An Open Letter to President Biden:
With heartfelt concern for both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, a group of more than 40 leftists recently wrote an open letter to President Biden. The letter demands an end to the occupation of Palestinian land, an end to the blockade of Gaza, and an end to the cycle of violence in the Middle East.
These leftists portrayed Israel as a bloodthirsty aggressor, while offering only passing condemnation to Hamas for its horrific assault on Israeli civilians on October 7. The letter expresses deep sorrow for the death and destruction that has been occurring in the region, much of it attributable to the actions of the Israeli government.
The letter challenges the Biden Administration to recognize the “grave violations of international law” and to “end the occupation and blockade, and take concrete steps toward genuine equality and justice for the Palestinian people.” The signatories include scholars, human rights organizations, faith-based groups, and members of the international community.
The letter expresses the belief that Israel’s policies are a “root cause” of the violence in the region. They point to the historical reality of dispossession and displacement of the Palestinian people, and the ongoing suffering caused by the blockade of Gaza and military occupation of the West Bank.
They also urge the US government to end its own complicity in the region’s violence and oppression, by ending military aid to Israel, and by supporting a meaningful and genuine peace process. The letter reaffirms the need to hold all parties accountable for persistent human rights violations, including the “apartheid policies” of the Israeli state.
The letter also calls for an end to the impunity for Israel’s illegal settlement expansion, which has resulted in the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. The letter emphasizes that the only viable path to lasting peace is the “equality, justice, and freedom” guaranteed to both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples.
In conclusion, the signatories of the letter have called on President Biden to take effective action that will bring an end to the conflict. They make the case that only with a change in US policy can genuine and lasting peace be achieved. They argue that the US should end its support for policies that are contrary to international law, and instead take steps to promote the human rights of all people in the region.