Dear John,
Like you, I listened in horror as Donald Trump and Israeli war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu spoke proudly and boldly about their intention to commit ethnic cleansing in Palestine. As we speak, Israel has violated the terms of the ceasefire and is bombing the West Bank in an attempt to force Palestinians out of their homes. What Netanyahu doesn't understand, and what Trump knows nothing about, is the determination of the Palestinian people. Despite the endless suffering they have endured over the past year and a half, they are returning to their demolished homes and rebuilding. The Palestinian resolve is unmatched. They took in Trump’s news conference with laughter because they were unfazed by his illogical and criminal remarks. I am glad to see so many Democrats, and even some Republicans, speaking up—I only wish they had spoken up sooner.
Now let’s dive into what Trump’s comments mean for us here in America. First, before we talk about rebuilding Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” what about rebuilding parts of North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and most recently California, which have been devastated by natural disasters caused by climate change? What happened to “America First”? We still have lead pipes harming our children in Flint, Michigan, and other parts of the country. Any mention of that? Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike care deeply about rebuilding America, yet Trump and his allies seem entirely uninterested.
Second, Trump has long been vocal about his stance on “no more wars.” How does he plan on occupying Palestine without using American troops? Last time I checked, the President must ask Congress for permission to deploy troops. Both parties have neglected that part of the Constitution, and I spoke out when Democrats did it. I will definitely speak up now that Trump is doing it.
Third, where is this money going to come from? Israel depends on American aid to the tune of tens of billions annually, as do Egypt and Jordan. Trump said there’s a lot of money in the region. Who was he referring to as picking up the tab for an American colony in the Middle East? And why would they do that? Nothing Trump said made any sense—but that’s what happens when you elect a sadistic, egomaniacal con artist. You get press conferences like the one we saw yesterday.
We’ve known for a long time that this has been Netanyahu’s plan all along, and Biden let him get away with genocide. Frankly, we financed the whole thing. As Americans, we have a lot of self-reflection to do, starting with cleaning up our flawed electoral system. Nearly all of Congress is bribed by AIPAC, and everyone knows it. This is wrong, and it must change. This behavior is also hurting the Israeli people. Millions of Jewish Americans have spoken up about how harmful this is, and they are bullied and called traitors by the powerful, yet evil, AIPAC lobby.
I want to share a few personal stories about my interactions with AIPAC over the years. When I first launched No Dem Left Behind, I was making fundraising calls and reached someone who immediately asked, “Are you team AIPAC or J Street?” I was taken aback, as the purpose of my call was to raise awareness and funds for House candidates running for Congress in rural America. Naively, I had no idea what Israel had to do with the subject. I told him, “Neither—I’m not really focused on foreign policy. My mission is to raise awareness and funds for these incredible candidates that have been overlooked by the party establishment.” He didn’t like that answer and hung up on me.
Another interaction with AIPAC came at the DNC in Chicago this past summer. I was invited to a brunch by one of our vendors, and that’s when I noticed something bizarre. The room was filled with people mingling, making small talk, and networking. In the corner, however, were two men sitting alone with scowls on their faces, just watching everyone. Something was off about them, so I asked my friend, who invited me, who they were. She said, “Oh, stay away—those are AIPAC observers.” I was confused but left it alone. Even among peers and colleagues, they stood out. They weren’t there to network—they were there to intimidate and spy.
This recent encounter still sends a shiver down my spine. I’m currently working on a media project I’ll share soon, but we’re still finalizing it. At a conference in D.C., I was introduced to someone closely aligned with AIPAC. They offered me two million dollars on the spot. Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to raise two million dollars? Of course, I politely declined and walked away. But this is the world we live in. The power and resources AIPAC wields are staggering.
One final story: Last fall, we had a brilliant fellow from Yale working with us at No Dem Left Behind. Something always seemed off whenever I asked him to do assignments related to the Palestine-Israel topic. One day, I told him, “If you disagree with me, I’m okay with that. Let me hear your perspective.” His response was, “No, I don’t.” Then he explained the problem: AIPAC had hired trucks to drive around campus blasting students’ faces and labeling them as antisemitic if they spoke up against the genocide. They did the same thing at Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Berkeley, and basically all the Ivy League schools.
This is AIPAC. This is who they are. This is what we’re up against. We know how they operate—through fear, coercion, and unchecked power. This is what we’re fighting against: a lobby that is not only harming Palestinians but also stifling free speech, targeting young voices, and corrupting the principles of democracy itself. And it’s time we stood up to them.
In Solidarity,
Hassan Martini
