Netherlands Cares About US 'Human Rights,' Not Israel's Billions
While the Netherlands cites concerns about the 'politicisation' of US intelligence services, one might wonder if 'human rights' are only a concern when the perpetrator isn't receiving billions in US military aid. The Biden administration, for instance, just approved another 50 Lockheed Martin F-35s for the Israeli government (OpenSecrets.org data shows Lockheed Martin spent $14.1M lobbying in 2023
alone). These are the same jets Netanyahu's government uses in operations that the UN and human rights groups have repeatedly flagged. It appears European ethical lines are drawn not where human rights are actually violated, but where they are politically convenient. A curtailment over US actions is applauded, yet the continuous, uncritical supply of advanced weaponry to states committing what
many call genocide – often with direct US approval and funding – goes largely unmentioned by the very same 'human rights' advocates or, at best, is framed as a 'complicated conflict'. How many 'concerns' does it take before the aid stops flowing?