Israel-Palestine Conflict: A Threat to Democracy in America

Trump Gets a Ceasefire

It is worth noting that Donald Trump might have done one good thing since becoming the 45th president of the United States. Unlike his predecessor Joe Biden, he was able to broker a ceasefire on the day before his inauguration. Only two presidents since WWII have not started wars. They are Donald Trump in his first term and Jimmy Carter.

On the other hand, Trump has advocated the depopulation of Gaza, which would be ethnic cleansing, a violation of international law. Trump’s invitation to Netanyahu is also a violation of international law since there is an arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court for war crimes.

The main reason this conflict has gone on for so long was Joe Biden’s unwavering support of Netanyahu. He supplied unlimited weapons like the 2000 lb. bunker buster bombs to destroy hospitals, schools and mosques. President Biden’s legacy will forever be marred by his actions of unconditionally supporting Israel’s extremist government.

Understanding the Palestinian Response

Netanyahu and many ultra-right-wing Zionists are using the Holocaust to make all Jewish people the victims and justify Israel’s outsized response to the Oct. 7 attack. According to the words of Holocaust survivor, physician and author Gabor Mate:

“You know that’s just a misuse and the abuse and the exploitation, I think a very cynical one, of Jewish trauma. Because that wasn’t an attack on Jews … without justifying the specific events of Oct. 7 … that was an eruption against an occupation and a siege, and it wasn’t targeted at Jews because they were Jews. It was targeted against an occupying power.”

The events of Oct. 7 were a response to the denial of the Palestinian people of their homeland that included the expulsion of over one million people, daily oppression and degradation, as well as thousands in prison without trial or due process. This is along with hundreds of extrajudicial killings by the Israeli Defense Forces and the settlers.

This Conflict is Solvable

There are other rebellions and resistance movements which have resolved conflicts after a period of armed conflict and terrorism. One example is Northern Ireland. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) killed anyone who supported the British occupation of that country. Attacks included not only British soldiers but Irish women who dated British soldiers. The IRA even set bombs in Harrod’s department store in the heart of London. The difference was a peace agreement was that facilitated by then President Bill Clinton.

Impact on America Democracy

With valid reason, American Jews, especially older people, remember the horrors of the Holocaust. The Israeli government uses the Holocaust to make Israel the victim. The truth is the Palestinian people have been the victims of dislocation and now genocide. Added to this is the unquestioning support of the US government. Another factor is the Israel lobby, The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

AIPAC spent over $20 million defeating African American congressperson Jamal Bowman of New York because he questioned what was happening in the occupied territories. Because of post Holocaust trauma, a significant portion of the Jewish community in America have a blind spot when it comes to Palestinians. Unconditional support of Israel not only damages the US’s standing in the world but also blocks progressive change in our country.

The devastation of Gaza, the obvious extermination campaign by the Israeli government with the 100% backing of the United States government, has outraged many people especially the young on the campuses of our colleges and universities. Under a Democratic president, the unprecedented firing of presidents of four ivy league colleges and the police invasions and repression of peaceful protesters has negated free speech guaranteed by the Constitution. Now under the imperial presidency of Donald Trump, people who believe in democracy must organize to make America a democracy again.

Jewish Community Divided.

Traditionally, American Jewish people have been and are in the forefront of every progressive movement in America such as the Civil Rights movement, the peace movement, the feminist movement and the movement for LGBTQ2+ rights. Unfortunately, many of these same people are unable to connect these movements to the struggle of the Palestinians for Homeland. There is hope for change because many Jewish students have joined and lead protests on their campuses. In addition, organizations like Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now are out in the streets. Even more moderate organizations like the Union of Reform Judaism by calling for a peaceful end to the conflict and a two-state solution.

In the city of Long Beach, Jewish Long Beach controls many Jewish institutions. By virtue of their established place, it has resources. Jewish Long Beach holds a militant one-sided view of the of the conflict. They support the Netanyahu government and oppose Palestinian statehood and equal rights. The bright spot for Long Beach is the many activists who demonstrated for Palestinian human rights.

On Dec. 19, 2023, our City Council was one of the first in the nation to call for a ceasefire. Many in our city are proud of the leadership of our mayor and council. We hope our national and international leaders will move the ceasefire forward. Our job is to continue to pressure our government and educate the American people.

Marshall Blesofsky is a long-time peace and social justice activist. He is a member Long of Beach Area Peace Network and a member of Jewish Voice for Peace, Long Beach. He is a retired USC Assistant Professor at the Keck School of Medicine. The views expressed in this article do not represent the views of any of these organizations, only those of the author.