Last week, Senator Bernie Sanders introduced three resolutions in the Senate aimed at ending US arms transfers to Israel. These resolutions to end U.S. support for Israel’s genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza all received between 18 and 19 votes from Democrats and none from Republicans.
Although the vote does not involve even 20% of the 100 senators, it reflects a growing division within the Democratic Party and demonstrates significant opposition to President Joe Biden and the majority of Democrats who strongly support the Jewish state. According to polls, two-thirds of Democrats would like to completely stop military aid to Israel or condition it on a cease-fire.
Democrats around Biden unshakeable
The Democratic Party having failed this political and moral test, the ICC (International Criminal Court) issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including starvation as a method of warfare, intentional attacks on civilians, “murder, persecution and other inhumane acts”.The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas commander Ibrahim al-Masri.
Biden condemned the ICC’s actions, saying: “The ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is scandalous. Let me be clear once again: whatever the ICC may suggest, there is no equivalence – none – between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.”.
At the same time, at the UN Security Council, the United States was the only one to vote against a proposal calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, thus opposing their veto of the resolution by 14 votes to 1. “We could not support an unconditional ceasefire that did not allow the hostages to be released”said Robert A. Wood, American ambassador to the United Nations. This is the fourth time the United States has blocked a ceasefire resolution at the Security Council.
The previous week, the United Nations Human Rights Office condemned the massacre of civilians in the Gaza war, saying 70% of the victims were women and children. It said 43,300 people were killed, but many more dead were buried under bombed buildings. Volker Türk, UN human rights chief, said that “This unprecedented level of killings and injuries of civilians is a direct consequence of failure to respect the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.”
Support for Israel and increased repression under Trump
While Mr. Biden’s support for Israel has remained unwavering, Trump’s administration will be even worse. During the presidential debate before Biden dropped out of the presidential election, Trump asked Netanyahu to “finish the job in Gaza”. During his first presidential term (2016-2020), Trump supported Netanyahu’s government, moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, supporting Israeli claims to the Golan Heights and the West Bank. , by reducing aid to the Palestinians. Trump’s new ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, is a Christian Zionist who does not recognize the existence of the Palestinian people.
Protests against US support for Israel and against Israel’s war on Palestine continued. Although the movement on campus has been suppressed leading to the suspension, expulsion or imprisonment of students, off campus activities continue. At Travis Air Force Base in northern California, around fifty protesters blocked the entrance to the base and 28 people were arrested. An activist posted on X: “The Americans want peace!” STOP KILLING CHILDREN! People’s embargo! Stop funding Israel and war crimes.”
Under Trump, protesters will be subject to increased surveillance, investigations, false accusations of being foreign agents or terrorists, with the threat of deportation for immigrants. Anti-Zionists will be accused of anti-Semitism and may be charged with inciting hatred. Resistance to Trump will require a new strategy from the left.
Dan La Botz, translated by the editorial staff
