A Nov. 18 Axios article, reprinted in antiwar.com, reported that some key Democratic members of the Senate are discussing an Israeli military aid package with “conditions,” enunciated by both Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), which mirror the lines briefly drawn in President Joe Biden’s Nov. 18 op-ed in the Washington Post. There is strong opposition to any “conditions” from AIPAC’s Congressional flock and from war hawks; but pressure on Biden and the Democratic Party from Americans’ revulsion at the destruction of Gaza is showing effects.
Little noticed in Biden’s op-ed, full of both Israeli and Ukrainian propaganda claims, were these two paragraphs about “United States basic principles”:
“To start, Gaza must never again be used as a platform for terrorism. There must be no forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, no reoccupation, no siege or blockade, and no reduction in territory….
“As we strive for peace, Gaza and the West Bank should be reunited under a single governance structure, ultimately under a revitalized Palestinian Authority, as we all work toward a two-state solution. I have been emphatic with Israel’s leaders that extremist violence against Palestinians in the West Bank must stop and that those committing the violence must be held accountable. The United States is prepared to take our own steps, including issuing visa bans against extremists attacking civilians in the West Bank.” (15% of Israeli settlers there reportedly also have U.S. citizenship; pulling U.S. visas is a threat.)
