Do It, Mr. President
By: Dr. John Duke Anthony
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. Do it, Mr. President. Recognize a State of Palestine. Note that, of necessity, it would be co-equal to and exist alongside Israel.
Reverse your United Nations Security Council veto, Mr. President. Throughout history, people who have made mistakes and moved to correct them have long been recognized for being among the world’s most honorable and noble citizens, leaders and exemplary role models.
Declare it, Mr. President. Emulate George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and other patriots. Each of those statesmen made bold and far-reaching declarations.
Give us your word. Put the weight of your office behind it. Those leaders deployed their convictions and their commitments. Above all, they displayed extraordinary moral courage. They meant what they said.
There’s no greater need than now, Mr. President, to make such a statement. Do it, and the details will follow. Do it and become more than a leader. Be a statesman.
Do it, Mr. President and tens of millions will support you. Like you, they’re disgusted with this war. Make your declaration an executive order. You’ll have more than the political cover you need; you’ll have the Constitution at your back.
Remind the American people—including members of Congress and the media—that your authority is the Constitution, Article Six: “This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land…”
Point out how both the U.S. and Israel are signatories to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, which prohibits an occupying power from settling its people in an occupied territory, exploiting their resources, or expelling their people.
The Israelis are in violation and so are we for failing until now to enforce its provisions. In your declaration, include the stipulation that, until further notice, no U.S. funds will be authorized for any party to the conflict until they abide by the Convention and that sanctions will follow for lack of compliance.
Stand by the Constitution and know that you—not the opponents—will be on solid ground. Yes, you’ll be attacked for imposing conditions on U.S. support for the Zionist dream of an ethnonationalist state. And yes, interest groups will attack and threaten a punitive price come November.
Keep to the high ground, Mr. President. Everyone knows that you have Israel’s best interests in mind. Our friends, allies, and strategic partners are weary of war in the Middle East. They long to end the world’s longest conflict.
Do it. Be a peacemaker, the likes of which this era has not seen. Do it to bring this conflict to an end. Do it and help improve regional security that will otherwise remain beyond reach. Grant the Palestinians their due, and the attacks against Israel will cease.
Do it, and you’ll enhance the region’s security—and ours.
Dr. John Duke Anthony is the founding president and CEO of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations (NCUSAR). He has been an independent contractor and consultant to the U.S. Departments of Defense and State for the past 52 years. This article is the author’s own opinion and does not necessarily reflect the NCUSAR editorial stance.
Article courtesy of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs
Make Israel’s $26 Billion Aid Package Conditional
THE HOUSE FOREIGN AID PACKAGE allocating some $26.38 billion for Israel, including $9.1 billion for humanitarian needs, passed on April 20, 2024. The bill passed by a 366-58 margin, with 37 progressive Democratic members and 21 hard-right Republican members of the House voting against the legislation. Now it heads to the Senate for a vote and could be signed into law by President Joe Biden as early as next week.
Biden must use this aid package as leverage and call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire as well as access to humanitarian aid for Gazans. Only 32 percent of Democrats polled by CBS News this month said the United States should send weapons and military supplies to Israel. Despite the views of his supporters, Biden has refused to put conditions on military aid to Israel during its brutal and unpopular attacks on Gaza.
Israel has been the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign aid since its founding, receiving about $300 billion (adjusted for inflation) in total economic and military assistance.
The 37 Democrats Who Voted Against the Bill:
- Becca Balint of Vermont
- Don Beyer of Virginia
- Earl Blumenauer of Oregon
- Jamaal Bowman of New York
- Cori Bush of Missouri
- Andre Carson of Indiana
- Greg Casar of Texas
- Joaquin Castro of Texas
- Judy Chu of California
- Mark DeSaulnier of California
- Lloyd Doggett of Texas
- Maxwell Frost of Florida
- John Garamendi of California
- Chuy García of Illinois
- Al Green of Texas
- Jonathan Jackson of Illinois
- Pramila Jayapal of Washington
- Hank Johnson of Georgia
- Ro Khanna of California
- Dan Kildee of Michigan
- Barbara Lee of California
- Summer Lee of Pennsylvania
- Jim McGovern of Massachusetts
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York
- Ilhan Omar of Minnesota
- Chellie Pingree of Maine
- Mark Pocan of Wisconsin
- Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts
- Delia Ramirez of Illinois
- Jamie Raskin of Maryland
- Mark Takano of California
- Bennie Thompson of Mississippi
- Rashida Tlaib of Michigan
- Jill Tokuda of Hawaii
- Nydia Velázquez of New York
- Maxine Waters of California
- Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey
The 21 Republicans Who Voted Against the Bill:
- Andy Biggs of Arizona
- Lauren Boebert of Colorado
- Tim Burchett of Tennessee
- Andrew Clyde of Georgia
- Eli Crane of Arizona
- Warren Davidson of Ohio
- Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee
- Matt Gaetz of Florida
- Bob Good of Virginia
- Paul Gosar of Arizona
- Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia
- Andy Harris of Maryland
- Thomas Massie of Kentucky
- Cory Mills of Florida
- Troy Nehls of Texas
- Ralph Norman of South Carolina
- Scott Perry of Pennsylvania
- Matt Rosendale of Montana
- Chip Roy of Texas
- Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin
- Ryan Zinke of Montana
Courtesy Washington Report on Middle East Affairs
Visit Arab America’s blog here!