Israel's aggression against all Palestinians is rising. On Christmas Day, multiple locations in the West Bank were targeted, including Bethlehem. On the day and the place Christ was born, Palestinians were detained in mass, fired upon, and otherwise terrorized. In Burqa, a teenage boy was shot in the neck by the IDF, leading to severe injury. Israeli hostility is accelerating in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and all other areas of occupied Palestine. This looks exactly how the siege and mass murder of the Gaza Strip began, but now add the settler-colonists' armed violence in addition to the IDF's.
I can't help but think about the brutal executions of Basil Suleiman Abu al-Wafa, a young teenage boy, and Adam Samer al-Ghoul, a boy of only 8, who were both murdered the day after Thanksgiving. Basil was shot in the chest and survived long enough to die at the hospital. His family described him as a studious child focused on school and enjoying simple times with his friends. Adam, the youngest, was shot in the head and died at the scene. The children were playing in the street together before the attack. Their final moments were captured on video. How many Palestinian children have met a similar fate from Thanksgiving to Christmas?
Imposing visa bans on extremist Israeli settler-colonists, and delaying assault rifle sales to Israel in response to the violence committed against Palestinians in the West Bank has been one small step in the right direction. The truth is, however, it's all extreme. Colonization is inherently violent. Losing your home, livelihood, and safety has lasting repercussions for future generations. You don't have to lose your life to suffer gravely from the violence. Biden's remarks that "those committing the violence must be held accountable" in the West Bank. Nothing has been done to hold anyone committing violence against Palestinians accountable. On Christmas Eve, Netanyahu approved a $21m initiative to further colonize the occupied West Bank.
Both Netanyahu and his National Security Minister Ben-Gvir have increased armaments of Israeli settler-colonists since October. Ben-Gvir, a convicted terrorist, has been working closely with Israeli extremist Dagan to raise money for these weapons. Dagan is the leader of efforts to annul the law that has protected Gaza from recolonization. He has already successfully led similar efforts which led to the recolonization of northern Samaria.
This holiday season, my country has given me the blood of children in exchange for my tax dollars. You have failed at every level to uphold the values of life, liberty, and prosperity for all. You have consistently undermined all efforts to stop the genocide of Palestinians. From where I'm sitting, I see no difference between people like Ben-Gvir, Dagan, and Netanyahu from you. You've consistently replied to my letters every day you unequivocally stand with the actions of Israel.
Call for a ceasefire right now.
