Another political ploy by President Trump as he yet again attacks two Muslim congresswomen and orchestrates their ban from Israel, furthering the divide in the United States.
Ahead of a trip to Israel, both Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan) were targeted this week by President Trump as the announcement was made by Israel that these two women would not be allowed to visit. Both women are apparently supporters of BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions). Different from Hamas, BDS is a Palestinian movement aimed at holding Israel accountable for crimes against the Arab-Palestinian people of Israel and is against the idea of a Jewish state in any area of Israel, though they have a moto of non-violence. The political climate in Israel is complex and there seems to be no simple solution to the rift between the Palestinian and Jewish people in the region.
The issue is that there should be no sides when it comes to human life; no ethnic, racial, or political line should ever be drawn. There should rarely ever be two sides, nor should anyone use the argument of political gain to suppress certain groups. Above all else, the Israeli-Palestine state should strive for peace and making amends on both sides and condemn and dispose of any terrorist groups in the area. They should not be focusing on who should be banned from the state for whom they support as long as they do not participate in or support terrorist groups, which Omar and Tlaib are accused of doing.
Rarely ever is there a case of “both sides” were wrong, but there are instances of Palestinian violence towards Israeli Jews and Israeli Jewish violence against Palestinian Arabs throughout Israel’s shaky history. Currently, it seems that the Israeli Government is perpetrating violence against Palestine in retaliation against Hamas, mainly. It is a tale told time and time again, the story of differences — perceived or actual — that changes people’s lives forever.
Brief History
Post-WWII, Europe looked for a solution to the Jewish refugee crisis that existed. Since Palestine, a British colony at the time contains the deeply religious center of Jerusalem, the international community felt this was the best place to set up a Jewish state. Through UN Resolution 181, many Jewish refugees became citizens of the new Israel. The state was split into Palestine and Israeli controlled areas, though was still predominantly controlled by Palestine. Eventually, Israel gained independence. The Arab-Palestinians in the area refused to accept the agreement and thus the unrest began in earnest.
Since Israel ended up having — and still does have — more resources and money given by the international community, Israel began to encroach on the Palestinian controlled territories, only creating more violence and desperation within the Arab citizens. The predominantly Palestinian areas of Israel shrank over the years, now confined to only two major areas: The West Bank and The Gaza Strip.
There is the question of whether Israel wants to absorb the Palestinian controlled areas into Israel or to push the Arab community out of Israel. It is not a conflict of Palestine vs. Israel, it is currently Israel vs. Hamas. The terrorist group is fueling most of the violence in the region and causing retaliation from the Israeli government which causes innocent Palestinians to live in fear for their lives and property.
It is understandable why people are so divisive when it comes to the subject of Israel. Simply saying bygones will be bygones will not stop the violence nor will it help heal a struggling region as the controversy over the Jewish state has been going on for decades.
The Banning of Muslim “Squad” Congresswomen
The decision of Donald Trump to intercede and work with the Israeli Government to ban these congresswomen from entering Israel is unprecedented and highly controversial, to say the least. According to Trump and his supporters, Omar and Tlaib hate Jewish people, both of the congresswomen, however, deny these claims. Following the initial decision to ban these women, Netanyahu gave an exception for Tlaib to visit her grandmother. She decided to decline given the “oppressive conditions” that she feels will ensue should she visit the country.
Donald Trump’s outright hostile actions against his fellow Americans and coworkers are abysmal. It is unprecedented, a collaboration with a foreign Government to bar two United States congresswomen from entering a country.
For some, Trump’s avid support of Israel and claiming that Omar and Tlaib are anti-Semitic could be seen as anti-Palestine and ultimately xenophobic especially when taking into account that he put into effect the controversial “Muslim Ban.”
Ultimately, Trump is blending together Israeli and U.S. politics by claiming that Republicans are pro-Israel and Democrats are pro-Palestinian. The Democratic party as a whole came under fire during the Trump administration by the Republican party for being anti-Semitic only after people accused the Republican party of being racist and supportive of white supremacy. Essentially, Trump is doing this to garner Jewish support in the U.S. and Israel definitely benefits from this administration’s support as well.
Part of this support included moving of the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and Jared Kushner’s involvement in the attempt to create Israeli-Palestine peace. Israel also relies a lot on the United States for protection and support.
Trump’s move against Omar and Tlaib is certainly not the first or last time he will do something unprecedented to continue to divide the nation as the 2020 election draws nearer. Expect his rhetoric and unpredictable actions to bounce off the walls harder than ever before in the coming months.