Public Comment

The Trump administration continues its overt policy of total unconcern for human rights by slashing funding of Palestinian schools and hospitals in the occupied Israeli territories. 

It has closed the Palestine Liberation Organization office in Washington as retaliation for the Palestinians’ efforts to bring Israeli military war crimes to the International Criminal Court. 

The war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza have been well documented by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Israeli organizations like B’Tselem, and Palestinian human rights organizations. In a classic case of the tail wagging the dog, Israel has persuaded the lawless Trump administration to trash the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague terrified of what it might uncover and further tarnish Israel’s image for its war crimes. The Palestinians who found no justice in Israeli courts were left with no other option but to appeal to the ICC. 

The war hawk, John Bolton, is also taking aim at the ICC lest they investigate the torture of victims in Afghanistan and black sites during President Bush’s reign of terror. Revelations would undoubtedly tarnish America’s image. 

Sadly, the United States has abandoned its former role as a champion of human rights, and upholding international law and is now shielding the perpetrators of war crimes. President Trump famously told his “friend”, Mohammad bin Salman “trade (weapons sales) will always supersede concerns for human rights”. How far America has fallen