Stop the War coalition Newsletter

 ”Give us the tools faster and we’ll finish the job faster” said Benjamin Netanyahu this week as he addressed the US Congress. He received a standing ovation from the sycophants assembled. The “job” he refers to is the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people. 

 

With one very notable exception, Rashida Tlaib who stood bravely carrying a sign that said “war criminal” throughout the speech, it appeared as though Netanyahu’s performance was warmly received. But Congress’s sideshow of fervent support for ethnic cleansing doesn’t tell half the story.

 

Huge crowds of protestors took to the streets of Washington to protest his visit, only half of the Democrats of each chamber attended with many choosing to boycott and an anonymous letter supported by 230 congressional staffers urged lawmakers to boycott the speech.

 

This internal dissent in the US reflects rapidly increasing isolation for both nations around the world. The reason this circus was mounted was for the US and it’s most important client state to try present a “business as usual” face to the world. But such showings will do nothing to stem overwhelming tide of anger resulting from Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

 

Last week’s historic judgement from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza strip is unlawful comes in advance of an expected ruling by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant against Netanyahu for war crimes. Behind the charade on Capitol Hill is a picture of devastation, of both the people of Gaza and Netanyahu’s standing.  

 

Netanyahu’s ”job” is one that the British government has been only to happy assist in, with more than 100 UK export licences for the sale of weapons and military equipment to Israel approved since October. But today’s decision by the new government not to follow up on the disgraceful proposal to try and block the ICC’s warrants against Netanyahu and his Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, are a sign that the movement for Palestine is continuing to have an effect on the UK’s position. 

 

We now need to step up our demand for a complete end to all arms sales to the apartheid state. This demand will be heard loud and clear at next Saturday’s (3 Aug) National Demonstration for Palestine.