Fact Check: Americans support Israel because both countries were founded on genocide and stealing land

Fact Check: "Americans support Israel because both countries were founded on genocide and stealing land"

What We Know

The claim that "Americans support Israel because both countries were founded on genocide and stealing land" is rooted in a complex historical narrative regarding the establishment of both the United States and Israel. The assertion of genocide and land theft is particularly contentious in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

1. Foundational Violence: The establishment of Israel in 1948 is often linked to the Nakba, a term that refers to the mass displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Approximately 750,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled from their homes, and many villages were destroyed or repopulated by Jewish settlers (source-1). This event is characterized by some scholars as ethnic cleansing or genocide, although there is significant debate on this classification (source-1).

2. Genocide Accusations: Various international legal scholars and human rights organizations have accused Israel of committing acts that could be classified as genocide against Palestinians, particularly in light of recent conflicts such as the Gaza War in 2023. For instance, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories has indicated that there are "reasonable grounds to believe" that genocide has occurred (source-1). However, Israel and the United States have consistently rejected these claims, arguing that they are politically motivated (source-1).

3. U.S. Support for Israel: The United States has a long history of military and political support for Israel, which has been described as enabling ongoing violence against Palestinians. Critics argue that this support is rooted in a historical pattern of colonialism and genocide, similar to the founding narratives of the United States itself, which involved the displacement and genocide of Native American populations (source-2).

Analysis

The claim that both the U.S. and Israel were founded on genocide and land theft is supported by historical accounts of violence and displacement. The Nakba is a critical event in this narrative, as it involved the systematic removal of Palestinians from their land, which some scholars argue fits the definition of genocide (source-1).

However, the interpretation of these events is highly contested. While some historians and activists assert that the actions taken during the establishment of Israel constitute genocide, others argue that these actions should be classified as ethnic cleansing or other forms of violence rather than genocide (source-1). This divergence in interpretation highlights the complexity of the historical narrative and the ongoing debate surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Moreover, the U.S. support for Israel is often framed within the context of geopolitical interests rather than a direct endorsement of the actions taken against Palestinians. While critics argue that U.S. military aid facilitates Israeli actions that could be seen as genocidal, supporters of U.S.-Israel relations often cite shared democratic values and strategic alliances (source-2).

Conclusion

The claim that "Americans support Israel because both countries were founded on genocide and stealing land" is Partially True. While there is substantial historical evidence to suggest that both the establishment of Israel and the founding of the United States involved acts of violence and dispossession, the classification of these acts as genocide is debated among scholars. Additionally, U.S. support for Israel is influenced by a variety of factors, including political, strategic, and ideological considerations, rather than a straightforward endorsement of its historical actions against Palestinians.

Sources

1. Palestinian genocide accusation
2. Decades of US Arms Deals With Israel Paved the Way to ...
3. Israel's roots in European colonialism explain its genocidal ...
4. The anatomy of Zionist genocide | Israel-Palestine conflict
5. Why the Gaza genocide is an American one
6. How the US became Israel's closest ally - Vox
7. In Gaza, the west is enabling the most transparent ...
8. Teaching About Palestine-Israel and the Unfolding ...