US President Joe Biden submitted a special appropriation request totaling approximately USD 106 billion to Congress on October 20. Among this, USD 14.3 billion will be allocated for military assistance to Israel. In his speech, Biden referred to this assistance as "an unparalleled commitment to Israel's security that will reinforce its military superiority".
In the past two weeks since the outbreak of the new round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the US has not only deployed additional military forces to the Middle East and provided significant military assistance to Israel, but has also obstructed the adoption of draft resolutions on the conflict by the United Nations Security Council on two occasions. Its stance has invited criticism and protests, including strong dissatisfaction within the US State Department. Several senior officials have resigned in response and denounced the short-sightedness and injustice of the US government.
Analysts point out that a new round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict continues to escalate, resulting in large-scale civilian casualties and a humanitarian crisis, and its spillover effects are also impacting regional peace and stability. Amid the rapidly deteriorating situation in Gaza, a comprehensive ceasefire should have been the top priority. But the actions of the US Government have prevented an early resolution of the conflict and only worsened the humanitarian crisis. In the long run, allowing the current fighting in Gaza to prolong will only intensify the hatred and confrontation between Palestinians and Israelis, making peaceful coexistence even more difficult.
Following the recent outbreak of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the US has expressed unwavering support and provided military assistance to its ally Israel. Prominent American officials, including its President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken, Defense Secretary Austin, and US Central Command commander Michael E. Kurilla, have made consecutive visits to Israel. The US has delivered a substantial amount of aerial bombs and artillery shells to Israel, dispatched two carrier strike groups to the eastern Mediterranean, and deployed more warplanes in the region as a means to enhance deterrence against regional countries.
Furthermore, the US has been actively obstructing international efforts to resolve conflicts at the level of the United Nations Security Council. Following its opposition to the Russian draft resolution on humanitarian issues in Gaza on October 16, the US on October 18 vetoed another draft resolution drafted by Brazil, which received support from 12 council members but failed to be adopted because of the US, the only council member that voted against it.
Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, accused the US of hypocrisy and double standards. Brazil's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Sérgio Danese, expressed deep regret over the prevailing silence and inaction. Nicolas de Riviere, France's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, expressed deep regret that the draft resolution was not adopted.
US policy on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict not only invited international dissatisfaction but also triggered a backlash within the country. On October 18, Josh Paul, discontent with Biden's increasing military assistance to Israel, announced his resignation from the US Department of State.
US' actions triggered protests in many countries. Recently, demonstrations were held outside the US embassies in Jordan and Lebanon, with people chanting anti-American slogans to protest against US' partiality towards Israel. In Tehran, people protested in the city center and burned both Israeli and American flags.
In the US, hundreds of demonstrators entered the rotunda of the Cannon House office building on Capitol Hill to protest, chanting slogans such as "Let Gaza Live", calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine. However, they were arrested by the police. In France, thousands of people have recently participated in demonstrations in Paris to express their support for the Palestinian people.
Mukhtar Ghobashi, deputy chairman of the Egyptian Arab Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said that the US’ intolerant attitude is "outrageous, provocative, and immoral", and "the unjust actions of the US have angered the Arabs in an unprecedented way".
The US government has long been accused of bias in the Palestinian-Israeli issue. Mohammad al-Jubri, a journalism professor at the University of Iraq, remarks, "The US attitude towards the Palestinian issue is riddled with prejudice and injustice, which is the primary reason for the issue's persistence over decades. The US bears responsibility for perpetuating the Palestinian people's suffering."
