"States Don’t Have a Right to Exist. People Do." By Peter Beinart. NYTimes .Jan. 27, 2025. Key Points.

Key Points:

1. Consensus in Washington:

Bipartisan agreement exists among U.S. leaders that Israel has a right to exist, as evidenced by statements from figures across the political spectrum.

In 2023, the House affirmed Israel's right to exist by a vote of 412-1.

2. Questioning Israel’s Form of Governance:

The usual focus of U.S. leaders on individual rights contrasts with their support for Israel as a Jewish state, which raises concerns about equal rights for all under its control.

The better question, according to the author, is whether Israel, as a Jewish state, adequately protects the rights of all individuals under its jurisdiction. The conclusion is that it does not.

3. Comparison with Other Nations:

U.S. leaders support democratic reforms in oppressive regimes like Iran and China but exempt Israel from similar scrutiny.

This double standard highlights a focus on the consent of the governed in other states but not in Israel.

4. Rights Denial and Discrimination:

Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank live under Israeli control without citizenship or equal rights.

Even Palestinian citizens of Israel face systemic discrimination in land allocation and representation.

5. American Jewish Leadership and Idolatry of the State:

American Jewish leaders insist on Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, despite contradictions with democratic principles.

Jewish tradition, which emphasizes skepticism of state power, is at odds with the veneration of Israel as a political entity.

6. Human Rights Abuses:

Israel has been accused of apartheid by its own human rights organization, B’Tselem, and has seen increasing settler violence against Palestinians.

The Gaza conflict illustrates the dangers of denying basic rights, perpetuating cycles of violence and instability.

7. Implications for Jewish Safety:

Denying Palestinians representation and rights leads to violence, endangering both Jews and Palestinians.

The emphasis on maintaining Israel as a Jewish state undermines the principle of equality and fuels ongoing conflict.

Conclusion:

The author argues for a rethinking of Israel’s character, emphasizing the protection of all individuals under its control.

Worship of the state as an absolute value can justify harmful actions and perpetuate inequality.

Source:

NYTimes

Comments

The Cracks Are No Longer Hairline

For decades, Washington treated support for Israel as something beyond debate. It was political scripture. Republicans defended it. Democrats defended it. Presidents came and went, wars came and went, thousands died, settlements expanded, Gaza burned, and the checks kept arriving. Questioning the arrangement was once political suicide. Now the walls are cracking. This week, more than half of House Democrats either voted to end U.S. aid to Israel or refused to oppose doing so. The amendment failed, but something far more important succeeded. The illusion collapsed. For years, American politicians insisted that criticism of Israeli government policy belonged only to "the fringe." Apparently the fringe has become half the Democratic caucus. History has an unusual sense of humor. The same establishment that spent years dismissing students, academics, humanitarian workers, doctors, journalists, and millions of protesters as naïve, radical, or antisemitic now finds itself strugglin...

When the Soup Kitchens Begin to Die

There is a special kind of cruelty in watching not only a society collapse, but also the last institutions keeping it alive. For nearly three years, Gaza's humanitarian lifeline has increasingly been reduced to a queue for a single meal. Parents no longer ask their children what they would like to eat. They ask whether there will be anything to eat at all. Childhood has become measured not in birthdays, classrooms, or family gatherings, but in ration lines, empty cooking pots, and the uncertain arrival of humanitarian assistance. Now even those fragile lifelines are disappearing. The gradual closure and scaling back of World Central Kitchen (WCK) operations reflects a convergence of financial pressures, operational insecurity, and restrictions affecting humanitarian access. According to World Central Kitchen and the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem, kitchens that once produced approximately one million meals each day have been progressively reduced, leaving only a han...

Deutsche Bank's AML Failures: A Case Study in Regulatory Enforcement

German regulator BaFin has withdrawn its special monitor from Deutsche Bank, initially installed due to unresolved money-laundering control deficiencies . This monitor had been in place since 2018 , with its mandate extended to October 2024 earlier this year, threatening fines if improvements weren't made . Deutsche Bank, Germany's largest bank, acknowledged its compliance issues and stated it was cooperating with regulators . However, another monitor remains active , overseeing the bank's consumer service issues at its Postbank unit. Neither BaFin nor Deutsche Bank commented on the withdrawal report Part I Federal Financial Supervisory Authority of Germany. What were the specific deficiencies in Deutsche Bank's money-laundering controls? Deutsche Bank has faced significant deficiencies in its anti-money laundering (AML) controls , primarily highlighted by: - Inadequate Customer Due Diligence: The bank failed to perform sufficient due diligence on customer...

Morgan Stanley's ex-terrorism specialist ( Valentina Soria) joins UBS in London

by Alex McMurray "(Valentina) Soria, an Italian based in London, joins UBS as its global head of cyber threat intelligence and adversarial threat modelling. She was at Morgan Stanley for six and a half years, starting as the EMEA cyber threat intelligence lead and rising to head of global threat intelligence. Prior to that she was head of intelligence at the Bank of England. She leaves at a tumultuous time for the US bank as other senior London officials are reportedly included in its 3000 person job cuts." SOURCE: https://www.efinancialcareers.com/news/2023/05/morgan-stanley-ubs-intelligence

Blood on Every Flag: The Global Architecture of Gaza’s Genocide.

“This Is Not Just Israel’s War — It’s the West’s Genocide Too” “I think it is without doubt that Israel has committed war crimes.” — Matthew Miller , Former U.S. State Department Spokesperson ( source ) This rare moment of candor from a former U.S. official pierces through the fog of political posturing. But let’s be clear: It is not only Israel that has committed war crimes. It is the United States . It is the United Kingdom. It is Germany . It is France . These nations — and their allies — are not merely complicit. They are co-perpetrators of a genocide. 🇺🇸 United States: Chief Financier of Bloodshed $14+ billion in emergency military aid approved for Israel since October 2023 ( source ) 4 vetoes at the UN Security Council blocking ceasefire resolutions ( source ) Full diplomatic cover , even after Israel bombed aid convoys and hospitals “We stand with Israel. Full stop.” — President Joe Biden , October 2023 ( source ) 🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Arming At...

Ainnbeen

Search This Blog