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‘Humanitarian Pauses’ or More Money for War
A perspective from Chris Mayfield
President Biden is asking Congress to approve a new $105 billion in tax payer expenditures, a huge proportion of which would go to funding more weapons for Israel and Ukraine. Israel, which already receives around $3 billion a year from the US and has the most powerful military (including nukes) in the Middle East, would receive $14.3 billion in military aid.
Meanwhile, as of this writing (10/24), Israeli bombardments have killed nearly 6,000 Gazans, including over 2,000 children. The people trapped in this tiny strip of land are also suffering life-threatening shortages of water, food, medical supplies, and fuel to run desalination plants and hospitals; several hospitals have run out of power and are operating in the dark. Half the population is now homeless. People in northern Gaza have been told that if they don’t leave, they can be classified as terrorists. Schools and health care facilities have been bombed. The Israeli army—with its tanks, aircraft, and sea craft—is poised for a land invasion, regardless of the dangers this would pose to the hostages held by Hamas.
As this dire scenario unfolds, threatening stability in the Middle East as well as the safety of US citizens (and soldiers) around the world and even here at home, the Biden administration continues to oppose efforts to resolve the crisis peacefully. At the October 18 meeting of the UN Security Council, the US cast the sole vote (a veto) against a resolution calling for “humanitarian pauses” in Hamas rockets and Israeli bombardment. The US has issued only mild words of caution to Israel to “ respect international law,” and has failed to reprove (let alone condemn) racist, official Israeli language, including describing Palestinians as “human animals.”
Only a few members of Congress have dared to support a resolution calling for a ceasefire. This number now includes NC’s own Alma Adams, the Representative from the 12th district. The White House Press Secretary referred to these calls for peace as “ repugnant” and “ disgraceful.” Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar have received death threats. Courageous protesters from groups like Jewish Voice for Peace have been arrested in large numbers at the White House, in the Capitol, and outside the homes of leading Democrats who insist that the horrific Hamas attacks give Israel unlimited license to carpet-bomb a helpless population, half of whom are children.
And what of the needs of people here at home? Recently, $24 billion in pandemic support for child care centers ended. Student debt payments recently restarted for 45 million people. 3.8 million lost Medicaid coverage. Nearly 30 million Americans are food-insecure, including school children who lost their free student lunches. Meanwhile the climate crisis accelerates, though it has largely faded from the headlines despite the apocalyptic climate events we’re all too well aware of.
Strong arguments can be made in favor of a ceasefire and serious peace negotiations in Ukraine as well, rather than more funding for weapons. I’m letting the White House and my Senators and Representatives know that I want my tax dollars to go towards supporting people and the planet. I hope you’ll do the same.
“Viewpoints” on Chapelboro is a recurring series of community-submitted opinion columns. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work or reporting of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com.
it would be really cool if all these opinion pieces and other articles calling for a cease-fire could at least mention that Hamas terrorists took hundreds of Israeli citizens hostage, and are still keeping them hostage and oh by the way also recently killed hundreds more Israeli citizens, some in charming ways such as decapacitation.
Israel has far overstepped its bounds as a nation, and over time has changed from colonial refuge to genocidal state. Its establishment and ascension has been almost entirely at the whim of foreign powers seeking to hamstring nearby governments, and whataboutism when talking terrorism forgets that one man’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter. Israel is actively cutting of water, reducing shelter to rubble, blocking humanitarian aid and murdering family after Palestinian family. The world would be a better place if people like you quit f***ing caping for a county with a corrupt and murderous government just because the g**d**m party line tells you to
You’re right Brett. Everyone that has a problem with Hamas killing and raping civilians mindlessly follows the party line. Free thinking people like you know those 20 year olds dancing in the desert and babies in their homes had it coming for being evil colonizers.
In all seriousness I can’t imagine being so morally bankrupt to think terrorism is ever justified.
It’s a good thing both Hamas and Russia are peace-loving governments that have no ambitions to conquer or commit genocide on their neighbors. This must be why the US pressuring its allies to stop attacking would instantly result in peace.
If that weren’t the case, this article would seem very ill-informed.