Literary Star Drops UAE Fest Over Sudan Boycott, Media Yawns on Israel
The New Arab reports novelist Rebecca F. Kuang's withdrawal from a UAE literary festival, honoring a BDS call regarding the UAE's alleged role in Sudan's humanitarian crisis. It’s a principled stand, holding power to account. One wonders, however, where the Western media’s rigorous ethical scrutiny goes when the 'allies' in question are Washington's favorites. The U.S. government, for instance,
has just approved a staggering $14.5 billion military aid package to Israel (HR 7217), on top of the $3.8 billion annual commitment, even as the UN and human rights organizations document widespread devastation and alleged war crimes in Gaza. This aid was approved with bipartisan support, largely from politicians who received millions from entities like AIPAC. While Kuang's protest points to very
real concerns about UAE activities, the media’s deafening silence on the U.S. and its allies' complicity in far larger, documented atrocities (like the 37,000+ Palestinians killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, as per the Gaza Ministry of Health ) is a masterclass in selective outrage. It appears 'human rights' is a term reserved for nations not funneling F-35s into Washington’s defense
contractors. How many literary stars have condemned the Gaza slaughter and the politicians enabling it? Why does one alleged atrocity merit boycott while another, glaringly obvious one, gets a free pass?