Why Israel? Why now?
Though few Americans paid any attention at the time, in November of last year, Secretary of State John Kerry announced to the world that this summer would be defined by violence against the Jewish state. Almost as he had been tipped off, the Secretary of State warned Israel to make a deal with the likes of Hamas and Fatah, Palestinian parties who do not acknowledge Israel’s right to exist, Kerry said, “Does Israel want a third intifada? … “I believe that if we do not resolve the issues between Palestinians and Israelis; if we do not find a way to find peace, there will be an increasing isolation of Israel. There will be an increasing campaign of delegitimization of Israel that’s taking place on an international basis.” Kerry’s November comments were followed up in May by other, albeit anonymous, officials… one who stated, “I guess we need another intifada to create the circumstances that would allow progress.”These were thuggish words, even for an administration that has aided, abetted, encouraged, and armed the anti-Semitic, genocidal Muslim Brotherhood and al Qaeda rebels in Syria. Yet the Obama administration spoke with more than words. In June, the administration had the State Department approve $500 million of funding to a unity government between Hamas and Fatah. This, despite the fact that according to U.S. law, it is illegal to fund any Palestinian entity in which Hamas is a member. Repetitively calling the Palestinian government “technocratic,” as (opposed to what, “terrorist?”), State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki brazenly lied to the press, stating, “[There is] no evidence that Hamas plays any role in the interim technocratic government.” One month later, that “no evidence” is technocraticly launching rockets into Israel.
Ostensibly, the aerial assault and now ground invasion of Gaza was the direct result of the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in June. This triggered what appears to be a revenge crime by three Jewish Israelis, who kidnapped and murdered a 16 year old Palestinian boy. This escalation was soon followed by rockets aimed into Israeli territory from Gaza, and now both sides are at war. Or, one could say, predictably at war. Did not Kerry mention something about this last year?
One cannot consider these events in a vacuum. The Middle East at the present time is in chaos, and there are good reasons why. Although never known for political stability, the Middle East today is in the midst of anarchy due to the Arab Spring. From the beginning, the Obama administration embraced this movement, and the United States remains an important source of support for transnational, Islamic, revolutionary groups. Understanding broadly who the United States has chosen to back in this struggle is especially relevant now that two countries in particular, Egypt and Qatar, have stepped forward to negotiate a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza.






















