Israeli newspapers have applauded Kamala Harris‘s entrance. Her husband is Jewish, and by sifting through her tweets and speeches from recent years, they are satisfied. Kamala has always adhered to the pro-Israel lobby’s stance, with just a few mild discomforts expressed during the genocide in Gaza, but nothing alarming. Certainly, Kamala isn’t on the level of Biden‘s butler, but they are very confident that Washington will continue to deliver platitudes and billions of dollars regularly. If Kamala Harris had different views on Israel, she would never have made it this far. They would have ended her career early. This is a crucial point that many do not understand. For something to change in this world, intervention is needed early and far from the halls of power, otherwise democracies will remain just noisy electoral carnivals where people delude themselves that everything will change with the next government, only to find themselves in the same old mire. The lobbies know this very well, especially in America where they buy politicians at the dawn of their careers and follow them step by step, indicating the line to follow and ensuring they stick to it. Politicians and also organic journalists placed in strategic positions and greased as needed. They control both those who decide and those who report the decisions made, packaging them appropriately if unpalatable to the general public.
With Kamala Harris, many Americans are deluding themselves that something will change while they have already been duped from the start. Kamala will speculate on Trump‘s flaws, limit herself to selling details as major revolutions, and once in the White House, will resume the usual lobbyist routine. Political change is a serious matter, and in full neoliberal drift, it is even more so. But let’s stick to the present. Awaiting Netanyahu‘s shameful speech, protests have already begun outside the American parliament. Among them are many Jews with the sign “not in our name,” including rabbis who reiterate that true Judaism has nothing to do with Netanyahu’s Zionist delusion. Religion and history exploited for a despicable colonial project with the coverage of sold-out media and politicians. This is what will remain in history books, even if it will take time. The good news is that the genocide in Gaza has turned the world’s stomach, and hypocritical Western complicity is under the spotlight. Netanyahu has had a ceasefire agreement in his pocket for weeks, the relatives of the hostages, and Israeli citizens who have been protesting against him for months wanted him to sign it before leaving for Washington. We will see if Netanyahu will use the American stage to sign in a desperate attempt to salvage his reputation as a war criminal that he has well earned or if he will stay the course.
It seems he will also meet with Kamala Harris behind the scenes. No political dissent, just communication, which today counts more than substance. Many Democratic voters, especially young ones, are disgusted by the genocide in Gaza, and Kamala needs to secure their votes to win. Prudence is needed; then, once in office, she can run smiling to Jerusalem if Hezbollah hasn’t landed in the meantime. Certainly, Kamala is a better person than Trump, but it takes little and remains a small consolation for those hoping for a change. Kamala is enlivening the electoral carnival, but real political change only comes from the grassroots, from the streets, and not from the halls of power. This is especially true today when the market commands and thus the money, with lobbies imposing their interests by buying politics and media in the face of popular will. Real change is very difficult; it involves overcoming fears and resistance and trying new paths. Only citizens have the freedom, drive, interest, and courage to make real change. It is history. It is current events. The genocide in Gaza has generated global disgust, but for something to change, the protest must transform into political proposals and challenge not only Netanyahu but also the entire prevailing Western system of which Kamala Harris is an integral part. This is a crucial point that many do not understand. Real change is a serious matter and starts with us.
