Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Position on Palestine
A Concern for Arab Americans
As the 2024 presidential race gains momentum, the emergence of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a contender initially sparked hope among Arab Americans, who sought a strong advocate to address their concerns regarding U.S. policy toward Palestine.
However, Kennedy's positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have since raised doubts and skepticism within the Arab American communities, casting doubt on his ability to effectively represent their aspirations.
Kennedy's reputation as a serious candidate stems from his notable political lineage, as the son of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy. This family legacy, rooted in public service, has garnered significant attention and generated interest in his potential candidacy.
Throughout his career, Kennedy has demonstrated a commitment to social and environmental issues. As an environmental lawyer and activist, he has been at the forefront of advocating for clean energy, conservation, and the protection of natural resources. His dedication to these causes has earned him praise from environmentalists and grassroots organizations nationwide.
Kennedy has been a vocal critic of corporate influence in politics, calling for campaign finance reform and greater transparency. His stance on reducing the influence of money in political decision-making has resonated with voters concerned about the integrity of the democratic process.
While some Arab Americans may or may not support his local policy on environmental issues or even anti-vaccine theories; however, his recent media and public statements vis-à-vis Palestine raised more eyebrows among the Arab American communities than the candidate may have anticipated.
Kennedy’s statements revealed a similar side toward the Palestinian cause as any other candidate throughout the history of the United States presidential races – at least since 1947. His views seem contradictory at times and biased in favor of Israel at many others.
Aside from back walking his tweet in support of Roger Waters, following the attack on the latter due to his recent concert in Germany and for his unwavering pro-Palestine position, Kennedy stated that he “...made the tweet applauding Roger Waters' courage in opposing the Covid mandates and the Ukraine war. I was unaware of his position on Israel. And when I learned that I immediately took it down.”
This and other comments revealed in several of his statements show an open support for Israel while simultaneously blaming Palestinians for being under occupation!
In an hour-long interview with journalist Glenn Greenwald on ‘System Update’, Kennedy made numerous, albeit uneducated, comments that can be taken as the position of the presidential candidate toward the Palestine question.
“Everything has a historical context in Israel. If you look at why we aren’t at a two-state solution, which everyone now says they want, but both in 1947-1948 and again in 2001, it was the Palestinian leadership who walked away from a two-state solution and pledged itself to the destruction of the Jewish people,” Kennedy said on ‘System Update’.
Such a statement attacks the victims and exonerates the state that for over 75 years was responsible for committing massacres against the native inhabitants of Palestine, erasing their towns and villages, looting their farms and properties, and causing one of the longest-standing refugee calamities in modern history.
The recent Arab American communities’ disappointment stems from Kennedy's unwavering support for Israel without adequately addressing the challenges faced by Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. This lack of recognition of the complexities and grievances faced by Palestinians perpetuates an imbalance in U.S. foreign policy, which has historically favored Israel.
Arab Americans view the struggle for Palestinian self-determination as an issue of great importance, deeply tied to their commitment to seek a candidate who will wholeheartedly champion the aspirations of Palestinians for freedom, and the right to determine their own future on their historical land.
Kennedy's failure to acknowledge the plight of Palestinians is deeply troubling not only to Arab Americans but also to longtime international supporters of Palestine.
In a tweet on June 16, 2023, George Galloway stated: “RFK Jr seemed like the ideal candidate with his heritage, to end the war, pardon Julian Assange, help the poor – until he wasn’t. His criticism of Palestine is ignorant and ill-founded.”
Galloway later posted a video on his page on TikTok following Kennedy’s interview with Glenn Greenwald:
Meanwhile, the Green Party Presidential candidate Professor Cornel West criticized Robert Kennedy Jr. while speaking on the ‘Bad Faith Pod’ about the Democratic presidential candidate's stance on Israel and Palestine.
West said, "You want a presidential candidate, and I think you just want this in any human being, to have a backbone, to have integrity, to have consistency, not to check what you deeply believe after you've had some dialogue or discourse with a group of people or community that's going to be shaping and molding how you perceive the world.” He added, "If he (Kennedy Jr.) thinks somehow that each Palestinian baby who was killed somehow was never in any way, intentional, deliberate, they didn't know what they were doing...he needs to really get off the crack pipe."
As the 2024 presidential race unfolds, Arab Americans are closely scrutinizing Kennedy's response to their concerns. They expect him to engage in meaningful dialogue and to show unwavering commitment to rectifying the injustices faced by Palestinians, to gain the trust and support of Arab Americans.
In this critical moment, Arab Americans pose a pivotal question to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.:
If you truly aspire to be a champion of human rights, where do you stand on rectifying the historical imbalances in U.S. foreign policy in favor of Israel and addressing Palestinians' rights to self-determination?
The answer to this question will determine whether Kennedy can secure the trust, support, and endorsement of Arab Americans as he continues his pursuit of the presidency. Arab Americans are seeking a candidate who will be an unwavering advocate for justice and the rights of Palestinians in their quest for freedom and self-determination. It is a defining moment for Kennedy to align his positions with the aspirations of Arab Americans and take a meaningful stand on the side of human rights and justice.