18 thoughts on “Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez Raise Israeli Aid Cut in Response to West Bank Annexation – Tikun Olam תיקון עולם إصلاح العالم
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  1. Not just Gerald Ford. George H. W. Bush and his sec of State James Baker effectively used “withholding US aid” to institute a freeze on the wild settlements expansion in the West Bank. Perception sometimes is a house of cards. Change is just a little blow away.

  2. IMHO AOC et al are a passing phenomenon. Obama made the 10 year deal at 3.8 billion a year. However I think it was back to back with giving the Iranians all that money plus a promise from the Iranians not to pursue nuclear weapons. But Trump re-sanctioned Iran which could be a deal breaker.
    Please correct me if I am wrong.

    BTW a few weeks ago I wrote a comment hereon the ‘theoretically’ bad idea of Iran nuking Israel etc.
    It seems TA is only 45 miles from Jerusalem which was brought up in a semi-lengthly article in the JPost by some psychiatrist in the past week or so. You probably saw it.

    1. @ natasha: As I wrote in this post, you’re echoing all the dismissive statements made about MLK, Malcolm X, Obama and RBG who pioneered radical change in their respective fields (possibly with the exception of Obama, who offered the promise of change). Your judgment of past history and predictions of the futures aren’t worth a bad penny.

      We didn’t “give the Iranians money.” That’s a feeble GOP talking point (glad to know who and what you are). We gave them access to their own funds which had been frozen by sanctions.

      As for the Post, I don’t read it unless I’m looking for the latest hoax it’s published, or I’m doing research on a specific subject.

  3. The Senate has approved the U.S.-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018, giving that defense package the imprimatur of Congress, and keeping any future president from reneging.
    The $38 billion deal was negotiated in 2016 by the Obama administration.

    So Bernie and AOC are chasing the horse once it’s left the barn?

    I don’t understand.

    https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/senate-passes-bill-to-enshrine-military-aid-package-to-israel-into-law-1.6340748

    1. @ Eunice: You don’t understand how U.S. appropriations work. It doesn’t matter whether Congress passed the appropriation. Do you think this is the only aid we give Israel? We give Israel so much aid in so many different programs that it would be quite easy to both threaten and actually cut aid in ways that would be painful and meaningful to Israel. And I’m more than certain that that aid package can be delayed in significant ways as well. We also share intelligence with Israel. That too could be curtailed.

      You say you “don’t understand.” More like you don’t want to understand.

  4. The State of Palestine has been recognized by 137 other states, and is recognized as an observer state at the UN. It cannot be said that the two-state solution is dead when the existence of the two states is recognized by a majority of the world’s other states. I agree that one-democratic-state is the desirable long-term solution, but it can only come about by an agreement between the two existing states to form a union into a single sovereign state. There is a precedent: in the eighteenth century England and Scotland, independent nations with their own parliaments, decided to unite under a single parliament to form Great Britain, while retaining their national identities. To see how this idea might work out for Israel and Palestine please look up the One-State-Two-Nations proposal.

  5. I really can’t understand how can anyone believe a one state solution is viable in the foreseeable future.
    Even the US, with common history between the people, seems to get closer to a melt down between the citizens, half of which do not respect the last elections and looking for ways to eliminate Trump.
    To think Israelis and Palestinians can share a government in a decade is completely delusional.

    1. @ Schlesinger: You ought to learn a bit more about multi-ethnic states throughout the world. Canada, though it has many tensions, is a multi-ethnic state functioning quite well. The U.S. is a similar type of state doing quite well despite tensions (many induced by right wing demagogue, friends of Israel like Trump). Switzerland too is doing decently.

      Half of Americans “don’t respect the election?” What are you smoking? This guy is a criminal. We don’t accept him because he’s the worst president in history and a crook. It has nothing to do with an election.

      Israeli Jews (not “Israelis”) and Palestinians can and will share a state and equal rights eventually.

  6. “I expect such derision from these circles. …. To people like Miller, I say, get out of the way and let others try something different.”
    Do you not see the irony in this?
    This is exactly what Trump is doing.
    “Everything has failed until now. Why not a new approach?”
    The approaches are mirror images of each other. The only difference is which side you support and which side you coerce.
    “Progressives” advocate forcing the stronger side into an agreement and Trump advocates forcing the weaker side.
    I leave it to your readers as to what is more realistic…”justice” doesn’t matter here.
    No I’m NOT a concern troll, I don’t care about the Palestinians’ demands.

