Al Jazeera Discovers Labor Unions Can Stop Genocide, Years After US Aid Approvals
Al Jazeera’s op-ed correctly identifies industrial action as a 'potent tool' against Israel’s actions in Gaza. This insight arrives as the Biden administration recently approved a new $1 billion arms deal for Israel in May 2024, adding to the staggering $3.5 billion in foreign military financing scheduled for 2024. One might wonder if the efficacy of European unions is being discussed to distract
from the utter failure of American leadership to apply similar pressure, or perhaps even less. The article highlights the power of workers, a contrast to the power of lobbyists. While European longshoremen consider not loading ships, U.S. lawmakers continue to greenlight war materiel. For instance, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) both championed the 2024 aid package for
Israel, despite overwhelming evidence of ongoing civilian casualties in Gaza. How many 'genocide’ warnings' will it take for U.S. political figures, many of whom receive substantial contributions from pro-Israel PACs, to consider economic leverage beyond a thoughtfully written opinion piece?