As far as it matters to Israel, Europe and the rest of the universe is no more than “unconfirmed rumor.” According to Dan Schueftan, deputy director of the National Security Studies Center at the University of Haifa, two things keep Israel alive today: “The resilience and creativity of our (Israeli) society”, and Israel’s alliance with the United States.

No one can argue with the fact that without US military, financial, political, economic and diplomatic support, Israel cannot keep its occupation of Palestinian land. Hence it is logical and legitimate to conclude that the US, supported by the EU jointly with Israel is responsible for the long and continuing suffering, misery and destitution of the Palestinian people.

In addition to its strong alliance with Israel, America does not hide its opposition to Palestinian national aspirations. America boycotts the Palestinian government, imposes and urges others to impose political, financial, and economic sanctions on the Palestinian people. This has caused immense difficulties, deprivation and anger in the Palestinian, Arab and Muslim streets.

American mainstream media is not just unhelpful, it is harmful. Its reporting on Palestinian issues concentrates on the negative; Palestinian narrative never makes it to the American general public. As veteran journalist Robert Novak put it, “The Jewish lobby (AIPAC) and their friends have the power, money and leverage to influence all media outlets and decision makers in the US.”

One also should add that the American Congress has more negative views on the Palestinian people than the Israeli Knesset does. At least in the Israeli Knesset, one can hear some voices of dissent. In its most recent hearing on Feb. 14, titled “Next Steps in Israel-Palestinian Peace Process”, the American Congress House Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by the Democrat Representative from New York, Gary L. Ackerman, chose Daniel Pipes, David Makovsky, and Martin Indyk to testify before it. Two are American Jews, and the third is an Australian Jew, who also served as the US ambassador to Tel Aviv. There are 10 million Palestinians, 300 million Arabs, and more than a billion Muslims. But the American Congress did not find it appropriate to invite one or two of them to testify before the hearing in order to give this hearing at least some semblance of fairness or credibility.

Daniel Pipes is the director of the Middle East Forum in Philadelphia, David Makovsky is director at the Project on the Middle East Process at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and Martin Indyk is the director of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy.

To give the reader an insight into the nature of the hearing and the “panel of experts” testimonies before the House committee, it is necessary first to quote the chairman of the Committee Gary L. Ackerman’s statement in his introduction to the hearing: “Today the subcommittee had hoped to examine those realistic and productive measures that the parties directly and indirectly involved with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict might have taken to restore a sense of hope.... But in light of the Makkah Accord, which if implemented will create a Hamas-Fateh unity government for the Palestinian Authority, sometimes I’m not sure what’s left to discuss.... And what has Abu Mazen done to strengthen himself? He has capitulated to Hamas... Things seem so hopeless and fearful in the region that Arab governments are actually threatening to begin cooperating with each other!”

If this is the introduction of the chair, one can only expect worse to follow, and one cannot be disappointed.

The first witness testimony came from David Makovsky in which he said: “The Makkah Accord is a victory for Hamas, which has achieved its goal of forming a unity government without agreeing to the conditions imposed by the Quartet. It is hard to escape the conclusion that Abbas (President Mahmoud Abbas) has, in fact, legitimized an unrepentant Hamas.... There is little prospect that Secretary Rice could succeed, her mission could constitute motion without movement.”

Ambassador Martin Indyk for his part informed the panel: “Abu Mazen does not have the capability to deliver on any commitments he might make in the peace process. Hamas is now systematically establishing a failed terror state in Gaza.”

The following is an excerpt of what the third witness, Daniel Pipes, told the House Committee:

“War is an act of violence to compel the enemy to fulfill our will.... A Palestinian defeat at Israel’s hands is actually the best thing that had ever happened to them.... Palestinians need to experience the certitude of defeat to become a normal people... the American Congress should work with Israel to induce the Palestinians to accept Israel’s existence by convincing them the gig is up, that they have lost... In the meantime, a war needs to be won.”

On the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the above is only a sample of what goes on in the American Senate and the House of Representatives. In the opinion of this writer, no amount of Palestinian explaining, writing, convincing or media campaign waging can produce a dent in the opinion and perspectives of those on Capitol Hill toward the Palestinian people.

Any change in their perception has to come from within. From taking a closer look at the developing situation in the Middle East, from understanding the root cause of the problems, and from putting America’s interests first. They should be asking real questions. What lies behind the difficulties America faces in Iraq? And what is causing the deterioration of American image, not just in the Middle East but throughout the world? If they are willing to look and ask those questions, they will find the Palestinian problem and the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land in the forefront.

The evidence is there — plain for all to see.

Some $500 billion spent, 3,300 American soldiers killed, and tens of thousands of others injured and mentally affected — this is the price America has paid so far for its ill-advised, ill-conceived adventure in Iraq. Iraq is in a shambles, America appears to have no chance of achieving its objectives there, yet, they are adamant on sending more troops. President Bush is asking the Congress for more money.

The Democrat-dominated Congress is refusing to pay. At least, some changes are taking place on Capitol Hill on the issue of Iraq.

A $2 trillion size economy in the Arabian Gulf countries, $1 trillion worth of Arab investments in the West, 50 years or more oil and gas reserves in Arabian deserts, important waterways in the Suez, the Red Sea, and Arabian Gulf, and other vast strategic assets, should make America revise its stand toward the Palestinian and Arab cause.

Promoting and working toward a just peace in the Middle East is essential for America and the world. America in fact is the only country that can make peace happen. The bottom line is that the West is responsible for the historical injustice that befell the Palestinian people, and it is incumbent on the West to rectify this injustice.

The Palestinian people are asking for their freedom, and call on America and the American Congress to urge Israel to withdraw from all Palestinian land occupied by Israel since June 7, 1967, and to work for a just, agreed upon solution for Palestinian refugees.

One last word needs to be said to Representative Gary L. Ackerman. Mocking the Arab states might help your personal agenda with AIPAC, but will harm America’s strategic interests in the Middle East. Your above statement on the Arab states was way out of line.

— Walid M. Awad works for the Central Media Commission in Ramallah, Palestine.