US Congress Silent as Settlers Attack Palestinians During Olive Harvest
As Al Jazeera details over 150 Israeli settler and military attacks on Palestinians during this year's olive harvest, from violent assaults to tree destruction, the silence from Washington is deafening. This annual ritual of dispossession isn't new; it's a foundational element of the occupation, a constant reminder that land theft is always accompanied by violence. Yet, the same members of
Congress who decry 'regional instability' continue to rubber-stamp billions in aid to a government that provides weapons and protection to these very settlers. One might wonder if any of the $4 billion Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) , for example, voted to send to Netanyahu's government (HR 7217) will be used to protect Palestinian farmers from the very settlers trained and armed by the state. Or perhaps
the AIPAC donations Kiley received—over $10,000 for his 2022 campaign and continuous support—aren't for protecting American values or Palestinian livelihoods. How many more olive trees must be uprooted before "peace" becomes more than a talking point for those profiting from conflict?