See updates through September 9, 2024, at end of post.
I am having to remember a few things:
1) Israel is a settler-colonial project of, especially, the United Kingdom,[1] dating to when it was still the pre-eminent world empire.[2]
2) Through “alliances” and a worldwide network of military bases, the United States largely inherited and augmented that empire.
3) Both political parties embraced the “Washington Consensus” following the fall of the Berlin Wall in a false dichotomy inferring the superiority of the U.S. political and economic system from the collapse of the Soviet Union.[3]
4) Neoconservatism, which had arisen among disaffected Democrats from the counterculture, antiwar, and liberation movements of the 1960s and early 1970s, with a muscular foreign policy and neoliberalism as a moral imperative, thus became a governing ideology in the United States.[4] And it has always held far more influence inside the Washington, D.C., beltway than votes outside of it.
5) Neoconservatism fully embraces a definition that takes any criticism of Israel’s policies toward the Occupied Territories as anti-Semitic.[5]
6) The U.S. funds and arms Israel to such a degree that the latter country must be regarded as a proxy for the former, even in genocide.[6] Israel, originally part of a British colony in the Middle East, is now a U.S. outpost.
Numerous observers have remarked on the disconnect between Joe Biden’s (and now Kamala Harris’) criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza and the administration’s peculiar sustenance of that war, continuing to arm and fund Israel despite widespread heavy criticism of that support,[7] even risking Democratic Party prospects this November and threatening the (I think unlikely) return of Donald Trump to the presidency.
The key is oil and it appears in Harris’ fracking policy: “As a presidential candidate in 2019, [Kamala] Harris opposed fracking — a position that could have proven politically damaging in Pennsylvania, where it’s a huge employer. Now, she says, she supports it.
“‘As vice president, I did not ban fracking. As president, I will not ban fracking,’ she said….
“Harris said she had already changed her position on fracking in 2020, when she said during the vice presidential debate that [Joe] Biden ‘will not end fracking.’
“‘I have not changed that position, nor will I going forward,’ she told [Dana] Bash, adding, ‘My values have not changed. I believe it is very important that we take seriously what we must do to guard against what is a clear crisis in terms of the climate.’”[8]
I was wondering how Harris gets from opposing fracking to refusing to ban it and claiming 1) that there is no change in her “values” and 2) that “we” must take climate change seriously.
I had to remember those few things I listed above.
This is neoconservative policy. Its embrace of the censorious anti-Semitism definition baffled me when I was working on my dissertation,[9] just as that disconnect between criticism of Israel’s prosecution of the war in Gaza and continuation of arms and funding for it baffles so many observers today. It led us into disastrous wars in Afghanistan and Iraq just as we are being drawn in to an increasingly likely regional war in the Middle East today with zero prospect for a different outcome.
There will be war. Harris warns us of this obliquely when she vaguely promises “the strongest, most lethal fighting force in the world,”[10] a promise, we should note, that is hard to keep when the country is short of cannon fodder.[11]
Just as people opposed the Iraq War until we actually invaded and then jingoistically supported the war, we will oppose a regional Middle East war until we support it. Neoconservatives wanted Iraqi oil. They want all Middle East oil. And they refuse to learn the lessons of Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
Update, September 1, 2024: “[I]t is [Binyamin] Netanyahu, negotiators say, who has been one of the main barriers to a [ceasefire] deal [between Israel and Hamas]. He has insisted on maintaining an Israeli presence along the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategic buffer zone between Gaza and Egypt that Israel says is used by Hamas to smuggle weapons, a claim denied by Cairo. On Thursday, the Israeli cabinet voted to remain in the corridor, despite warnings from high-ranking members of the security establishment that the move could torpedo a deal.”[12]
There is a curious assumption, seemingly foundational, that the White House is earnestly seeking a ceasefire. This assumption is undermined by Joe Biden’s refusal to cut off arms and funding for genocide. It persists nonetheless, seemingly beyond challenge. But, as previously noted, when the effort is underwritten by the U.S. to the degree it is, Israel can only be presumed to serve as a proxy for the U.S., and for it to do so is, as previously noted, entirely consistent with neoconservative ideology.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, faces severe pushback from the Israeli people for failing to do such a deal that would free hostages while they’re still alive.[13] It is likely he does so of his own volition, indeed, as many suspect, to stave off an electoral, judicial, and political reckoning. But he also does so among such a wrathful and vengeful people as Israelis have proven themselves to be.
