The metaphors that attempt to render Palestine complicated obscure the simple brutality of Zionist colonization.
Pro-Israel writers have dismissed all criticism, opposition and even enmity to Israel and its actions as springing from an ancient malady, antisemitism. They thereby erase the true history of the Israel-Palestine conflict, in a so-far successful effort to discredit the critics. Israel’s actions exist very much in history, and its supporters use very sharp elbows and knees to get its way.
Progressive leader Nina Turner was defeated in the closely-watched Ohio primary for Congress tonight by establishment candidate Shontel Brown, according to reports in the media. The victory is a big win for the pro-Israel lobby inside the Democratic Party– and a blow to the insurgent left wing in the party.
“Why are they spending all of that money on little old me? Inquiring minds want to know,” Democratic candidate for Congress Nina Turner says of “millions” pouring into the Ohio primary from special interests. One obvious source of the money is the pro-Israel crowd, which has embraced Turner’s rival Shontel Brown, who says the special relationship between the U.S. and Israel will help the black community fight “hatred” and “persecution.”
Nina Turner, running for Congress in Ohio, says a group is targeting progressive candidates of color with “dirty money”– in an apparent reference to Democratic Majority for Israel. Turner has called for conditioning U.S. aid to Israel, while her rival Shontel Brown recently visited the country at the behest of a rightwing Israel lobby group.
“[T]he occupation is not temporary, and there is not the political will in the Israeli government to bring about its end,” write Alon Liel and Ilan Baruch. “It is time for the world to recognize that what we saw in South Africa decades ago is happening in the occupied Palestinian territories too… and take decisive diplomatic action… and work towards building a future of equality, dignity, and security for Palestinians and Israelis alike.”
Dropping bombs on the Middle East is a rite of passage for modern Presidents and last week Joe Biden officially joined the club.
Democratic Majority for Israel was established for the sole purpose of stomping out the growing pro-Palestine sentiment within the Democratic Party. Their next target: Nina Turner.
The race for the Democratic nomination to be NY’s mayor is heating up, and Israel is a big part of the discussion. Leading Democratic Party candidates for NY mayor all oppose BDS, with Ray McGuire denouncing the human rights campaign and Andrew Yang saying it’s rooted in Nazi thought. Though Shaun Donovan panders best of them all on Israel: “I have not visited Israel but I have visited both Dachau and Auschwitz.”