genocidal biddings against the Palestinians and other neighboring states such as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
When the Biden administration attempts to make it appear as if it is concerned about the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, they must always preface their comments with concerns about the “security” of Israel and the right of settler-colonialism to exist. How can a state which is based upon occupation, ethnic cleansing and genocide have a right to exist in the 21st century?
These contradictions have been brought to the fore as a result of the mass demonstrations and campus occupations which swept the country. The marches and the attempts to impose sanctions on Israel are a global phenomenon. Rather than engage with the Palestinian solidarity movement, Biden has labeled the activism on the campuses and in municipalities as being motivated by antisemitism.
Consequently, even though the White House has declared that it will no longer transfer 2,000lb bombs to the IDF, ordinance of lesser weight continues to flow publicly. The policies of the administration have alienated millions of voters. This section of the electorate is not exclusively restricted to Arab and Muslim communities.. Many constituents from other oppressed communities and conscious youth refused to support a Biden reelection effort.
In an article published by Al Mayadeen Television on July 25 based upon a report from the New York Times noted:
“The U.S. has sent Israel a substantial quantity of weaponry since October 7, as reported by The New York Times on Thursday, citing data from an analysis published by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America. The shipments include over 20,000 unguided bombs, approximately 2,600 guided bombs, and 3,000 precision missiles. The U.S. has also provided aircraft, ammunition, and air defense systems. Many of these transfers were kept secret or remained partially confidential, the report notes. An analysis by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in the spring found that the arms supplied up to March constituted ‘an enormous number and variety of weapons,’ which have been vital in supporting Israel's security apparatus.
The analysis also suggested that ‘it seems unlikely that Israel could attain across-the-board weapons and munitions self-sufficiency anytime soon,’ with some experts believing it may never be able to do so.”
These reports have contributed to the indignation of millions in the U.S. over Washington’s unconditional support for Tel Aviv.
Harris and Israeli Apartheid
During the visit of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, dozens of members of the House of Representatives and the Senate did not attend his address to the Congress on July 24. Some like Senator Chuck Schumer, the head of this chamber of the legislature who did not take his seat to preside over the session, was still present in the audience. Harris reportedly stated that she had a previous public commitment and did not attend. However, she did meet with Netanyahu the following day..
Outside the Capitol in Washington, D.C., thousands of protesters gathered demanding Netanyahu’s arrest. In May the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor sought arrest warrants against Netanyahu and his defense minister Yoav Gallant. The ICC also made the same warrant request related to three top leaders of the Hamas resistance movement. Despite the failure to recognize the sharp distinction between violence carried out by the oppressors and the revolutionary violence of the oppressed aimed at liberating themselves from domination, the citing of the Zionist leaders caused much consternation in Tel Aviv.
Vice-President Kamala Harris, now running for the Democratic Party nomination as president after Biden’s withdrawal from the race on July 21, has maintained close ties with the State of Israel. Nonetheless, she attempted to distance herself from the positions maintained by the White House which have caused widespread opposition.
However, if the words articulated by Harris are analyzed closely, they will reveal that there is no real change. She continues to say that Israel has a right to exist and defend itself from the Palestinian resistance. Later Harris expressed the desire for more humanitarian assistance to be delivered to the Palestinians along with platitudes about the conditions of the oppressed and their right to self-determination. Undoubtedly, it will take a much clearer and direct program to convince millions within the electorate who voted uncommitted in the Democratic primaries and the many others categorically opposed to the White House policy.
Trump and the State of Israel
Former U.S. President Donald Trump as well has been a staunch proponent of Zionism and its policies carried out in Palestine and throughout the entire West Asia and North Africa regions. It was Trump who ordered the relocation of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Even with the ascendancy of Biden during the 2020 elections, the current president has not reversed the actions by Trump. When asked by journalists about the statement made by Harris during the Netanyahu state visit to the U.S., Trump said the Vice President’s comments were “disrespectful” to the Zionist leader.
Trump made additional remarks to the effect that the current warfare in Gaza must end. Nevertheless, it was not clear whether Trump meant a permanent ceasefire or an even more deadly escalation of bombing and shelling against the people in Gaza which would result in more casualties.
Independent Candidates Dr. Jill Stein and Dr. Cornel West
The most prominent independent candidates so far are Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party and Dr. Cornel West, running independently. Both of these candidates have made more direct and transformative statements against the genocide.
In a petition appearing on Jill Stein’s campaign page called “Pledge to Stop Genocide”, it emphasizes:
“We the undersigned demand the U.S. government stop supporting the ongoing Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. We therefore pledge to withhold all support from candidates supporting the genocidal war on Gaza. We will instead support only candidates who: support peace, freedom, dignity, equality, and security for all people in Palestine and Israel. Don’t take money from AIPAC and the PACs and lobbyists for war profiteers. Who specifically support:
an immediate ceasefire, ending the blockade and allowing food, water, medicine, energy, and emergency shelter to enter Gaza. Return of all hostages and political prisoners. An end to Israeli occupation and apartheid. Compliance by all parties in the conflict with international law, including an end to all violence against civilians. Accountability for war crimes.”
Cornel West recently appeared on News Nation where he spoke extensively on his opposition to the U.S. and Israeli policies. He blasted the Biden administration for its failure to end aid to Tel Aviv and to come out staunchly for a permanent solution to the Palestinian question.
During a visit to Detroit, Michigan in February of this year, West was quoted as saying:
“’Ceasefire is a minimal step,’ West continued. ‘Ending the occupation is a requirement. For me, that is non-negotiable in the Middle East as it relates to our Palestinian and Israeli brothers and sisters. There’s got to be Palestinian dignity, equality. We don’t want the massacre and genocide of any people. But you can never have your security predicated on the occupation of Gaza.’”
Both Stein and West should utilize the uncompromising positions of the movement which emerged on the campuses. College students and faculty members have called for full disclosure and divestment of all financial holdings with the State of Israel. It is only the total isolation of the Zionist apartheid regime which can create the conditions for the critical support towards ending national oppression and the total liberation of Palestine.
Abayomi Azikiwe is the Editor of Pan-African News Wire.
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