While there is much energy around the killing of hundreds of Palestinian civilians, it’s important to bare witness to the ongoing, day-to-day violence the Palestinian people endure.
As I browsed through If Americans Knew (thanks, Ian), I was looking for a stunning graph that would show why this war is not equal, how the West has been duped into justifying Israel’s incursions and repressive regime. I thought the most staggering was the United states funding inequity between the two regions.
This is important for a number of reasons.
- It’s my humble belief that the United States does not involve itself in a humanitarian crisis unless there is significant capital to gain. When we look at our recent work in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bosnia, we can see typical financial incentives that play out in the Israel-Palestine conflict. A boom to U.S. weapons manufacturers and private security forces, first dibs and coercive deals for natural resources, and political repayment.
- Every single American is contributing to the oppression of Palestinians. We must connect the money we pay in taxes to worldwide atrocities carried out and supported by the United States. Imagine a line-item breakout of how our tax money is spent?
- Providing weapons and finances to only one side of a conflict is not a bilateral position. The United States clearly does not want peace, they want to continue the repression of Palestinians and continue to use Israel as a stake in its continuing campaign to colonize oil-rich, Arab states.
In cities around the country, there are people in the streets demanding an end to the bombings.
A day after Israel’s air raids on Gaza, which claimed at least 290 lives and more than 900 wounded according to the Palestine News Network, a coalition of groups in Boston gathered on Park Street to protest Israel’s aggression. Protests have been carried out in several cities in the United States and around the world.
Haaretz, one of Israel’s main newspapers, reported that the attacks had been in the planning for months. Hundreds in Tel Aviv came out to protest the bombings saying that military action against Gaza does nothing to improve security in Israel. Read More
From INDYMEDIA: Solidarity Reports: Hundreds Rally in Houston | Thousands Rally in NYC (PHOTOS): 1, 2 | Protests Planned in Los Angeles, Portland and Twin Cities, MN | | | In Depth Reports From: Indybay | Rochester IMC | DC IMC | Indymedia.Org: Today We Stop The War and Massacre in Palestine – Responses and Developments | | | Alternative News Sources: Israel IMC | Palestine News Network | International Middle East Media Center and Radio Free Palestine
Facebook demonstrated the power of social media when my status message, “United States + Israel = World Terrorists” received some attention. It’s a touchy subject, I didn’t expect anyone to chime in really, but was able to put together my thoughts on why I subjectively support the Palestinian people:
It is certainly not black and white, I completely agree. It is very complicated, but I have to say that Israel receives a highly inequitable amount of support than its poorer neighbor. Israel has held an economic stranglehold on Palestine, most Palestinians work (if they can) in Israel. It is a situation that could be compared to England’s abuse and capitalization of Ireland’s poor, working-class makeup — or even the disparity (and subsequent abuse) between North and South in our own country.
For me, I want to see economic equality for all human beings, and to see the grip Israel/U.S. have over Palestine demonstrates the real violence of poverty. This is not an equal war, when a well equipped military-state attacks a mostly civilian, poorly equipped population, it’s practically genocide. I want a peaceful solution, however in Palestine there are internal disagreements about solutions to the conflict — some choose to fight,particularly those who see their families tortured, murdered, starved, and jailed — who have had their houses bulldozed because the Israeli army accused someone of throwing a Molotov cocktail. I recommend everyone check out that book from their library, it’s a quick read and helps humanize the conflict from the Palestinian perspective. Traditionally, our mainstream media considers the conflict from the Israeli perspective.
Again, I do not discredit those who criticize the attacks on Israel, but as that site points out, it is exaggerated. It is an intentional distraction from the day-to-date violence Palestinians encounter.
See also:
Colleen has introduced me to graphic novels, and I’ve enjoyed reviewing the MOME series, which without a library membership I might otherwise have passed on. Most recently, I finished