Taking a cue from the Declaration of Independence, M. Reza Behnam submits facts “to a candid world” that impel the dissolution of a destructive liaison.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon in February. (DoD/Madelyn Keech/Public Domain)
It has become abundantly clear that after 250 years, a second American revolution is necessary.
Thomas Jefferson, principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), emphasized the importance of periodic uprisings to preserve liberty and protect against government overreach when he presciently wrote in 1787:
“I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.”
In the spirit of Jefferson, I offer the following: it is way past time for the United States to declare independence from Israel; a destructive unhealthy 77-year liaison that has contributed to authoritarian creep, the dismantling of public liberty and increasing domestic instability in both countries.
For Palestinians and for all of mankind, the United States must free itself from its rogue ally. Washington’s continued financial, political and military investment in a violent apartheid regime has been a tragedy, that has ultimately led to Israel’s brazen and transparent genocide of Palestinians in Gaza today.
By cutting ties with Israel, the United States might begin to reclaim the principles on which it was founded and that are enshrined in the Declaration of Independence: resistance to tyranny, self-determination and the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
The Palestinian struggle for freedom and self-determination is inseparable from the quest for justice and dignity in the United States and worldwide.
Nelson Mandela, who spent most of his adult life struggling against the apartheid regime in South Africa, fully understood the link between freedom and justice for all, declaring that: “We know all too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”
Nelson Mandela grafittin in Bethlehem, 2019. (ippnw Deutschland/Flickr/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
For Palestinians, freedom means removal of the punishing and humiliating yoke of Israel’s apartheid occupation and daily hellish violence.
For Americans, it means not being subjected to Israel’s relentless Hasbara campaign of disinformation, intimidation, exploitation of the Holocaust and distortion of antisemitism in order to crush criticism of its monstrous crimes against the Palestinian people.
Facts Submitted to a Candid World
To paraphrase the Declaration of Independence: The current course of events and history of repeated injuries require that we declare to mankind in 2025 the causes which impel the dissolution of America’s political bonds from Israel. Let the “facts be submitted to a candid world”:
- It has, for over 80 years, been engaged in the theft and colonization of Palestinian land; systematically carrying out a campaign of brutalization, dehumanization, displacement and ethnically cleansing of the indigenous Palestinian population.
- It has, for 58 years, engaged in the unlawful occupation and crime of apartheid in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
- It has, for 22 months, executed a policy of starvation in Gaza as a weapon of war.
- It has employed a systematic strategy of humiliation to psychologically punish Palestinians.
- It has been committing genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza for 22 months.
Netanyahu Out Of DC! protest at the White House, July 7. (Diane Krauthamer, Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
- It has, since Oct. 7, 2023, dropped from 85,000 to 100,000 tons of explosives on densely populated Gaza.
- It has indiscriminately bombed and destroyed infrastructure, farm land, homes, schools, hospitals, health facilities, mosques, churches, parks, cemeteries, libraries, museums, archives and cultural heritage sites.
- It has killed more than 18,000 children since Oct. 7, 2023, leaving many survivors orphaned, permanently disabled and traumatized.
- It has imposed a siege of Gaza, blockading supplies of humanitarian aid.
- It has replaced United Nations providers of aid with a U.S.-Israeli militarized chaotic aid operation run by mercenaries.
An aerial view on Jan. 21 showing destruction in Rafah, in the Gaza Strip, after Israeli forces withdrawal and as the ceasefire took hold. (UNRWA/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 4.0)
- It has forced Gazans into military concentration camps (zones) with the aim of pressuring them into “voluntary” displacement.
- It has allowed violent Jewish “settlers,” to wage a campaign of terror against Palestinians and their communities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
- It has seized the sovereign territory of other nations by military force and continues to occupy it in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
- It has waged thousands of unprovoked military attacks on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Yemen.
IDF operation in Lebanon during the 2023-2024 war. (IDF Spokesperson’s Unit / CC BY-SA 3.0)
- It has sent assassins into other countries to kill its political “enemies.”
- It has refused to prosecute soldiers and “settlers” who have killed Americans.
- It has imprisoned thousands of Palestinians without charges or trials.
- It has subjected detainees to physical and mental abuse and inhumane conditions.
- It has refused to be a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and has not accepted International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards over its nuclear weapons program.
- It has flagrantly violated and never abided by international, humanitarian and human rights laws.
Pointedly, since its establishment, Israel has exhibited disdain for international laws and for the body, the United Nations, created to uphold them. There was, however, no hesitation to act on Resolution 181 (Nov. 29, 1947), a non-binding General Assembly recommendation to the Security Council that it “take measures to plan for the implementation of the partition of Palestine.”