September 9, 2024: It is all falling tragically into place for me now. Dick Cheney and his daughter, Liz, have both endorsed Kamala Harris for president.[14] The Cheneys are notorious neoconservatives; their endorsement clearly signifies that Kamala Harris is acceptable to neoconservatives. She is very likely so because of her support for Israel and its genocide. The Democrats are, as always, tacking to the right, taking the progressive vote for granted—in the institutionalized false dichotomy we call a “two-party system,” what’s the alternative?
And what that says is that Netanyahu’s quest for a wider war, very likely drawing in the U.S.,[15] is very likely endorsed by neoconservatives. As we saw with Afghanistan and Iraq, they have a habit of getting their way.
Meanwhile, I’ve been watching the increasing furor in Israel following the recovery of six hostages’ bodies, apparently shot by Hamas fighters as Israeli Defense Forces closed in.[16]
Jason Willick seeks to refute the notion that Binyamin Netanyahu prolongs the war to exterminate the population in Gaza[17] (and widens it[18]) to avoid a judicial reckoning and suggests that if Netanyahu’s detractors really believed it, they would drop the charges.[19]
First, my claim has, all along, not solely been about the judicial reckoning for which Netanyahu is due, and which he sought to avoid with so-called “judicial reform.” I have referred, repeatedly, to an electoral, judicial, and political reckoning. In this, the judicial is but one part of a whole. Indeed, if an election were held now, Netanyahu would surely lose[20] and others point much more often to a (political) quest to remain in power, no matter how ruinous for Israel, and no matter how futile the war,[21] leaving Willick’s refutation as of something of a red herring.
Second, Willick presumes that Netanyahu’s detractors have it in their power to drop the charges. At the bottom of his column, Willick is described as “a Washington Post columnist focusing on law, politics and foreign policy.” Accordingly, he should know better: In any country that imagines itself to be guided by the rule of law, prosecutions should proceed regardless of political implications. For those charges to be dropped now would surely ignite a firestorm more severe than the one Netanyahu already faces.[22]
Third, like other so-called “democracies,” Israel is governed by a system that rewards and encourages psychopathy.[23] The default assumption with any politician, certainly no less Netanyahu, must be that they act from the basest motivations. In this light, Willick’s argument seems hopelessly naïve. He may think the accusations against Netanyahu may fall flat, but his defense of a genocidal maniac is nothing short of bizarre.
I don’t know how all this plays out. The normal expectation is that Netanyahu should resign and that elections should be held. But he and his extremist right-wing coalition partners are determined to remain in power. I don’t see any leverage that protesters have to force him out.
[1] Karen Attiah, “The colonial history of Israel-Palestine: Bringing the receipts,” Washington Post, November 3, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/11/03/colonial-history-britain-israel/; Paul Kennedy, The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers (New York: Vintage, 1987).
[2] Lawrence James, The Rise and Fall of the British Empire (New York: St. Martin’s Griffin,1994).
[3] Melvyn P. Leffler, “The Free Market Did Not Bring Down the Berlin Wall,” Foreign Policy, November 7, 2014, http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/11/07/berlin_wall_fall_25_anniversary_reagan_bush_germany_merkel_cold_war_free_market_capitalism
[4] David Benfell, “Conservative Views on Undocumented Migration” (doctoral dissertation, Saybrook, 2016). ProQuest (1765416126).
[5] David Benfell, “Conservative Views on Undocumented Migration” (doctoral dissertation, Saybrook, 2016). ProQuest (1765416126).
[6] David Benfell, “We are culpable,” Not Housebroken, August 28, 2024, https://nothousebroken.substack.com/p/we-are-culpable; Jonah Valdez, “Harris Will Continue to Ignore U.S. Law and Arm Israel, If Elected,” Intercept, August 30, 2024, https://theintercept.com/2024/08/30/kamala-harris-cnn-interview-israel-gaza/
[7] Jonah Valdez, “Harris Will Continue to Ignore U.S. Law and Arm Israel, If Elected,” Intercept, August 30, 2024, https://theintercept.com/2024/08/30/kamala-harris-cnn-interview-israel-gaza/
[8] Eric Bradner and Chelsea Bailey, “Takeaways from CNN’s interview with Harris and Walz,” Cable News Network, August 29, 2024, https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/29/politics/takeaways-harris-walz-interview/index.html
[9] David Benfell, “Conservative Views on Undocumented Migration” (doctoral dissertation, Saybrook, 2016). ProQuest (1765416126).
