Khashoggi murder in perspective

The world is in an uproar, quite properly, over the murder of one Saudi journalist in the Saudi embassy in Istanbul.

At the same time, it makes clear the hypocrisy of the world over the daily killings by sniping of unarmed Palestinians at the Gaza/Israel border. These killings, actually executions, are being done by the IDF, the army of Israel with not the slightest reprimand from Washington.

The life of a journalist lost is unacceptable, but the many lives, thousands over the years, of Palestinians by Israel is even more so.

Here is an email I have sent to my U.S. Representative, Jan Schakowsky...

Dear Jan: I know that you, like me, are outraged by what appears to have happened to one man at the Saudi embassy in Istanbul. Yet, I know you are more than willing to overlook the many killings of Palestinians by Israeli soldiers executing them at the Gaza/Israel border on a daily basis, ongoing now for months.

I would like to think this is due to the views of your donor base and not to your personal feelings. You are a very commendable Congressperson with a record that, with the exception of Israel, deserves praise. Even then you do occasionally show some thought on that country as you did when you refused to attend the speech to Congress by PM Netanyuhu when he was invited by Republicans. I hope that before you retire you will find the courage to stand up for liberty and justice for all for a people kept under the boot of Israel for over 60 years now with the full support of the USA.

Dear Congresswoman...

Jan Schakowsky, my Congresswoman, is known for her liberal record. She's done all kinds of things in her time in government that indicate her concern for the little guy, for justice and the protection of the weak from the strong. In short, she's not the kind of person to approve of modern Israel. Nevertheless, her (my) district is loaded with Israel-first folks so she votes under their pressure. Here is my attempt to speak against that pressure...

Jan: The 30 year suppression of liberty and justice for all Egyptians through unstinting support for Mubarak by the United States is eclipsed for being shameful only by the twice as long eviction and oppression of the Palestinians by the Israeli governments that you have repeatedly gone out of your way to support. Your history in Congress in this matter reflects the history of hypocrisy shown by the United States toward the Egyptian and Palestinian people.

Even as our eloquent speech-maker President acts as if history began 48 hours ago, the world is well aware of the use of American taxpayer money to keep both Mubarak defying human rights and Israel defying both human rights and international law. As calls in Israel increase for discrimination against Arab Israelis, along with the government supported investigation of Israeli human rights organizations, you continue to act as a legislator in a manner that is, I have no doubt, contrary to your conscience.

With the breakthrough in Egypt we have witnessed, it is time for a breakthrough in your own behavior as a Congresswoman. Defy the power of the Israel lobby that causes you to act against American principles and official policy. Your country does not recognize discrimination against any people and has no business supporting a "democracy" for Jews only while Arabs under their control are abused in a multitude of ways that you should find intolerable and repulsive.

As you get older, you have less time to stand up and reverse the awful record you have in regard to the powerless and preyed-upon Palestinians. Act now to rescue the characterization that history will place on your time in Congress regarding policy toward Israel. You are not a right-wing zealot, even less a fundamentalist Christian hoping for the End of Days, but with reference to Israel you act exactly as if you were. Repudiate the apartheid state the support of which so ill-suits you.