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Support Israel,
Palestinians Too

There are several factors that make the United States’ close relationship with Israel a crucial matter of national interest. Paramount among these is the fact that anti-American forces (Iran, Al Qaeda-allied terrorists and others) are within striking distance of vast oil supplies critical to U.S. economic stability. Having a staunch ally like Israel in the heart of this trouble-prone area is extremely important.

It is also important that the U.S. reaffirm its commitment to maintain vigilance against anti-Semitism, a reprehensible prejudice that rears its ugly head from time to time in many regions of the world.

During an election year, therefore, it is natural for candidates to vie for the moral high ground when it comes to support for Israel, not least because pro-Israel voters are significant in number and politically active. But it should be of concern to all Americans when support for Israel precludes acknowledging the suffering of non-combatant Palestinians, folks who are simply trying to get on with their lives under horrendous conditions.

For example, in a March 14 article from the Associated Press about Sen. Barack Obama’s pro-Israel credentials, Obama’s unwanted endorsement from well-known anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan was paired with Obama’s pastor having supported "Palestinian causes" as two strikes against him.

Since when are "Palestinian causes" on the same wavelength as anti-Semitism? The United Nations has declared that Palestinians in Gaza are living in a humanitarian crisis; some aid agencies can’t even get through to provide help; water, the most basic of life’s requirements, is in short supply. Is it really acceptable that our candidates for national office ignore these factors–and in fact are seen as un-American if they talk about them–in order to be seen as sufficiently pro-Israel?

If each presidential campaign (not to mention scores of Congressional campaigns) becomes a contest to see who can be the most ardent supporter of Israel by distancing themselves from advocating legitimate rights of others, our country will continue to open itself to ever worse allegations of hypocrisy and double standards.

An alliance with Israel is meaningful to U.S. strategic needs, but letting that alliance skew our moral compass so dramatically that whispering the word "Palestinian" is tantamount to treason is a disservice to people who desperately need relief from unbearable misery.

And, as we guard against anti-Semitism, doesn’t it also make sense to guard against demonizing other groups? If we think it’s acceptable to vilify Arabs and/or Muslims and assume that their suffering is somehow deserved, haven’t we simply traded one prejudice for another?

Jamal Kheiry

Bethel

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