    1. @ DrS: The only delusion is your own. To argue that a one-state solution is the same as unilaterally obliterating five decades of U.S. foreign policy and betraying our role as honest broker is beyond preposterous. The one state solution has been seriously debated for decades. Trump’s policies have been extemporized on the fly with no input from serious experts. They have been imposed on the Palestinians with violence and indifference.

      Nor have the Palestinians murdered 40,000 Israelis since 1948. NOr have they operated an apartheid state denying rights to another people. They have not methodically suppressed the political and economic rights of another people since 1948. So no, one-state has nothing to do with Trump and any suggestion otherwise is a pathetic argument in bad faith.

      “Forcing the weaker side” to acquiesce in an agreement, the position you support, is immoral, cynical and evil. But good luck to you. It will lead to generations more bloodshed, all of which will be on your own head.

  7. I really don’t understand how Israel is going to annex the territories or even part of them without things getting worse for Israel. Netanyahu claims to be about security and yet he jeopardizes it. He dares (like Trump). There will be a moment when Israel has gone too far(it has long since already) and all hell will break loose and drown cries of anti-Semitism “two state solution””it’s been ours for 5000 years””We won they lost””they refused generous offers””they want to push us into the sea”.Those dogs will not hunt anymore.

  8. “…position you support, is immoral, cynical and evil…”

    Moral outrage aside, what are the prospects of forcing a overwhelmingly stronger side to concede to a weak side?
    A pipe dream? Impossible? A peace agreement in a parallel universe?
    Where has that worked?
    Basic game theory and logic says that this cannot happen, or if it does, would be inherently unstable.
    The Europeans are too weak and distracted to force anything. The other superpowers, China and Russia don’t care and only want to do business with the Jewish State. The US is perhaps the only superpower that can impose an agreement. What is the chance that any viable US candidate would impose on Israel an agreement that the Palestinians would voluntarily accept??

    Zero. zilch. Even a Democratic candidate openly hostile to Israel will be limited in what they can do. They won’t waste their political assets on something so hopeless. Even Obama was led by the nose by Netanyahu.

    While I am not in the business of prophecy, I don’t see any prospect in the foreseeable future of Israel not being overwhelmingly powerful– economically, militarily, politically.
    This is not triumphalism. This is reality and seems to be the trendline.

    For this same reason nobody is going to force Russia to retreat from Ukraine or Crimea, or from China threatening Taiwan, or getting Turkey out of Cyprus. Ain’t happening.

    Russia imposed an “unjust” solution in Syria. The US and its allies can do the same in Israel/Palestine.

    The French ambassador to the US, Gérard Araud, who is familiar with the current diplomatic chatter, said that “if you offer the Palestinians the choice between surrendering and committing suicide, they may decide the latter”.

    I don’t know if he’s right, and as you have pointed out, the Palestinians aren’t asking my opinion. But my sense is that they are at a critical juncture in their movement. I certainly think that Israel should grab this opportunity to get the best deal they can.

    1. @ DrS:

      Moral outrage aside

      No, that’s just the point: morality is not an “aside” and cannot be thrust aside. Certainly not as cavalierly as you do. It is critical to consider Israel’s polices and behavior through a moral lens. Once you case aside morality, then you’re drowning in the same swamp of cynicism in which you flail about.

      what are the prospects of forcing a overwhelmingly stronger side to concede to a weak side?

      That’s nonsense. Since when has military power been the sole determinant of history? If that was the case, Rome would never have fell; the U.S. would still be a British colony; the Rwanda genocidaires would still be running the country; the Soviet Union would still exist; and the U.S. would be able to run roughshod over whoever stood in its way. The truth of all these examples and many others is that pure might is never enough to guarantee success or victory. THere are many other factors determining whether a nation succeeds in pursuing and securing its interests.

      Basic game theory and logic says that this cannot happen

      Human events and history are not determined by game theory.

      What is the chance that any viable US candidate would impose on Israel an agreement that the Palestinians would voluntarily accept??

      There will be no peace agreement the Palestinians “voluntarily accept” unless the Saudis and their cronies impose Mohammed Dahlan and he agrees to betray the Palestinian cause. So your speculation is ridiculous.

