Support for Donald Trump transcended the Not-So-United States of America through the course of this election season and reached an international level. World leaders have endorsed him, and the citizens of countries oceans away have proudly voiced their optimism regarding the Republican candidate. In the moments following Donald Trump’s electoral win in this years’ circus of a Presidential Election, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated the Republican candidate on his victory. In a short statement, Netanyahu deemed Trump a “true friend to Israel.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJKGKb915vA
Israeli Minister of Education Naftali Bennett also spoke about Donald Trump’s future presidency, pleased on how it will affect the current state of Palestine. “Trump’s victory is an opportunity for Israel to immediately retract the notion of a Palestinian state . . . The era of a Palestinian state is over.” It would be outrageous to allow decades worth of tension and strife, warfare and protest, go to waste at the hands of a new president-elect, but Bennett brings up a good question: What would Donald Trump’s presidency mean for Palestine?
Conflict in Israel-Palestine has been rampant for nearly a century. Today, the only land Palestinians are left with are the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, along with the annexed East Jerusalem (where Donald Trump thinks the Israeli U.S. Embassy should be moved . . . yeah). Despite these lands being recognized as Palestinian territories, Israeli settlements are still being built in both the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel has been pressured throughout Barack Obama’s presidency to halt construction of these illegal settlements, but Donald Trump’s viewpoint is a complete about-face. In a May interview with the Daily Mail, he vocalized support of Israeli settlements, claiming that there were “thousands of missiles being launched into Israel” and that Israelis “have to keep moving forward.”
Prior to this, Donald Trump spoke at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a Zionist lovefest. Deeming himself a longtime supporter of a Jewish state and an advocate to Israel, Trump gave a speech that was a recitation of the Zionist dream and played right into the hearts of those who preach it. “Let’s be clear: An agreement imposed by the United Nations would be a total and complete disaster. The United States must oppose this resolution and use the power of our veto, which I will use as president one hundred percent . . .” Trump stated. “[The resolution] would reward Palestinian terrorism because every day they’re stabbing Israelis and even Americans . . . When I’m president, believe me, I will veto any attempt by the U.N. to impose its will on the Jewish state.”
His quips give off the impression that Israel stands by as a defenseless damsel, as though the United States hasn’t given Israel billions of dollars in military assistance, or provided the State with access to high-grade military equipment. It victimizes Israel and purposely disregards the fundamental human rights that Palestinians are being denied. Since the formation of Israel, there proves to be a high contrast in terms of living quality. Israel enjoys the backing of the United States, a functioning government, educational infrastructure, and natural resources. In comparison, Palestinians have been whisked away into areas that cause them to rely on Israel due to the lack of natural resources, incompetent government functionality, sustainable educational system, and, overall, monetary funding. They were forced to live between two territories, often in refugee camps, to live in poverty with a scarce water supply.
Donald Trump says Israel is being treated like a “second-class citizen,” when, in reality, it has always been the other way around.
Being that Palestinians serve as the minority in Israel, and live in Israeli-occupied territories, it is easy for them to fall victim to oppression via the Israeli government. Their needs are ignored in political conversations, and definitely won’t be brought up by a government who seems to have the overall goal to hinder the process of a Palestinian state in the first place. Where is the concern for the Palestinians who are having their homes torn down, families ripped apart, to make way for Israeli settlements? What about Israel’s advanced attacks on Palestine, armed with more lethal weaponry that can cause a greater amount of damage? Why do we always bring up the national security of Israel in discussions about Palestine, as though Palestinians aren’t being forced to live in refugee camps in the midst of ruins surrounded by violence and warfare at all times? As though Israel didn’t build a wall of apartheid to confine Palestinians to the West Bank? Where is the compassion for Palestinians who are being terrorized at the hands of Israel’s armed forces on a daily basis?
Right, there is none.
“I’m going to call my family in Palestine and tell them how much I love them. I do this every week, but today it’s extra important to do so.”
— Samer (@WaladShami), Nov. 8, 2016
With the end of Obama’s term approaching, Israeli-Americans and Zionists are rightfully convinced that Trump will end the United States’ opposition to the constructions in Palestine, thus giving Israel the green light to further annex larger portions of the West Bank for themselves. This has been exemplified by the high amount of support Trump has among Israeli settlers residing in these territories. The prospect has the potential to destroy any chance of a two-state solution, as the likely end to all of these settlements is complete annexation, and will very well only cause more conflict in the region.
It goes without saying that had Hillary Clinton won the election, she very well would have been less than ideal in finally bringing justice to Palestine. Her opinions and unwavering support of Israel are nothing short of controversial, and her presidency would see the continuation of American imperialism in the Middle East. But she’s no longer who we’re presuming to be president. Some of America’s biggest faults of today is systematic oppression of minorities, unchecked policing, and white supremacy. These values are some of the key factors in Trump’s campaign and eventual victory in the election; but more than that, it’s easy to see that U.S. support of Israel, despite their inhumane dealings with Palestinians, comes from the same place. Although Trump originally posed as neutral to the conflict, he’s presented contradictory stances that note possible confusion, and I doubt his newfound friendship with the Israeli Prime Minister, or his history of promoting hatred, will make a sway into the direction of liberation.
Given the current political climate, we really need to keep a vigilant eye on Palestine for these next few years and seek justice in all situations. We had no choice but to continue rallying and fighting, but now it’s even more important to do so. Right now, we are all scared. We are all hurt. We all feel defeated, but we cannot let that defeat eat away at us. As revolutionaries, we’ve embodied resistance, and resistance is something that has resonated in Palestinians since the turn of the nineteenth century. We need to band together and stand in solidarity with the State of Palestine and its diaspora, just as they stood by us in our movements. The oppressor will never win as long as we continue fight the power in masses.
!فلسطين حرة
