Dear President Biden,
First of all, I am a great fan of yours. You have done a whole lot of good in your first term. For the life of me, however, I can’t understand your policies toward the current Israeli war in Gaza. Why are we continuing to send offensive weapons to Israel when to do so is prohibited by our own laws?
I think American law is quite clear here: The Leahy Laws state that, when a foreign military is credibly accused of gross human rights violations, the U.S. will no longer provide weapons to them. In addition to that, Section 6201 of the Foreign Assistance Act states that a government blocking American humanitarian aid is no longer eligible for U.S. military assistance. The United Nations and The International Court of Justice have made credible accusations that Israel is guilty on both counts — yet the Leahy Laws and Section 6201 are not being followed by your administration. Why?
I think our failure to follow our own laws is not only having a horrific effect on the people of Gaza, but it is also damaging America’s standing in the rest of the world.
Your administration began by pledging to re-establish American moral leadership, re-engagement with the international community and to uphold the laws of the “rules-based liberal international order.”
I think it’s just become clear to me, and to a growing number of Americans, that your administration is not, in fact, carrying out those pledges with respect to the current humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
The rule of law, both domestic and international, is under attack by Donald Trump and others.
How can you challenge that if you disobey our own laws – and also the laws and recommendations of the international community?
Finally, Mr. President, I have children and grandchildren, and I want to be able to tell them what I did about the slaughter of the people of Gaza in 2023-2024. I want to be able to tell them that I spoke up. I want to be able to tell them, “What I could do, I did do!”
But even more than that, I want to be able to tell them that you were wise enough to strengthen the rule of law — both internationally and domestically — and that you were compassionate enough to finally help put an end to the immoral slaughter of the defenseless men, women and children of Gaza.