After two Israeli diplomats were shot dead in Washington DC this week, accusations of “antisemitism” echo shrilly throughout of the capital. Most US media reported the young couple’s killing while omitting to mention that Israel, their employer, is systemically annihilating the roughly 2 million people still alive in Gaza while organizing what amounts to a concentration camp. Why omit the one-sided conflict in the background? Many Americans in public life are terrified by being dog-whistled as “antisemites.” Once labeled, ensuing attacks by Zionists and others supporting Israel can hurt their reputations and family finances. So, people with influence tend to say nothing critical about Israel.
Here’s an example of how American political culture gives Israel’s supporters a pass on whatever they say while punishing those trying to protect the Palestinian people. This week, a Jewish congressman from Florida called for the nuclear annihilation of Palestine. His tirade was barely covered by the media and he was not disciplined by his House colleagues for advocating genocide.
In stark contrast, a Palestinian American congresswoman from Michigan earlier in the conflict was censured by the House for uttering the words “from the river to the sea” in support of Palestinians who were being killed by Israel’s army. She also called for a cease fire. Israel has killed about 50,000 Gazans since then, mostly women and children.
There are many ironies here. First, by using conventional weapons and starvation, Israel already has matched the damage done at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which the Florida congressman used a template for eradicating Palestinians. Using nukes would kill many more. Second, does he realize that nuclear blasts and resulting radiation would kill and injure many Israelis as well. Would that be “antisemitic”? Which raises the question: just who qualifies as being a semite deserving special treatment? Who doesn’t?
For more, see:
Republican Calls for Gaza to Be “Nuked” Like Hiroshima and Nagasaki – truthout
CAIR-FL Repeats Call for Censure of Rep. Randy Fine After ‘Gaza Must be Destroyed’ Comment
Rashida Tlaib censured over Israel-Gaza comments – BBC
Who needs nukes when this is happening every day?:
Gaza City school hit in latest Israeli strikes – AP
Christians: Note the rooster crowing in the background.