Jewish American activist calls on Arab countries to stop normalization and hold Israel accountable for its terrorism from Gaza to Yemen and Qatar.

Arab Sea Newspaper - News Updates

Arab Sea - Al-Quds Al-Arabi: American Jewish activist Medea Benjamin accused the international community of being helpless in the face of what she described as "Israeli state terrorism" in an article published by several progressive platforms, including "Common Dreams," stressing that the recent Israeli attack on the Qatari capital, Doha, represents new evidence of Tel Aviv's impunity. Benjamin, co-founder of the "Code Pink" movement, said that the UN Security Council contented itself on September 10 with a "faint" statement of condemnation after Israel targeted Hamas negotiators in Qatar, without explicitly mentioning Israel's name, which she considered evidence of a "pathetic international reaction to a major crime." She added that Israel, for nearly two years, has committed widespread violations: destroying Gaza, expanding settlements, annexing the West Bank, and threatening several countries, including Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran, in addition to bombing relief ships, refugee camps, and assassinating negotiators. In her opinion, "the bombing of Doha did not only target people, but targeted diplomacy itself." Benjamin criticized the American position, noting that the administration of President Donald Trump played a "double game," as it imposed warnings on Hamas, but allowed Israel to bomb the negotiators hosted by Qatar. She considered that Washington is not just a spectator, but a "complicit partner" in the crimes. The writer pointed out that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boasted about what he called a "precise strike" in Doha against "terrorist leaders," but she stressed that the operation was "blatant state terrorism" aimed at disrupting the chances of a ceasefire, adding that Netanyahu "has repeatedly proven that he does not want peace, but endless war." Regarding international reactions, she mentioned that European countries allied with Israel, such as Germany, France, and Britain, condemned the attack, as did China and Russia, while the attack sparked the anger of the families of Israeli prisoners who accused Netanyahu of sacrificing the chances of reaching an agreement. As for the Arab world, Qatar described the attack as "state terrorism," while Saudi Arabia considered it an "unacceptable aggression against an Arab country," Jordan affirmed that it was a "dangerous escalation," while the UAE expressed "deep concern." However, Benjamin believed that these positions do not go beyond statements, stressing that "words without actions will not stop the aggression." The writer called on Arab countries, especially those that normalized relations with Israel under the "Abraham Accords," to reconsider their relations with Tel Aviv and stop any path to normalization, considering that the least that can be done is to "cancel the agreements and impose collective sanctions on Israel." She also pointed out that Qatar is preparing to hold an emergency Arab-Islamic summit to demand a collective response that goes beyond condemnations, calling for a coordinated campaign to cut off trade relations and impose political isolation on Israel. She considered that the crisis will soon move to the corridors of the United Nations, where the American veto obstructs Security Council resolutions, calling on the General Assembly to activate the "Uniting for Peace" resolution, which includes: sending an international protection force to deliver aid and protect civilians, imposing comprehensive sanctions and banning the supply of weapons to Israel, withdrawing its accreditation in the General Assembly, activating the anti-apartheid mechanism, and establishing a war crimes court. Benjamin concluded by saying that the bombing of Doha should be the "tipping point" that prompts the international community to act, stressing that "the world is watching, and millions of people are demanding an end to the Israeli genocide, and the United Nations must prove that international law is not just words on paper." Medea Benjamin is a prominent American activist in peace and human rights issues, and is the co-founder of CODEPINK: Women for Peace and Global Exchange. She has published several books dealing with international politics and American military interventions, including: Inside Iran (2018), Kingdom of the Unjust (2016), and Drone Warfare (2013), in addition to the book War in Ukraine: Making Sense of a Senseless Conflict (2022), which she co-authored with Nicolas Davies. Benjamin is known for her critical positions towards American and Israeli policies, and her defense of justice and peace.