At this point the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appears to have held firm for four days, and now US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is en route to the region in hopes of solidifying the truce. His itinerary beginning Tuesday will include Jerusalem, Ramallah, Cairo and Amman – and through Thursday he plans to hold separate meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, as well as Jordan’s King Abdullah and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.
Just ahead of his embarking from the US on Monday the White House said that Blinken will stress to Israeli leaders “our ironclad commitment to Israel’s security.” President Biden said in a Monday morningn statement: “Following up on our quiet, intensive diplomacy to bring about a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas … Blinken will meet with Israeli leaders about our ironclad commitment to Israel’s security. He will continue our administration’s efforts to rebuild ties to, and support for, the Palestinian people and leaders, after years of neglect.”
However, there’s growing pressure within his Democratic administration to get “tougher” on Tel Aviv – especially given the huge civilian death toll in Gaza from the eleven days of fighting: “At least 248 Palestinians were killed by Israeli air strikes during this month’s conflict, including 66 children. Hamas rocket attacks killed 12 people in Israel, including one child; Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system blocked many salvos,” France24 tallies.
Following last week’s revelation that Biden had approved the sale of $735 million in precision-guided weapons to Israel just ahead of this month’s outbreak of hostilities, there’s been anger and disunity within Democrat Congressional ranks, particularly by progressives including ‘the Squad’.
But it should have come with little surprise given official US policy and actions have long appeared to be a “blank check” approach to Israel across administrations stretching back decades. The some $3.8 billion in annual foreign military aid given to the Jewish state doesn’t appear to come with any strings attached in terms of human rights.
And now increasing numbers of influential Democrat voices, including many who helped get Biden into office, have issued an open letter demanding accountability, as The Guardian details:
More than 500 Biden campaign alumni and Democratic staffers have signed an open letter calling for the president to do more to protect Palestinians and hold Israel accountable for its actions in and over Gaza, where a ceasefire currently holds.
The staffers and former staffers write that they “commend [Biden’s] efforts to broker a ceasefire. Yet, we also cannot unsee the horrific violence that unfolded in recent weeks in Israel/Palestine, and we implore you to continue using the power of your office to hold Israel accountable for its actions and lay the groundwork for justice and lasting peace.”
…We should note that we struggle to see in what ways he’s “used his power” at all to hold Israel accountable.
Further the letter emphasized that a “power imbalance” exists, which the authors said should naturally result on more US pressure on Israel to reign in its devastating civilian casualties during Gaza airstrikes, not less.
Over 500 former Biden and Democratic Party staffers signed an open letter urging Biden to do more to protect Palestinians and "hold Israel accountable for its actions" — including asking it to "lift the blockade of Gaza." https://t.co/S3kEhxI2GY
— Axios (@axios) May 24, 2021
Here’s more from the open letter:
The very same values that motivated us to work countless hours to elect you demand that we speak out… we remain horrified by the images of Palestinian civilians in Gaza killed or made homeless by Israeli airstrikes. We are outraged by Israel’s efforts to forcibly and illegally expel Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah. We are shocked by Israel’s destruction of a building housing international news organizations. We remain horrified by reports of Hamas rockets killing Israeli civilians.
While Israelis had to spend nights hiding in bomb shelters, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip had nowhere to hide. It is critical to acknowledge this power imbalance — that Israel’s highly-advanced military occupies the West Bank and East Jerusalem and blockades the Gaza Strip, creating an uninhabitable open-air prison.
Blinken’s trip is unlikely to produce this desired “accountability” but appears an exercise perhaps in “saving face” with regional allies like Jordan and Egypt while appearing to be “doing something” before the increasingly skeptical Democratic progressives back home, and then there’s also the task of seeking to better the current horribly deteriorated relations with the Palestinian Authority.
via zerohedge
Why is this so one sided discussing what the WH has given to Israel? Before the war broke out Biden sent to Palestine millions of dollars. There there was no mention of help to Israel. Then the Palestines broke out in war against Israel. What did Biden do but tell Israel to cease fire. Their children were bombed. This article is so one sided. Like they say it takes two to tango. Look at the history of Palestine’s history vs. Israel’s. Who are they?
Who fired the first rocket? Certainly not Israel . I guess they don’t have the right to defend themselves , sort of the same mind set the dimocraps want for the American citizens , Oh , except for themselves , because they are somehow “Special” and deserve to be defended , just not us . This is a one sided , narrow – minded anti Jewish bunch of idiots that have no idea what they are doing . Biden and Harris have no business holding the offices they presently occupy. Why has no called for their impeachment, for if nothing else not upholding the oaths of office they took in January ? They swore to uphold the laws of the United States and defend the Constitution and they are doing neither . Both should be removed from office for putting every American in mortal danger .
Oaths of Office mean absolutely nothing to demons like Biden & Harris! And we have Republicans that are corrupt and Republicans that are spineless cowards! They yap! yap! yap! Then do absolutely nothing!
Let’s see some accountability from this godless corrupt lying cheating commie regeme of Biden’s!
You staffers had better do the accountability for Iran, Syria, Somalia before saying anything about a nation that is just protecting itself for attacks! You will be looking for jobs soon if you keep up the BS with your attacks on Israel!
Same ol thing from this administration. NOTHING.
How about asking the Palestinian Terror Group HAMAS and their supporters their accountability in starting the firing to Israel without regard to civilians. Also, their accountability in firing from civilian sites in Gaza. Israel has the right to retaliate to where they are firing at and any civilian casualities is the HAMAS accountability. HAMAS is the one and only responsible party here and they should be held liable for their terroristic actions.