Defying US pressure to entrench the occupation

The US appears to be ploughing ahead with efforts to strike a major defence pact with Riyadh in exchange for unwarranted recognition of “Israel”. As occupation genocide carries on, Washington insists that this defence-for-recognition is a “package” deal. 

But these blatant attempts at normalizing support for the occupation are facing substantial pushback. Look no further than Saudi attempts to secure formal guarantees from the United States to defend the kingdom, and improve access to sophisticated US weaponry. It is reportedly opting for a bilateral deal that doesn’t involve any endorsement of the pro-genocidal regime, dashing US hopes.

As Washington’s pro-Israeli lobbyists continue to pitch normalization and ignore Palestinian bloodshed, facts are increasingly clear: these brazen normalization schemes will only entrench “Israel’s” illegal occupation and run counter to the undeniable right of Palestinian statehood. 

On the all-important matter of Palestinian liberties, Washington’s shortcomings have been strikingly clear. 

No action taken

After “Israel’s” Gaza onslaught began, Riyadh made clear that it needed to see “Israel” take “irreversible steps” towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. But Washington has pressed ahead with its condemnable normalisation plot without this actually happening.

Let’s be clear. There was never a credible move towards a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and US President Joe Biden’s administration has been reluctant to guarantee it in practice. Washington has chosen to look the other way as “Israel” intensifies its bombing campaign in Rafah, similar to its cold indifference towards thousands of Palestinians pressed to flee immediately.

Thus, there is zero credibility to US rhetoric about prioritizing a “credible” pathway for Palestinian statehood in exchange for normalisation. Palestine’s unwavering resistance, innumerable sacrifices and staunch opposition to the Israeli occupation underline the nobility of self-determination. Who is Washington to use Palestinian statehood as mere rhetoric to advance occupation interests?  

As the US-sponsored genocide in Gaza drags on, Washington is faced to reckon with its glaring contradictions on Palestine as they come out into the open. For instance, Riyadh’s resistance is unmistakable: it is pushing for a ‘plan B’ defence pact that totally excludes “Israel”, no matter Washington’s desire.

Another excuse to entrench the occupation

In truth, pro-Israeli lobbyists in the US want to gift Saudi normalization to war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu. But several reasons indicate why such a notorious plot cannot succeed. For months, the occupation leader has vowed to forge ties with Riyadh, but refused to cede any ground for Palestinian statehood. 

History is a valuable guide, because past US-brokered normalisation pacts only entrenched “Israel’s” illegal occupation. Look to the contentious Abraham Accords. At the time, “Israel” pushed falsehoods on Palestine and pledged to suspend its illegal annexation of Palestinian land. It also pitched the farce of peace talks. None of that happened. Instead, Israel’s illegal territorial expansion grew under US watch. An ongoing genocide in Gaza suggests it will stop at nothing.

Thus, any long-term Saudi-Israeli normalisation plot will have devastating consequences for Palestinians. “Israel” sees it as a cover to pursue future war crimes and settler aggression without facing much resistance. It has already sped up settlement-building in East Jerusalem during the course of the current genocide. Occupation ministries and offices in Israel were behind this surge, signalling continuity in this policy across future occupation leaderships.

If left solely to the United States, normalisation in the midst of “Israel’s” genocide could enable “Israel” to further encroach upon Palestinian rights without compromising on its illegal occupation. But gone are the times when Washington could use its divisive influence over the Middle East to sustain a pro-occupation status-quo. “Israel” is already facing substantial isolation on the world stage, and is exposed as a pariah. So any alignment with a genocidal regime would only mirror the interests of none but Washington, its chief sponsor and enabler.

International stakes in pushing back against “Israel”

Netanyahu’s government is also under more international pressure than it cares to admit. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is expected to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu as well as senior political and military war criminals who fear prosecution over the genocide in Gaza. 

This serves as a vital opportunity for major regional players, chiefly Saudi Arabia, to sidestep normalisation and support international momentum for long-overdue accountability.

It is increasingly clear that despite US rhetoric on Palestinian statehood, “irreversible steps” are not high on Washington’s agenda at all. Washington is also planning to share a so-called plan that gives occupation interests precedence over the occupied, all under the garb of security.

“I do expect in the months ahead that you will hear from the president and others of us more of the path that we believe could produce a more secure “Israel” and a more peaceful region,” US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said earlier. 

US take on regional peace is a farce. Brazen normalization supports a vicious status-quo that has profited off the blood of Palestinians, underlining the importance of resisting US incentives.

 

 

BY:

Hannan Hussain