Opposing military aid.

• Isn’t it counterproductive to raise this issue?
• Doesn’t Israel have a legitimate right to self-defense?
• Aren’t you concerned about the external threats to Israel?
• Why just attack U.S. military aid to Israel? How much military aid does the U.S. give to the Palestinians?
• Why target military aid to Israel in this campaign? Why not a balanced approach?

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Isn’t it counterproductive to raise this issue?

Actually, it is essential to raise this issue.

The American people need to know that our government’s ability to influence the outcome of negotiations in a manner that will lead to a just and lasting peace is compromised every day by our open-ended commitment to at least $30 billion in military aid to Israel over 10 years and to our unconditional, legislated assurance that we will provide Israel with a Qualitative Military Edge – irrespective of Israel’s actions.

And the Catch-22 of this scenario is that if there is no just negotiated settlement and the situation reaches a boiling point – then that will lead to demands for even more military aid for Israel.

Why could Prime Minister Netanyahu and previous Prime Ministers ignore repeated American government calls to stop the building of settlements or to end the tragic siege of Gaza? Because they knew there will be no consequences for their actions.

According to Alon Liel, former director general of both the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Planning,

“If you stop that $3 billion, Israel will not collapse — it’s stopping American political support that’s the existential problem,” he said. “Aid is just an indication that the political link is doing well and is alive.”

He said that if the U.S. merely signals that it is thinking about cutting aid, it could have an “unbelievable” effect. “If the United States is very determined, I think Israel will change its policies.” [1]

Doesn’t Israel have a legitimate right to self-defense?

Of course, Israel has the same right to self-defense as any nation. However, as Israeli peace activists themselves point out, “Defense must be balanced by responsibility. Israel certainly has a right to defend itself, but the Palestinians, who recognized the existence of the state of Israel more than twenty years ago, also have a right to live in freedom. Our argument is that these rights must complement each other; no one can enjoy security if others do not enjoy their rights and security as well. International law therefore insists on a balance between legitimate self-defense and policies, often couched in terms of self-defense and security, which harm other civilian populations…”[2]

Aren’t you concerned about the external threats to Israel?

We are concerned about threats to any country or people. However, we are also committed to using our tax dollars responsibly and strategically to foster peace, equality, and security.  Because of the ways in which U.S. military aid goes to Israel and is protected from any oversight, it is impossible to segregate what is used for genuine self-defense and what is used for the 60-years of occupation and dispossession of the Palestinian people – which continues to this very day.

It is the U.S. and Israeli governments that have created this conundrum – not us.

Why just attack U.S. military aid to Israel? How much military aid does the U.S. give to the Palestinians?

The United States has provided $0 in military aid to Palestinians.

We have, however, provided other types of aid.  For example, according the Congressional Research Service in 2009, “the Obama Administration pledged $900 million in U.S. assistance to the Palestinians to address both post-conflict humanitarian needs in Gaza and reform, security, and development priorities in the West Bank. The enactment of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 (P.L. 111-32) on June 24, 2009 appropriated over $800 million toward the amount pledged in March, putting total U.S. appropriations since January 2009 well past the amount pledged.”[3]

Ironically, these humanitarian, security, and development needs are the direct result of Israel’s ongoing occupation – which is also enabled and maintained by our tax dollars.

Why target military aid to Israel in this campaign? Why not a balanced approach?

Again, we turn to the words of peace activists in Israel.

“The conflict itself is not “balanced.” For all the criticism of the Palestinians and for all their share of the responsibility, Israel is the strong party, Israel is the Occupying Power and Israel is the only party that can actually end the Occupation and pave the way for a just peace.” [4]

[2] Halper, Jeff, Johnson, Jimmy and Schaeffer, Emily. “The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Challenging Slogans through Critical Reframing.” Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions.

[3] Zanotti, Jim. U.S. Foreign Aid to the Palestinians, Congressional Research Service Report RS 22967, July 16, 2009, Summary

[4] Halper, Jeff, Johnson, Jimmy and Schaeffer, Emily. “The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Challenging Slogans through Critical Reframing.” Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions.