Former president Jimmy Carter has celebrated his 100th birthday.
I admire his lifelong support for humanitarian causes. Carter is a rare American statesman who spoke out against Israel’s practice of apartheid.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa recently did the same in his address to the United Nations.
Carter authored a 2006 book titled, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. In the book, he contends that Israel’s construction of illegal settlements in the occupied territories is a primary obstacle to peace in the Middle East.
When Carter was asked why many Americans are not aware that Israel is committing the crime of apartheid, he explained that there are powerful political forces in our country which prevent any objective evaluation of what is taking place, and that legislators could risk their seats in Congress by speaking out.
This is indeed what happened to the Democratic party’s progressive “Squad” members — Cori Bush, a left wing representative from Missouri, and New York’s Jamaal Bowman — who were both defeated in their Democratic primaries. This was largely due to their harsh criticism of Israel which resulted in massive opposition funding organized by the pro-Israel group American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Palestinians do not possess the power to humanize their people in the eyes of the American public. An art show in Milwaukee that was to display images of Palestinian suffering was cancelled because a major donor threatened to cut off the organization’s funding.
Notably, Palestinian-Americans were afforded no speaking roles at the Democratic or Republican National Conventions.
Israel is the largest recipient of cumulative US foreign aid since its founding.
If most members of Congress are not capable of offering strong criticism of Israel regardless of its actions, how will Israel ever be forced to adopt more humane practices toward the Palestinians?
Terry Hansen
Milwaukee, WI