In January, President Barack Obama stated, "History shows that societies are more harmonious, nations are more successful and the world is more just when the rights and responsibilities of all nations and all peoples are upheld, including the universal rights of every human being". What he failed to add - and perhaps should have - is that these 'rights' apply to everybody except the Palestinians. Following Palestine's plans to ask for the recognition of an independent Palestinian state next month, America has threatened to cut all its aid to Palestine if it proceeds with its proposal. Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian negotiator, has quoted US Consul-General Daniel Rubinstein as saying, "The American Congress will take punitive measures against the Palestinian Authority including halting American assistance".
This latest threat provides yet further evidence of America's unconditional support of Israel; a nation that has murdered thousands of innocent Palestinians, including nearly 2,000 children. But this should come as no surprise. As recently as May, Obama told a pro-Israeli lobby, "The bonds between the United States and Israel are unbreakable, and the commitment of the United States to the security of Israel is ironclad". Effectively, this means that America will almost definitely veto any Palestinian bid for statehood come September. However, these latest comments suggest that America is willing to go even further; they would be willing to cut off its annual aid package of $470million. This money is imperative in the basic day-to-day running of both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank; without it, these areas would undoubtedly sink into economic meltdown.
But why the "unwavering" support to Israel? President Obama has never hidden his commitment to Israel, even though it runs paradoxically with his commitments to championing democracy and human rights. Often, President Obama has spoken of his admiration for Israel's democratic society, stating at a Jewish Conference earlier this year that he "praised the core [Israeli] values of freedom and democracy". Yet, as Israeli journalist Gideon Levy points out, Mr Obama's admiration is misplaced: "We have Jewish Israelis, who have full democracy and have full civil rights. We have Israeli Arabs, who have Israeli citizenship but are severely discriminated against. And we have the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories, who live without any civil rights and without any human rights. Is that a democracy?" Essentially, by endorsing such behaviour, America is actively encouraging racism, ethnic cleansing and apartheid. But would they ever admit such a thing?
Following the Second World War, America (rightly) felt the need to support a Jewish state in the aftermath of the Holocaust. As a result - and ever since - they have turned a blind eye to Israeli wrongdoing. When Palestinians were frogmarched from their homes in 1948 and forced to leave their land, America said and did nothing. Today, when Israel continues to build illegal settlements on Palestinian land - despite claiming to support a peace process - America says and does nothing. Ironically, as soon as the Palestinians rise up and say 'enough is enough', America is there to suppress and intimidate. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton claimed that July's Freedom Flotilla - a humanitarian aid convoy - was "provocative", "dangerous" and "unnecessary"; no mention of the fact that the illegal occupation of Palestine might be deemed provocative, dangerous and unnecessary. But still, the justification for halting this peaceful fleet was to avoid weapons falling into the hands of Hamas.
Funny then that in 2007, President George W. Bush signed off on a deal that cemented America to an agreement with Israel; America would increase military assistance to Israel by $6billion over the following decade. That means that by 2017, America will be paying Israel over $3billion to keep Palestine in check whilst potentially paying zero to the Palestinians for daring to ask for their independence. Now where is the logic in that? Israel already boasts the fourth greatest military power in the world and regularly bombards the Gaza Strip with artillery fire, bombs and drones; often with fatal consequences. During the Gaza War, nearly 1,500 Palestinians lost their lives, 1,000 of whom were defenceless civilians who offered no danger. Just 13 Israelis lost their lives following the three-week salvo. Despite this, America still insists that it is Israel that needs protecting. Regrettably, the vast majority of western citizens merely accept this perspective.
However, according to Gideon Levy, there is a reason for the world's lack of knowledge. He says, "The brainwashing machinery is so efficient that trying [to undo it is] almost like trying to turn an omelette back to an egg". We only hear what Israel wants us to hear. There are many examples. John Pilger's 2010 documentary, The War You Don't See, highlighted numerous instances whereby western media simply accept the Israeli viewpoint; failing to probe deeper and gain a wider understanding of events. Levy uses the example of a dog: "A dog - an Israeli dog - was killed by a Qassam rocket and it [was] on the front page of the most popular newspaper in Israel. On the very same day, there were tens of Palestinians killed. They were on page 16, in two lines". The problem is that the West persistently backs the continuation of these Israeli myths.
Although Barack Obama has laughably received some criticism from the Right in America for supposedly getting unnecessarily tough on Israel, the reality is that if Obama were really getting tough on Israel he would ardently condemn settlement building and encourage the Palestinian statehood bid. Instead, these latest aid revelations place emphasis on just how America is trying to dictate events through bribery and menace. And let us not forget that they have done it before; covertly attempting to shape other nations policies. They have done it in Venezuela (encouraging 2002's coup against President Chavez - a democratically elected leader), they have done it in Haiti (removing the democratically elected Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide following his attempts to liberate Haiti) and they shall go on doing it in order to ensure American hegemony.
If Obama and the US truly want a harmonious, successful and just world then they must cut all ties with violent, oppressive regimes such as Netanyahu's. They must endorse genuine freedom and democracy and keep their noses out of other country's affairs. Unfortunately, Washington appears to have become an Israeli colony. Another Occupied Territory. America can only disprove this sentiment by refusing to oppose the liberty and self-determination of millions of people. But this remains an ambitious, unrealistic and naïve prospect. America's latest threat is nothing more than a repulsive and repellent expression of US/Israeli control and supremacy. A sickening attempt to frighten a frail, defenceless and desperate population into submission. Palestine - like Iran, like Libya, like Haiti, like Venezuela, like Iraq and like Cuba - must play ball or risk having their last breathe of air snatched from them as America well and truly pulls the rug from beneath their feet.