UN Reports 240 Palestinian Deaths in West Bank, US Continues 'Deep Concern'
The New Arab reports the UN's grim tally: 240 Palestinians, including 55 children, killed in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in 2023. At least 830 more were injured by settler attacks. This, of course, comes as the Biden administration continues to express its 'deep concern' – a phrase that, judging by the consistent body count, appears less a warning and more a pre-approved condolence card. (One
might wonder how many more need to perish before 'concern' escalates to 'mild disapproval'.) This isn't a new phenomenon; it's a feature, not a bug, of an occupation now entering its 57th year. While the UN issues reports, U.S. politicians like Rep. Steny Hoyer, who received over $200,000 from pro-Israel PACs over his career (according to OpenSecrets.org), consistently vote to greenlight billions
in unconditional aid to Israel. The historical parallel is stark: each year the bodies pile up, and each year the US aid package gets replenished. Apparently, expressing concern and funding the violence simultaneously is a delicate art form.