For 100 days now, Israel’s sustained genocidal war against Gaza has propelled the Middle East into new orbits of death, destruction and ever-increasing fears of even greater chaos. The last ten days have brought us another recurring spectacle from the modern legacy of Arab-Israeli clashes: a regional tour by the US Secretary of State to “calm things down.”
In visiting the region, Antony Blinken – we were told – had four goals: to reduce the drumbeat of an impending regional conflagration, to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza as Palestinians wither under the siege of famine by Israel, reduce the number of Palestinians killed and injured by Israel’s daily genocidal bombings and explore how political agreements after the fighting ends could launch negotiations for a stable and peaceful region.
This seems noble and sensible – perhaps to the man on the moon. Few people on Earth who follow the Middle East and know its modern history believe the stated goals of the United States. The crippling problem with Blinken’s efforts — and the way America’s mainstream media covers them — is that almost every statement or goal he sets out is contradicted by the impact of actual U.S. policy in the Middle East, and every danger it seeks to reduce is typically caused by or intensified by U.S. militarism in the region.
To the people of the Middle East, Blinken, the firefighter, is more like the arsonist’s assistant. Because his efforts, like those of any recent US Secretary of State, are hampered by the 5 Ds of Washington policy towards Israel-Palestine and the region: illusion, denial, dishonesty, distortion and diversion. All were on full display during Blinken’s tour.
Delusion describes well the way in which the United States projects its image as an altruistic foreign power that brings calm and brotherhood to the Middle East region, while fueling and prolonging violence and conflict.
The United States has largely contributed to the region’s rampant war, increasing poverty, and state fragility by conducting military operations and maintaining a military presence there; resort to sanctions and threats against indigenous powers who challenge him; supporting Israeli settler colonialism which has now been unleashed in a wave of genocide in Gaza and the West Bank; and fortify Arab autocrats who have immunized the Arab people against democracy and human rights.
Official delusions are faithfully transmitted to the public by the major American media. A January 4 report, for example, quoted State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller as saying: “The region obviously faces difficult issues and difficult choices to make. But the Secretary of State believes it is the responsibility of the United States of America to lead diplomatic efforts to meet these challenges head on, and he stands ready to do so in the days ahead.”
Better journalism could have demonstrated that the United States played a key role in creating “difficult challenges.”
Denial aptly describes U.S. rhetoric about the circumstances fueling broader conflict in the region. This violent confrontation has grown over three decades, largely because of Arab-Iranian reactions to two chronic US policies: support for Israel’s subjugation of Palestinians and repression of Arab movements that resist US-domination. Israeli.
These resistance forces are now militarily engaging Israeli and US troops in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria, but the epicenter of the growing regional confrontation remains the Zionist-Palestinian conflict. If the United States truly wants to prevent a broader conflict, it can do so now by supporting a ceasefire in Gaza.
Not only does this not happen, but it actually makes the situation worse. Shortly after Blinken’s “seeking peace” tour ended, the United States and its allies carried out their own air raids against Yemen. Yet U.S. media widely cited official statements and U.S. officials who insisted that “they were not seeking escalation” and that “their goal remained to defuse tensions.” Aerial bombardments hardly constitute de-escalation, especially when a Gaza ceasefire could actually achieve it instantly.
The dishonesty aptly describes Washington’s statements over the past half-century about working for peace by creating a Palestinian state alongside Israel – when the United States actually financed Israel’s military rule. Israel in the region, its slow and now active genocide against the Palestinians, as well as the colonization and theft of Palestinian territories. Palestinian land for new Jewish settlements that have developed since 1967.
If actions speak louder than words, the United States has been shouting for 50 years that it aims to prevent the emergence of a Palestinian state. And yet, American media continue to report today that there is a “significant divide” between the United States and Israel on the two-state solution. But there is no disagreement here, both men have reached a consensus that Palestinians do not deserve self-determination.
Distortion aptly describes how the United States claims that its recent military buildup in the region is aimed at deterring the expansion of the war in Gaza and preventing Iran and Hezbollah from threatening Israel – despite US militarism since the 1950s mainly maintained a frozen Cold War regional order to its liking. .
This has allowed Israel to do whatever it wants; most autocratic Arab governments remained dependent on U.S. security and economic aid to survive; and suppressed democratic aspirations and movements for socio-economic justice in Arab states.
This context is generally absent from American media reporting, where the United States is presented as striking a “delicate balance” in the Middle East and seeking “regional security.”
Diversion aptly describes how the Biden administration is responding to accusations from around the world and from American citizens that it is ignoring the Israeli genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza, as well as America’s own complicity in this gravest crime of all . US officials repeat in their sleep that Israel has the right to defend itself, indicating that Washington does not take international law, conventions or UN decisions seriously.
The Biden administration is trying to distract public attention from Israel’s atrocities and apartheid by emphasizing that it believes too many Palestinian civilians have died and is working to allow more humanitarian aid. to reach Gaza – but in fact aid flows have only increased symbolically. , the average number of Palestinians killed or injured daily has actually increased recently, famine is plaguing the Gaza Strip, and Israel’s use of US weapons to destroy Gaza’s schools, hospitals, homes and other basic facilities continues unchecked.
And yet, American media regularly report that Israel’s actions “test” the American administration’s support for its war and that it “doesn’t have much longer.” Yet we have seen no evidence of any change in course: the United States remains firmly on the side of its genocidal ally.
The 5 Ds have long camouflaged realities and deceived the world thanks to the complicity of the big media and dishonest or confused officials. They are now withering because the truths of US-Israeli policy are being exposed in Palestine and at the International Court of Justice – or hastily buried underground, wrapped in tiny blankets around thousands of babies and children whose tragic death confirms the terrible reality that Palestinians have experienced. lives still don’t matter to Israel or the US government.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Tel Aviv Tribune.