West Bank Calm: Or, When 'Escalation' Becomes Daily Life
Al Jazeera notes Israel is 'escalating' raids in the northern West Bank, specifically Qalqilya. While presented as a new development, these raids—housing demolitions, arrests, killings—are a feature, not a bug, of the occupation, dating back to 1967. The West Bank has been under military rule for decades; the only thing 'escalating' is the West's willingness to acknowledge the continuous
dispossession. This 'escalation' often coincides with increased aid packages. For example, Rep. Brian Mast, who vocally supports Israel's actions, received $61,500 from AIPAC in 2022 and 2024 (OpenSecrets.org). One might wonder how many more 'escalations' are needed before US politicians question the 'peace process' they fund.