Kevin Zeese Urges Ben Cardin to Stand Up to Israel, Challenges Him to Series of Debates on Israel-Palestine

Al-Jazeerah, June 29, 2006

Israel is amassing a large military force on the border of Gaza Strip and promising a sustained military action in the Palestinian Territory of Gaza. This is sure to be a bloody attack which will have a devastating effect on Palestinians living in the impoverished Strip. As a result I have written my opponent in the US Senate race in Maryland, Rep. Ben Cardin, and urged him to speak out against Israel's military attack. Cardin has been a long-term, very consistent supporter of Israel. I don't think he has criticized Israel in his nearly two decades of service in the Congress. He even puts trade with Israel ahead of trade with the United States! As a result his voice opposing the upcoming attack could make a difference. When staunchly pro-Israel officials in Congress tell Israel they are going too far in their brutal use of military force it can make a difference. While I hope Rep. Cardin will do the right thing, I expect he is more likely to remain silent as the military attack occurs.

This is not the first time I have made the one-sided US support for Israel an issue in this campaign, nor will it be the last. Indeed, I see US policy toward Israel-Palestine as a political taboo that needs to be broken. Too many elected officials and candidates are afraid to stand up on this issue because of the awesome political power of the hard right Israeli lobby. No doubt the media will first attempt to ignore me on this issue -- since it is not an issue for polite political discourse in the United States -- and if I gain traction they will try to destroy me. But, I see no alternative. The treatment of the Palestinian people has become so grotesque that being silent is no longer an option. Americans need to realize that it is our tax dollars that are funding this brutal occupation. And, if we decide that we no longer support Israel's illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories it is in our power to end it. We need to debate this issue. Indeed, I would welcome a series of debates with Rep. Cardin on the issue of Israel-Palestine. Sadly, I do not expect him to accept this challenge as he has been avoiding almost all candidate forums thus far in the campaign. He is surely planning a campaign modeled on what is wrong with politics in America -- direct mail and TV ads --a campaign more of distortion of his record than real information.

US one-sided support for the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories is not good for the United States, the Palestinian people, or stability in the Middle East -- it is not even good for Israel whose security and isolation are worsening as the attacks on the Palestinian people escalate. This policy needs to be reconsidered.

To see some of my previous comments on Israel-Palestine visit: Time to Question 39 Years of Failed Israeli Occupation: How much longer should the United States underwrite the Israeli occupation of Palestinian Territories?, http://kevinzeese.com/content/view/137/34/

Kevin Zeese: “Hawkish Israeli Lobby Wants War with Iran!”, http://kevinzeese.com/content/view/130/45/

CNI Public Hearing: Iraq and Palestine "Dual Occupations, Dual Jeopardy" http://kevinzeese.com/content/view/76/45/

To donate to this campaign visit http://kevinzeese.com/content/view/12/27/

Urge everyone you know to support my effort. And, if you want to help develop my policy statements visit my wiki Campaign site www.Zeese.US.

Thanks.

Kevin www.ZeeseForSenate.org

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June 26, 2006

Rep. Ben Cardin

2207 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

Re: Use Your Voice to Stop the Mass Violence About to Occur in the Gaza Strip

Dear Rep. Cardin:

You have been a staunch supporter of Israel. As you know I am a candidate for U.S. Senate in Maryland, an office you are also seeking. At recent candidate forums your wife and other spokespersons for your campaign (speaking for you since you were not present), have noted how you tell any country who wants to trade with the United States that they must trade with Israel and they note your consistent support for Israel. Indeed, I cannot ever recall you criticizing the actions of Israel in your nearly two decades in Congress.

Your voice is needed now. Israel is amassing a massive military force on the border of the Gaza Strip in reaction to the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier. The Prime Minister has ordered a “comprehensive and ongoing military action.” This is sure to be a bloody attack that will result in widespread civilian casualties. Please use your voice to urge Israel to negotiate rather than add to the violence.

While I am opposed to Palestinian violence, as it is counterproductive to the goal of a viable Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution, certainly you are aware that Israeli violence against Palestinians has led to this point. Hamas had kept a promise of no violence for 18 months until recent Israeli killings of civilians. Surely you aware of the state-based terrorism of Israel against the Palestinian people that led to this escalation of violence, including:

The weeks of shelling by the Israeli army in Gaza. This has included the firing of hundreds of missiles into the crowded Strip resulting in the destruction of Palestinian lives and property, and terrorizing the civilian population.

The killing of more than 30 Palestinian civilians, and dozens of injuries to Palestinian civilians, in the past few weeks at the hands of the Israeli military, including three children killed in an air strike last week, as well as a pregnant woman and her brother, a doctor, killed a day later as a missile slammed into the room where they were eating dinner.

The blockade of Gaza's “borders” by the Israeli army for months on end, which has prevented Palestinians in Gaza from trading goods and receiving vital supplies of food and medicine. As a result of Israeli action the civilian population of Gaza is facing a humanitarian crisis.

Israel's bullying of the international community, including the United States, to deny the starving of the Hamas-led government of funds and diplomatic options, thereby making it impossible for the elected Palestinian leadership to run the Gaza Strip.

The violation of Palestinian territory by Israeli commandos who infiltrated Gaza a day before the Palestinian attack to kidnap two Palestinians who Israel claims are ‘terrorists.’ They are now missing, no doubt held in detention, without access to lawyers, and the courts.

Certainly, you understand how these actions of Israel have provoked the current dispute that is leading to a likely slaughter of Palestinians. It is as if Israel’s policies are designed to create opportunities for further destruction of the Palestinian people. This has been the long-term reality of Israeli policy. The front-line members of the reserve combat officers and soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces who refuse to fight in the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories described this reality vividly in their “Combatant’s Letter” saying:

We shall not continue to fight beyond the 1967 borders in order to dominate, expel, starve and humiliate an entire people. [Emphasis added]

While you are only one voice, as a long-term stalwart supporter of Israel, someone who has never been a critic, your voice right now could make a difference in saving lives and stopping the escalation of violence. It is important for Israel to see that not everyone in Washington, DC -- especially a long-term supporter of Israel like you -- dances to the Israeli tune no matter how abhorrent.

Please speak out before violence begets violence in a never-ending spiral of bloodshed.

Sincerely,

Kevin B. Zeese

Earth, a planet hungry for peace

Apartheid Wall


The Israeli Land-Grab Apartheid Wall built inside the Palestinian territories, here separating Abu Dis from occupied East Jerusalem. (IPC, 7/4/04).

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, like a Python. (Alquds,10/25/03).

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