[10] Bevan Hurley et al., “Kamala Harris on Gaza, China and ‘lethal’ defence — DNC day 4 as it happened,” Times, August 23, 2024, https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/beyonce-dnc-schedule-time-live-kamala-harris-latest-news-lpnqhjm9q
[11] Greg Jaffe and Missy Ryan, “Selling America: The Army’s fight to find recruits in a mistrustful, divided nation,” Washington Post, August 30, 2024, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/08/30/army-recruitment-numbers-low/
[12] Shira Rubin et al., “Protests escalate in Israel after 6 hostages’ bodies are recovered in Gaza,” Washington Post, September 1, 2024, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/09/01/israeli-american-hostage-hersh-goldberg-polin-killed/
[13] Shira Rubin et al., “Protests escalate in Israel after 6 hostages’ bodies are recovered in Gaza,” Washington Post, September 1, 2024, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/09/01/israeli-american-hostage-hersh-goldberg-polin-killed/
[14] Juliana Kim, “Dick Cheney says he will vote for Harris,” National Public Radio, September 7, 2024, https://www.npr.org/2024/09/07/nx-s1-5104718/dick-cheney-voting-kamala-harris-trump-election
[15] Murtaza Hussain, “Israel and Israel Alone Kicked Off This Escalation — In a Bid to Drag U.S. Into War With Iran,” Intercept, April 14, 2024, https://theintercept.com/2024/04/14/israel-iran-drag-us-war-netanyahu-biden/
[16] Adrian Daniels, “Even if Bibi’s right, the country can’t trust him,” Times of Israel, September 4, 2024, https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/even-if-bibis-right-about-the-philadelphi-corridor-the-country-doesnt-trust-him/; David Horovitz, “Under Netanyahu, Israel is in existential danger,” Times of Israel, September 4, 2024, https://www.timesofisrael.com/under-netanyahu-israel-is-in-existential-danger/; Jerusalem Post, “Too little, too late from Israel's leadership, as the nation mourns the six hostages,” September 2, 2024, https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-817306; Arie Perliger, “Most Israelis dislike Netanyahu, but support the war in Gaza – an Israeli scholar explains what’s driving public opinion,” Conversation, May 23, 2024, https://theconversation.com/most-israelis-dislike-netanyahu-but-support-the-war-in-gaza-an-israeli-scholar-explains-whats-driving-public-opinion-230046; Shira Rubin et al., “Protests escalate in Israel after 6 hostages’ bodies are recovered in Gaza,” Washington Post, September 1, 2024, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/09/01/israeli-american-hostage-hersh-goldberg-polin-killed/
[17] Alon Mizrahi, “Let's Take a Minute to Consider Israel's Deranged Military Strategy, Shall We?” September 8, 2024, https://alonmizrahi.substack.com/p/lets-take-a-minute-to-consider-israels
[18] Murtaza Hussain, “Israel and Israel Alone Kicked Off This Escalation — In a Bid to Drag U.S. Into War With Iran,” Intercept, April 14, 2024, https://theintercept.com/2024/04/14/israel-iran-drag-us-war-netanyahu-biden/
[19] Jason Willick, “This provocative liberal theory about Netanyahu falls flat,” Washington Post, September 6, 2024, https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/09/06/benjamin-netanyahu-israel-hostages-hamas/
[20] Arie Perliger, “Most Israelis dislike Netanyahu, but support the war in Gaza – an Israeli scholar explains what’s driving public opinion,” Conversation, May 23, 2024, https://theconversation.com/most-israelis-dislike-netanyahu-but-support-the-war-in-gaza-an-israeli-scholar-explains-whats-driving-public-opinion-230046; Shira Rubin et al., “Protests escalate in Israel after 6 hostages’ bodies are recovered in Gaza,” Washington Post, September 1, 2024, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/09/01/israeli-american-hostage-hersh-goldberg-polin-killed/
[21] David Horovitz, “Under Netanyahu, Israel is in existential danger,” Times of Israel, September 4, 2024, https://www.timesofisrael.com/under-netanyahu-israel-is-in-existential-danger/; Jerusalem Post, “Too little, too late from Israel's leadership, as the nation mourns the six hostages,” September 2, 2024, https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-817306
[22] Adrian Daniels, “Even if Bibi’s right, the country can’t trust him,” Times of Israel, September 4, 2024, https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/even-if-bibis-right-about-the-philadelphi-corridor-the-country-doesnt-trust-him/; David Horovitz, “Under Netanyahu, Israel is in existential danger,” Times of Israel, September 4, 2024, https://www.timesofisrael.com/under-netanyahu-israel-is-in-existential-danger/; Shira Rubin et al., “Protests escalate in Israel after 6 hostages’ bodies are recovered in Gaza,” Washington Post, September 1, 2024, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/09/01/israeli-american-hostage-hersh-goldberg-polin-killed/
[23] George Monbiot, “Outer Turmoil,” June 17, 2019, https://www.monbiot.com/2019/06/17/outer-turmoil/