      They won’t waste their political assets on something so hopeless. Even Obama was led by the nose by Netanyahu.

      Again with the disgusting, smarmy cynicism. OBama was led by the nose because he refused to expend the capital necessary to stand up to Netanyahu. That’s because Obama was beholden to the Lobby. Bernie Sanders is not beholden to the Lobby. If he wins, you can be sure that Netanyahu will be persona non grata in the U.S. And the Lobby no longer has the juice to impose its will in this matter. Bernie Sanders cannot be intimidated by Bibi or the Lobby as Obama could.

      While I am not in the business of prophecy,

      That’s a vast understatement.

      I don’t see any prospect in the foreseeable future of Israel not being overwhelmingly powerful– economically, militarily, politically.
      This is not triumphalism. This is reality and seems to be the trendline.

      You keep up this delusion. Because when everything comes crashing down, it will be because people like you maintained their smug facade while all around you crumbled.

      nobody is going to force Russia to retreat from Ukraine or Crimea

      Ah I do love that smugness. No one thought the Soviet Union would fall. Idiots like you think Putin will be a dictator forever and that Russia can never become a democracy; or at least a country ruled by leaders who are not bloodthirsty murderers. Again you maintain that cynisicm. It makes it easier for you and those you admire to be toppled when the time comes.

      Russia imposed an “unjust” solution in Syria.

      “Unjust” to whom? To ISIS and Israel’s pals, Al Nusra? To the Saudi moneybags who funded the headchoppers? To Bibi who zealously attempted to do the Saudi’s bidding in aiding Assad’s enemies.

      The US and its allies can do the same in Israel/Palestine.

      Not in a hundred million years…

      The French ambassador to the US, Gérard Araud, who is familiar with the current diplomatic chatter, said

      I do love it when the chattering hasbara classes quote white Europeans speaking on behalf of Palestinians. And this diplomat has access to Palestinian thinking, how?? You as also conveiently conveiently neglected to mention that this same ambassador called Israel “an apartheid state.” And added for good measure that the Kushner plan was “doomed to fail.” Why did you omit that part of his interview??

      my sense is that they are at a critical juncture in their movement.

      Which “critical juncture” is this? #1, #10, #100, or #1000?? THere have been so many imagined and imposed upon Palestinians by outsiders like you over the past decades. People who have no interest in either understanding Palestinians or their interests. As for your “sense,” as I’ve already said, really, who the hell cares?

      I suggest you cut the cynicism crap. It irks me and is a good way to go from moderated, which you already are, to more restricted status.

  9. Israel is guilty of many war crimes, as is the USA. We need to stop bombing other countries, and stop giving our tax money to Israel.

  10. I agree fully. The policy position of the USA should be a simple one: either Bibi has to do his shit or he has to get off the shitter.

    He either annexes ALL the West Bank or he withdraws Israeli forces out of ALL the West Bank, and if he refuses to accept either of those options then ALL the US aid to Israel should be withdrawn.

    As for the Israeli “settlers” the USA should consider them to be exactly what they are – colonists.

    Their fate can be determined in negotiations between Israel and Palestine, and the Israelis can offer whatever inducements they can afford to entice the Palestinians to agree that they can remain inside Palestine.

    As permanent residents, or “Jewish Palestinians”, or whatever. Make it worth their while.
    Or not. Be intransigent, in which case all those colonists can pack up and go back to Israel.

    But the Aaron David Miller’s of the world have nothing to offer. Nothing whatsoever.

    So be bold. Make Israel aware that the only remedies are stark ones: annex it all, or withdraw from it all.

    And if they don’t, then show them how difficult life becomes when you piss off the USA.

  11. DrS “Moral outrage aside, what are the prospects of forcing a overwhelmingly stronger side to concede to a weak side?”

    At the end of WW2 the British Empire was still overwhelmingly stronger than the independence movements in its constituent colonies. Yet pressure from the USA saw the British divest itself of Empire very quickly.

    DrS “Where has that worked?”

    I suggest you acquaint yourself with the 20th century history of decolonization.

    After all, Israel is an anachronism – a country predicated on 19th century concepts of colonial expansionism that attempts to delude the gullible that it is a hip and happening 21st century go-getter.

    That works, in a fashion. But fashions come and go.

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