Letter Sent to Senator Barbara Boxer- Follow American Law-Stop Military Aid to Israel
I just sent this letter to both Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinsten. Feel free to copy this letter or any portion and send it to your representatives. The three laws we are asking our American government to follow are The Arms Export Control Act which stipulates that US-supplied weapons can be used only for “legitimate self-defense”. The US Foreign Assistance Act prohibits military assistance to any country “which engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights”. And the Proxmire Amendment bans military assistance to any government that, like Israel, refuses to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or prevents inspection of its nuclear facilities. If we followed these laws we would not be complicit in potential war crimes and there would be a lot less violence in Gaza.
Dear Senator Boxer,
I am petitioning you to follow American law in regards to Israel. As Israel is currently being investigated by the UN Human Rights Council, it is our duty as a country to suspend arms shipments and military aid to Israel. Although we were the lone country voting against the resolution to “establish an independent, international commission of inquiry to investigate all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” this does not absolve us from being an accomplice to war crimes, should those be found by the Council.
We should therefore follow The Arms Export Control Act which stipulates that US-supplied weapons can be used only for “legitimate self-defense”. In the case of Gaza, if it is found that Israel is committing acts of ethnic cleansing to take over territory as was said even by the deputy speaker of the Knesset, Moshe Feiglin, we are in violation of that law.
He said, “After the IDF completes the “softening” of the targets with its fire-power, the IDF will conquer the entire Gaza, using all the means necessary to minimize any harm to our soldiers, with no other considerations. (http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/15326#.U9k5tLGmWSo )
“Gaza is part of our Land and we will remain there forever. Liberation of parts of our land forever is the only thing that justifies endangering our soldiers in battle to capture land. Subsequent to the elimination of terror from Gaza, it will become part of sovereign Israel and will be populated by Jews. This will also serve to ease the housing crisis in Israel. The coastal train line will be extended, as soon as possible, to reach the entire length of Gaza.”
The US Foreign Assistance Act prohibits military assistance to any country “which engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights”. As we have witnessed the same patten of violence by Israel including Cast Lead, etc. it is clear that this violence has been ongoing.
And the Proxmire Amendment bans military assistance to any government that, like Israel, refuses to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or prevents inspection of its nuclear facilities.
Three laws which I am petitioning you to follow by stopping all military aide to Israel until the completion of the independent investigation by the UN Human Rights Council.
President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry have proposed over and over a two state solution. If Israel is really the aggressor and by its own words is the party refusing, we should not be complicit in possible war crimes.
I also ask you to watch this: former executive director of the American Jewish Congress, Rabbi Henry Siegman was interviewed on Democracy Now (http://www.democracynow.org/2014/7/30/henry_siegman_leading_voice_of_us) He detailed the terrorism, and he called it that, that was done by Israelis to force 700,000 Palestinians to leave. Siegman has also met with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal – who everyone says is not prepared to recognize Israel as a Jewish state- said it would be his government that would recognize Israel. People do not recognize states – governments do and he would work for such a government that recognizes Israel.
It is up to us to say no to terrorism and ethnic cleansing that is potentially being done by Israel. Are we to be standing on the sidelines co-opting a Palestinian holocaust? Please encourage our government to follow its laws through stopping all military aid to Israel.
Sincerely,
Ann Diener