Yossi Schwartz, ISL the RCIT section of the RCIT in Israel/Occupied Palestine, 23.07.2022
In 2019 Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar of the Democratic Party came under attack even by the established leadership of the Democratic party for saying that the Zionist Jews are buying political support. She tweeted about “it is all about the Benjamins baby” a reference to a song about $100 bills. She referred to AIPAC a pro-Israeli lobbying group. In response the Jewish Committee Relations Council of Minnesota said:
“To resort to age-old stereotypes about Jews using money to buy influence is terrible, particularly in the year 2019 we should all know better,” said Steve Hunegs, the executive director of the JCRC. AIPAC issued a statement saying, “We will not be deterred in any way by ill-informed and illegitimate attacks on this important work.” [1]
“Jennifer Carnahan, the chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota, said that Omar’s tweets showed that she has “deep-seated anti-Semitic views.” Speaker Nancy Pelosi of the Democratic Party and other House Leaders denounced Omar’s statements saying, “We condemn these remarks and call upon Congresswoman Omar to immediately apologize” [2]
But what if Omar is right and the Zionist lobby in the USA pours money in support of pro Zionist candidates in order to silence the critical voices who oppose the USA full support of the crimes Israel is committing? What if the establishment of the Democratic Party is Zionist?
Today we are informed that due to heavy pro-Israel spending, former congresswoman Donna Edwards critical of Israel, lost in Maryland primary. “Former prosecutor Glenn Ivey – backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which spent millions of dollars to help his campaign – won against ex-congresswoman Donna Edwards in Maryland on Tuesday.” [3]
“Former prosecutor Glenn Ivey – backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which spent millions of dollars to help his campaign – won against ex-congresswoman Donna Edwards in Maryland on Tuesday. The race mirrored other Democratic primaries in this election cycle, where the AIPAC-aligned super PAC, the United Democracy Project (UDP), has been sponsoring ads attacking Israel’s critics on issues unrelated to the Middle East to prop up its favored candidates.” [4]
“UDP spent almost $6m to help defeat Edwards, according to Open Secrets, a website that tracks election spending. The Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI), another pro-Israel group, also spent $426,000 in support of Ivey” [5]
Edwards enjoyed some outside backing but nowhere near the level of resources UDP and its allies put into the race. Street – a liberal Jewish group that opposes the occupation, spent $413,000 to back her.
When the USA’s president Biden visited Israel he said that he is a Zionist and that you do not have to be a Jew to be a Zionist. [6]
Omar is wrong it is not about the “Benjamins” but about millions of dollars for each pro Zionist’s candidates. Furthermore, money is not the main reason for American imperialists backing of the Zionist apartheid state. It is about Israel being the front line of imperialism in the region. This was also the case of the South African apartheid that the USA supported for years as part of the cold war with Stalinist Russia.
Because the Israelis are aware of the fact that no matter what they do the U.S will stand behind them they treat the Muslims as the Untermensch (subhuman). This was revealed lately when Israeli reporter sneaked into Mecca. “Israel’s Channel 13 aired a report on Monday featuring its world news editor Gil Tamari driving around the holy city and pointing out significant sights and landmarks. Tamari drove past the arched Mecca Gate, which marks the entrance to the city and the point at which non-Muslims are prohibited from entering, and the Grand Mosque, the most important site in Islam” [7]
“Tamary’s video from Mecca was quickly picked up and spread on social media by anti-government Saudi dissidents condemning it, and stirred anger among other Saudis” [8]
This was revealed when thousands of right-wing settlers established six new illegal outposts (on private land owned by the Palestinians) in the West Bank as soon as Biden left the Middle East. The Zionist army and the police pretended to stop them by road blockades but let them pass.
At the same time Israeli security forces arrested 12 Palestinian suspects of resisting the occupation throughout the West Bank overnight Thursday, with violent confrontations reported in some areas. As part of the arrest operation, the Zionist troops entered the towns of Huwara, Salem, Bir Zayt, Al-Yamun and Einabus among others to arrest individuals suspected of involvement in opposition activity. [9]
Down with the Zionist apartheid from the river to the sea!
For a Palestine red and free from the river to the sea!
Endnotes:
[1] https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/3/6/18251639/ilhan-omar-israel-anti-semitism-jews
[2] Ibid
[3] www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/20/aipac-backed-candidate-wins-in-closely-watched-us-democratic-race
[4] Ibid
[5] Ibid
[6] https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220714-biden-you-need-not-be-a-jew-to-be-zionist/
[7] https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-journalist-gil-tamari-sneaks-into-mecca-defying-non-muslim-ban
[8] https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/israeli-journalist-sneaks-into-mecca-on-saudi-trip-causing-stir-1.1793914
[9] https://www.timesofisrael.com/12-arrested-in-west-bank-operation-violent-clashes-reported-in-ramallah-jenin/