- United States
- Calif.
- Letter
Today, President Biden announced his support for a ceasefire in Gaza, saying, “It’s time for this war to end,” and that, “this is truly a decisive moment. Israel has made their proposal. Hamas says it wants a cease-fire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it.” While I appreciate the clarity of his call for the end of this war, it is too late for tens of thousands of dead Palestinians, and framing this in a way that makes Israel look reasonable is wrong. Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition lunatics have stated they expect the war to linger for months more. I believe seven months more, to be exact. That happens to be November. Does that line up with anything important? Anyone who thinks the Israeli government, led by Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir, aren’t counting down the days till the U.S. election and the return of Trump is deluding themselves – and President Biden is driving the American car at 100mph straight towards this outcome by continuing to arm and fund this massacre. And for what? Morality aside, why support a head of state who cheers on the end of American democracy for his own personal benefit? In Biden’s words, “This is a truly decisive moment.” But that moment is for this administration, perhaps above all. Because the fundamental problem with Biden’s “ceasefire” rhetoric remains the same: he and his administration still act like a powerless third party neutral broker rather than the main patron and arms dealer for the primary barrier to a ceasefire. Either actions will start to embody this “end the war” position, or more bloodshed and the return of Trump are both on his hands. “Everybody who wants peace now must raise their voices,” Biden said today. "Work to make it real, make it lasting and forge a better future out of the tragic terror attack and war.” He need look no further than himself as the starting point for what comes next. His leverage is immense. He needs to use it.
