FRIENDS LIKE THESE

 [Col. Writ. 3/13/02]

Copyright 2002 Mumia Abu-Jamal

    As Israeli tanks rumble through Palestinian lands, and tens of thousands of Israeli troops trash hundreds of Palestinian homes, the president of the United States speaks at a rare live press conference of the U.S. ally's military assault: "I think it's unhelpful."

    In one of the Palestinian people's darkest hours, when Ramallah and its refugee camps are being ravaged by over 20,000 Israeli troops, hundreds of tanks and the relentless repression of F-16 air power, the response of the American government is insipid, uninspired and reflective of the overwhelming bias that marks the U.S. stance in regard to the Middle East conflict.

    While U.S. diplomats and politicians repeatedly call for peace, the U.S. can hardly be called a fair  arbiter.         Consider, for example, the role of the U.S. in the  halls of the United Nations, whenever Palestinian issues were put forward:

    #1) Resolution #33/110; On living conditions of the Palestinian People (Date: 12/18/78); Vote: 110-2 (U.S., Israel).

    #2) Res. #34/113; Request for report on the living conditions of Palestinians in occupied Arab countries (12/14/75); Vote: 120-2.

    #3) Res. #34/133; Assistance to Palestinian people (12/14/79); Vote: 112-3 (U.S., Israel, Canada)

    #4) Res. #35/169C; Rights of Palestinians (12/15/80); Vote: 120-3 (U.S., Israel, Australia)

    The writer could have extended this list, but the point is  made.

    Is there any wonder that either Palestinians in particular, or Arabs in general, feel that the U.S. is ill-suited to arbitrate between the two sides?

    When ever a Palestinian harms an Israeli, the U.S. is quick to castigate Arafat for 'not doing enough' for peace. When Israeli soldiers or settlers engage in anti-Arab violence, there is either deafening silence from the U.S., or the same type of tepid, lukewarm "unhelpful" comments that president Bush made in response to the recent massive military incursions in Ramallah and refugee camps.         The U.N. Security Council recently voted, with U.S. support, for a resolution approving the establishment of a Palestinian state.  Has the U.S. suddenly, like Saul on the road to  Damascus, seen the light?  Hardly.

    In this new age of global war even the U.S. Empire had to act in a certain way to placate Arab allies like Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

    The question is what kind of state?

    An independent, sovereign territory, or a proxy for U.S. and Israeli interests?

    A nation is far more than a flag, a capitol and an airport, especially in this age of imperial globalist hunger and unbridled power.

    Unless events drastically change, a Palestinian state will be what Israel and the U.S. allows -- and no more.

 

Text © copyright 2002 by Mumia Abu-Jamal.
All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission of the author.

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