Naomi Klein: Jews Must Raise Their Voices for Palestine, Oppose the “False Idol of Zionism”
This speech was given by Naomi Klein recently. Klein is a Jewish woman and has been a political, economic and climate activist for decades. She’s one of those incredibly ethical people that I’m in awe of because of how unwavering they are on their principles*. She is also an author of books like The Shock Doctrine.
This video is provided by DemocracyNow. They write:
“Hundreds of protesters were arrested in Brooklyn on Tuesday when Jewish New Yorkers and allies gathered for what they called a “Seder in the Streets to Stop Arming Israel” on the second night of Passover. The demonstration, held one block away from the home of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, came just hours before the Senate overwhelmingly approved a $95 billion foreign aid package that includes about $17 billion in arms and security funding to Israel. “Too many of our people are worshiping a false idol,” said award-winning author and activist Naomi Klein, one of several speakers at Tuesday’s rally. “They are enraptured by it. They are drunk on it. They are profaned by it. And that false idol is called Zionism.”
Read more on DemocracyNow’s coverage of this here.
I have never considered myself a Democrat, in part because of how the Democratic Party is all-in on Zionism and blank-check support for Israel’s frequent wars and brutal wars and general violence against Palestinians. There are other things I don’t like about Democrats, but their support for unjust wars is certainly a big reason. That is not to say that I support Republicans in any way because I don’t. But due to the genocide currently happening in Gaza, and US support for it, I’m finding it impossible today to consider voting for Democrats who support this. If the Biden administration someone decides to overthrow the Netanyahu regime in Israel and install an ethical government that wants to live in peace with everyone, I could change my mind.
If the election were held today, I could not support any of the Democrats who just sent billions more in money and weapons to Israel for their brutal violence against civilians. President Biden signed the aid package for Israel today.
From The Guardian:
On Wednesday, Biden called the aid to Israel “vital”, especially in the wake of Iran’s unprecedented aerial assault on the country. Israel, with help from the US, UK and Jordan, intercepted nearly all of the missiles and drones and there were no reported fatalities. The attack had been launched in retaliation against an Israeli strike on an Iranian consular site in Syria.
“My commitment to Israel, I want to make clear again, is ironclad,” Biden said. “The security of Israel is critical. I will always make sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself against Iran and terrorists who it supports.”
Biden’s abiding support for Israel’s war in Gaza has hurt his political standing with key parts of the Democratic coalition, especially among young people. As he spoke, students at some of the nation’s most prestigious universities were demonstrating against the war.”
This is unfortunate. Biden calls himself a Zionist, even though he’s a Catholic. And of course Religion has been a big part of wars around the world for centuries, and it remains a driving force for violence.
*I saw Ms. Klein in person years ago in a women’s restroom, during a free speech media conference in Minneapolis, and I was too star-struck to say a word to her.
#Unjustwar #AidtoIsrael #Zionism #NaomiKlein #Palestinians #Gaza #CeasefireNow
