As a cease-fire begins in Israel, the US must finally and resolutely determine upon a new course in relations with the right-wing Israeli government and with the Palestinians. There can be no peace without justice, and justice requires a US focus on self-defense for the Palestinian people, meaning economic development and separate statehood, as much as for Israelis. But Pres. Biden must first break the longstanding pattern of favoring israel and ignoring Palestinian demands.
The Global Citizen podcast addresses foreign affairs from a human-interest standpoint, meaning that principles of social justice, environmental stewardship, protection and promotion of human rights, and peace frame the analysis. Greed, injustice, and violence are my targets; and diplomacy focused on engagement is the preferred strategy for transcending differences. As Einstein said, “those who have the privilege to know have the duty to act.”