Standing Up for Palestinian Human Rights

 Standing Up for Palestinian Human Rights

By Rev. J. Mark Davidson, Exec. Dir., Voices for Justice in Palestine

May 6, 2021

On April 15, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) introduced H.R. 2590. As of this writing, it has 18 co-

sponsors. This bill invokes the Leahy Law and holds Israel accountable for systematically

violating Palestinian human rights. The Leahy Law states that U.S. military aid may only be used

for legitimate security needs, not for violating human rights. H.R. 2590 insists that no American

taxpayer dollars should be used by Israel to do things it has been routinely doing for decades –

mistreating Palestinian children through its military courts and prison system, demolishing

Palestinian homes, and stealing Palestinian land. These facts are not in dispute, only whether

human rights matter and whether the Leahy Law will be fairly and equally applied to all

violators.

Within hours of the introduction of HR 2590, Rep. Ted Deutsch (D-Fl) and Rep. Michael McCaul

(R-TX) wrote a letter to the House Appropriations Chair arguing that the Leahy Law should not

apply to Israel. It was quickly signed by 330 House members, including 125 Democrats. The

thundering herd insisted that U.S. military aid to Israel should be unconditional. The Leahy Law

applies to every other recipient of U.S. military aid, but Israel should be exempt. When human

rights violations using U.S. military weapons or funding occur in such countries as Bangladesh,

Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Nigeria, Turkey, Indonesia, and Lebanon, the State

Department takes them seriously, investigates, and if violations are certified, U.S. military aid is

suspended until the problem is rectified. The Leahy Law has, in fact, been vigorously applied to

good effect in each of these countries. But when human rights violations occur in Israel, the

State Department turns a blind eye. When it comes to Israel, human rights do not matter. There

are no investigations. There is no real possibility that U.S. military aid will be suspended. This is

how it is. With only a small handful of exceptions in the 73-yr. relationship with Israel, this is the

norm in Washington, and the Deutsch/McCaul letter insists this is exactly how it should remain.

Normally, you would think that U.S congressional representatives would want to uphold

American laws. They would want to take action against any country that flouts American law,

right? But not in the case of Israel. What accounts for this breakdown in congressional

responsibility? We could point to AIPAC – the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee – and

the host of American Jewish establishment organizations known as “the Israel Lobby.” AIPAC

enjoys extremely strong influence in both the Democratic and Republican parties in steering

American policy in a pro-Israel direction. It is generally considered “smart politics” on both sides

of the aisle to go along with AIPAC talking points or pay a price politically for stepping out of

line. AIPAC campaigned hard for a strong response against H.R. 2590, and was delighted with

the hefty bipartisan support for the Deutsch/McCaul letter. The idea was to take the wind out

of the sails of H.R. 2590 before it left harbor.

But, let’s be honest, this is about more than AIPAC and the Israel Lobby and the stranglehold

they have on Congress. Everyone knows they will continue to exert their influence and try to

bully both parties into doing their bidding. That’s a given. The real question is what it’s going to

take to move the political class in Washington toward good governance. Three things are

urgently needed: 1) centering human rights, 2) elevating the rule of law, and 3) demilitarizing

our foreign policy.

The Deutsch/McCaul letter is a tedious reminder of failed governance. Slavish conformity to the

status quo. A glaring example of what’s wrong in Washington. It marginalizes human rights

(Israel’s disturbing human rights track record doesn’t matter). It undermines the rule of law

(Israel does not have to meet the standards of the Leahy Law). It glorifies the militarization of

American foreign policy (bowing down to “security assistance agreements”).

HR 2590 centers human rights and elevates the rule of law. HR 2590 declares that human rights

matter. Palestinian human rights matter. The rule of law matters. No country is above the law.

All recipients of U.S. military aid must follow the law, including Israel. HR 2590 understands

something every decent parent understands: if you want to extinguish a pattern of bad

behavior, you have to impose consequences, and hold firm. Stating up front that there will be

no consequences for breaking the rules only ensures that the rule-breaking will continue.

Making U.S. military aid to Israel unconditional may please the Israel Lobby and its enthusiastic

supporters, but it will only erode the rule of law, further reduce the importance of human

rights, and reinforce an atmosphere of impunity when it comes to Israel’s misdeeds. We

deserve so much more from our representatives.

HR 2590 does not specifically address demilitarizing our foreign policy. But it takes a good step

in the right direction by being willing to suspend military aid, rather than treating it as a sacred

cow. Demilitarizing our foreign policy will come when security agreements are no longer

untouchable. Demilitarizing our foreign policy will come when American power is used to

defend vulnerable people, not destroy their lives. Demilitarizing our foreign policy will come

when human rights are more important than military contracts.

We can’t expect Washington on its own to right the ship and shift to responsible governance.

Powerful, well-funded sources are arrayed to perpetuate the status quo. Among individual

lawmakers, political self-preservation is a strong motivator. Following the herd is common, and

moral courage is rare. It’s going to take persistent, well-organized grassroots pressure from

constituents to recalibrate the relationship with Israel. The good news is that polls indicate this

shift is happening within the Democratic Party, not quickly enough, but there are definite signs

of progress. All of us need to keep demanding that Congress center Palestinian human rights,

honor and enforce American laws without exceptions, and demilitarize our foreign policy.