Democratic Party leaders return to their policy of allowing no criticism of the Israeli government.
“In war, truth is the first casualty.” ― Aeschylus
In the same building where members of Congress had to hide and run for the lives from Proud Boys and MAGAs on January 6th, 2021, now elected members in that same building who dare to express concern for the 2 million Palestinians residents of Gaza are attacked and told to shut up.
Prominent women of color who are members of Congress have received a security briefing from the Capitol Police Thursday amid a major increase in threats against them since the attack on Israel this weekend.
The members of Congress include Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Summer Lee (D-Pa.) and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), make up a handful of critics of the Israeli government.
Tlaib and Omar are the first two Muslim women ever elected to Congress.
Tlaib said in a statement Wednesday, “I do not support the targeting and killing of civilians, whether in Israel or Palestine. The fact that some have suggested otherwise is offensive and rooted in bigoted assumptions about my faith and ethnicity.”
But it does not appear that these Democratic members of Congress have the leadership watching their backs.
Instead the Democratic leadership has returned - if it ever left - to blind support for whatever Israeli leaders demand.
The Nation reports that the Biden White House has attacked opponents of the war as “repugnant” and “disgraceful.”
“We believe they’re wrong. We believe they’re repugnant and we believe they’re disgraceful,” Jean-Pierre said. “Our condemnation belongs squarely with terrorists who have brutally murdered, raped, kidnapped, hundreds, hundreds of Israelis. There can be no equivocation about that. There are not two sides here. There are not two sides.”
Though she did not specifically mention the names of Democratic US Representatives Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Cori Bush of Missouri, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, and several other House members, there was no confusion about the targets of Jean-Pierre’s remarks.
Former Democratic Illinois state senator and now Evanston mayor, Dan Biss was quoted in Politico as saying, “I have found it disorienting and troubling to see some people and organizations address this situation without an unequivocal condemnation of Hamas’ murderous attacks.”
“Some” people and organizations?
Who are you talking about, Mayor Biss.
Of course, without stating which people and what organizations Biss is referring to, his statement has the effect of including anyone who is not wholly on board with Israel’s response.
What does “unequivocal condemnation" even mean? Does it allow room for concern for the lives of those Palestinians trapped in Gaza?
Missouri congresswoman Cori Bush, one of those under attack, wrote:
I am heartbroken by the ongoing violence in Palestine and Israel, and I mourn the over 250 Israeli and 230 Palestinian lives that have been lost today, and the thousands injured, following attacks by Hamas militants on Israeli border towns and Israeli military bombardment of Gaza.
I strongly condemn the targeting of civilians and I urge an immediate ceasefire and de -escalation to prevent further loss of life. Our immediate focus must be saving lives, but our ultimate focus must be on a just and lasting peace that ensures safety for everyone in the region.
Violations of human rights do not justify more violations of human rights, and a military response will only exacerbate the suffering of Palestinians and Israelis alike.
As part of achieving a just and lasting peace, we must do our part to stop this violence and trauma by ending U.S. government support for Israeli military occupation and apartheid. I am continuing to closely monitor the situation and my Office is ready to support residents of the First District with family members and loved ones in the region.
Is that unequivocal enough for Mayor Biss?