No more billions in American tax dollars to bank-roll Israel's war crimes
against Gaza and the Palestinian People.
My proposal:
Cut Israel off of the billions in American tax dollars in financial and military support. Our
dollars, 8.49 million dollars per day, finance Israel's ongoing illegal military occupation of the
West Bank and the military siege and assault on Gaza. American dollars are bank-rolling
occupation, ethnic cleansing and murder of the Palestinian people. (See: B'Tselem, Israeli
human rights org.)
Americans have been brainwashed by the most advanced and sophisticated propaganda
machine - Israel's - that the world has ever seen. Americans are convinced that they know the
facts. When they find out how badly they have been misled by television, radio and print
media - they will see to it that it comes to a swift end.
I would like the new administration to understand that Hamas abided by the ceasefire
agreement with Israel. According to Israel's own intel, we may conclude that there were no
rockets fired by Hamas in July, September or October of 2008.
(See page 6 of 12 in particular: Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center Summary of
rocket fire and mortar shelling in 2008.)
Hamas, in spite of the dire suffering of the people, demonstrated an iron will to stop rocket fire
from more radical splinter groups in Gaza. Hamas offered to extend the ceasefire even though
Israel never abided by it by lifting the siege. Israel militarily broke off the ceasefire on
November 4 by attacking in Gaza, killing six.
(See: CNN Confirms Israel broke ceasefire first - YouTube report now viewed over 160,000
times.)
How is it that when Hamas - the democratically-elected political arm of the Palestinian People -
fires rockets at Sderot, they are called terrorists when they are fighting to break free of their
Israel-imposed concentration camp. But when Israel starves one and a half million men,
women and children to try to force them to rescind their vote for Hamas - our leaders declare
that Israel 'has the right to defend herself.' It is this kind of double-standard that has
destroyed America's credibility around the four corners of the globe.
Israel is not defending herself. Israel is not defending herself when she destroys Gaza's
schools, mosques, police stations, ambulances, universities, factories and water treatment
plants.
The ceasefire lull was a tremendous relief to residents of Sderot. Residents hoped that Israel
would seize the opportunity to cement peace. (See Adam Horowitz, Huffingtonpost.: Even in
Sderot, Israelis say no to endless war.) Instead, all the while during the ceasefire Israel girded
for war.
Because of the years of oppression, followed by the eighteen month-long military siege of
Gaza, the physical condition of the children in Gaza is deplorable. Their growth is stunted and
their ability to learn is impaired. They suffer from severe traumatic stress. Psychological
assessments find too many of them are literally losing the will to live. (For more, see
TruthDig's Chris Hedges: Israel's 'Crime against Humanity'; Dec. 15, 2008 report with U.N.
special rapporteur for human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, former Princeton
University law professor Richard Falk.
The new administration is uniquely positioned to seize a new direction for peace and
prosperity throughout the world. There is much good will. I hope and pray that this pivotal
moment in human history is not squandered by over-concern for 'reaching across the aisle'.
Lead. Lead the House and the Senate. Inspire us all to contribute and to hope for a better
world. Lead the nation. Begin, with the truth.
The alternatives are grim. We risk war on a global scale if we do not pull back and begin to
treat all our fellow men and women of this world with regard, equal to what we afford ourselves.
I feel the hope for change from every place and people.
I am,
Most sincerely and respectfully yours,
Diane V. McLoughlin, writer
mcloughlinpost.com
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