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Why I Cannot Vote for Valerie Foushee
A perspective from Tom Munk
My television and my computer are covered in ads for Valerie Foushee. They point out, and I am sure it is true, that she has a lifetime of experience, a lovely husband, and a commitment to try to help the people of North Carolina. That is not enough for me. These lovely advertisements are paid for, in large part, by AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Her willingness to take this money tells me that her knowledge and commitments stop at the U.S. border – she is willing, like so many American politicians, to do what AIPAC wants: support Israel no matter what, and support with votes and dollars, continued apartheid for Palestinians.
S. Michael Lynk, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, reported to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights that Israel is practicing apartheid: “For more than 40 years, the UN Security Council and General Assembly have stated in hundreds of resolutions that Israel’s annexation of occupied territory is unlawful, its construction of hundreds of Jewish settlements are illegal, and its denial of Palestinian self-determination breaches international law.” ( https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/03/israels-55-year-occupation-palestinian-territory-apartheid-un-human-rights)
A quick look at AIPAC’s website shows that they want to end discussion about these issues at the United Nations; remove the right of U.S. citizens to use their peaceful economic power to influence Israel’s actions (following the model that ended South African apartheid); and give $3.8 billion in military assistance to enable Israel to continue its aggressive foreign and apartheid policies. AIPAC is willing to support any candidate handsomely who will support these policies – including 37 Republicans who refused to vote to certify the election for Joe Biden on January 6, 2022.
Valerie has big shoes to fill. Rep. David Price has been a knowledgeable fair dealer in the decades-old attempt to bring security to Israelis while simultaneously ending the continued and increasing abrogation of human rights for Palestinians. Each time I see another of her appealing advertisements, I don’t see her. I see the dollars behind her and the suffering that they are paying for.
We can do better in District 4.
(Editor’s note: below, you’ll find an updated addition to this column, written By Tom Munk and submitted after primary election results had come in.)
Why I am Enthusiastically Supporting Valerie Foushee
A perspective from Tom Munk
“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.
Israel is a Democracy modeled after Western European Social Democratic Governments. Labeling Israel Apartheid is a Radical Leftist trope which is thinly veiled Anti-Semitism. The claim that Jewish settlements in the West Bank is somehow violating International Law is untrue. The UN has given a pass to actions by Arab govenments like Iran and Syria, Islamic terroris Organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas, Palestinian and many other countries to demonize and delegitimize Israel’s right to exist and continues to call for a genocide of its citizens. The great achievement of the Abraham Accords is the worlds guiding light to establish a lasting peace in the Middle East.