Friend,

Israel cannot continue to deny what our eyes are seeing, and the dam is breaking.

Two weeks ago, genocide scholar Omer Bartov penned an op-ed in the New York Times concluding that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. Earlier this week, two leading Israeli human rights groups, B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights – Israel, came to that same conclusion—one that was reached by Palestinian and international human rights organizations much, much earlier. Yet, little has changed in terms of the material conditions for Palestinians on the ground and for actual U.S. policy towards Israel. While just yesterday we saw progress in the number of votes cast in support of Senator Bernie Sanders’ resolutions to stop sending ammunitions and bombs to Israel, both still failed. Believe me, we understand the political realities of Washington, but it remains hard to believe a vote on weapons to Israel would fail at a time like this.

Sociologist Stanley Cohen provided definitions for examining our desire to avoid uncomfortable realities in an important book published in 2001 entitled, “States of Denial: Knowing about Atrocities and Suffering of Others.” Decades later, academic Conor Gearty simplified things, “First, is literal denial (it never happened). Second, is interpretative denial (it’s not what you think). And third, is implicatory denial (we have to do it/it’s terrible, but it’s not our fault).” I suggest you read Gearty’s piece from last year and its powerful closing: “Denial in Israel is a means of keeping supporters abroad on message. We in the Global North need lies so that we can continue to see our support for Israeli action as morally possible.” We must not allow this to continue.

Whether it's bombing hospitals, schools, or refugee camps, shooting and killing civilians trying to receive aid, or murdering journalists, Israel uses these denial strategies to refuse responsibility. Last weekend, Netanyahu declared, “there is no starvation in Gaza.” As people who have long supported Palestinian human rights, we know better than to believe assertions like this from Israeli officials. Now, the rest of the American people do too.

For almost two years, Israel has indiscriminately killed 60,000 Palestinians with U.S. weapons and accelerated the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands. Despite worldwide condemnation, our government has allowed the deadly flow of weapons to continue with little oversight or consequence. Now, Gaza is confronting an intentional and man-made famine that has taken the lives of nearly 150 people, including 88 children.

Blank-check support from the U.S. has enabled this genocide, and those in power can no longer ignore their constituents and continue to turn a blind eye to the horrors.

Email your Representative today and demand they do everything in their power to end this genocide and allow the people of Gaza the food, water, medicine, and fuel needed to survive.

I know this is not enough in the face of what is happening because nearly 700 days later, the world, and us, have collectively failed to stop this genocide. I know. But we must keep pushing for Gaza.

Thank you for all that you do.

Regards,

Maya

Arab American Institute Foundation
1600 K Street, NW, Suite 601
Washington, DC 20006
United States