Reprinted from Bracing Views with the author’s permission.
I wrote a note to my representative in Congress, William Keating (D), who is the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. I expressed my opposition to massive Israeli bombing and massive U.S. aid that facilitates that bombing. Yesterday, I received a form letter in reply that reveals Israel remains the “Daddy” to the U.S. Congress.
How so? The letter from Mr. Keating is plainspoken and direct in its condemnation of Hamas. There is, however, absolutely no criticism of Israel. None. Hamas is pure evil, Israel is a blameless victim, and that’s all you need to know, according to the letter signed by Keating.
Some examples from the letter: Hamas is described as launching “brutal attacks” that bring “death and destruction” to Israelis and Palestinians. They use Palestinian civilians as “pawns” and “human shields.” They are “terrorists.” It’s their attacks that have “already taken the lives of too many civilians.”
The letter also expresses support for a Palestinian state (no other details), for humanitarian aid to Gaza, while mentioning that Israel, in protecting itself against terrorism, must try to protect innocent civilians in Gaza as well. But perhaps the key passage in the letter is this one:
Israel has the right to protect its citizens against terrorists who continue to attack the country after Hamas carried out the largest massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust. A ceasefire would only benefit Hamas and allow the terrorist group to rebuild, strengthen, and fortify its positions.
As Ranking Member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Keating closes his letter by urging Hamas “to stop these violent attacks, which have already taken the lives of too many civilians.”
Here’s what’s missing from the letter: Any condemnation or even admission of the “violent attacks” by Israel that have already claimed the lives of more than 10,000 Palestinian civilians, including more than 4000 children. (The likely death toll is far higher since many bodies remain trapped and smashed and flattened under rubble.) Mr. Keating is completely unable or unwilling to criticize Israel in any way. Israel is completely in the right, Hamas is totally responsible for all the killing, and that’s all you need to know.
Again, Mr. Keating rejects any ceasefire as a boon to the terrorists (Hamas, of course; there’s no such thing as an Israeli terrorist). Without saying it explicitly, he tacitly supports Israel’s strategy to turn Gaza into rubble while expelling as many Palestinians as possible.
In sum, Mr. Keating, and indeed nearly all members of Congress, are 100% behind the right-wing Israeli government. To the question, “Who’s your daddy?” the clear answer for Keating and his fellow members of Congress is “Israel and Bibi Netanyahu.”
William J. Astore is a retired lieutenant colonel (USAF). He taught history for fifteen years at military and civilian schools. He writes at Bracing Views.
Congress is an Israeli occupied territory.
Members of Congress never mention the Occupation of Palestine for decades, the daily murders of Palestinians by Zionist Settlers, the blockade of Palestine which prevents free movement, the kidnapping of Palestinian Children, etc. Members of Congress know the refugee camps are Concentration Camps, they just stick their heads where the sun never shines and does the bidding of Zionist. Our Republic is a disgrace, that Congress is giving money, weapons for the War Crimes that are being committed, thus making themselves War Criminals. Who do we vote for, war criminals?
I have read and heard that Israeli brains calculated the caloric needs of Palestinians, then calculated the minimum to prevent starvation. That determined the amount of food available to Gazans and Palestinians of the West Bank. Just enough to prevent starvation. The blockade, established in 2006, means, with rare exceptions, nothing goes into Gaza and the West Bank, nothing goes out. Israel controls one gate to the concentration camp, Egypt controls the other. Israel controls the electricity, fuel, potable water that goes into the occupied territories.
My Congressman is Andy Ogles (R) Tennessee, if I wrote to him, he’d respond the same way as Keating. My Senators would respond the same way.
Same here in CA.
As usual these days, ignoring the 70+ years of history of Gaza and the West Bank before 7Oct23.
Oy vey…
It’s not just congress. Watch or listen to national and local news, listen to officials from many states who are running to visit Israel to offer their total allegiance to Israel ignoring all the problems their constituents are facing.
Israel controls the media not only in the US but in many countries in South America.
As a minimum, these Congressmen are brainwashed. The Repuplicans parade to Israel for their money and its blessing before running for President. It is unheard of.
Billionaires are teaming up for pro-Israel, anti-Hamas media drive: Report
“ More than 50 individuals are being courted, including former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Dell CEO Michael Dell and financier Michael Milken. They have a combined net worth of around $500bn, Semafor said.
Some of the individuals, such as investor Bill Ackman, have publicly threatened to blacklist pro-Palestine students who are critical of Israel. On October 10, Ackman wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that he and other business executives wanted Ivy League universities to disclose the names of students who are part of organisations that signed open letters criticising Israeli policies in Gaza.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/12/billionaires-are-teaming-up-for-pro-israel-anti-hamas-media-drive-report
The old adage “ you get what you pay for” a little update here “ you get what you pay, unite and work for “. That’s the key to success, ask the NRA or AIPAC. You can have nothing except what you strive for.