Proclaiming the State of Israel
Zionist leaders, on May 14, 1948, unilaterally declared “independence” — from whom, is uncertain — and proclaimed the State of Israel on Palestinian land. They did so despite the fact the Security Council — the only body whose resolutions are binding on all members — had not (and has never) voted on the recommended partition plan. Thus, U.N. members have never been obligated to recognize Israel’s legitimacy.
The rights and freedoms outlined in Israel’s 1948 declaration were a smokescreen to hide the real goals of the newly proclaimed Jewish state.
With regard to the indigenous Palestinians, Israel has ruthlessly disregarded every freedom and right stated in its declaration; among the most egregious examples:
“The State of Israel…will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace…and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”
Additionally, Israel’s Declaration of Independence explicitly stated that a constitution was to be drawn up no later than the first day of October 1948. None has ever been enacted. Instead of a single codified written constitution, Israel has enacted over time a collection of Basic Laws (currently 14) which serve as a de facto constitution.
Israel’s Zionist founders understood that to assert dominance over an already inhabited land and to conduct their Eretz Israel (Greater Israel) expansionist ambitions unimpeded, they could not be constrained by a formal unambiguous constitution; one which would set limits on political power and force the designation of territorial borders.
Also, a comprehensive democratic constitution would have required the Jewish state to describe its structure, processes of government and define the basic principles and values of the state, as well as the fundamental rights of the citizens. Hence, Israel would have had to delineate itself as a Jewish supremacist anti-Arab state. The Israeli Knesset in 2018 did just that when it unambiguously enacted the Basic Nation-State Law, which states:
“The realization of the right to national self-determination in the State of Israel is exclusive to the Jewish people.” The law, therefore, effectively excludes the over 2 million Arab citizens of Israel.
Liberation from an occupying power, decolonization, will be more difficult today than in the 18th century because of the “unbreakable bond” between the U.S. and Israel, a deep entanglement that has reached into every corner of American life.
Israel has thoroughly colonized the political, economic, military, media, academic and cultural fabric of life in the United States. It has become so entrenched, for example, that instead of working to end genocide, they have prioritized punishing those who protest it, militarized university campuses and policed anti-Zionist political speech.
The long-standing relationship with Tel Aviv, rooted in hegemonic interests, has not made the United States stronger. Mired in Israel’s conflicts and wars have made America weaker and contributed to anti-American sentiment in West Asia and the world.
Americans are awakening today to what Jefferson understood in 1787 when he wrote:
“And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?”
Liberty cannot be preserved unless U.S. ties with Israel, the perpetrators of war and genocide, are severed. What Americans and the international community have begun to realize, what Nelson Mandela knew decades ago, is that our freedom is not only incomplete, it is also imperiled, while Palestinians continue to be denied self-determination, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in Palestine.
M. Reza Behnam is a political scientist specializing in the history, politics and governments of the Middle East.
This article is from Z-Network.
The views expressed are solely those of the author and may or may not reflect those of Consortium News.
It is a belief held by many that US foreign policy with regard to Israel is controlled by Israel. It’s not. Israel exists because the US wants it to – always has. Along with Europe the US has used Israel as a principal military base for operations in the Middle East. A land based aircraft carrier, if you like. If US ruling elite decide that Israel of no use, it will be tossed in moment. The US has always been able to use Israel as misdirection for who is responsible. Of course, the Israeli’s want what the US wants so far. Anyway – late settler colonialism – the extension of how the US was created and part of it’s long time foreign policy. If any country has something the US oligarchs want and won’t give it to them, it is a threat to our “national security.” The vast majority of the US population does not figure into that analysis. There concerns are considered irrelevant at best and a threat to the oligarchs at worst. US foreign policy is simply imperialism. It’s why we’re running a proxy war in Ukraine. Russia is the most resource rich country on the planet and rudely wants to control the exploitation of those resources for themselves. This considered to be a threat to “our” national security. unacceptable.
The plan for Israel has always been ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians. Always.
The U.S. has bases or a presence in nine Middle Eastern countries. None in Israel. Israel is not “a principal military base for operations in the Middle East.” The principal political and intelligence base but not military.
This is an enormous problem calling for a very heavy hand on the asses to those who persist with this insanity.
Americans are about to learn what happens when you don’t clean house periodically.
Now it seems we h ave gotten used to living in the filth!
You do not seem to know how deep the ties go. I will read your podcast entirely. Just seems like no one knows that all our major universities were funded by slave owners and their children and grandchildren graduated from these institutions and all of our CEOs and our politicians come from that “class” and yes, they think themselves better than rest of us. We are witnessing a class war; the working class is our best bet to save us from the Trump Regime. Support the unions and each other as much as we can. It is our only hope.
