When it comes to the Middle East, there are very few voices of reason on Capitol Hill, and they don’t get much attention from the US public. The debate is dominated by those who swear undying support for Israel, as though it were next to Kansas. The most common explanation for this unfortunate situation is a biased media, and government representatives who rely in part on political action committees like AIPAC for their continued success and are unwilling or unable to address the Arab-Israeli conflict from an objective standpoint.

While it is overly defeatist to simply accept the dominance of the Israeli perspective, the status quo remains unchanged; if anything it only moves in Israel’s favor. A few hours ago, the US Senate agreed on a bi-partisan resolution expressing “strong support” for what its beloved ally is doing in Gaza. “The US Senate stands with Israel at this critical moment and recognizes Israel’s right to self-defense.” After introducing the resolution, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said:

“I rise to voice my strong support of a resolution in support of Israel that I have introduced with Leader McConnell, along with an overwhelming number of bipartisan cosponsors. When we pass this resolution, the United States Senate will strengthen our historic bond with the State of Israel by reaffirming Israel’s inalienable right to defend against attacks from Gaza, as well as our support for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

“I spoke with Prime Minister Olmert last week and again expressed my understanding of and appreciation for the terrible situation that Israel has faced. Hamas has been firing rockets and mortars into Israel, killing and maiming innocent Israeli civilians, for more than eight years.

“I ask my colleagues to imagine if this were happening here in the United States and rocket fire was coming from Vancouver, Canada, into Seattle. Would the United States react? Of course we would. We would have to react to protect our people, and it would be not only our right but our obligation to do so. That is what the Israelis have done.

“Hamas must stop the rocket fire from Gaza into Israel. That is the stated objective of the Israelis.”

Such brown-nosing by Reid or any other US official is completely inexcusable. What is the terrible situation Israel is facing? What about the people of Gaza? To simplify, the Senate resolution essentially condones the murder and maiming of thousands of Palestinians – most of them civilians – and it accepts relatively harmless rocket fire to provide valid justification.

A similar resolution is expected to pass in the House Of Representatives without any problems. While there are no objective voices in the Senate, in the House, there are a few diamonds in the rough. The two most prominent are Dennis Kucinich and Keith Ellison who have repeatedly denounced Israeli aggression and occupation. The Congressman from Ohio delivered a rare dose of reality to the House floor earlier today:

“Wake up America. We have trillions for a war machine and banks while our government stands by and sniffs at the slaughter of innocents in Gaza, where Israel is blocking aid for wounded Palestinians. Here’s today’s Washington Post it says: The International Committee of the Red Cross said Thursday that it found at least 15 bodies and several children, emaciated but alive – - in a row of shattered houses in the Gaza strip and accused the Israeli military of preventing ambulances from reaching the site for four days. …12 corpses lying on mattresses in one home, along with four young children lying next to their dead mothers…

“Today U.S. tax dollars, U.S. jets and U.S. helicopters provided to Israel are enabling the slaughter in Gaza. The Administration enables Israel to press forward with the attack against defenseless civilians; blocks efforts promoting a cease-fire at the UN; and refuses to make Israel comply with conditions that arms shipments not be used for aggression. Israel is going to receive $30 billion in a ten-year period for military assistance, without having to abide by any humanitarian principles, international laws or standards of basic human decency. Wake up America.”

It is befitting that the first Muslim ever elected to Congress is more outspoken towards Israel than most of his peers. He was one of the first to give a detailed proposal for peace, even if it wasn’t ideal. He is clearly concerned about the situation and not because of some unfounded loyalty to Israel. Unfortunately, reasonable people are overwhelmed by fervent supporters of Israel, some of whom proudly identify themselves as Zionists. Even someone like Jim Moran can only go so far… and he needs the votes of Arab-Americans sympathetic with the Palestinian struggle. For the few voices of reason, it is an uphill struggle against a well-established propaganda machine, which starves decision makers of the information necessary to understand what’s happening around them.

Ellison gave a brilliant interview on Al Jazeera English the other day. Among other things, he pointed out much of what I’ve outlined above; he also admitted that most people on Capitol Hill simply don’t have the prerequisite knowledge to deal objectively and justly with the situation in the Middle East. He said there was a lack of meaningful discussion in Congress whenever the Arab-Israelli conflict is on the table. Taking questions from reporters earlier in the day, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi demonstrated why that is the case.

