As global outrage grew, many expressed unwavering support for Israel. However, it’s crucial to recognize that history is not confined to our attention span. Before making judgments, we must understand that the complexity of this situation requires a consideration of the historical context spanning at least the last two centuries.

History of Israel and Palestine 

Beginning in the 1840s, the British viewed Palestine as a strategic Middle Eastern foothold, formalizing their interest during World War I through the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which called for a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine. Tensions escalated between Arabs and Jews in the following decades as a growing number of Jewish people sought refuge in Palestine following the Holocaust. Driven by a need for safety after centuries of persecution, Jewish individuals desired their own state. Simultaneously, Palestinians witnessed their own homes being forcibly taken and their land colonized, deepening the conflict. The conflict grew so large that the UK turned the issue over to the United Nations in 1947.  After looking at alternatives, the UN proposed the separation of Palestine into two independent states, one Palestinian-Arab and the other Jewish. The Jewish state proclaimed its independence as Israel. In the 1948 war involving neighboring Arab States, Israel’s new army expanded its territory, leading to the expulsion or flight of about 700,000 Palestinians, constituting approximately 85% of the indigenous Arab population in the captured area, who were never permitted to return.

Over the past 50 years, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has persisted with Israel constructing settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where more than 700,000 Jews now reside, despite international law deeming these settlements illegal. Israel’s policies, particularly concerning the Gaza Strip, have faced global criticism. Since 2007 Gaza has been under a stringent blockade, tightly controlled by Israel, encompassed by concrete walls and barbed wire fences.

Palestinians in Gaza endure severe restrictions, with limited access to trade, water and electricity due to the blockade. They are prohibited from entering or leaving the territory except in extremely rare cases such as urgent, life-threatening medical conditions. This situation has been described by human rights groups as akin to living in the world’s largest open-air prison.

Israel’s Response to the Attack  

In response to the recent attack on Oct. 7, Israel has taken significant military actions, which have sparked widespread international concern. Reports have emerged detailing alleged war crimes committed by Israel, including the bombing of hospitals and deliberate cutoffs of essential services such as electricity and water supply in Gaza. 

According to the Secretary General of Amnesty International, Agnès Callamard: “In their stated intent to use all means to destroy Hamas, Israeli forces have shown a shocking disregard for civilian lives. They have pulverized street after street of residential buildings killing civilians on a mass scale and destroying essential infrastructure, while new restrictions mean Gaza is fast running out of water, medicine, fuel and electricity. Testimonies from eyewitnesses and survivors highlighted, again and again, how Israeli attacks decimated Palestinian families, causing such destruction that surviving relatives have little but rubble to remember their loved ones by.” 

American Involvement 

The United States, among other countries, has been a long-standing supporter of Israel, providing substantial financial aid and military assistance. This support has generated debates and criticism, raising questions about the indirect endorsement of Israel’s military actions in the region.

The US is currently continuing its extensive financial support to Israel, having provided the country with $158 billion since World War II, surpassing aid given to any other nation. Although US officials have thus far refrained from sending troops, they actively support the Israeli military and security forces. In response to the recent Hamas attack, the US is sending guided-missile carriers, F-35 fighters and other equipment

On Oct. 13, The American public seemed to agree with the support of Israel. 44% of the 1,313 adult  Americans polled said that Israel’s response to Hamas attacks has been about right, while about 25% said it has actually been too little.  An article published on Oct. 23 showed how these numbers have changed over the last week. It found 7 in 10 Americans — support providing aid to Israel. When asked for opinions on Israel’s response to Hamas’ attack, 35% of registered voters said Israel’s retaliation has been “about right” while one-quarter said Israel’s response has been “not harsh enough.”  Those numbers may seem like a relatively small change, but it does show that opinions are changing slowly but surely. This may be due to the increasing number of young people who are speaking out against Israel’s action.

Should America be Supporting Israel

The significant financial aid and military assistance provided by the United States endorse Israel’s actions. This only leads to more human rights violations and exacerbates tensions in the region. There needs to be a more balanced approach that promotes diplomacy, dialogue and a just resolution to the conflict. Americans should advocate for a reconsideration of the substantial aid provided and urge the US to leverage its influence to encourage both parties to engage in peaceful negotiations and respect for international law instead of unequivocally supporting the Israeli government.

By promoting initiatives that encourage mutual understanding and respect, the focus can shift from military aid to diplomatic solutions. The goal should be to create a more peaceful coexistence. It’s vital for policymakers and leaders to carefully consider the implications of their support and work towards a future where both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security.

