The United States has played a vital role in the decades-long catastrophe that has engulfed Palestine. U.S. leaders must now confront their country’s and, in many cases, their own personal complicity in this catastrophe.
Palestinians across Gaza and the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem took to the streets in celebration in the early hours of Friday morning, as a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas authorities in Gaza went into effect at 2:00 am. Meanwhile, Israeli forces are reportedly attacking worshipers at the al-Aqsa mosque compound, following a massive demonstration after Friday prayers during which Palestinians celebrated victory after the ceasefire.
Yoav Haifawi reports on how the “Strike for Unity,” the general strike that was observed throughout historic Palestine on May 18, unfolded in Haifa. He says it was a defiant display of unity across all sectors of the Palestinian community, even as ongoing governmental repression intensifies.
The Palestinians have risen. It is time to rally behind them.
Israel’s onslaught on Gaza is a p.r. disaster, with broadcast hosts accusing the country of war crimes. Reform Jewish leader Rabbi Rick Jacobs says it’s time for American Jews to stand up for their Israeli siblings and counter the bad press and “raise the voice of solidarity and love.”
There is a long history of the U.S. opposing ceasefires when Israel wants to continue bombing.
For decades Israel has been able to confiscate homes, occupy land, and kill civilians. There’s never been much mainstream debate about this in the United States, the country that finances Israel’s atrocities with billions of dollars in taxpayer money. That has now changed.
With Israeli soldiers and settlers rampaging through Jerusalem and another another rapacious attack on Gaza underway, it is not the role of supporters in the west to tell Palestinians how best to resist.
Over 300 faculty members from 17 colleges and universities across North Carolina have issued a statement condemning Israel’s actions against Palestinians and US support for Israel, and standing in solidarity with the Palestinian liberation struggle.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is reportedly preparing to introduce a resolution on Thursday to the Senate “disapproving” the planned sale of $735 million in precision-guided weapons to Israel. This comes as the Gaza death toll reaches 230, including 65 children. In addition, 1,760 have been injured and 50,000 families have been displaced due to ongoing Israeli airstrikes.