The role of Palestine in US domestic and foreign policy

IT IS crucial for any American administration to recognize that, regardless of political agenda, the issues of the Palestinian in Palestine and Israel are undergoing significant shift. Another mass opinion is steadily forming, and this change is becoming undeniable.

- RAMZY BAROUD

Paradoxically, while blaming Hamas continues to be the norm in the US, sentiments supporting Palestinians and opposing Israeli occupation are steadily increasing.

In theory, this means that the pro-Israeli media's success in linking Israelis to notions like the "war on terror" - a narrative that has demonized Islam and Muslims for many years - is faltering.

Americans are increasingly viewing the situation in Palestine as a human rights issue, and that is a direct result of a relevant Gallup poll underscores this shift.

The poll, released on February 6, was conducted between February 1 and 16. It found that American support for Palestine is at its lowest point in 25 years, while sympathy for Palestinians has reached its highest level. Having 40% of Americans supporting Israel and 30% supporting Palestine, the shift must have seemed inconsequential in the past when the plight of Palestine and its people was largely overlooked by the general public.

Even more remarkable is that this work continues to gain momentum, despite the fact that mainstream media and American politicians have been more biased than ever, promoting a dehumanizing discourse of racism and anti-semitism to silence support for Palestine.