For the first time since the 1960s, student power is having a positive effect on Washington’s foreign policy.
With Israeli armed forces apparently on the brink of a land invasion of Rafah, Washington announced that it would freeze arms shipments that could be used in that operation.
While only a small step in the right direction, it was a very significant development.
Ever since the Nakba in 1948 (the term used to refer to the displacement and dispossession of Palestinians due to the founding of Israel), Washington and Israel have become increasingly joined at the hip. Every request Israel has made, the United States has obediently complied with.
However, the protests by university students across much of the world appear to have forced Washington to finally say enough is enough.
As a result of Israel’s war against Hamas, roughly half of Gaza’s pre-war population of 2.3 million people has been forced to seek refuge in Rafah. They are enduring the worst of conditions. They do not have enough food. They are forced to live outdoors – in tents if they are lucky. They have minimal washroom facilities. It has been reported that 80% of healthcare services in Gaza are out of service due to Israeli bombings.
Israel has now taken control of the Rafah crossing, effectively sealing off Gaza from the rest of the region. The delivery of desperately needed supplies has been reduced to a trickle. And in an act of outright cruelty, Israeli protesters blocked aid trucks destined for Gaza – destroying supplies and setting vehicles on fire – actions which were condemned by the White House, and by an Israeli human rights lawyer who was hurt trying to stop the protesters and who tearfully pleaded during an interview for an end to the war.
The situation continues to worsen. Israeli forces have ordered evacuations from Rafah, although for most there is nowhere else to go. At the same time, Israel has now resumed attacking northern Gaza, further limiting so-called ‘safe areas’. A full Israeli assault on the defenseless Rafah population will almost certainly result in the loss of life by thousands of innocent civilians, many of them children.
Israeli public opinion on the conflict may be starting to shift, with some citizens and politicians increasingly protesting this war. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is vocally opposing the government, urging Netanyahu to stop from sending the military into Rafah. Former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot has accused his government of not being truthful, calling for new elections.
International opposition also continues to grow, particularly given the recent breakdown of ceasefire negotiations. Significantly, Egypt has announced it will join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Although there are suspicions that expulsion and extermination are the true goals of the Netanyahu government in Gaza, it is just possible that Washington’s decision to oppose the Rafah invasion may cause Netanyahu to think twice before giving the green light to his army to proceed with a full assault.
Years from now, we may look back to these events and, as with Vietnam War in the 1960’s, give much of the credit to students for bringing about a more balanced Middle East policy from the United States.
Daily atmospheric CO2 [Courtesy of CO2.Earth]
Latest daily total (May 21, 2024): 427.69ppm
One year ago (May 21, 2023): 423.75ppm
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