Should the U.S. cut or suspend Israel's massive annual...

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

...aid package as a means encouraging their use of diplomacy rather militarism in the Middle East?

And secondly,

If the decision whether to cut Israel's aid package were actually in the hands of the American people rather than our corporate owned Congress, would this likely have already been done?

And thirdly,

Is there any real chance, given corporate and other special interest influence in Washington that Israel's aid package will be suspended or meaningfully cut in the near future?

-----------------------------------------

Last summer, Israel sought $2 billion, but suspended its request following the Katrina disaster. With popular and congressional attention to New Orleans now dissipating, Israel is again asking American taxpayers for help, although it has scaled back to $1.2 billion in light of popular sentiment and signals from Congress. This amount is supplemental to Israel's share of our regular foreign aid that has run $3 billion to $4 billion annually for decades.

Source: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0108-21.htm

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

1. My apologies to the Mods...

...I would have put this in the I/P forum initially, but thought I understood that polls were not to be started here. Sorry about that.

[Douglas Carpenter]

2. here is a website and a petition:

http://www.stop-us-military-aid-to-israel.net/

[libhill]

3. You actually believe things would change,

if the decision were in the hands of the people? Not likely, the Fundamentalist religious right has taken over this country. They see discord in the Middle East as a means to make Jaysus come back, and bring on their rapture fantasy. Israeli aggression is just a means to an end.

[liberalhistorian]

4. That's one of the things I truly,

wholeheartedly resent, that my tax dollars are being used to pay for this horror being perpetrated against the Lebanese people.

[adriennui]

6. i have many resentments as per my tax dollars

[OrechDin]

7. I do not live in the USA so I have to give massively to

Charities such as the United Jewish Appeal to get the same desired effect.

[WiseButAngrySara]

5. Yes, Yes, and unfortunately, No! and Kick! ....n/t

[Tom Joad]

8. People, we do not have to wait for govt. action. We can start sanctions!

Already Churches are considering and endorsing the idea of divestment. So are people in Labor Unions (certainly not the Labor leaders, but among the rank and file).

People started the divestment movement against South Africa, then governments followed the people.

Already Caterpillar is feeling the heat at its stockholders meetings, because they sell bulldozers to Israel that are then used by Israel for military projects, including the illegal demolition of Palestinian land and homes.
http://www.catdestroyshomes.org

http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/publish/article_19.shtml

If the people lead, the politicians will follow.

[WiseButAngrySara]

9. This is great! The most hope I've had all day. Have you posted this

in GD, or as a separate thread here in I/P? I still can't believe the absurdity of a Democratic 'progressive' website having discussions of a major world conflict relegated to the back page! It is so 'high school.'

[Lithos]

10. Locking per I/P guidelines

I left this up for a bit as an exception. However, it is now several weeks old, the context has changed and bumping serves no purpose.

Lithos
DU Moderator