(Never more)
The millions of protesters in the streets of Europe and the United States are the hope for the future of the world
ARUNDHATI ROY
The richest and most powerful countries in the Western world, those who believe themselves to be keepers of the flame of the modern world's commitment to democracy and human rights, are openly financing and applauding Israel's genocide in Gaza. The Gaza Strip has become a concentration camp. Those who have not yet been killed are dying of hunger. Almost the entire population of Gaza has been displaced. Their homes, hospitals, universities, museums and infrastructure of all kinds have been reduced to rubble. Their children have been murdered. His past has evaporated. Its future is difficult to see.
Even though the world's highest court finds that almost all indicators appear to meet the legal definition of genocide, IDF soldiers continue to release their mocking “victory videos” celebrating what almost seem like diabolical rituals. They believe that there is no power in the world that holds them accountable. But they are wrong. They and their children's children will be haunted by what they have done. They will have to live with the hatred and aversion that the world feels for them. And let us hope that one day all those who have committed war crimes - on all sides of this conflict - will be tried and punished for it, taking into account that there is no equivalence between the crimes committed while resisting Apartheid and the Occupation, and the crimes committed while they were imposed.
Racism is, of course, the cornerstone of any act of genocide. For as long as Israel has existed, the rhetoric of the highest officials of the Israeli state has dehumanized the Palestinians and compared them to vermin and insects, just as the Nazis once dehumanized the Jews. It's as if that evil serum never disappeared and is now just being recirculated. The “Never” has been excised from that powerful slogan “Never again.” And all we have left is “Again.”
(Never more)
President Joe Biden, head of state of the richest and most powerful country in the world, appears powerless over Israel, even though Israel would not exist without American funding. It is as if the dependent had taken over the benefactor. The optics say so. Like a geriatric child, Joe Biden appears on camera licking an ice cream cone and muttering vaguely about a ceasefire, while Israeli government and military officials openly defy him and vow to finish what they have started. To try to stop the hemorrhage of votes from millions of young Americans who will not tolerate this slaughter in their name, Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States, has been tasked with calling for a ceasefire, while billions of US dollars continue to flow to allow genocide.
And what about our country?
It is well known that our prime minister is a close friend of Benjamin Netanyahu and there is no doubt where his sympathies lie. India is no longer a friend of Palestine. When the attack began, thousands of Modi supporters placed the Israeli flag as their DP on social media. They helped spread the most vile misinformation on behalf of Israel and the IDF. Although the Indian government has now retreated to a more neutral position - our triumph in foreign policy is that we manage to be on all sides at once, we can be both for and against genocide - the government has clearly indicated that it will act with forcefulness against any pro-Palestine protester.
And now, while the United States exports what it has left over - weapons and money to help Israel's genocide - India is also exporting what our country has left over: unemployed poor people to replace the Palestinian workers who are no longer needed. will give work permission to enter Israel. (I assume there will be no Muslims among the new recruits). People desperate enough to risk their lives in a war zone. People desperate enough to tolerate open Israeli racism against Indians. You can see it expressed on social media, if you care to look. American money and Indian poverty combine to grease Israel's genocidal war machine. What a terrible and unthinkable shame.
The Palestinians, pitted against the most powerful countries in the world, left virtually alone even by their allies, have suffered immeasurably. But they have won this war. They, their journalists, their doctors, their rescue teams, their poets, academics, spokespersons and even their children have behaved with a courage and dignity that has inspired the rest of the world. The young generation of the Western world, particularly the new generation of young Jews in the United States, has seen beyond the brainwashing and propaganda and has recognized apartheid and genocide for what it is. The governments of the most powerful countries in the Western world have lost their dignity and any respect they may have had. One more time. But the millions of protesters in the streets of Europe and the United States are the hope for the future of the world.
Palestine will be free.
