Time of old in the Land of the Free
In a stark departure from past administrations, the United States has been accused of funding and diplomatically supporting Israel's actions that have led to widespread destruction and human rights violations in Gaza.
Donald Trump, often branded as "the great negotiator," has failed to apply any pressure on Israel, with no hold on missiles, no pause on bombs, and no reminders of America's legal obligations under the Arms Export Control Act. This situation is not a strength, but rather an abdication of responsibility.
The legacy of presidents who dared to say "no" to Israel, even for a few weeks, is now buried under the rubble of Gaza. Presidents like Harry S. Truman, who was the first to recognise Israel, and Ronald Reagan, who suspended deliveries of F-16 fighter jets in response to Israel bombing Iraq's nuclear reactor in 1981, have set a precedent that Trump seems unwilling or unable to follow.
Compared to Eisenhower, Truman, or Reagan, Trump has shown no effort in applying pressure on Israel. The evidence of war crimes in Israel's recent actions is overwhelming, yet weapons still flow to Israel, primarily on U.S.-funded contracts.
The change in the United States' approach can be attributed to several evolving factors. Strategic and military coordination between the U.S. and Israel, exemplified by the Trump administration's close coordination with Israeli military operations against Iran, indicates a more explicit alignment with Israeli security objectives rather than public pressure on human rights issues.
The volatile and unpredictable security situation in Israel and the surrounding regions has led the U.S. government to focus intensively on security and counterterrorism cooperation. This focus on immediate security concerns tends to overshadow rigorous human rights criticism.
Human Rights Watch and other observers have noted a slow and long-overdue realignment in Western policies regarding Israel and its government’s abuses. However, this shift has been cautious and not characterized by strong punitive measures. There is acknowledgment of abuses but also a balancing act to maintain strategic alliances.
Historically, earlier presidents like Eisenhower, Truman, and Reagan operated in different geopolitical contexts where the U.S. could afford a different balance between supporting Israel and applying pressure over human rights violations. Today, the overlapping of military interests, counterterrorism, and regional instability complicate this approach.
Despite these atrocities, Washington has not taken any symbolic gestures such as suspending shipments, engaging in meaningful debate on aid, or expressing moral outrage. America is deliberately forfeiting every precedent that once allowed its presidents to say "no" to Israel's actions.
In the 1950s, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower forced Israel to withdraw from Egypt's invasion by withholding aid, applying economic pressure, and making it clear that aggression must be curbed. Today, Israel, funded and armed by the United States, is committing atrocities at an unprecedented pace, with tens of thousands of deaths in Gaza, the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the deliberate strangulation of humanitarian relief.
[1] Strategic and Military Coordination: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-arms-sales-israel-rise-2021-02-15/ [2] Complex Regional Security Environment: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/israel-gaza-truce-talks-stall-as-israeli-troops-prepare-for-more-ground-offensives/2014/07/28/41d988a4-f9a7-11e4-84f7-791d8531c21a_story.html [3] Shifts in Western Policy and Realignment: https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/08/17/israel-palestine-west-bank-annexation-would-violate-international-law [4] Historical Contrast: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/30/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-truce-talks-stall-as-israeli-troops-prepare-for-more-ground-offensives.html
- It appears that the current administration's opinion on applying pressure on Israel over war crimes and human rights violations, as seen in Gaza, differs significantly from past administrations, such as those of presidents like Harry S. Truman and Ronald Reagan, who had shown a willingness to suspend aid or weapons deliveries in response to such violations.
- The general news today suggests a shift in the world's opinion regarding Israel and its government's abuses, with an acknowledgment of abuses but a cautious approach to implementing strong punitive measures, due to the complex regional security environment and overlapping military interests.
