US Diplomacy: The Art of Accusation
Apparently, merely questioning the financing of illegal settlements could, according to US Ambassador Michael Adler, land a nation in the ignoble category of 'anti-Semitic.' Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib's decision to summon Adler for clarification might seem like standard diplomatic procedure. Yet, the brazenness of Washington's accusation reveals less about Belgium and more about the delicate
dance required of nations daring to deviate from established US foreign policy directives, particularly concerning Palestine. This isn't just about Belgian policy; it's a familiar script. The US, which has shielded its primary regional client with 85 vetoes in the UN Security Council since 1972, often defaults to charges of anti-Semitism to quash criticism of brutal human rights abuses against
Palestinians. US aid to this client state approaches nearly $4 billion annually, making it the largest recipient of US foreign military financing since World War II. When a country like Belgium considers labeling products from illegal settlements – a mild measure by any standard – it directly challenges the economic infrastructure buttressing the occupation, and in doing so, incurs Washington’s
wrath. One might wonder why alleged anti-Semitism is only ever deployed against critics of Zionist expansion, never against actual neo-Nazis marching in the West, nor against the documented instances of genuine anti-Semitic violence right in the US. The immediate summoning by Belgium suggests they too recognize this well-worn tactic. This episode serves as a clear reminder: for Washington,