If the United States blocks the Palestinian petition for statehood in the United Nations in September, it will betray the great principles of our founding fathers.

Apparently that does not bother President Barack Obama or Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who seem to support Israel's occupation of Palestine.

How long will the U.S. support Israel's land grab? When will there be a courageous U.S. leadership to defy Israel's rule of the legitimate people of Palestine? Obama has indicated he plans to veto any move on behalf of the Palestinians.

Why does Israel have such a strong hold over Americans, especially Americans who are aware of the brutality of the Israel military against the Palestinians? The Israelis have literally stolen Palestinian farm land to build walls, and have cut off access to clean, fresh water. In many cases, Palestinians have to pay five times the price for fresh water as Israelis living in the same land.

How can the U.S. stand against a people who seek freedom from such brutal tyranny? The Palestinians have no other choice. They cannot continue to live barricaded behind walls, as Israel continues to take more and more of their land.

U.S. support for the Arab awakening may seem hypocritical if they vote against statehood for Palestinians. How can we support democracy in the Middle East - cheering Egyptians, Libyans and Tunisians who rebel from evil dictators - and not support the Palestinians' recognition as a state? Don't the Palestinians deserve to be free also?

Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian National Authority, has the support of all of the Arab countries and millions of Arab people who sympathize with the plight of their Palestinian brothers. The Arabs also support the goals of the Palestinians for self rule in land Israel annexed in defiance of international law.

The U.S. influence in the Arab and Islamic world is already on the decline. Between our unwavering, blind support of Israel and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, we are arousing great hostility. Do we blame them?

The State of Israel was created almost immediately after British Colonial troops pulled out. The terrorist gangs Haganah, Irgun and Lehi formed the National Military Organization in Israel. They swept through, torturing and running helpless Palestinians out of their once peaceful villages.

President Harry S. Truman was awakened at 3 a.m. by pro-Israeli Americans to recognize the State of Israel - which he shamelessly did.

Jews were horrifically persecuted and gassed by the Nazis, but this does not give them the right to inflict their revenge on the Arab people who did nothing to them.
We just celebrated the 50th anniversary of the freedom riders. I think back to the civil rights movement in our own country, and I am very proud of the many Jewish Americans who bravely risked their lives for the freedom of their American brothers. The Jews in this country led many of the peaceful protests, and persevered during impossible times. As a result, Civil Rights legislation was passed and history was literally changed.

Why have we given up on Israel? Many pro-Israeli Americans believe Israel has no choice but to use brutal force against the Palestinians. And yet, never in history has it ever worked to separate people we are fearful of, putting them behind walls. Why can't the Israelis take a lesson from their American brothers who used peaceful protests to evoke change? Walling people off and forcing them off of their land did not work for the South African government during the Apartheid era and it will not continue to be a sustainable path for Israel.

The only hope for peace in the Middle East is for both sides to replace fear with compassion. When we are driven by fear we will never truly achieve peace.

When I see how much power and influence the Pro-Israeli lobby has over our politicians, I wonder if they are fearful of not being reelected if they go against Israel.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee sponsored multiple junkets to Israel for both Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress and the Senate. Many Americans are probably unaware that AIPAC pays our representatives to visit Israel. This is yet another example of undue influence AIPAC has over American politicians.

In order to live up to our ideals and not be hypocritical, as a nation we need to press for a two-state solution in Israel.