Activists and Politicians Fight US Funding to Israel
Progressive legislators Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mark Pocan and Rashida Tlaib introduced a new resolution on Wednesday attempting to block the sale of weapons to Israel.
Earlier this week, the Biden Administration approved the sale of $735 million in “precision-guided weapons” to Israel according to the Washington Post. This sale could not come at a worse time.
As airstrikes and violence extend into the second week, calls for a ceasefire grow.
“It would be appalling for the Biden Administration to go through with $735 million in precision-guided weaponry to Netanyahu without any strings attached in the wake of escalating violence and attacks on civilians,” said representative and House Foreign Affairs Committee member, Ilhan Omar in a statement. “If this goes through this will be seen as a green light for continued escalation and will undercut any attempts at brokering a ceasefire.”
The Biden administration finally called for a ceasefire on Monday evening after vetoing the UN’s statement calling for a ceasefire the day before.
The White House Twitter account tweeted about President Biden’s conversation with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said Biden condemned the “indiscriminate attacks against Israel.” The tweet also said the president discussed a “commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Palestinian partnership.”
The difference in tone between the two was loud and clear.
“It’s disgusting, but it’s not surprising. Biden has made it clear his entire career that he is unconditionally pro Israel,” said Olivia Katbi Smith, the former co-chair for Portland’s Democratic Socialists of America chapter and the North America Coordinator for Boycott Divestment Sanctions Movement. “Not only is the Biden administration complicit through the ongoing US military funding and diplomatic cover for Israel but Biden is actively encouraging and giving even more money towards the slaughter of Palestinians, and it’s horrific.”
In 2016, the United States signed a 10-year, $38 billion military aid package with Israel. This means that the United States will give Israel about $3.8 billion in military aid every year until 2026. According to AJ+, about 20% of Israel’s defense budget comes through US military aid.
“If you live in the United States, your tax dollars are going toward these atrocities, so everyone has a responsibility to end the US’s complicity.”
Multiple progressive politicians including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Cori Bush and Rashida Tlaib among others have been critical of the US’s support for Israel. They have been calling for President Biden to be stricter on Israel as violence grows.
In his article in the New York Times, Senator Bernie Sanders talks of Netanyahu’s efforts to “demonize” Palestinians and create systemic inequality.
“We can no longer be apologists for the right-wing Netanyahu government and its undemocratic and racist behavior,” said Sanders. “We must change course and adopt an evenhanded approach, one that upholds and strengthens international law regarding the protection of civilians, as well as existing U.S. law holding that the provision of U.S. military aid must not enable human rights abuses.”
Katbi Smith says she and the Democratic Socialist of America have a higher standard when it comes to the issue of Palestine.
“We would really like to see Bernie go a little further,” she said.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum’s bill, H.R. 2590, proposed last month is now getting attention as a result of the recent events. The proposed legislation would ban Israel from using US taxpayer dollars for military detention, ill-treatment of Palestinian children, the seizure and destruction of Palestinian property, or the annexation of Palestinian territory in violation of international humanitarian law.
“U.S. assistance intended for Israel’s security must never be used to violate the human rights of Palestinian children, demolish the homes of Palestinian families, or to permanently annex Palestinian lands,” McCollum said in her statement.
“Betty McCollum’s bill is a great step in the right direction,” said Katbi Smith.“But I think we need to go even further and demand a complete end to the $3.8 billion in military funding and absolutely no additional money for weapons [sales].”
Header photo: Hanin Najjar / Flickr
Written by Hanin Najjar
