Sami Jamil Jadallah – J Street or no J Street, the American Jewish Leadership is the main obstacle to peace in the Middle East.
By Sami Jamil Jadallah • Sep 23rd, 2009 at 21:39 • Category: Analysis, Features, Israel, Newswire, Opinions and Letters, Palestine, Religion, Somoud: Arab Voices of Resistance, Zionism
J Street or no J Street, the American Jewish leadership is winning and it is winning big with its support for the continued Israeli occupation, the expansion of Jewish settlements, funding criminal settlers, funding land and property thieves, keeping Congress hostage and under Zionist siege, continued funding of the Jewish Occupations, undermining the US peace efforts, undermining President Barack Obama's efforts towards peace between Israel, the Palestinians and the Arabs.
It is true there are a number of American Jewish organizations that have been working towards ending the Jewish Occupations and ending the ever expanding Jewish settlements among these group are; Not in My Name, Jewish Voices for Peace, Gush Shalom, American Council for Judaism, Americans for Peace Now, Muzzle Watch, Jews Against Zionism, O Zv’Shalom-Netivot Shalom, Bat Shalom and of course B’Tselem in Israel.
Not withstanding these organizations' commitments and dedication these organizations remain far short of the mark, they made little progress among the American Jewish community which continues in large part to support of the continued Jewish Occupations, expansions of the Jewish settlements, accelerating land and property theft, political and financial support for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Jerusalem, support for destructions of farms and uprooting of trees especially olive trees, targeted killings, and support for war crimes committed by past and present Israel leadership.
The American Jewish leadership continues to and remains in the driver's seat not withstanding the change in administrations from Republicans to Democrats and of course it was and remains in charge and in control of both houses, the US Senate and the House of Representatives, deciding on and even drafting legislations that have to do with US policy in the Middle East, and continues to dictate the level of funding Israel and its Occupation receive from US taxpayers.
For over 50 years American Zionists remain in charge and in the driver's seat when it comes to the Arab-Israeli conflict with notables such as Henry Kissinger, Arthur Goldberg, Justice Brandies, (played a key role in US decision to close its shores to escaping European Jews during WW2) Walter Rostow playing a key role in formulating US policies that made peace impossible, providing Israel with political coverage at the UN through the ever present US veto powers. And opening US arsenals wide open to Israel to grab whatever it wants even at the expense of and engenderment of US military power as Kissinger did in the 1973 War.
Adding to this long list are key decision and policy makers that made irreparable harm to the chance for peace to include the likes of Dennis Ross, Martin Indyke, Richard Perle, Paul Wolfowitz, Douglas Feith, Edward Luttwak, Dov Zakkeim, Kenneth Adelman, I. Lewis Libby, Richard Haass, Robert Satlof, Elliot Abrams, David Frum, Joshua Bolton, Michael Chertoff among many others who are always in and out of government, yet remain influential decision makers.
To add to this list of key policy and decision makers we must not forget well-funded organizations such as AIPAC, American Enterprise Institute, Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, Heritage Foundation, Middle East Forum, Institute for Policy Studies, CAMERA, Campus Watch among the hundreds of well-funded and well-connected organizations, not to mention key executives in US media, in films and in business who are the main source of funding to these very influential American Jewish organizations.
Too bad for Israel, for the Palestinians, for the Arabs, certainly too bad for the United States that these leaders and organizations believe that when the blood flows, the money flows, certainly when Jewish and Israeli blood flows, that is the time to cash in and the time when American Jews open their checkbooks and write fat checks to these organizations that are able to orchestrate support for Israel in the media, in Congress and on campus. Of course they are also energized when Palestinian blood is flowing, when the Israeli army and armed settlers murder women and children, when bulldozers are working overtime to destroy Palestinian homes and building the Apartheid Wall.
In a sense, I do feel very sorry for the American Jewish community to have such bloodthirsty leadership that gives unconditional support for Israel right or wrong. It seems that when it comes to commitment to a criminal Zionism all Jewish values and traditions are out the doors, windows and certainly out of mind and heart.
Peace can happen only when the US Jewish community makes its decision whether it supports a secure Israeli at peace with its neighbors and the world within 67 borders and with Jerusalem as shared and open city or supports Israel at war with its neighbors and with continued Occupation. My guess is that the US Jews will continue to support the Israeli Occupation, because Israel at peace with its neighbors puts their leadership out of business and will dry up the source of money to fund the different lobbies and organizations. Peace for Israel will undermine the Jewish leadership stranglehold on US policy in the Middle East and of course it undermines its chokehold control over Congress.
Sami Jamil Jadallah is Palestinian-American born in El-Bireh, Palestine, an international business and legal consultant, and a veteran of the US Army. His comments are posted at his website http://www.jeffersoncorner.com.
Email this author | All posts by Sami Jamil Jadallah
Do Americans really care?
I think if the typical American does not make an attempt to understand the damage our weapons have inflicted on the Arabs by proxy with Israel and the continuous dishonest one-sided United States foreign policy in the region, then maybe we deserve more of what we got on Sept. 11, 2001.
Former Congressman Findley writes:
"Nine-eleven would not have occurred if the U.S. government had refused to help Israel humiliate and destroy Palestinian society. Few express this conclusion publicly, but many believe it is the truth. I believe the catastrophe could have been prevented if any U.S. president during the past 35 years had had the courage and wisdom to suspend all U.S. aid until Israel withdrew from the Arab land seized in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war."
"In its violent assaults on Palestinians, Israel uses the pretext of eradicating terrorism, but its forces are actually engaged advancing the territorial expansion just cited. Under the guise of anti-terrorism, Israeli forces treat Palestinians worse than cattle. With due process nowhere to be found, hundreds are detained for long periods and most are tortured. Some are assassinated. Homes, orchards, and business places are destroyed. Entire cities are kept under intermittent curfew, some confinements lasting for weeks. Injured or ill Palestinians needing emergency medical care are routinely held at checkpoints for an hour or more. Many children are undernourished. The West Bank and Gaza have become giant concentration camps. None of this could have occurred without U.S. support. Perhaps Israeli officials believe life will become so unbearable that most Palestinians will eventually leave their ancestral homes."
The myth of the innocent civilian. Who's kidding whom? Nine-eleven should be a reminder that if more Americans have an early death, it is because of the end result of not caring.
Peace.
Michael Santomauro
New York City