An excellent analysis. Unfortunately trump and his maga friends can’t read.
How the United States and Israel has got away with these lies and crimes all these years demonstrates the ignorance and complacency of the American people.
Thomas, don’t be so harsh on the American people. If you study history that has been left out of our public schools, you will know why so many of us are ignorant and complacent. However, I would not make the mistake of judging what they will and will not do once truth reaches their awareness. For instance, did you know all the most elite Ivy schools were founded during slavery, Harvard, the earliest, Yale coming right after, and our leading wealthy all come from these schools that supported genocide. These schools also have secret societies that are connected to the wealth acquired during slavery. My personal opinion is Trump is trying to bring back slavery, although if you think about it, slavery has been with us for many more decades as in “wage slave” wherein you only make enough and barely, to pay rent, utilities and buy food. That is not how the other 1/8th, 1/16th of our society live, those with the money they’ve taken from us. Those prisons Trump is building and the Wall Street people who are betting on his success in enslaving us, all of us who dissent are under threat and the prison builders only salivate for the coming rewards which i hope they never see. All these dogs looking for a kill need to go DOWN.
Saying what needs to be said is long overdue. Thank you. The Jefferson quote has fascinated for some time. Reeks of a daring, of a powerful spirit. Would we had these extant.
Your clear ideas will not satisfy the Biblical expect (justifications) Jews or Christians. Jews were “prommisd” Palesting, and Christians were promised a Last Judgment that will punish the evil and let the faithful enter heaven at last. This gala is scheduled to occur in Jerusalem, of all places.
Superstitious beliefs like these are serious impediments to human progress, as well as to some of your important ideas. Such world shaping doctrines are not based upon science, but rather upon “faith”—i.e. the belief in something for which no evidence currently exists.
In either case, these gods (Father and Son) are dangerous characters to disappoint: Yahweh drowned all life in the Flood, and Jesus, son of human mother immaculately an “Angel,” will judge the souls of all who have lived. (Calvin calculated that about 140,000 will be sent to heaven, while the vast majority will be sent to hell.
The sad thing to realize: we are truly knee capped by the belief in gods. Al Gods have created by humans in our own likeness—not the other around. They are sock puppets for those who wish to attain, or consolidate, power. Both are based what we call the Stockholm Symptom: identification with the aggressor.
To prevail, it might be easier to start with canceling Roe V Wade, planting iron clad limits on political gifts and campaign funds, and consider banning all those w dual citizenship from federal elections and appointments. Draconian. But these are draconian times.
United Nations Mediator ,Count Folke Bernadotte, a Swedish diplomat , was assassinated in Jerusalem on September 17, 1948, by the Lehi , a Zionist paramilitary organization. Folke Bernadotte was killed by Zionist who objected to his evenhanded approach to mediation .
Many of those involved in the murder of Bernadotte eventually help leadership positions in Israel . His murder set the tone for Israeli conduct to the present day .
To your list of Israeli travesties please include :
United Nations Mediator , Count Folke Bernadotte, a Swedish diplomat , was assassinated in Jerusalem on September 17, 1948, by the Lehi , a Zionist paramilitary organization.
This murder set the tone for all Israeli actions to the present day – Bernadotte was killed because his stated intent was a just
reality for Jews & Arabs .
The United States of America will not regain its independence nor its democracy, nor will its citizens enjoy liberty until the two political parties who have sold the country’s sovereignty to AIPAC and Israel are consigned to the trash heap of history and with them, all the politicians who joined in that betrayal during more than half a century. And for that the citizenry must take the initiative. Our bought and paid for politicians never will.
Prof Mearsheimer was asked by Judge Napolitano on his Judging Freedom platform – how come the USA doesn’t break with Israel? His answer: “The Lobby.” When asked what’s behind the sheepish behavior of the European nations and Australia? His answer: “The Lobby. The Israeli Lobby.” AIPAC and kindred organizations. Why don’t we break with The Lobby? His candid answer: “I don’t know…..Look what it did to Jeremy Corbyn. It destroyed his candidacy, his political career. Look what it did to Jamaal Bowman! to Cori Bush! The Lobby destroys your career. “
Thanks to CN for having the courage and good principles to speak the truth to a US society completely corrupted by greed.
Yet another fact: “Israel is America’s unsinkable battleship
in the Middle East” (A. Haig, Pres. Reagan’s Secr. Defense
c. 1982), and sleepy Joe Biden wide awake for this one:
“If Israel didn’t exist, we’d have to invent it”
Such is the American Way
Soo well said ! Thank you for reminding the American people and the world citizenry for that matter ,on the essentials of true freedom .