Israel Plunges Gaza Into Darkness

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

So we save Israels ### from Saddam Hussein's terrorism to allow Israel to terrorize someone else. Hmmm... and can anyone tell me why Americans ask "Why does the world hate us so much?"???

How did this become the USA's fault?

I hate W too but that's really stretching it.

Because American tax dollars are what's bankrolling it, to the tune of more than 5 billion dollars a year in direct and indirect foreign aid, military aid from the U.S. defense budget, special grants and forgiven loans.

The Israeli economy, all by itself, could not create and support the 4th most powerful army in the world. You, and I, and all American taxpayers, are footing the bill. And it's in violation of our own laws.

According to the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise (AICE), from 1949-2001 the U.S. has given Israel a total of $94,966,300,000. The direct and indirect aid from this year should put the total U.S. aid to Israel since 1949 at over one hundred billion dollars. What is not widely known, however, is that most of this aid violates American laws. The Arms Export Control Act stipulates that US-supplied weapons be used only for "legitimate self-defense."

Moreover, the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act prohibits military assistance to any country "which engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights." The Proxmire amendment bans military assistance to any government that refuses to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and to allow inspection of its nuclear facilities, which Israel refuses to do. To understand why the U.S. spends this much money funding the brutal repression of a colonized people, it is necessary to examine the benefits for weapons manufacturers and, particularly, the role that Israel plays in the expansion and maintenance of U.S. imperialism.

http://www.wrmea.com/html/usaidtoisrael0001.htm

[sukie175 0]

[iceyspots 0]

But of course you have to go to BBC to get the decent information, heaven forbid if the US Media ever portrayed Israelis ever killing anything.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Because American tax dollars are what's bankrolling it, to the tune of more than 5 billion dollars a year in direct and indirect foreign aid, military aid from the U.S. defense budget, special grants and forgiven loans.

The Israeli economy, all by itself, could not create and support the 4th most powerful army in the world. You, and I, and all American taxpayers, are footing the bill. And it's in violation of our own laws.

Why doesn't the Muslim world pour money into Palestine and create the 3rd most powerful army in the world? Don't get mad at the US for befriending Israel, get mad at the Muslim world for not helping Palestine.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Because American tax dollars are what's bankrolling it, to the tune of more than 5 billion dollars a year in direct and indirect foreign aid, military aid from the U.S. defense budget, special grants and forgiven loans.

The Israeli economy, all by itself, could not create and support the 4th most powerful army in the world. You, and I, and all American taxpayers, are footing the bill. And it's in violation of our own laws.

Why doesn't the Muslim world pour money into Palestine and create the 3rd most powerful army in the world? Don't get mad at the US for befriending Israel, get mad at the Muslim world for not helping Palestine.

Because any attempt to arm the Palestinians with an actual modern military force is considered by the U.S. and Israel as "funding terror," and subject their international bank accounts to being frozen. There is some money coming in from Saudi Arabia, Iran and some of the other wealthier Muslim countries, as well as from the European Union and even a few hundred million from the U.S.; however these monies are more tightly controlled and usually directed at rebuilding the infrastructure, providing humanitarian assistance, and (often) paying the salaries of employees of the Palestinian Authority.

[rclouse 0]

Why doesn't the Muslim world pour money into Palestine and create the 3rd most powerful army in the world? Don't get mad at the US for befriending Israel, get mad at the Muslim world for not helping Palestine.

Because any attempt to arm the Palestinians with an actual modern military force is considered by the U.S. and Israel as "funding terror," and subject their international bank accounts to being frozen. There is some money coming in from Saudi Arabia, Iran and some of the other wealthier Muslim countries, as well as from the European Union and even a few hundred million from the U.S.; however these monies are more tightly controlled and usually directed at rebuilding the infrastructure, providing humanitarian assistance, and (often) paying the salaries of employees of the Palestinian Authority.

Welll, given the track record of Palestinian terrorism and the stated goals of the current Palestinian government, don't you think the US & Europe might have a point there?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Can't have a decent military without a stable government, can't be a peace process either.

[mawilson 2,133]

To secure the release of 1 captured soldier, Israel cuts power and water to 1.3 million people

Kudos to them, just shows how much Israel values the life of 1 citizen.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

To secure the release of 1 captured soldier, Israel cuts power and water to 1.3 million people

Kudos to them, just shows how much Israel values the life of 1 citizen.

One of IT'S citizens, not the people who will be directly impacted by military action.

Kidnapping is not justifiable, neither is this.

[mawilson 2,133]

There is some money coming in from Saudi Arabia, Iran and some of the other wealthier Muslim countries, as well as from the European Union and even a few hundred million from the U.S.; however these monies are more tightly controlled and usually directed at rebuilding the infrastructure, providing humanitarian assistance, and (often) paying the salaries of employees of the Palestinian Authority.

$600m from the EU, $400m from the US in humanitarian aid in 2005 alone.

How much money did the oil-rich nations of Iran and Saudi Arabia send again?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

A moot point really considering the country is in such a mess.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

A moot point really considering the country is in such a mess.

I thought handing out money was THE liberal solution for such a mess.

[mawilson 2,133]

Well if they are in such a mess, maybe we shouldn't send them any more money either.

Why should we care more about their well-being than their stinky rich Arab neighbours?

Armed resistance brought nothing but misery to the Palestinian people. What goes

around in Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem, comes around in Gaza and the West Bank, only 70

times worse. They should look at how things were in 2000 and how they are now and

ask themselves, was it really worth it? And the answer is NO. Israel will NEVER go

back to the 1967 borders no matter how many soldiers they kidnap, so they might as

well just give up and accept whatever land Israel chooses to dole out. Seriously,

all this armed struggle is counterproductive.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Doesn't really matter how much money you throw if there's no organised government structure to distribute it and facilitate improvements.

I don't condone the actions of either side - I just don't understand why people's POV on this issue has to be so one-sided. Neither the jews nor the muslims have particularly clean hands here.

The big sticking point of course is Jerusalem - which should never have been handed over. It should have been made an independent international city, like the Vatican in Rome.

Edited June 28, 2006 by Fishdude

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

There is some money coming in from Saudi Arabia, Iran and some of the other wealthier Muslim countries, as well as from the European Union and even a few hundred million from the U.S.; however these monies are more tightly controlled and usually directed at rebuilding the infrastructure, providing humanitarian assistance, and (often) paying the salaries of employees of the Palestinian Authority.

$600m from the EU, $400m from the US in humanitarian aid in 2005 alone.

How much money did the oil-rich nations of Iran and Saudi Arabia send again?

You could have easily Googled this information yourself.

But here's what I found in one quick search:

The Arab League was reported in late April to have given the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority 50 million dollars in aid and to have pledged a further 40 million dollars. Saudi Arabia has pledged to give the PA 92 million dollars, while Qatar and Iran have each agreed to contribute 50 million dollars in aid.

The EU is by far the biggest donor to the Palestinians, contributing some 500 million euros annually.

http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English....71496&par=0

I don't have a lot of free time right now or I would look for further reports. Also I need to respond to rclouse's direct question, as he was in line first (don't think I forgot you ! ) But as his question will require a more lengthy response, it probably will have to wait until I get off work.

-MK