Not only did Senator Peters ignore my message about US complicity in Israeli war crimes, his response brags about US support of Israel

Yesterday, I received a response from Michigan Senator Gary Peters about the US funding of Israel’s genocidal campaign against the Palestinians.

Actually, what I got back from Sen. Peters was a form letter, which completely ignored the message that I sent to him. What follows is the text of what Sen. Peters sent to me, followed by my response to the Michigan Senator’s bullshit propaganda about Israel.

Here is the message from Senator Peters:

Thank you for contacting me about the war between Israel and Hamas. I appreciate you taking the time to express your views. Hearing directly from Michiganders like you helps inform me of the issues that matter to our state. I am so grateful for your input. 

As your Senator and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I am closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East. I was horrified by the vicious, coordinated terrorist attacks by Hamas on innocent Israeli citizens. I condemn this terrorism in the strongest terms. That is why I am a proud cosponsor of a resolution reaffirming Congressional support of Israel as well as a resolution calling for the safe return of all hostages. Furthermore, I joined all my Senate colleagues in passing Senator Schumer and McConnell’s resolution condemning the Hamas terrorist attack. I also voted in favor of advancing national security supplemental funding  to provide critical aid to both Israel and Ukraine. In addition to security assistance, this package included emergency funding for humanitarian efforts in Gaza, the West Bank, Ukraine, and other conflict zones. Unfortunately, the House of Representatives has thus far failed to pass national security funding legislation and the Senate is continuing to negotiate a path forward for the emergency supplemental bill.  

As this conflict continues, innocent civilians, including American citizens in Gaza, are desperately in need of lifesaving humanitarian aid. In order to support efforts to provide aid to the civilians of Gaza, I joined dozens of my fellow senators in sending a letter to Secretary Blinken calling on the administration to provide additional humanitarian support. I am deeply troubled by the allegations that twelve employees from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) were involved in the October 7th terrorist attacks. The United States has paused funding in response to the allegations. The UN must hold those involved accountable and strengthen oversight of UNRWA operations in order to restore donor trust. It is imperative that the UNRWA is able to continue serving the millions of Palestinian civilians who depend on its services. 

In addition to the needs of those in Gaza, Palestinian civilians abroad know returning home remains unsafe. That is why my colleagues and I sent a bicameral letter to President Biden calling on the administration to designate the Palestinian territories for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and/or authorize Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Palestinians present in the United States. In addition to supporting Israeli efforts to root out Hamas, we must do our part to protect all civilians.  

Israel has the right to defend itself and its citizens from the indiscriminate violence perpetrated by Hamas. Additionally, Israel has the authority and responsibility to rescue hostages being held by Hamas. While engaged in rescue efforts, the Israeli government must make every effort to ensure innocent civilians in Gaza and the West Bank are not targeted by the Israeli military.  

The current situation in Gaza is dire and I support efforts to work with the Israeli government to minimize civilian deaths and allow more aid into Gaza. As we look ahead to the future, 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. I have joined 49 of my Democratic colleagues in cosponsoring an amendment led by Senator Schatz that was filed on the national security supplemental package reaffirming that a two-state solution is the policy of the United States. A two-state solution remains the best option for lasting stability in the region and this amendment underscores the critical role U.S. diplomacy must continue to play. As the Senate considers policies related to Palestine and Israel, I will be sure to keep your views in mind. 

In the first paragraph of Sen. Peters’ response, he basically acknowledges all of the policies and resolutions that he has supported, which also happen to be policies and resolutions that support Israel. My original message to him was to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, to end US military aid to Israel and to condemn the genocidal assault on Palestinians…….all of which Senator Peters ignored.

In the second paragraph, Senator Peters says he care about humanitarian aid getting into Gaza, but then quickly used Israeli propaganda, which claims that staff from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), were involved in the Hamas attacks on October 7. Such claims are not true, since “Channel 4 reported that, despite being used by many countries to justify withdrawing aid amid horrific conditions in Gaza and risk complicity in genocide, the document actually “provides no evidence to support its explosive new claim that UNRWA staff were involved.” Equally important is the fact that if Senator Peters really was concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, then he would own the US role in creating the crisis.

In the fourth paragraph, Senator Peters continues the Israeli talking point of its right to defend itself, but doesn’t answer the question of what that has to do with the nearly 30,000 Palestinians that have been killed so far including the 12,300 Palestinian children.

In the fifth paragraph from Senator Peters he reiterates why it is so important for the US to support Israel, without providing any evidence to support such a claim. In addition, Sen. Peters makes the claim that a two-state solution is the only solution for lasting peace. First, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu does not support a two-state solution, nor do many Palestinians. One of the main reasons to not support a two-state solution has to do with the fact that it ignores the Nakba the 1948 Israeli theft of Palestinian land and it ignores decades of the Israeli occupation. In fact, many Palestinians support a one-state solution, which Israeli author/activist Jeff Halper calls the One Democratic State Campaign.

In the final analysis, Senator Peters, who has been the recipient lots of pro-Israel PAC money, completely ignores Israel’s genocidal campaign against the Palestinians and will not support any efforts to reduced US military aid to Israel thus making the US complicit in, along with Senator Peters, Israeli war crimes.