Conclusion

The ethics of the Israel-Hamas conflict is very nuanced and this article can only act as a brief overview. Nevertheless, it is important to consider not only the tragedies that Israel and its citizens have gone through but also the continuous and systemic tragedies that the Palestinian people have faced. To be as informed and humane as possible we must pay close attention to both sides of the issue. Unequivocally supporting a single side is how we allow injustice to happen.

While discussing these issues, it’s essential to emphasize that criticism of the Israeli government’s policies should not translate into hatred or prejudice against Jewish people. Not all Jewish individuals support the Israeli government’s actions, just as not all Palestinians support the actions of Hamas. Navigating this topic demands careful consideration that aims to promote understanding and empathy while condemning violence and injustice.

When someone asks me who my favorite music artist is, I sense that they expect my answer to be the name of a master composer from our history or a force in our current music industry; and they would be right. My favorite artist is “Weird Al” Yankovic. If Elvis Presley is considered the King of Rock and Aretha Franklin the Queen of Soul, then “Weird Al” Yankovic is the King of Parody. Many who know Weird Al know him for his hit parodies like “Eat It”, “White and Nerdy” and “Amish Paradise” to name just a few. This was the extent of my Weird Al knowledge initially. As I began to immerse myself deeper into the world of Al, I found not just a man who takes incredible songs and makes funny parodies from them, but a man who can provide an important commentary on the topic of value in music. 

Comedy music is often perceived as deserving only a brief moment under the sun. Comedy music is often reserved for the encore of a recital or a one-off video that comes and goes on social media. When talking about music that has value and substance in our history, seldom does anyone mention comedy music. So why don’t we take comedy music seriously? That question may seem like an oxymoron in hindsight considering a major point of comedy is to express the opposite of seriousness. The truth is that comedy music encompasses a serious musicianship and effort, but the legitimacy of its craft is shadowed by what is seen at face value: the music’s comical lyrics and tone.  

“Weird Al” Yankovic is my favorite music artist because he challenges the stigma that comedy music holds less value than other genres of music. While he was not the first, he is arguably the one of most famous examples of successful comedy music artists of our generation. Weird Al served an important role in giving comedy music its presence through the many parodies he has created. Every parody encompasses the music that people listen to daily but with a lyrical twist to make the concept of comedy music approachable. While parody was not invented by Weird Al, his work set the standard for the genre. I’d argue that even though he is best known for parodies, his original songs offer a more important commentary of value in comedy music. For every parody he creates, an original composition created by Weird Al shows that beyond his excellent lyricism, he and his band are incredible songwriters who put forth ambitious efforts and care into their music. Under his goofy persona exists an influential character that has helped create a larger presence for comedy music. Many of my favorite songs from Weird Al are his originals because when his lyricism and composition talents are both at work he is at his most creative.

The act of writing parody music and original music simultaneously has been a major force in getting Weird Al’s name, and comedy music as a whole, in the spotlight. On the other hand, this approach created the dilemma of people knowing and associating him solely with parodies and not originals due to how much more popular his parodies are. Weird Al has become so associated with parodying that when an original song comes up in my playlist, a friend of mine will often ask, “What is this a parody of?”  

Comedy music still has a way to go in being taken seriously, but Weird Al has shown that comedy musicians can be successful. It was through his efforts that artists such as Bo Burnham, Tenacious D and The Lonely Island were able to take comedy music in their own approach and continue the effort. It has been so exciting to see these newer artists thrive with the rise of the digital streaming age to help make comedy music earn the value it deserves. 

Music exists in many forms throughout our time and history as a phenomenon that we cannot escape, yet it has been apparent that not all music is treated equally. In a food chain of musical genres, comedy music resides near the bottom as a genre seen by many as nothing but one-offs and encore pieces due to their perceived lack of musical substance or value. Many great musicians have formed to fight back against the stigma and put the seriousness in comedy music, including the great “Weird Al” Yankovic. He may be considered the King of Parody, but he’s the king of a lot more than that in my eye. With his music, he declares that comedy matters. Good comedy music deserves to be in our playlists, in the middle of our recitals and in our ears. Comedy music deserves to be taken seriously. 

My Favorite Original Songs by “Weird Al” Yankovic: 

• “You Don’t Love Me Anymore”
• ”Don’t Download This Song”
• ”Albuquerque”
• ”Skipper Dan”
• ”Melanie”
• ”Pancreas”

All photos were provided to The Hilltop Monitor by Elijah Tang-Spigelman.

As always, Washington has been hectic. Here is what you need to know in a snapshot. 

On Nov. 15, President Joe Biden held a virtual summit with Xi Jinping, President of China. The summit focused on creating a more hospitable relationship between the two world powers. It has been no secret that the United States and China have been fiercely competing for hegemony in recent decades. China’s rapid economic growth has been nothing short of astonishing. To be frank, it is daunting. 

