Peace and justice cannot be built under occupation

The source of the violence in Jerusalem and Gaza is occupation. To bring an end to the conflict, Israel must end its occupation. To bring lasting peace there must be accountability and justice for crimes committed under the occupation. 

The scenes of violence perpetrated against worshipers at Al-Aqsa have been particularly painful and resonant during the Holy Month. The bombing of residential areas in Gaza - a place that is already in effect an open-air prison - and the killings of children are simply unbearable to all but the most callous.

The violence demonstrates the folly of the Abraham Accords pursuing a peace process that deliberately excluded Palestinians and their points of view. Agreements reached in backroom deals through political and diplomatic arm-twisting do not lead to durable peace. 

The US government cannot act as though it has disengaged while it plays such a central role in funding and supplying arms and diplomatic support to one of the parties. The Biden administration has said it wants human rights at the center of its foreign policy. Human rights are universal, and as such it is every bit as important that the United States holds its allies to these standards. 

The UN Security Council has passed dozens of resolutions outlining in detail Israel’s flagrant violations of international law, international humanitarian law, and human rights standards and conventions. Yet it has faced no accountability, so violations and the suffering of the Palestinian people continue.

Without accountability, these laws and standards, and the international community’s rhetoric on human rights are meaningless.

End the occupation.