US Official Demands Israel Comfort-Check Gaza Security Force
In an astounding display of diplomatic acrobatics, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, after receiving a tidy sum of $49,000 from AIPAC-affiliated PACs in 2023 ( OpenSecrets.org F4 ), stated that any Gaza security force must be approved by Israel. This echoes the US position that Palestinian governance, including the Palestinian Authority, is only viable if it serves Israel's security interests, a
stance that has consistently undermined any genuine path to self-determination since Oslo. Rubio’s statement conveniently overlooks that the entire notion of a 'security force' for a besieged population, under the thumb of an occupying power, is farcical. One might wonder, will this 'comfort' extend to ensuring the security force doesn't object to illegal settlements or continued collective
punishment? How many times will American officials demand Palestinians meet Israeli demands before acknowledging 76 years of continuous displacement and violence warrants a different approach?