Breaking the Stories: January 2023

New Democrats in Congress are enemies of Palestine cause

A new class of Democratic politicians was sworn into office on 3 January.

After the party fared much better than expected in the US midterm elections, the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) was quick to celebrate its own victories. Pramila Jayapal, the CPC chair, proclaimed: “There’s no question this will be the most progressive Democratic Caucus in decades.” Many on the American left have chest thumped this impressive electoral victory.

Despite the fanfare, however, the incoming lawmakers are hardly progressive when it comes to the question of Palestine. Rather, they have accepted the pro-Israel consensus. That will not surprise anyone who has been following the so-called left on Capitol Hill.

It is a sad fact that “progressives” feel they must voice support for Israel and its state ideology Zionism. The “progressives” try to conceal how they are helping Israel’s apartheid system to endure by perpetuating the delusion of a two-state solution and expressing half-hearted concern for Palestinians. Here

The Biden administration’s dangerous move to deepen military ties with Israel

Two years ago, the outgoing U.S. administration of Donald Trump did some bureaucratic realigning of what countries fall under which military command groups. Israel, which had been part of the EUCOM (European Command) group was transferred to CENTCOM (Central Command), which encompasses the Middle East and some of South Asia.

It was the sort of boring detail that doesn’t generate headlines, and many who do hear about it yawn and move on quickly. But when it was announced on January 15, 2021, it was celebrated by pro-Israel groups in the United States and by Israeli officials. 

At the time, I noted that this was part of capitalizing on the Abraham Accords and pushing forward with the idea of forming a “Mideast NATO.” I tweeted, “This bears close watching. The burgeoning #Israel – Arab States military alliance, built by the #Trump administration for a military confrontation with #Iran, is not something @JoeBiden is going to reverse. The question will be how he manages it and what he decides to use it for.” We’re starting to see what this Biden policy looks like. 

The Biden administration has pressed forward with the military aspects of the Abraham Accords’ vision, letting it be known at the end of 2022 that Israel, as part of its new position in CENTCOM, had been elevated to “full military partner” in terms of strategizing and planning with the United States. Here

More Resources

Will the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem Be Built on Confiscated Palestinian Land? Here

Harvard’s decision to not offer fellowship to leading human rights activist brings uproar Here

Why the Godfather of Human Rights Is Not Welcome at Harvard Here

I once ran Human Rights Watch. Harvard blocked my fellowship over Israel Here

Designing the Future in Palestine:

Palestinian women and feminist organizations are reimagining what liberation can look like beyond national independence. Here

Israel, Apartheid, and the Churches: Part II Here

Antisemitic Zionists Aren’t a Contradiction in TermsHere

Additional boycott measures against Israel are required, including academic boycott Here

After UN vote on ICJ, Israel preps sanctions for Palestinian Authority Here

Media Resources

ELCJHL Women’s Ordination Short Documentary Here

Rep. Rashida Tlaib Speaks Out (C-Span) Here

Press Release: U.S. Palestinian Rights Group Confronts Challenge to Human Rights Advocacy in Federal Appeals Court Here

‘Tantura’ Review: Alon Schwarz’s Documentary Breaks Open Israel’s Founding Myths (To Mixed Results) Here

Farha' and the Claustrophobic State of Palestinian Cinema Here

Newsletter: Politics for the People by Ramzy Baroud Here

Action Alerts



2023 Action Alert: Time To End Israel’s Detention and Abuse of Palestinian Children! Here

3rd Thursday Alert: Tell the Administration and Congress Not to Disburse Military Aid to Israel Here