Palestine 109: Western Imperialism & US Involvement
Welcome to Palestine 109! This is the ninth post in our series meant to provide introductory information on Palestine's history, culture, and politics. If you’ve wanted to learn more about the situation in Palestine but have felt confused or overwhelmed by the amount of information out there, this series is for you!
In this post, we discuss Western imperialism and the United States’ involvement in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Western powers have had their hand in Palestinian affairs since long before the creation of Israel. Although Britain and its role in the UN primarily determined the delineation of land prior to 1948, it is clear that today the US is the primary benefactor and mediator. Britain’s main control over the region began when Palestine was turned into a British Mandate in 1920, three years after the Balfour Declaration was announced. This declaration was a promise from the British government to create a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine. Britain’s dominion was sustained through the end of World War II but began to dwindle until the 1973 October (“Arab-Israeli”) war solidified a power transfer to the US. Even when Britain controlled the region, the US was a strong supporter of Israel, being the first country to recognize it as a sovereign nation in 1948. After the war, the US government began to take on the role of leading diplomatic efforts in the region. By the end of the 1970s, the US was very clearly the sole mediator, as demonstrated by its position in organizing peace talks, negotiations, and similar mediation tactics. For more than 100 years Palestinians have had their land, homes, and autonomy stripped from them by foreign nations.
Imperial forces have a long history of supporting each other in their colonial efforts, and their support for Israel is no different. Many European countries, including Germany, Italy, and the UK have exported arms to Israel, particularly in the last 16 months. Leaders of these nations have released statements in support of Israel’s supposed right to self-defense against resistance groups as justification for the production and sales of weapons used to target and kill Palestinian civilians. Russia and the UK have abstained from voting on UN Security Council resolutions that have called for humanitarian pauses or ceasefires, and Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the UK (along with other countries) have abstained from UN General Assembly votes on a ceasefire. Some countries have also implied that they would disregard the ICC’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu. These nations enable Israel’s apartheid and genocide, because to call them out would mean opening themselves up to criticism for their own similar imperialist actions. By protecting Israel, they also protect themselves.
While many countries have had a hand in the Israeli genocide, the United States is by far the biggest contributor. American aid to Israel takes several different forms, but it primarily consists of weapons sales and financial support. Since its creation, Israel has received more cumulative aid than any other country. In the last 78 years, the United States has sent $310 billion dollars to Israel, including $80 billion in economic aid and $228 billion in military aid. Most of the aid that Israel receives is used to purchase American military equipment for the IOF. Government backing for Israel goes beyond the financials but also includes actions like passing bills that suppress anti-Zionist sentiments under the guise of them being “antisemitic”, and threatening deportations of students who speak out against Israel’s genocide. Additionally, the US frequently votes in support of Israel when the UN passes measures meant to limit its destruction of Palestine. In September of last year, the United States was the only major Western country to vote against a resolution requiring an end to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory. After 80 years of nearly unconditional endorsement, the United States has cemented itself as Israel’s biggest supporter.
In addition to the monetary and political assistance, America has bolstered the Israeli military more than any other country. The US and Israel participate in a “deadly exchange” of police tactics and military training. Two training missions in particular, “Lighting Shock” and “Juniper Oak 23.3,” taught both American and IOF soldiers cyber incident response training, air-to-air refueling, urban operations, subterranean warfare, and defensive tactics in urban areas. American weapons are the backbone of these exercises and the IOF as a whole, as the US has been the prime funder of weapons to Israel for the past 50 years. Just since October 7 2023, the U.S. has delivered 57,000 artillery shells and various types of bombs to Israel. American war profiteering companies like Northrop Grumman also create products that are directly used by Israelis on Palestinians, like the longbow missile delivery system for Apache helicopters and the laser weapon delivery systems for fighter jets. Additionally, they received an $8.9 million contract to manufacture 30mm MK44 Stretch cannons for the Israeli military, with an expected completion date of March 2025. American tax dollars are deeply invested in the military-industrial complex, which is now an international franchise. On an even more discouraging note, many of the politicians who are supposed to represent us are poisoned by these sinister financial ties.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), is one of the most influential lobby groups in Washington. They work to ensure that pro-Israel legislation is passed. Since 2016, AIPAC has consistently raised $100 million annually. This money is used to line the pockets of our politicians, even those who posit themselves as supposedly progressive. For example, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) received $200,000 and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) received $141,058, both in November 2023. AIPAC’s influence guarantees legislative protection for Israel and the promotion of Zionist ideology amongst our government officials. Through lobbying Israel is able to secure itself a position in every part of the American government.
The West, and the United States in particular, have had a strong influence on both events that have happened in Palestine and the way that they are perceived outside of the Middle East. Not only do foreign authorities control almost every aspect of Palestinian life, but they also dominate the narrative. Turning to Palestinian sources and learning Palestinian history is vital to combatting the skewed perception that we have been fed about Arab countries. Palestinian liberation will require shifting power away from imperialists and back into the hands of those who have lived on the land for centuries.
