JUAN COLE'S ANALYSIS OF WHY U.S. GOES ALONG WITH ISRAEL'S ATTACK ON GAZA

All of my readers need to take a look at Juan Cole's blog today on his Informed Comment. Cole writes on the futility of European street protests against the Israeli attack on Palestinians in Gaza.

Cole writes:

"Europe has ceded dealing with the Israelis to the United States.

"The people of the United States have ceded dealing with the Israelis to the US Congress.

"The US Congress generally abdicates its responsibilities when faced with large powerful single-issue lobbies such as the National Rifle Association, the Cuban-American pro-boycott organizations, and the Israel lobbies.

"So Congress has ceded Israel, and indeed, most Middle East, policy to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its myriad organizational supporters, from the Southern Baptist churches to the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs.

"The Israel lobbies take their cue on what is good policy from the Israeli government and the Likud Party.

"So, US Israel policy is driven by . . . the Israeli rightwing. That is why Congress voted 309 to five to support Israel's war on the people of Gaza, with 22 abstaining."