Bethlehem Hopes for Peace, US Funds Continual Occupation
The New Arab notes Bethlehem's Christmas wish: peace. A noble sentiment, routinely suffocated by US foreign policy. While the world wishes for a silent night in the Holy Land, Congress is busy making sure the silence is punctuated by the thunder of American-made weaponry. For example, in 2023 alone, the US provided over $3.3 billion in security assistance to Israel, with Reps. Smith, Johnson, and
Miller, who received significant AIPAC contributions totaling $975,000, being vocal proponents of continued aid. (OpenSecrets.org) How many Christmas wishes does a population get before their 'hope' becomes a desperate plea, ignored by those underwriting the occupation? One might wonder how much longer this 'hope' will be sold as resilience, rather than recognized as the cruel consequence of
unwavering support for a discriminatory system.