The recent spectacle of 79 standing ovations for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his speech to Congress on July 24 serves as yet another dismaying example of our government’s disconnect from the people it claims to represent.
As tens of thousands of citizens gathered outside to voice their opposition to Netanyahu’s brutal policies and our continued enablement of his regime, they were met with derision and undue force from the very institutions meant to protect and serve them.
It’s deeply troubling to see our elected representatives fawn over a foreign leader who not only faces mass protests in his own country for attempting to dismantle the judiciary but has also been implicated in countless human rights abuses, violations of international law and even genocide.
That our government sees fit to not only ignore the cries of its own people but actively suppress their right to peaceful protest speaks volumes about the current state of our democracy.
It’s time for a serious reassessment of our values as a nation and a renewed commitment to ensuring our leaders prioritize the well-being and democratic principles of their constituents over the interests of foreign powers.
Tori Johnson
Sequim