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A recent poll conducted by Data for Progress found that 55 percent of American voters said they would support a bill that would prevent Israel “from spending U.S. taxpayer dollars on: military detention of Palestinian children; the seizure or destruction of Palestinian property and homes; or, support for Israel’s annexation of Palestinian territory.”
The Times of Israel broke down the poll—that was conducted shortly after the recent deadly clash—and said 72 percent of Democrats questioned agreed with the bill, followed by 57 percent of Independents, and 36 percent of Republicans.
A Gallup poll, conducted three months before the conflict, showed that support for Israel remained high in the U.S., but Americans’ favorable views of the Palestinian Authority reached new highs of 30 percent.
Following the Israeli bombing of Gaza last month, Israel has been on the receiving end of unfavorable press coverage and an assertive wing of the Democrat Party in the U.S. willing to challenge President Biden on what they see as his blind support of Tel Aviv. The Trends Journal has reported on 4 May, in an article titled, “ISRAEL ACCUSED OF APARTHEID BY HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH,” of the growing concerns—even among Jewish Israelis—about the country’s treatment of its Arab citizens, which make up about 20 percent of the population, as second-class citizens.
There has also been a clear power shift inside the U.S. Capitol. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez managed to muzzle Senator Chuck Schumer into silence during the May Gaza war.
Ocasio-Cortez also joined other members of Congress who introduced a resolution to halt Biden’s sale of $735 million in weapons to Israel, which failed.
“A lot of Democrats are afraid of the AOC contingent,” Michael Nussbaum, the president of the Queens Council of Jewish Organizations, told The New York Post. “They’re sacrificing their principles to avoid primaries.”
Influential celebrities also came out in support of Palestinians, including model Bella Hadid, whose father is Palestinian.
“Future generations will look back in disbelief and wonder how we allowed the Palestinian suffering to continue for so long. A human tragedy unfolding right in front of our eyes,” the 24-year-old posted.
“Politicians stutter neutral words in fear of being reprimanded, whilst the world remains silent to avoid offending the wrong people. History has taught us to speak up. You are on the right side or you are not. It’s that simple.”
TREND FORECAST: Again, as we have noted in this Trends Journal, anti-Israeli sentiments will persist should Israel continue to take Palestinian land and impose damaging and costly restrictions on Palestinian civilians.
While it will be branded “anti-Semitism” by those supporting Israeli government actions, considering Human Rights Watch and others accusing Israel of operating apartheid-like conditions in its treatment of Palestinians both within Israel and in occupied areas, such accusations will be largely dismissed.