Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) is being criticized by some pro-Israel Twitter users for accusing Israel of excluding Palestinians from the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
Bowman posted a letter to Twitter on February 2 to Israeli Acting Consulate General in New York Israel Nitzan, stating that while he was “heartened” that the Israeli government is providing 5,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to the Palestinians in the West Bank, there are still “millions of Palestinians living in occupied territory under Israeli military rule” that have been excluded from the vaccine rollout.
“Israel, as an occupying power, has a responsibility to provide vaccines to the Palestinian people,” Bowman wrote. “It is therefore concerning that Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank will be receiving the vaccine from the Israeli government, but Palestinians in the West Bank will not.” He added that herd immunity in the region is impossible without Palestinians also being vaccinated.
“As a Black man living in American, I know the feeling of being neglected by my government and society, of feeling like a second-class citizen or not a citizen at all, in my own home,” Bowman wrote. “I can understand the feelings of hopelessness and despair that Palestinians living in the West Bank might feel, reading in the news that the Israeli government has no plans to vaccinate them from a deadly disease wreaking havoc around the globe.”
Pro-Israel Twitter users criticized Bowman’s letter.
“Dear Congressman, I suggest you may care to also read the Oslo Accords, which make clear [the Palestinian Authority] has responsibility for health matters,” international human rights lawyer Arsen Ostrovsky tweeted. “Furthermore, I suggest you write to Palestinian leadership, asking how they have money to pay terrorist salaries, but not vaccines.”
Dear Congressman, I suggest you may care to also read the Oslo Accords, which make clear PA has responsibility for health matters. Furthermore, I suggest you write to Palestinian leadership, asking how they have money to pay terrorist salaries, but not vaccines.
— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) February 2, 2021
The Jewish Policy Center similarly tweeted, “PA [Palestinian Authority] leaders said they wouldn’t take a vaccine from Israel – preferring a Russian one paid for by EU. OK, fine. Israel is NOT legally required under the Oslo Accords. Israel vaccinates ALL Israeli citizens without regard to race, religion or origin.”
PA leaders said they wouldn't take a vaccine from Israel – preferring a Russian one paid for by EU. OK, fine. Israel is NOT legally required under the Oslo Accords. Israel vaccinates ALL Israeli citizens without regard to race, religion or origin.
— Jewish Policy Center (@thejpc) February 2, 2021
The Elder of Ziyon blogger similarly tweeted that Bowman didn’t have a full grasp of the Geneva Convention, which the congressman had cited as a reason for Israel to ensure that the Palestinians are vaccinated. The blogger pointed to a January 6 post about how the Geneva Convention actually states that the occupying power has to work with local authorities on medical matters.
“The bottom line is that international law of belligerent occupation says that if Israel is the occupying power, it must act with the local authorities to ensure the health of the population,” the post stated. “Which is exactly what Israel has been doing since the initial outbreak. The only party that refused cooperation was the Palestinian Authority from around June to November. If they ask for help, they will get it.”
Your grasp of the Geneva Conventions is less than 100%. https://t.co/1TEQqACF3H
— Elder of Ziyon 🇮🇱 (@elderofziyon) February 2, 2021
The progressive Jewish groups IfNotNow and Jewish Voice for Peace Action, on the other hand, praised Bowman.
“Thank you for fighting on behalf of Palestinian public health and dignity. We have your back in this fight,” IfNotNow tweeted. “This is the sort of moral leadership that every member of congress should embody.”
Thank you for fighting on behalf of Palestinian public health and dignity. We have your back in this fight.
This is the sort of moral leadership that every member of congress should embody.
— IfNotNow🔥 (@IfNotNowOrg) February 2, 2021
“Thank you so much for speaking out for the safety of Palestinians and of all people, @JamaalBowmanNY,” Jewish Voice for Peace Action tweeted. “This is a powerful letter.”
Thank you so much for speaking out for the safety of Palestinians and of all people, @JamaalBowmanNY. This is a powerful letter.
— Jewish Voice for Peace Action (@JvpAction) February 2, 2021
The Israeli Consulate in New York did not respond to the Journal’s request for comment.
Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) had previously been under fire for calling Israel a “racists state” over the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in a January 19 interview on Democracy Now!.
