The new year in Palestine is beginning as the last one ended — with wanton killings of Palestinian youth by Israeli soldiers. So far already 12 dead.
As usual, the U.S. press has done its utmost to ignore Palestinian persecution. Though the press has given a lot of attention to a delicious political scandal involving Israel: in which Ken Roth, the former head of Human Rights Watch, was denied a fellowship at Harvard’s Kennedy School because he approved a landmark report on Israeli apartheid two years ago. Poor Ken Roth, he had to settle for a fellowship at another prestige university, but his case has highlighted the corruption of elite institutions by pro-Israel donors. An old story is finally news.
The Kennedy School case has gotten attention in part because Israel’s image is tanking. Its new authoritarian/religious government has undertaken fascistic steps in the name of Jewish supremacy, and these moves are producing a “shakeup moment” for the American Jewish establishment, as one Zionist leader explains. “We’re hearing from unlikely voices who are saying I may no longer be able to support Israel… people who are associated with the American Jewish right.”
Some liberal Zionists are finally admitting that the project has failed. And the streets of Tel Aviv are filled with protesters. Not out of concern for Palestinian human rights, or the crackdown on Palestinian leaders. No, these demonstrators fear the crisis in the Israeli “democracy,” which hasn’t ever been a democracy for Palestinians. And they are endorsing the obvious tool for progressive change: economic pressure on the fascists to change their ways. “Anybody who is contributing to the Israeli economy should stop. Stop that contribution until the wind changes,” says one liberal Zionist.
There are other signs of disarray among Israel’s supporters back here. AIPAC is at war with J Street over how critical Americans are allowed to be of the Israeli government. The ADL is trying to redline any sharp criticism of Israel as antisemitism. And Joe Biden’s ambassador to Israel cheerleads the rightwing government as a “thriving democracy,” shutting out all the protests and killings.
Anti-Zionists have a big role to play in this discussion. We should be pressing all these Israel supporters, however liberal they style themselves, How can you continue to support Jewish supremacy? How can you continue to back Jewish apartheid? The political winds are at our back.
Thanks for reading, and enjoy the winter!
“Its new authoritarian/religious government has undertaken fascistic steps in the name of Jewish supremacy, and these moves are producing a “shakeup moment” for the American Jewish establishment, as one Zionist leader explains. “We’re hearing from unlikely voices who are saying I may no longer be able to support Israel… people who are associated with the American Jewish right….How can you continue to support Jewish supremacy? How can you continue to back Jewish apartheid? The political winds are at our back.”
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Palestinian political/thought leaders are likely sensing opportunity for alliances and initiative toward rights and freedoms.