In the 1989 classic Lethal Weapon 2, the lead characters, Murtaugh (Danny Glover) and Riggs (Mel Gibson), take on and expose South African drug smugglers profiting from corruption.
For Mehdi Hasan, this was his first exposure to South Africa’s racist system of apartheid. They were clearly the villains who were defeated by the good guys, two grizzled American cops who also protected the annoying but lovable informant Leo Getz (Joe Pesci).
It’s an example of how popular culture both reflects and shapes the politics of the day. Thanks to a decades-long resistance movement, which included student protests, counter-narratives, and boycotts, South Africa was eventually forced to release Nelson Mandela and end their racist system that disenfranchised and oppressed Black South Africans to benefit the white minority.
What was once impossible became reality.
We’re witnessing something similar happen when it comes to Israel and Palestine. What was once a bipartisan issue has now fractured US politics. Last night, Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen’s resolution to have accountability for 9 Americans killed in the West Bank was supported by nearly every single Democrat, except John Fetterman. In the UK, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who is Jewish, recently announced a ban on imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Although more can, and should, be done to end Israel’s illegal occupation, apartheid, and genocide of Palestinians, these actions would have been deemed impossible just three years ago.
When it comes to culture, Israel has lost, as a majority of voters in America and around the world now side with Palestinians who are seeking freedom and self-determination. Just look at the support for Macklemore, who was cancelled for simply saying, “Free Palestine.” Still, the GOP and some Democrats refuse to evolve on the issue, as evidenced by Mayor Karen Bass, who declined to describe Israel’s conduct as genocide.
However, these politicians, billionaires, and institutions are clearly losing the plot and are on the wrong side of history. They’re also on the wrong side of the polls, as Israel-Palestine can no longer be ignored by Democratic, and even some Republican, hopefuls.
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