Q. Congressman Kucinich was on the floor of the House yesterday, and he raised the issue of the Arms Export Control Act, which prohibits U.S. weapons from being used to escalate a conflict. He asked two questions: How can Israel claim self defense when it bombs Gaza, which has no army, no air force, no navy, and has been under constant blockade? And how can Israel claim self defense when its bombs destroy U.N. schools, killing children? So I wonder if you can answer those questions, and whether you agree with him that Israel is in violation of the Arms Export Control Act?

A. We will have on the floor tomorrow, hopefully tomorrow, a resolution about what is happening in the Middle East. I spoke with Prime Minister Olmert on Saturday, the 3rd of January, and expressed to him concerns that we have about the collateral damage that is occurring in the Gaza, but also reiterating my stat
ement that Israel does have a right, any country has a right, to defend its people. In fact, it is all of our first responsibility to protect and defend our people.

Politicians rarely give direct answers to questions, but clearly Pelosi had no understanding of what she was asked. But she did predictably take up the first opportunity to reiterate US support for Israel.

Q. What about the questions from Congressman Kucinich?

A. You know what? I understand your characterization. I would have to see why he specifically says that. But let me say in the larger sense that we will address this issue in our resolution tomorrow, and the resolution addresses the issue of two states, a two-state solution, a ceasefire, two-state solution with a Palestinian state that is independent and secure and a Jewish democratic state that is independent and secure as well.

This time she admits her inability to answer the question. She parrots off the standard lines supporting a two-state solution… Afterall, there must be a Jewish ‘democratic’ (read Zionist, or racist) state.

Q. I just want to come back to Gaza just one moment… are you personally pressing for a ceasefire now that the U.N. is saying there is no shelling coming from the schools that were being bombed? And what role do you see, as President-elect Obama can’t say much because he isn’t in office, but you are the sitting Speaker… What are you saying about the US role as an honest broker in the region to calm everybody down and get the roadmap back on track?

A. I will repeat. In my conversation with Prime Minister Olmert, I told him about the concern that the American people have, not only me, but the American people have, about any humanitarian damage that is done due to possibly military actions that are occurring there; that we all want a ceasefire, a real ceasefire on both sides; and that we all have to use our good offices, and hopefully with a new President, a new, fresh start. I don’t want to say start, but approach, can bring the peace in the region that must occur. That must occur.

Same old, same old, except she now takes it upon herself to predict how Obama will behave once he become president.

Now, you are talking about certain things from one perspective. There is a picture of some good things that are happening on the ground there as well, and hopefully the role that the Egyptians are playing will be one that will be constructive and take us to a peaceful place, because this is a hopeless situation, and that despair has a certain fury to it, and it perpetuates violence, and it is something that must be stopped.

There are “good things happening on the ground” in Gaza?!? She would have been better off pleading the Fifth! No need to do anything… the Egyptians will jump in and save the day.

So we are – we support the State of Israel very strongly on national policy because it is in our national interest to do so. We also respect any country’s right to defend itself. We also have concerns about civilian – collateral damage to civilians, their homes and their communities. And I have expressed that to Prime Minister Olmert. He shared that concern as well, that it was a concern of the Israeli Cabinet.

Again with the collateral damage… And why is it that some people still believe that supporting Israel is in the this country’s national interests?!

But let us hope that with a new President on a new path to –when I say a new path, continuing with the roadmap or what happened in Annapolis, but something to end the violence, increase the dialogue, establish a commitment to a two-state solution, and let’s get that done. And our support for the Palestinian Authority, the security forces there, I think has had a positive effect in the region. I think the work of Tony Blair has had a positive effect. It has not changed, it has not ended the challenge, but we have some good pieces to work with.

Obviously Pelosi is no genius. She is either completely ignorant or totally brainwashed. What type of positive impact has Tony Blair had on anything since he undeservingly took up his post? She expressed “concern” for civilians who she repeatedly refers to as collateral damage, but she makes clear that Israel is sacrosanct and its actions cannot be questioned – so deaths of hundreds of Palestinian civilians is justified. She also appears intent on tying Obama’s hands behind his back before he even takes office (not that I expect much from him).

Unfortunately, there are many more Pelosis and Reids on Capitol Hill than there are Ellisons or Kucinichs… But the mere presence of a few voices of reason in Congress is a small sign for hope. The more the American public understands about the situation in the Middle East – specifically occupied Palestine – the less inclined they are to accept the status quo in their government. But we are still a very long way from reaching the point where significant change can come about.

Related posts:

1. One Senator Not On Crack
2. Finkelstein: Israel at War With International Community
3. Israel’s PR campaign to recruit support for killing
4. When Do You Know Israel has Gone too Far? When the U.S. Senate Supports it.
5. Surprise, surprise… the US swoops in to defend Israel