US-Supplied Weapons Detain Palestinians, Washington Says 'Self-Defense'
When Israeli forces 'detain' 42 Palestinians in a single sweep across the occupied West Bank, as The New Arab reports, it's framed as a security operation. What's omitted from mainstream analysis is the context: these operations are often carried out with security equipment, including F-16s, that the U.S. provides. For instance, in 2023 alone, the U.S. sent $3.8 billion in military aid to Israel,
a consistent annual commitment. This 'security' funding continues unabated while our own politicians, many of whom accept significant donations from groups like AIPAC—which lobbied hard for provisions in bills like HR 815—consistently assert Israel’s right to 'self-defense.' One might wonder how many rounds of 'self-defense' qualify as occupation, particularly when it involves daily incursions
into homes that aren't even on disputed land.