The Isreali government refuses to stop building illegal settlements on Palestinian land. THe Israeli government is tearing down Palestinian homes in the Palestinian portion of Jeruselem and is claiming the entire capital for Israel. The Israeli government refuses to do anything that would allow the road-map for peace to move forward.
And every time the Israeli government does something like this, every time the Israeli government bombs civilians in Gaza as collective punishment against all Palestinians, every time the Israeli government bombs its national neighbors, every time the Israeli government treats the lives of Palestinians and anyone who isn’t Jewish as second class citizens, that fuels hatred in the middle east against the United States.
Why?
Because Israel has been the largest recipient of US foreign aid for decades. Because any time the UN tries to sanction Israel for violating international laws, for initiating war against it’s neighbors, for its maltreatment of Palestinians in occupied territories, every time the UN speaks a word of criticism about Israel, the United States is there on the Security Council to veto any resolutions. Because when Israel runs low on bullets and bombs, the US sends them more.
Israel’s actions reflect on the US.
And it’s time the US stop enabling Israel’s abusive behaviour. Israel is a sovereign nation, and the US cannot dictate what Israel does or how Israel should behave. But America is a sovereign nation too, and Israel cannot tell America who to send billions of dollars in foreign aid to, military weapons to, and who to protect at the United Nations.
Every time Israel behaves badly with American weapons, American money, and American protection at the UN, it fuels anger towards America. And since Israel and America are both sovereign nations, I won’t be telling Israel what to do. But I will be telling the American government, my government, what I want them to do as part of my democracy.
If Israel refuses to stop settlement construction, if Israel refuses to stop destroying Palestinian homes, if Israel refuses to stop its slow theft of Palestinian land, if Isreal refuses to stop its militant actions against Palestinians and its neighbors, then America should stop funding Israel.
If Israels don’t work towards peace, then America should stop funding Israel with money, bombs, and political protection at the UN.
If no peace, then no money, no bullets, and no UN vetos.
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2009/11/08/extremists/index.html
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