Cracks in unconditional US political support for Israel?

The United States was the first country in the world to recognize Israel as a state and in 2017 it was the first country to recognize Jerusalem (including occupied East Jerusalem) as the capital of the Jewish state. The US State Department’s official website says Israel has “no bigger friend than the United States.”

Israel’s unconditional American political, economic and military support goes back decades and cross party. However, members of the lower house and Senator Bernie Sanders want to end Gaza’s recent bombings.

On Thursday, June 20, Bernie Sanders, an independent senator from the state of Vermont, filed a resolution blocking $ 735 million in arms sales to Israel – until Biden opposes his appointment as Democrat president.

He argued that the United States should not provide weapons to a nation that knowingly carries out airstrikes on civilians. “At a time when US – made bombs are wreaking havoc in Gaza and massacring women and children, we cannot allow another massive arms sale to continue without even a debate in Congress,” he said. “I hope the United States will help the Israelis and Palestinians to lead a peaceful and prosperous future. We must look carefully at whether these weapons really help, or whether they are feeding the conflict.”

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has filed a resolution to block $ 735 million in arms sales to Israel.

A simple majority is enough to pass the resolution and stop the planned sale of GPS-guided bombs (JDAMs). If President Joe Biden uses his veto, he will need a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress.

Sanders’ resolution follows a motion filed in the General Assembly a day earlier by a group of progressive Democrats, including Alexandria Ocacio-Cortes (nicknamed OAC), a well-known representative of the 14th District in New York.

Congress was notified of the forthcoming arms sale on May 5 and was given until May 20 to object. Sanders’ resolution came at the last minute. The initiatives of both houses of Congress show that not everyone within the Democrats is still in favor of pro-Israel standards.

“For decades, the United States has sold billions of dollars worth of weapons to Israel without demanding that the fundamental rights of the Palestinians be respected. Weapons should not be sent, ”the OAC said.

It is almost impossible to accept resolutions. Only Sanders’ resolution should be effectively voted on by law. But it is noteworthy that Israel is being openly criticized in the main political arena of the United States.

After all, the US president is incredibly cautious. Israel (yet a colonial occupier) has a constant emphasis on the right to self-defense. Netanyahu’s call for a “significant expansion” on Wednesday, June 19 is Biden’s boldest statement to Israel to date.

In contrast to established politics, the Palestinians have great resemblance to American social civil movements. On Friday, June 14, a coalition of 140 organizations – including the peace movement Godepink – issued a statement condemning Israel for its bloodshed.

Black Lives Matter tweeted, “We are a movement that has promised to end colonialism in all its forms and to continue to advocate for Palestinian liberation.”

The active participation of Jewish progressives in the many solidarity activities organized in the United States is astonishing. They clearly point out the great difference between the anti-Semitism and the legitimate critique of a particular political policy of aggression, racism and discrimination against Palestinians carried out by an Israeli government on behalf of all Jews.

Members of the Jewish community in the United States – especially among the younger generation – refuse to identify with the actions of the Israeli government. “Israel is a state, not an individual. Everyone has the right to condemn the wrongdoing of a state, ”reads the Jewish Voice for Peace website, a progressive Jewish-American organization. This is a goal that has been ignored by most American politicians, but also in Europe.