November 13, 2009
At a time when the United States House of Representatives has just voted to deny the existence of the well documented Israeli war crimes committed against the people of Gaza during Operation Cast Lead, The International Coalition to End the Illegal Siege on Gaza is planning a non-violent demonstration and march from Gaza to Israel’s border demanding that the Israel lift the brutal blockade that has crippled nearly every sector of Palestinian life.
Despite the overwhelming international consensus on the fairness and viability of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, the United States rejected the 452 pages of evidence given by the UN Mission led by Justice Richard Goldstone, a Jewish South African. The United States refuses to admit that the three billion dollars it sends to Israel in military aid each year might be used for anything other than most exemplary behavior in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Of course, with the United States engaged in two occupations and wars that have given rise to over one million casualties, it is understandable that the United States would not blink an eye at the 1,400 Palestinian lives lost during Operation Cast Lead.
Though denial is typical in the United Sates when it comes to the pattern of Israel’s war crimes, I was again shocked, dismayed and angered to see the pervasive lack of courage, integrity and compassion in the United States House of Representatives as they sweepingly passed the House Resolution 867 to condemn the UN Mission’s Report on Operation Cast Lead. (The report was accepted in the UN General Assembly by a vote of 114-18.) The vote in the House of Representatives was a strong reminder that we can in no way rely on this unresponsive and calloused Congress to shape our vision for justice and a more humane society.
We are talking about a Congress of career oriented and business minded bureaucrats, Republicans and Democrats alike, who cannot see the moral ills of exporting Boeing Apache helicopters and F16 Eagle fighter planes, Lockheed Martin F-16 jets, CAT bulldozers, Hellfire missiles, Raytheon Bunker Buster missiles, indiscriminate DIME munitions, US Air Force cluster bombs and three billion dollars of military aid a year to Israel so that it can maintain apartheid and likely commit further egregious war crimes in Palestine.
This is a governmental body that has forfeited any supposed right to make decisions on my behalf. Waiting for Congress or President Obama to make a real move towards a just resolution between the nation of Israel and the people of Palestine is completely illogical based on their own resolutions, statements (or lack thereof), arms shipments and the United States’ historical reputation of being a dishonest broker in previous peace talks.
That is why I am joining the Gaza Freedom March on December 27th. I can no longer sit by and watch as this country supports the military siege and economic strangulation of our sisters and brothers in Palestine through a blockade that does nothing to further long-term security for our Israeli sisters and brothers or to defend people here in the United States. Over 500 internationals (many Israelis included) and as many as 50,000 Palestinians are expected to take part in the Gaza Freedom March. Through direct action of common people united across borders, we will stand in solidarity with Palestinians and hope to help move towards a just, sustainable peace. With conditions deteriorating in Gaza, there is no time to trust in politicians or distant elections. It’s time that the people determine the policies.
Free Gaza. End the siege. End the occupation.
Go to the Gaza Freedom March’s Website
Read Justice Goldstone’s response to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
