Chris Doyle

What is it about American Democratic presidents and red lines? Back in 2013, it was Barack Obama who found that his red line on Syria’s use of chemical weapons was actually more pink than red. Today, his then-vice president, Joe Biden, has forgotten the red line that he drew in March over an Israeli invasion of Rafah. Other international leaders also voiced their opposition but have gone mute when confronted with the reality.
That ground invasion is now in full swing. The propaganda merchants had portrayed last week’s initial forays as a limited operation. Aid agencies on the ground and Palestinian civilians hoped but never believed that was true.
US officials from the president down had talked the talk about opposing a Rafah invasion. Even last week, one spokesman stated that “any kind of major Rafah ground operation would actually strengthen” Hamas. This opposition was all half-hearted.
Palestinians and others can spot the hypocrisy of the US and other backers of Israel. They watch US actions, not words, just as they have learned to do with Israeli leaders. Yes, the US has just paused the transfer of some arms to Israel, including 3,500 bombs. The reality is that the US is still providing weapons, military assistance, vital intelligence and diplomatic cover. The trifling levels of US humanitarian assistance to Palestinians pale into insignificance compared to the billions Israel receives in lethal aid.
Remember too that the US led the Israel-inspired charge to defund UNRWA. If the Biden administration had said it would wait for Israel to provide evidence of any links between the UN agency and Hamas, it would still be receiving American aid today and no other donor state would have ever suspended their funding.
Where Israel is concerned, accountability just does not come........

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