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Secretary Kerry's speech welcome, but too little, too late and doesn't go far enough

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The American Muslims for Palestine, a national education organization, is heartened that Secretary of State John Kerry partially broke with longstanding diplomatic norms and euphemism by exposing some of the truth about the Israeli occupation, apartheid, settlement expansion, and the extremist settler movement as illegal, inhumane and obstacles to peace. Although the Obama administration finally recognized the suffering of Palestinian refugees, it did not go far enough to call for their legally guaranteed right to return to the homeland from which they were expelled, beginning in 1948.

While AMP has grave concerns about some of Mr. Kerry’s points that undermine inherent Palestinian rights, we hail the speech for shining a light on Israeli policies that violate international laws and for recognizing Palestinian rights. AMP also asserts the speech is too little and too late to have any meaningful impact on Palestinian liberty. AMP also asserts that Israel is no true friend to the United States and has hurt American standing throughout the world as well as our national security.
 
In defending the Dec. 23 U.S. abstention from the UN Security Council vote on settlements, Secretary Kerry said, “We cannot, in good conscience, do nothing and say nothing when we see the hope of peace slipping away. This is a time to stand up for what is right.”
 
It is unfortunate it took the Obama administration eight years to “stand up for what is right,” especially after the President’s 2009 Cairo speech that recognized the right of Palestinian self-determination. It is important to note the Obama administration has capitulated to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at every turn, especially in terms of settlement construction, which has increased dramatically during Mr. Obama’s tenure. Furthermore, while the United States has taken a tough stance against Israeli policies this month, the Obama administration also recently renewed and increased a Memorandum of Understanding with Israel to the tune of $38 billion in foreign military financing over a 10-year period beginning in 2018.  
 
Most troubling, however, is the continued narrative that Israel is a close friend and ally of the United States, given its history of espionage and selling American secrets to hostile countries.
 
“An angry Mr. Netanyahu said, ‘friends don’t take friends to the security council,” said Dr. Osama Abuirshaid, AMP national policy director. “We contend, friends don’t conduct espionage on American soil or try to sell American military secrets or technology to hostile countries as Israel has done in the past.”
 
Dr. Abuirshaid was referring to Congressional Research Service reports on U.S. aid to Israel that documents several incidents of espionage, including the case of Jonathan Pollard who, was convicted of selling classified documents to Israel in one of the worst security breaches in U.S. history. Four Israelis also were charged. The reports also include several instances of Israel trying to sell American weapons technology to China and India.
 
Even former CIA Director David Petraeus, who as Commander of United States Central Command, testified in 2010 before the Senate Armed Services Committee that unconditional support of Israel and its continued occupation of Palestine put American troops in harms’ way.  “The conflict foments anti-American sentiment, due to a perception of U.S. favoritism for Israel. Arab anger over the Palestinian question limits the strength and depth of U.S. partnerships with governments and peoples in the [area of operation] and weakens the legitimacy of moderate regimes in the Arab world,” he testified.
 
In addition, Israel has broken the American Arms Export Control Act and other laws prohibiting the use of American weapons or weaponry purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars on a civilian population as well as international laws in its attacks on Gaza in 2008-’09, 2012 and 2014, according to independent investigations such as the Goldstone Report and other reports. In addition in March 2016, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-VT, and 10 members of the House, asked President Obama to investigate reports that specific Israeli military units committed “gross violations of human rights,” in contravention of U.S. laws.
 
“Secretary Kerry was right to highlight the extremist settler movement, settlement expansion and the occupation as obstacles to peace,” Dr. Abuirshaid said. “But we must disabuse ourselves of this notion that Israel is a true friend. Our work to help achieve peace in the Middle East must use Israel’s violations of international law as the starting point, and not some ill-conceived perception of a friendship that doesn’t exist. Without this, the United States will never be perceived as an honest broker in the region.”
 
It is beyond time for words, the Obama administration needs its actions to match its rhetoric. President Obama needs to openly declare that Israel’s policies are harming the United States’ national security, standing and interests worldwide. Not only should the White House and State Department issue a public report on the ways in which Israel misuses American foreign aid against a civilian population; it must cut off all funding until Israel complies with international law and ends the occupation, lifts the siege on Gaza and allows Palestinian refugees the right to return home and to be compensated for their losses in compliance with international law and UN Resolution 194.