The complex relationship between the United States and Palestine has long been a subject of intense scrutiny and debate. Recent events have brought renewed attention to what many perceive as glaring double standards in U.S. foreign policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This article examines how these inconsistencies are undermining American diplomatic efforts and failing the Palestinian people.
U.S. diplomacy is most effective when it incorporates diverse perspectives and engages openly with all parties involved in a conflict. However, in the case of Palestine, America has fallen short of this ideal. As Allan J. Wind, a retired U.S. senior foreign service officer, notes:
"U.S. diplomacy is at its best when American diplomats are informed by the diverse perspectives of leaders, foreign service officers, and private sector citizens. Serious diplomacy requires more than talking with friends and like-minded groups. It must also include efforts to engage freely and frankly with adversaries and those who might wish the United States ill. In places such as the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, long before Hamas's attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, the United States fell far short of that ideal."
This failure to engage openly and sincerely with all parties has severely limited America's ability to act as an impartial mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Restrictive Policies Hampering Humanitarian Efforts
The U.S. government has implemented a series of policies that have significantly constrained the work of diplomats and humanitarian workers in Palestine. These include:
- The "no-contact policy" with designated foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs)
- USAID Mission Order 21, which prohibits assistance to groups connected to Hamas
- The Taylor Force Act, barring aid to the Palestinian Authority
Wind explains the impact of these policies:
"As a U.S. senior foreign service officer, these counterproductive policies often constrained my team in Gaza. We engaged in expensive and time-consuming vetting operations on organizations and staff to avoid the slightest possibility of linkage with the de facto authorities. We were greatly limited in potential partners among small-scale civil society and community-based organizations."
These restrictions have severely hampered the ability of aid organizations to provide crucial assistance to vulnerable Palestinian communities.
Legal Harassment of NGOs
Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) working in Palestine have faced additional challenges due to the misuse of U.S. laws like the False Claims Act. This has led to costly legal battles and settlements, further impeding humanitarian efforts. Wind describes one such case:
"U.S.-based pro-Israel activists from the Zionist Advocacy Center and NGO Monitor found photos showing low-level Gaza Health Ministry staff at a table for a Norwegian People's Aid-managed democracy and health conference. Water bottles visible in the photo were then described as illegal 'material aid.' The 2015 suit led to a 2018 pre-trial settlement with no admission of guilt."
One-Sided Accountability
Perhaps the most glaring double standard in U.S. policy is the lack of accountability for Israeli actions. While Palestinian groups face severe restrictions and consequences, there are virtually no penalties or constraints on U.S. assistance to Israel, even in the face of well-documented human rights abuses.
Wind highlights this disparity:
"These restrictions are exquisitely one-sided: There are virtually no penalties or constraints on U.S. assistance to Israel, even as Israeli government policies have promoted illegal settlements, and Israeli security forces have allowed settlers to act with impunity in killing unarmed Palestinians and attacking Palestinian villages and orchards."
The Impact of Recent Events
The October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli military response have brought these double standards into sharper focus. The Biden administration's unwillingness to engage directly with Hamas, even for humanitarian purposes, has limited diplomatic options. Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to provide substantial military aid to Israel despite growing concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza.
Wind points out the contradiction:
"Washington can't claim that it opposes the indiscriminate bombing of innocents, elderly, and children when the U.S. government allows the IDF to act with total impunity."
Disregard for Established Accountability Measures
Existing U.S. laws designed to prevent military aid from flowing to units accused of human rights abuses, such as the Leahy Laws, have been largely ignored in the case of Israel. Wind notes:
"Even so, the Pentagon has provided Israel for decades with more than $3 billion in weapons annually, a figure that has increased since the start of Israel's war with Hamas on Oct. 7. Since then, the United States has enacted legislation providing at least $12.5 billion in military aid to Israel, including $3.8 billion from a bill in March 2024 and $8.7 billion from a supplemental appropriations act in April 2024."
The Human Cost of Double Standards
The consequences of these policies are dire for both Israelis and Palestinians. The ongoing conflict and lack of meaningful diplomatic engagement perpetuate cycles of violence and suffering. Wind argues:
"Israel's destruction of Gaza will endanger both Israeli and Palestinian lives for years to come, perpetuating endless, unpredictable cycles of violence. The consequences for U.S. diplomacy are tragic. By not holding both sides accountable, utilizing the available tools to curb or block the fighting with U.S. arms, and talking directly with those holding hostages, Washington's diplomatic efforts have surrendered all moral authority and credibility."
The Need for Policy Reevaluation
To address these issues and restore credibility to U.S. diplomatic efforts in the region, Wind calls for a comprehensive review of current policies:
"The White House and Congress must seriously reevaluate the consequences and impact of U.S. laws and policy measures—such as USAID Mission Order 21, the no-contact policy with FTOs, and the Taylor Force Law—that thoroughly undermine and weaken U.S. diplomacy. They should be repealed and be countered with objective application of Leahy Law sanctions on culpable IDF units, leaders, and those providing them political cover."
The double standards in U.S. policy toward Palestine have not only failed to advance peace but have actively undermined diplomatic efforts and exacerbated the suffering of Palestinian civilians. To regain moral authority and credibility in the region, the United States must:
- Engage openly and directly with all parties involved in the conflict
- Reevaluate and repeal counterproductive policies that hinder humanitarian efforts
- Apply accountability measures consistently to both Israeli and Palestinian actors
- Prioritize diplomatic solutions over military aid
- Address the root causes of the conflict, including the ongoing occupation and expansion of settlements
Only by adopting a more balanced and principled approach can the United States hope to play a constructive role in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Palestine. The current policy of double standards is not only failing Palestine but also undermining America's broader foreign policy objectives in the Middle East.
