Link to Article(s): https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-and-israel-split-over-gaza-goals-muddying-wars-endgame-9055c329
Summary: The article talks about how Israel views Hamas as a threat to their government. As the conflict continues both the prime minister and Biden face political pressure from their nations. Netanyahu the prime minister of Israel has a goal of ultimately eliminating Hamas and believes that any other objective would be pointless. In order to keep up allies and maintain unity Biden pledged to help Israel. President Biden announced the part the U.S. would play in the conflict saying, “we stand with Israel.” Further into the article we are told that Netanyahu declared that he would give it his all to carry out his military operation in Gaza, adding that he would not permit food, water, or fuel to enter the Gaza strip. The humanitarian organizations and the U.S. claim that the fuel he’s cutting off is necessary to run the hospitals and any water sources.
Analysis: Although many see what’s happening in Israel and Palestine as a “conflict” it is much more than that. It’s a genocide. Looking at Palestine’s history you see that Israel is a settler colony, meaning the original land was Palestine. In 1948 the Nakba took place which was the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Palestinians were under british colonization and without permission from the native palestinians the land was opened up to the Jewish people through a zionist movement which was heavily supported by the west. In current day the settler colony still maintains its power and control over Palestine through a harsh apartheid regime administered by the Israeli occupation. The palestinians became refugees in their own country; fleeing to the West Bank and Gaza. I have very strong opinions on this genocide and its disappointing to the see the U.S. government funding the ethnic cleansing taking place. The Article mentions Biden wanting to “pause.” To me that doesn’t make sense, you pause to feed and nourish the palestinian population just for the constant bombing to continue? Just for him to continue funding the weapons used? This past weekend we had largest protest in U.S. history for a ceasefire. That’s what needs to happen, or we’ll end up witnessing the occupation wiping an entire population from the world.
Connection to the Class: The ongoing tensions between the two countries relates to the class because it highlights a conflict over territory. The Palestinians have struggled to govern Gaza and have revolted in order to get their land back but the Israeli occupations has hit back 10x harder and harsher. The U.S. has tried for many years to come up with a resolutions but many factors have played a role one being both Israel and Palestine denying U.S. aid to establish two states. It shows what countries will be willing to do in order to maintain allies, and highlights the good in humanity. 300,000 people came out to Washington D.C in order to call for ceasefire in Gaza showing that people will fight back and because we live in a democracy we want our voices to be heard.