Leaders ignore suffering of Palestinian people

Leadership requires, above all, standing up for worthy values. Faced with this latest iteration of violence

in Palestine, our leaders have largely chosen to embrace a one-sided approach completely denying the humanity of the Palestinian people.

Taking the lead from President Biden, leaders from both sides of the aisle made crystal clear that all people, in fact, are not equal and that suffering only matters when Israeli lives are at stake. The only leaders that can say that they stand for justice, equality, and the sanctity of human life are those that recognize the pain and the suffering of both sides.

I am proud that my state representative, Nabeela Syed, and a group of her colleagues stood up for these American values. She acknowledged in her joint statement that both Israelis and Palestinians have been killed, the "urgent need for a lasting peace," and that "all loss of life is tragic." These statements are not controversial except for those who wish to dehumanize Palestinians.

The irresponsibility of leaders and media has contributed not only to tragedy overseas, but even in our back yard. The blood of 6-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume, who was stabbed 26 times in Plainfield because he was Palestinian is on the hands of those who encourage the narrative that Palestinians are not human and have no rights.

America is on the wrong side of this dispute, supporting the last remnants of colonialism and apartheid in the world. Thank you, Rep. Syed, for stepping up and exhibiting the values that make this country great.

Zubair Khan

Palatine