Congresspersons should visit Gaza

Every non-election year summer the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) sends dozens of US congresspersons to Israel to shore up congressional support for Israel. While congressional fact finding visits to foreign countries can be valuable governing tools, the ones to Israel should include its deplorable, inhumane treatment of Palestinians in the occupied territories, including those suffering in the West Bank and Gaza. This years bi-partisan delegation of over 70 includes 32 congressional rookies. All are sending back glowing reports of Israeli life which make not a mention of the decades long Apartheid, non-state status of nearly 6 million Palestinian souls that Israel, and it US enablers have left behind from the the benefits of full state citizenship and self governance.

But a crack occurred in this sanitized bi-annual PR tour when two Muslim congresswomen, Omar Ilhan and Rashida Tlaib were denied entry by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to their criticism of Israeli Apartheid governance of Palestinians under Israeli control. A firestrom of criticism from American congresspersons, pundits and Jewish American groups forced Netanyahu to retreat on Rep. Tlaib, whose trip included a visit see her nonagenarian mother for likely the last time. Alas, Israeli restrictions on Tlaib, a strong critic of Israeli oppression of Palestinians, forced her to cancel.

That is sad personally for Tlaib and a shame for US policy; enabling one of the worst humanitarian disasters on earth. Fairness should require AIPAC and Israel include a side trip to Gaza to see the deadly, dehumanizing suffering Israeli Apartheid inflicts without a moment of concern or relief for millions in dire need of a state to go along with the resources for even a semblance of a decent life. The trip to Gaza should be bi-partisan to remove politics which demands lockstep US allegiance to continued dehumanization of the Palestinian people.

Encourage Congresswoman Tlaib to see her ancient mother one last time. Encourage dozens of congresspersons to see Palestinian suffering for the first time.