This is a season of gratitude for me. Speaking personally — I reflect on the year and try to see the ridgelines, not the valleys. I put my grievances aside and count my blessings.
Today I see some hope in the American discussion of Palestine. I believe the politics of Palestine are changing in irreversible ways; we can take some credit for that change and look forward to the great shift we have long yearned and prayed for.
How can I feel optimistic? I think about Rachel Corrie. Twenty years ago, Rachel was killed standing up for Palestinian human rights, and the United States did nothing. Rachel’s brave family and her congressman fought for her tirelessly; still, the U.S. didn’t honor her life or demand justice. The Corries sat through a grueling trial in Israel in which the Israeli government added insult to injury.
This year Israel killed the Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in cold blood, and they tried to follow the same playbook: cover it up. Stonewall. Don’t give an inch.
This time, the Abu Akleh family and the solidarity movement were relentless. Thanks to our staff, Mondoweiss has covered all of these ongoing efforts in Palestine, Congress, and the White House, adding public pressure for the U.S. Government to act.
I want these stories to reach more people.
This is a movement that Rachel, Shireen, their families, and you have worked so hard to build. And now, many congresspeople have come to their side. Even the Biden administration opened an FBI investigation into her killing after the midterm elections, as Israeli officials threw tantrums at the idea of accountability.
There are more people and policy-makers on our side than ever. We have been privileged to play a critical role in that struggle—documenting the atrocities in Palestine and exposing the efforts of the Israel lobby in the U.S. to cover that up.
You have enabled us to do so!
Help more people worldwide to hear about Rachel, Shireen, and countless Palestinians who were silenced. Let’s help their vision for peace and justice resonate with a growing number of people around the world.
I have great hope. I see rising consciousness. I see young Americans who know that it’s apartheid. I see progressive Democrats who know the story even if they are not always outspoken, but they listen to Rashida Tlaib and Betty McCollum. I see Israeli lobbyists scared about how their brand is tanking. I see support for Palestine becoming a major story at the World Cup.
No, it is not the whole transformation yet. But it is progress in a great struggle.
You have my deepest gratitude.
Philip Weiss
Philip Weiss is senior editor of Mondoweiss.net and founded the site in 2005-06.
“it is progress in a great struggle.”
It is progress on a key front of a very great struggle. The corruption of governments affects so many aspects of people’s lives. I agree we are seeing a tectonic shift in awareness of the corruption suppressing the Palestinian people.
Simultaneously we’re seeing major revelations of corruption in our media through the newly released Twitter files. And we’re seeing bombshell corruption revelations about the European Union governing body.
A lot of this is made possible by the internet. And Mondoweiss is a genuine internet pioneer in the long march of truth, the essential foundation of justice.