Public Comment

While America is preoccupied in desperate attempts to save its democracy, the Israeli military used the opportunity to strike terror on one of the poorest of the poor Bedouin hamlets in the Jordan Valley. Excavators escorted by military vehicles were filmed smashing tents, shacks, and animal shelters.  

“These are some of the most vulnerable communities in the West Bank,” said Yvonne Helle, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory. A staggering three-quarters of the community lost their homes making it the largest forced displacement activity in more than four years. A total of 76 structures were destroyed. Encouraged by Washington’s unconditional support, Israel has accelerated its ethnic-cleansing in the West Bank. 

Nearly 700 structures have been demolished across the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 2020 so far, leaving 869 Palestinians homeless. UN spokesperson observed “demolitions are a key means of creating an environment designed to coerce Palestinians to leave their homes,” and accused Israel of “grave breaches of international law”. 

An on-site report by prominent Israeli human rights group, B’Tselem, provided a detailed inventory of the demolitions including livestock and tractors that were confiscated. “As part of its efforts to take over more and more Palestinian land, Israel routinely demolishes Palestinian homes and property,” said B’Tselem spokesperson Amit Gilutz. 

Much like apartheid South Africa, the Israeli military continues its brutal occupation with abandon with the comforting knowledge that pro-Israeli Democrats and Republicans are unlikely to interfere. The Bedouin and sheepherding communities have no legal course to halt such barbaric behavior. The Israeli military and government establish the rules which makes Israel’s claim to be a democracy a complete sham.