The competition between the two powers will not stop or slow down soon. However, the summit was designed for the two countries to lay out an approach where responsible competition can happen. China has been at the forefront of Biden’s foreign policy, but this is the first time the two leaders are meeting in person since Biden was elected. The U.S. has been trying to get China to play by international rules and norms that everyone has to follow for years. Will this summit be the moment that China begins to be an international asset instead of a liability? Unlikely, but this could be the first step in the two countries building a more compatible relationship where the needed change could happen. Time will tell if Biden can do what past Presidents have failed to do.

Last week, Judge Tanya S. Chutkan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia rejected former President Donald Trump’s bid to keep his papers secret about his behavior and conservations before the event of Jan. 6. While the ruling will be appealed the historical precedent is not on Trump’s side. Congressman Bennie Thompson is right in saying, “Throughout our country’s history, the executive branch has provided Congress with testimony and information when it has been in the public interest.” There is a public interest in finding out what happened that day. When the National Archives will turn over the paperwork is yet to be seen, but it appears that the American people are going to see what was said leading up to the events of Jan. 6, 2021.

The October Consumer Price Index sent off warning signs across the country this past week. The Price Index showed that prices had increased by 6.2% in October, the highest rate of inflation since 1990. To say that Biden and his administration are worried would be a gross understatement. To understand the implications of the cost of living increasing by so much does not take a degree from the London School of Economics. People do not like spending more on goods than they have in the past. The reality is that after a recession of the magnitude caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be inflation as the market returns to normalcy. That is not the problem for the Biden administration.

The issue facing the Biden administration is how long prices will be this high and how they can calm American nerves. In theory, prices will return to the normal rate after the supply chains can catch up and meet the high demands made by the consumer. As manufacturers return to their output levels seen before the pandemic, they should be able to meet the demand that has created higher prices. As Republicans have noted, this could be an omen for something worse.

The quick increase of the Price Index could drastically change the expectations of consumers and businesses across the country theoretically creating a scenario where the higher prices we see today are here to stay. Which scenario will happen will be debated by economists and politicians until we know for sure. Still, Biden will have to respond. Most Americans vote with their wallet, especially when their wallet is hurting. Midterms are coming, and if Biden cannot reverse the trend or calm American nerves, there will be cataclysmic losses in congressional, gubernatorial and local races for the Democratic Party.

As always, Washington has been hectic. Here’s what you need to know in a snapshot.

This past week, Steve Bannon, former advisor to President Donald Trump, was held in contempt by the House of Representatives. Bannon had refused to appear in Congress after being subpoenaed by the commission investigating the insurrection on the United States Capital in January of last year. It is now up to the office of the U.S. Attorney  in the District of Columbia to go forward with any prosecution.

Bannon’s behavior is disappointing to say the least. No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, Bannon’s behavior is sophomoric and unacceptable. No one is above the law in this country. It is time that some people realize this truth and act in the wellbeing of the American people. If he had nothing to hide, why is he desperately trying to avoid giving testimony?

This past week, former President Trump announced the creation of his own social media platform. TRUTH social is expected to be released in a beta version this November and in full in 2022. Trump has hinted towards the creation of his own social media platform going back to March of 2021. The platform claims to foster an environment where nothing will be censored – allegedly complete free speech. However, the terms and service agreement of the platform bans negative comments about the site and its leadership.

The impact of Trump’s social media platform will not be known for some time. It will be interesting to see how it competes against social media giants like Twitter and Facebook. I believe that Trump’s social media platform will garner a large following from his conservative base. For years, Republicans have claimed that conservative voices have been silenced by the mainstream media. It is easy to forget that Trump had 74 million people vote for him in 2020. Trump’s base is as strong as ever and it is a safe bet to assume that they will support the former President on his new social media platform. 

It appears that the Democrats are close to deciding on acceptable language for President Biden’s Social Safety Net Bill. On Sunday, Oct. 24, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced that she expected Democrats to have an agreement on the plan within the week. The bill is the centerpiece of the Biden Administration’s domestic policy. The 10-year plan would bring sweeping change across the country. It includes universal pre-kindergarten, an extension of the child tax credit for at least one year, childcare and home care and $150-200 billion for housing. The original price tag was $3.5 trillion, but after debate within the Democratic party, the likely final number will be $1.9 trillion. 

If Biden can have this bill passed, it would be a legacy moment for his presidency. His first ten months have been lackluster. His approval rating is averaging at 43%. A struggling economy along with a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan has fueled doubt in him. From a political perspective, Biden and the Democrats need a win. Midterms are coming and there will be a drastic transition of legislative power if something does not happen. The importance of this bill to Biden and the Democrats grows every day that the economy continues to struggle.