As Israel continues to violate human rights in Gaza, President Joe Biden has refused to condemn the Israeli government. On Saturday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) called out the administration’s failure.
Biden made human rights a central part of his campaign for president in 2020. It’s part of what propelled him to victory in November. Ever since he took office, Biden has worked to call out human rights abuses abroad while trying to stop or reverse human rights abuses that were perpetrated here at home under the previous White House occupant.
But Biden has not stood up to Israel for conducting what amounts to an ethnic cleansing and occupation campaign against the Palestinians in Gaza even as the Israelis bombed a building that housed the offices of Al Jazeera and Associated Press news organization personnel. It’s an outrageous attack on the free press and demonstrates once again that the United States should no longer consider Israel an ally.
The airstrike came as the Biden administration continued blocking a United Nations resolution calling for a ceasefire, which makes Biden look even worse. He’s now an enabler of human rights abuses. And that makes him look downright Trumpian.
Ocasio-Cortez joined progressive and liberal groups and organizations across the nation in condemning Biden’s lack of spine when it comes to Israel.
This is happening with the support of the United States.
I don’t care how any spokesperson tries to spin this. The US vetoed the UN call for ceasefire.
If the Biden admin can’t stand up to an ally, who can it stand up to?
How can they credibly claim to stand for human rights? https://t.co/bXY99O3Wqp
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 15, 2021
The United States gives Israel $3.8 billion a year in military aid. That must come to an end. It’s not just a waste of taxpayer dollars, it’s money that is literally being used to murder children. In addition, the United States should close the embassy in Jerusalem that never should have been opened in the first place. And the Biden White House needs to force Israel to accept a two-state solution to end the violence that has been dragging on for decades.
Israel has gotten away with violating the human rights of Palestinians for too long. Biden can bring that to an end right now. Not doing so breaks his commitment to human rights and divides the Democratic Party at a time when it must be united, and Biden will definitely need a united party if he wants a second term in office.
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