I really wonder if the majority of the American people would really support this if asked if given a choice:
How would you want Congress to spend $3Billion in US taxpayers money?
- Rebuilding homes in US cities.
OR
- Demolition of homes in Jerusalem.
Given that the majority of Americans do in some way "support Israel", i still doubt that they have any inclination to support the demolitions of homes in Jerusalem. Yet that is indeed what the US is doing, supporting the Israeli government as it expands its campaign to rid East Jerusalem of its Arab Palestinian residents. Ethnic Cleansing, one house at a time.
From the Guardian
Jerusalem's mayor defends demolition of houses in Arab area
Nir Barkat rejects international criticism and says east of city could never be capital of Palestinian state
Israel's mayor of Jerusalem defended the demolition of houses in the Arab east of the city today and insisted Jerusalem could not be a future capital of a Palestinian state.
Nir Barkat, a secular businessman elected as mayor five months ago, rejected international criticism of demolitions and planning policy in east Jerusalem as "misinformation" and "Palestinian spin".
There is growing international concern about Israeli house demolitions and settlement growth in East Jerusalem, an area captured by Israel in 1967 and later annexed in a move not recognised by most of the international community. Critics of Israeli policy point out that planning permits are rarely given to Palestinians in East Jerusalem and that space allowed in the east for building is heavily restricted.
Again, "Nir Barkat rejects international criticism and says east of city could never be capital of Palestinian state." well, that's being decided now, hasn't it. Sure saves all that diplomatic time, doesn't it. Palestinian negotiators don't even need to travel and make these boring trips to meet with Israelis. Things have already been decided. Israel decides, Palestinians need only to accept. Will the Palestinians accept? well, they have a choice. the consequences of not accepting means the West Bank can be bombed to the stone-age like Gaza, and then left to starve (even as tons of aid is left to rot because Israel refuses to let in most aid... they still are not so sure ifLentils might be an existential threat to "the only democracy in the Middle East"). Now there's an option the Israelis have for the Palestinians. Or they can accept and Palestinians will be placed in areas approved by the Israeli authorities. Palebantustans. Little islands of refuge for the remainder of the Palestinian population. Population centers where the Palestinian people will be allowed, for now, to exist.
From Jerusalem:
In the Sadiyya neighborhood inside the Muslim quarter of Jerusalem's Old City is the Jaber family home. There, three members of the Jaber family, as well as the Karaki family, have lived with their parents, and later spouses and children, since the 1930s. Like most homes inside the Old City, the residential space has an open center that is shared by those living inside.
Six years ago Israeli police came to the house and told Nasser Jaber that his house no longer belonged to his family, but rather to Israeli colonists from the right-wing Messianic settler organization Ateret Cohanim whose racist ideology is closely aligned with Kach, a political party that advocates the expulsion of Palestinians. But when the Israeli colonial court sent its police to investigate, the court decided that the home indeed belonged to the Jaber family. The scenario was repeated the following year, in 2004, when the judge came to investigate who the house belonged to. Once again after visiting the home and looking at the papers it was decided that the home belonged to the Jaber family. But the story did not end there.
On 2 April, while Nasser was visiting his mother in the nearby Wadi Joz neighborhood, 42 Israeli colonists from Ataret Cohanim, armed with M-16s, broke down the door of the house and confiscated the apartment inside belonging to Hazem Jaber. It was 2:30am and they were aided by Israeli special forces. The mosque in the neighborhood alerted families in the area and a fight ensued in the street. Twenty Palestinians, including women and children, were beaten up by special forces police and seven were arrested, including Nasser, his brothers, and his son.
Even so ardent a supporter of Israel as Hillary Clinton is finding this hard to defend. She finds this home demolition derby to be "unhelpful". Thanks Hillary. But the demolitions continue without pause, and Israel has decided and making facts on the ground to make its decision permanent. So frankly, they laugh at your "unhelpful". And they are laughing at Obama's professed desire to bring peace, too, because they believe the US will accept any Israeli policy. And right now, there is no reason to think otherwise. Unless and until there is some talk of ending or at least restricting aid.
That won't happen unless we do more than just complain about those who cling to the status quo of US policy and go out and organize to demand change. Please join the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation. Start making a difference. we owe it to our world, we owe it to our Palestinians, we owe it to Israelis who struggle for peace.
Don't let them demolish peace.