White House must carry through its reassessment of US policies toward Israel

(WASHINGTON DC 03/39/2015) – The American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), a national education and advocacy organization, welcomes statements by President Barack Obama’s Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, who said on March 23 that Israel’s “occupation that has lasted for almost 50 years must end.” AMP is heartened by the rhetoric shift, but at the same time wants to see changes in US foreign policy that would hold Israel accountable for its violations of international and American laws and Palestinian human rights.

The current relationship strain is related to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s disrespect for the office of the presidency, evidenced by his meddling in President Obama’s negotiations with Iran. This is problematic not only because 68 percent of Americans support diplomatic negotiations, according to a new CNN/ORC poll, but also because Netanyahu’s actions smacked of partisanship and were a direct interference in American domestic politics. The Israeli prime minister showed an utter disregard for the American political system of governing.

“Netanyahu’s interference has dangerous implications,” said Osama Abuirshaid, AMP national policy director. “It undermines the office of the presidency and the mechanisms utilized to formulate American foreign policy. This kind of reckless behavior undermines the Separation of Powers enshrined in the US Constitution that provide the checks and balances between our branches of government and this, then, serves to weaken our national security.”

On March 16, the day before what had appeared to be a very close race, Netanyahu, in attempts to elicit far right-wing votes, showed his true colors when he said if re-elected there would “never be a Palestinian state.” After drawing sharp criticism from the White House, Netanyahu tried to walk back his statement, prompting State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf to tell reporters, “we just don’t know what to believe at this point.” 

Not only is Netanyahu’s position bad for the Palestinians it seriously impacts US national interests that stipulate allowing Palestinians to restore some of their inalienable rights, which includes statehood, is in the best interest of the United States.

“Try as he might to distance himself from the controversy, the fact is that Netanyahu does not want peace with the Palestinians,” said AMP Chairman Dr. Hatem Bazian. “Last summer, during an Israeli assault on Gaza that killed more than 2,200 people, Netanyahu told reporters then he would never countenance a Palestinian state.”

Indeed. Netanyahu considers himself as the man who thwarted the Oslo Peace Accords. By insisting on the inclusion of specific language in the peace agreement, Netanyahu boasts, “… from that moment on I stopped the Oslo Accords.” This happened in 2001 and was captured on videotape. He also said, “I know what America is. America is a thing that can be moved very easily.”

After Netanyahu and the right-wing Likud party won the March 17 elections, many lamented the loss of Isaac Herzog and the “more liberal” Labor party. AMP asserts that as long as political Zionism exists, it doesn’t matter what party holds the power; all are bad for Palestinians.

In recent history, Labor and the ‘centrist’ Kadima parties both were responsible for a number of massacres throughout the region, including the 1996 Israeli attack on Qana, Lebanon, under then-Prime Minister Shimon Peres, who is often hailed as a man of peace. These parties either were in power or in the governing coalition when the 2002 Israeli massacre in the Jenin refugee camp occurred, when Israel attacked Lebanon in 2006, killing more than 1,100 people, mainly women and children; and when Israel launched its three-week assault on Gaza in 2008-’09 that killed more than 1,400 Palestinians.

In light of this, it is imperative that President Barack Obama holds fast to his statements to reassess our situation with Israel. Continued unconditional support for Israeli policies that contravene international law and deprive Palestinians of their human rights weakens our moral stance throughout the world and threatens our national security.
Peace will not come to the region until Israel ends its occupation and restores Palestinians’ inalienable rights.