As
@macklemore’s example shows, ACTUALLY opposing the Israeli occupation means NOT putting personal careers ahead of the fight. Why? The apartheid Israeli state and its genocidal policies exist at the behest of the billionaires and multimillionaires who want to maintain control over the Middle East and their political representatives. Which means that Palestinian solidarity REQUIRES pissing off extremely powerful and wealthy individuals.
Macklemore has shown that he's willing to do that. As have
@KNEECAPCEOL and
@BobbyVylan. As have the Filton 4 and countless working and young people across the world, including tech workers.
Ed Sheeran, who has about $400 million in wealth, has decided to put his own money and career ahead of the need for Palestinian solidarity. Sheeran said: “I am not complicit… Just because I choose not to speak publicly, … it doesn’t mean I don’t care.”
Yes,
@edsheeran, you ARE complicit, as are any public figures with real influence and ability to build the movement against Israeli apartheid but who refuse to do so. This applies even more so to the leadership of the Democratic Socialists of America and their elected officials like Zohran Mamdani and AOC, who claim to be pro-Palestinian but whose many actions have shown otherwise.
Mamdani has endorsed arch Zionists Kathy Hochul and Hakeem Jeffries. AOC has also endorsed Jeffries, and voted against cutting funds for the Israeli military with the idea that Israel should get “defensive” weapons so it can carry out genocide with impunity. Such actions constitute a whitewashing of Zionism and are geared towards keeping cordial relations with powerful Zionists and building careers in the Democratic Party. Instead of more whitewashing, our movement needs leaders who will wear the opposition and hatred of the Israeli and US ruling classes as a badge of honor, as I do.