| Some of us who have been working on issues of justice in Palestine for many years often feel despondent and discouraged, as if we are like a “voice crying in the wilderness” without any ability to impact the situation. We have marched, protested, boycotted written letters to officials, tried to educate, preach, pray, and inform others. We have signed petitions, worked for church resolutions, donated to different organizations, yet the horrors in Gaza continue, the powerful lobbies dominate our politicians, and nothing seems to work. It is therefore useful, once in a while, to think of the victories that have been achieved and the accomplishments made on our long walk to freedom. True, these accomplishments have been obtained at a horrendous price paid by Palestinians in blood, suffering and destruction. Nor have such changes yet borne tangible fruit or altered the situation on the ground. It is also true that much more needs to be done, yet we must not give up hope. We have accomplished a lot and the world is rapidly changing. I would like to make a partial list of these accomplishments: 1. There is now international widespread recognition that what is taking place in Gaza today is very much a genocide, that the system of governance in Israel and the occupied territories is one of apartheid, and that Zionism has no alternative plans for the future other than a continuation of the now blatant genocide and apartheid. UN bodies, experts in genocide and international law, human rights organizations, Palestinian, Israeli, and international, have written extensive, well-documented reports that make these charges beyond reasonable dispute. Those who still refuse to acknowledge this do so for political reasons or bias and not for any objective evidence or contrary findings. No credible unbiased, neutral source challenges these designations any more. 2. Recognition of the humanity of Palestinians is now widely acknowledged. After years of demonization and dehumanization, of seeing Palestinians as terrorist barbarians, the world now sees the humanity and suffering of Palestinians, and it is shocked at the ongoing atrocities. Even countries traditionally friendly to Israel and usually hostile to Palestinians are now recognizing the state of Palestine and are being pressured to follow up this recognition with concrete steps. When one European country, Itay, continued to refuse to recognize the state of Palestine, the entire population rose up and shut down ports, trains, universities, roads, and institutions demanding such recognition and an end to the genocide. 3. There is a worldwide movement to bring Israeli war criminals to justice, not only relying on international tribunals, but also national courts, operating under universal jurisdiction, are threatening Israeli soldiers and officers with trials and imprisonment. Israelis visiting countries like Australia, New Zealand, and others are being questioned upon entry to these countries about their roles in the Israeli Army and the war crimes being committed there. 4. The movement to boycott Israeli products, services, institutions, cultural organizations and sport teams is gaining steam worldwide. There is serious talk of barring Israeli teams from FIFA and UEFA soccer events, and in many countries Israeli sports teams are met with protests, Palestinian flags, and calls for prohibitions. In Spain, the Israeli cycling team was met with Palestinian flags and protests, to the point where the whole event had to be curtailed and cut short when organizers refused to kick out the Israeli team, but could not proceed as normal in the face of protests. Five European countries so far have declared they will boycott Eurovision if Israel is allowed to participate. Artists, film festivals, and others are openly joining the boycott demanding an end to the genocide. Hardly an event is held without some reference being made to the genocide in Gaza. 5. Even in the US, the last remaining bulwark of support for Israel, AIPAC no longer holds sway as it once did, being a powerful lobbying group that can garner sweeping bipartisan support on every Israel-related issue. It is now viewed with suspicion and of being allied primarily with Republicans. Politicians have to explain and defend taking its money and its directives against the wishes of their constituents. Democrats who stand with AIPAC have difficulties with their constituents, whose support for Israel is dwindling. Money from AIPAC now needs to be balanced against losing votes from their base. 6. Within the Republican Party also, there is a new readiness to part ways with AIPAC and to question support for Israel. MAGA politicians, and right wingers like Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Green, and others are questioning monies and weapons being given to Israel from an America-first perspective. Over a hundred thousand among them even believe that Charlie Kirk was beginning to change his views on Israel and that the Mossad was involved in his assassination precisely for that reason. 7. More gratifying is the shift among American Jews, particularly the young who no longer automatically support or identify with Israel and with Zionism. Some, like Peter Beinart and many ultraorthodox do so from a religious perspective, but many others simply cannot reconcile support for Israel with their own ethical and moral values. In fact, Jews have often been on the forefront of those calling for a ceasefire and an end to the genocide, even at the risk of breaking with family and friends, and of leading to a serious split within the Jewish community. This shift is occurring even while anti-Jewish bigotry in certain sectors seems to be increasing, inflamed by the Gaza events. 8. Among evangelicals, thanks to the leadership of such groups as Bethlehem Bible College, NEME, and others, Christian Zionism is being challenged and no longer can be considered the defining feature of evangelicals. Polls show, particularly among the young, massive shifts in support for the Palestinians as opposed to Israel. Theological tools, curricula, and writings are now available to confront, deconstruct and challenge views that used to be beyond dispute in evangelical circles. (I point you to the Institute for the study of Christian Zionism [ISCZ]: StudyChristianZionism.org) 9. In the media, despite its persistent bias, one can catch glimpses of attempts to break out of the mold, to occasionally present a different perspective, or to question the credibility of Israeli officials and their hasbara explanations. Thanks in part to arrogant statements by Israeli politicians, Israel’s narrative of victimhood is no longer selling. In all the above, there is a visible gap between the positions and understandings of the rank and file and the top 1% and the powerful decision makers, who continue to toe the Zionist line. This is true for politicians, journalists, educational institutions and of the Church itself. This explains in large part why all our efforts do not seem to be “moving the needle” or having direct physical impact. We need to find new ways of translating the great sympathy that has been generated into effective action that changes the situation on the ground for Palestinians. In all cases, we need to remember that the power and might of the state of Israel derives directly from the financial, military and diplomatic support it gets from the West. Weakening that support and creating a chasm between Israel and its Western enablers will ultimately have a profound effect on the ground. The current genocide can only continue with the implicit and explicit support of the West. As that support weakens, we can look forward to real change on the ground. In the meanwhile, it is important not to give up hope but to proceed with determination and courage, knowing that we are doing the right thing. |