Governor's congrats to Israel omits those whose name and existence are suppressed

Governor Rauner's recent congratulations to Israel on its 69th anniversary tellingly missed the 4.4 million Palestinians subjugated in virtually every aspect of a free peoples' life in the occupied territories. Rauner omitted this oppression which is supported in all aspects of America's words and deeds. His statement that “Israel remains a beacon of democratic values in an uncertain world" surely rings hollow to those condemned to live in wretched conditions no true democracy would impose on a minority population. Rauner exacerbated his omission of Palestinian oppression by touting his administration's opposition to the Boycott Divestment Sanctions movement, a time honored non-violent means of ending horrific government oppression, such as white South African Apartheid that subjugated South African blacks. Would a Governor Rauner of the 1980's have congratulated US ally Apartheid South Africa on their anniversary? Based on this weeks congratulations, maybe he would.

Most of the world, 136 of 193 countries (71%), recognizes the State of Palestine. The US disgraces itself as a beacon of freedom with its refusal to not only recognize Palestine, but ensure Palestinians will never have a homeland to placate the ruling Likud Government wing of the Israel Lobby. Gov. Rauner simply joins every other US political leader in pandering to oppression rather than leading to achieve freedom and national identity for the marginalized.

I, too, congratulate the Israelis on their 69th anniversary...but I call on them to end their version of Apartheid and allow Palestinians an opportunity to begin the journey to their first anniversary as a free peoples