Sen. Gary Peters’ response to recent Israeli attacks on Gaza is to perpetuate lies and misinformation about the US role in maintaining Israeli Apartheid

The US role in the Middle East is a complex and vitally important role that is grounded in imperialism, particularly when we look at Israel and Palestine.

With recent attention given to yet another round of Israeli assaults on Gaza and continued aspects of Israeli Apartheid, it has generated a great deal of news coverage and public outrage.

My partner wrote to Michigan Senator Gary Peters a few weeks ago and just now received this response from Peters:

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I am closely monitoring the developments between Israel and the Palestinians. I share your concerns about the construction of settlements and the annexation of Palestinian territory. Unilateral annexation would destabilize the region and jeopardize prospects for a two-state solution. That is why, last year, I sent a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz urging them to reject any proposals for annexation. The best hope for peace is a negotiated two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinian people. Such a solution should include mutually agreed upon borders that can allow Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in peace. To this end I have supported annual foreign aid for both Israel and the Palestinian people. This has been the bipartisan policy of the United States for decades and any plan to deviate from this policy would be counterproductive and would undermine the prospects for peace negotiations.

While I believe the United States should continue to play a critical role in fostering constructive dialogue, only Israelis and Palestinians can make the difficult decisions necessary to ensure peace.  I agree with President Biden’s support for a ceasefire and urged the Administration to work to de-escalate this conflict.  Let me be clear, there is no military solution to the disagreements between Israel and the Palestinian people. Israel has the inherent right to defend itself and its citizens from indiscriminate rocket fire from terrorist organizations like Hamas and I urge the Israeli government to ensure civilians in Gaza and the West Bank are not targeted by the Israeli military. I remain hopeful that a two-state solution can be achieved and that there is a more peaceful and prosperous future for both Israelis and Palestinians. As the Senate considers policies related to Palestine and Israel, I will be sure to keep your views in mind.

Here is my deconstruction of Senator Peters’ response.

First, it is important to note that as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Peters is essentially acting as a broker with US military contractors to make sure that the $3.5 Billion annual aid that the US provides Israel, also includes military hardware. 

Second, when Peters says he shares concerns about the construction of Israeli Settlements, he is lying. Israeli Settlement construction and expansion on Palestinian land has been going on for decades, and it has been condemned by the international community as an illegal action, since it violates the Fourth Geneva Convention. In addition, Peters cannot really share concern over the construction of Israeli Settlements, since the US (especially Sen. Peters) has never called for an end to the construction of Israeli Settlements, nor has the US (and Sen. Peters) ever made US Aid to Israel contingent on the termination of settlement construction.

Third, when Sen. Peters says he supports US aid to both Israel and the Palestinian people, he is being deceptive. The US has consistently provided over $3 billion in aid to Israel as long as Peters has been a US Senator, but the Palestinian people have only received a paltry amount, averaging around $300 million, with a contribution of only $150 million in 2021. In addition, US Aid to Israel includes lots of military hardware, whereas the Palestinian people get no US military support. Senator Peters goes on to say, in regards to US aid, “any plan to deviate from this policy would be counterproductive and would undermine the prospects for peace negotiations.” What Senator Peters is saying here is that the US will continued to provide massive amounts of aid to Israel regardless of how brutal the Israelis are to the Palestinians.

Fourth, Senator Peters statement that the US can foster critical dialogue and assist with negotiating peace, he is once again perpetuating a bold-faced lie. There is no way that the US can be sincere about wanting peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, not while the US provides $3.5 billion in US aid to Israel and not while the US continues to vote against the international community’s condemnation of Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian land. (See Nassar Aguri’s book, Dishonest Broker: The Role of the United States in Palestine and Israel)

Fifth, Senator Peters uses language that is instructive, where he refers to “indiscriminate rocket fire from terrorist organizations like Hamas”, but only wants to, “urge the Israeli government to ensure civilians in Gaza and the West Bank are not targeted by the Israeli military.” The fact is that recent Israeli bombing of Gaza has killed 256 Palestinians, including 66 children. In Israel, 13 people were killed, including two children. The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that more than 1,900 Palestinians were injured, and as of 12 May Israel reported at least 200 injured Israelis. What we need to ask ourselves here is, who are the real terrorists? 

Sixth, Senator Peters ends his response with yet another lie when he states that he remains hopeful, “that there is a more peaceful and prosperous future for both Israelis and Palestinians.” 

Senator Peters knows that as long as the US maintains its massive aid to Israel, that there will be no peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Senator Peters knows this and embraces this reality, since Senator Peters is a significant recipient of PAC money from the Pro-Israeli Lobby in the US. According to OpenSecrets, the Pro-Israel lobby has contributed $174 million to candidates since 1990, with roughly two-thirds of their money going to Democratic candidates. Since Gary Peters became a Senator, he has received about $400,000 from the Pro-Israel Lobby. Whatever Senator Peters has to say about Israel and Palestine, know that his allegiance to weapons contractors and his allegiance to the Pro-Israel Lobby are contributing factors in his unconditional support for Israel.