As Israeli settlers express opposition to humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza, a recent poll reveals a stark reality: the US, while outwardly condemning certain Israeli actions, is complicit behind the scenes, intensifying its aid to the entity.
This double-faced approach extends to deepening military ties, exemplified by the production of Iron Dome systems in Arkansas.
Simultaneously, reports emerge of Israeli settlers leveraging the conflict to seize more Palestinian land in the West Bank.
These actions underscore a troubling pattern of behavior, revealing a complex web of political dynamics at play in the region.
Poll: NO Aid to Gazans
A recent poll reveals that a majority of Israeli settlers oppose the transfer of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, highlighting a contentious issue.
The opinion poll, conducted by the so-called ‘Israel Democracy Institute’, indicates that a majority of Israeli settlers are against the transfer of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, where the occupying regime has been conducting a genocidal war since October.
The survey revealed that over two-thirds of Jewish Israelis, accounting for 68% of respondents, disapprove of “the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza residents at this time.”
The opposition is even stronger among far-right Jewish Israelis, with 80% or four out of five expressing disapproval.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that 550,000 people in Gaza are facing “catastrophic” food insecurity levels, with all 2.2 million residents falling into the top three hunger categories, from level three (emergency) to level five (catastrophe).
UN special rapporteurs have warned that one in four people in Gaza is starving, and nine out of ten families in some areas go without food for a day and night.
More Settlements
Israeli crimes didn’t cease with such blatant poll. As the Israeli military campaign in Gaza enters its sixth month, Western governments are increasing pressure on extremist settlers accused of illegally occupying more Palestinian land in the West Bank.
Despite this pressure, Zionist entity’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, approved the construction of over 3,000 new settlement homes.
Smotrich now plans to build 2,350 new housing units on Palestinian land in Ma’ale Adumim, 300 in Kedar and 694 in Efrat, with backing from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ‘Defence’ Minister Yoav Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh on Saturday called the announcement a “blatant challenge to the international community” and an obstacle to establishing an independent Palestinian state.
These new settlements have resulted in the displacement of 21 communities over the past 12 months, 16 of them since October 7, 2023.
A clear, appropriate and vital statement from @SecBlinken: New settlement construction is counterproductive to peace, “inconsistent with international law” and “only weakens” Israel’s security. This is an important step forward. https://t.co/iLRbHPYkBl pic.twitter.com/83SDlYREJj
— J Street (@jstreetdotorg) February 23, 2024
Double-Faced US
The US position is nothing but ‘ink on paper’ in order to show the world that it stands against some illegal Israeli measures; however, it intensifies its aid to the entity behind the scenes.
The arms production giants American Raytheon and Israeli Rafael Advanced Defence Systems have joined forces in a partnership called RS2, aimed at enhancing global air defense capabilities.
This collaboration, based in Arkansas, marks a deepening of military ties between the United States and the Zionist entity.
The new $63 million facility in the Highland Industrial Park, East Camden, represents a significant step forward in the production of the Iron Dome air defense system, a joint US-Israeli project. The facility will also focus on producing related missiles like the Tamir and SkyHunter.
The establishment of RS2 aligns with the US Army’s previous purchase of two Iron Dome systems from Israel in 2019. Additionally, the US Marine Corps is set to receive three Iron Dome batteries, 44 launchers, and 1,840 interceptors as part of a substantial export contract.
During the recent conflict in Gaza, the United States deployed its only two Iron Dome batteries in the Israeli eneity and supplied thousands of interceptors, along with other ammunition and military hardware.
This assistance was provided as the entity faced a barrage of rockets and missiles from Gaza and Lebanon.
In anticipation of a prolonged conflict and potential escalation with Hezbollah in Lebanon, the US has approved further supplies of interceptors.
Earlier, the US had supplied Ukraine with an Iron Dome system and operational missiles. However, concerns about depleting interceptor stockpiles have led the US to seek ways to replenish its inventory, making the Arkansas project even more significant.
This aid comes as US President Joe Biden issued a memorandum around three weeks ago requiring allies who receive military aid from the US to provide “credible and reliable written assurances” of their adherence to international law including international human rights law.
Countries receiving military aid from the US were given 180 days to provide the required assurances, the memo said, but those, like ‘Israel’, who were engaged in active conflicts had only 45 days.
Due to the conflict, backed by the US, many humanitarian agencies, including UNRWA, have ceased operations in Gaza since October 7, 2023, depriving hundreds of thousands of people of aid.
Since the beginning of the Israeli aggression, over 29,600 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed, and about 70,000 others have been injured. The siege of Gaza has been intensified by the regime, depriving the city, home to over 2.3 million Palestinians, of essential resources such as water, electricity, fuel, and internet access.
Such intertwined issues of Israeli settlements, humanitarian aid, US complicity, and military ties reveal a complex and troubling reality in the region.
The opposition of Israeli settlers to aid for Gaza, coupled with reports of land seizures in the West Bank, highlights the major crimes and injustice faced by Palestinians amid international silence or low voices in place.
Meanwhile, the US’ dual approach of condemning certain Israeli actions while deepening military ties underscores the long-time double standards at play.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
