‘Misconceptions’: Human rights activists are calling for an end to US aid to Israel | Human Rights Issues

Washington, DC – Palestinian freedom fighters in the United States have condemned a recent visit to the US capital by Israeli Foreign Minister Benny Gantz, and reiterated their call for an end to US military assistance in Israel.

U.S. filmmaker Lindsey Graham told reporters last week that Israel would be I ask for $ 1bn the refurbishment of its Iron Dome missile launches, as well as the purchase of weapons from Israel, after 11 days fighting between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian group that controls Gaza.

Israeli bombing in surrounding Palestine has killed 235 Palestinians, including 67 children, and left at least one homeless Palestine 58,000. Twelve people in Israel, including two children, have been killed by rockets fired by Palestinian groups in Gaza.

“The State Department is already trying to speed up the process $ 735m for the sale of other equipment on top of $ 3.8bn per year American taxpayers pay Israel every year, “Mohamad Habehh, a national development activist with American Muslims in Palestine, told Al Jazeera.

“Coming to the United States to demand $ 1bn for another massacre in Gaza, after the killing of more than 60 children, is unknown.”

‘Soldier’

Reports of a meeting between Gantz and national security adviser Joe Biden, Jake Sullivan, on Thursday morning did not say whether Israel’s request for $ 1bn in military aid had been changed.

Gantz he wrote that they discussed “protecting QME of Israel” with Sullivan. QME stands for “competent armies”, meaning the technological and technological advances in Israel that the US has had for many years. helped financially through aid packages that researchers say are urging the Israeli government to take action in Palestinian-occupied territories.

“The U.S. tax money should not be used to promote racism and ethnic cleansing, especially when there is a need for more resources in the United States,” Habehh said.

The National Security Council said in a words that at the meeting, Mr. Sullivan reaffirmed Biden’s commitment to “commitment to strengthening all aspects of US-Israel security, including supporting the Iron Dome System”.

“Mr. Sullivan also spoke of the need to ensure that emergency assistance can reach the people of Gaza,” he said. On May 25, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken he announced for US to donate $ 38m to help Palestinian people.

But for some Palestinian freedom fighters, the practice is virtually useless.

“So you give millions of dollars to the Palestinian people for help, but then you sell millions of weapons to a country that oppresses them?” said Laura Albast, a Palestinian-American activist for the Palestine Youth Movement who staged a small protest outside the White House against Gantz’s arrival and a petition expected Thursday afternoon.

“Biden said he stands for human rights. We have taken to the streets in walking tens of thousands, we have signed petitions, we have raised our voices against Israel’s racist allegations. But it is clear that Joe Biden does not care about us or the human rights of the Palestinian people, “Albast told Al Jazeera.

He also said he had relatives in Gaza whose house was destroyed by an Israeli bomb last month. “Everyone is safe, thank God,” he said. “But their house is destroyed. Where will they go now? ”

The 11-day Israeli bombing on the Gaza Strip killed 235 Palestinians, injured many others, and destroyed homes and buildings in the area [File: Mohammed Salem/Reuters]

US assistance to Israel

US military support to Israel has long been regarded as a cornerstone of foreign policy, and the strong political power of Israeli-backed groups has helped establish a strong, multi-billion-dollar partnership that Washington sends to Israel each year.

But Palestinian activist groups say they are seeing a shift in talks around Israel-Palestine in the US, and that public opinion is changing among Democratic Party voters – although this change has not yet reached party leaders.

However, members of the Democratic Party are making great strides in criticizing military aid. When Biden’s management announced their intention to sell Israel $ 735m extra in the newspapers – a revelation first made during the Israeli occupation of Gaza – several members of Congress tried to stop it.

Funding has also been initiated by Representative Betty McCollum which seeks to ensure that US-funded funds are not used to support the destruction of Palestinian homes in Israel, the detention of Palestinian children, and the occupation of Palestinian land, among other things.

“My friends are rushing to give the Israeli military billions of dollars to help the electorate, while our education, our work methods, all our homes have no money,” Congressman Cori Bush said recently. tweet, referring to the Gantz expedition. “Our communities need that $ 1 billion. Send it to us instead. ”

Meanwhile, on May 23, more than 500 Democrats and other participants in President Biden’s campaign have signed a petition urging its leaders not to seize power in Israel and do more to protect Palestinian rights. “As you mentioned last month,” No credible US President can remain silent on human rights abuses. We do not agree much. That is why we call on you to explicitly condemn the killing of Palestinian civilians in Israel, “the letter said. he says.

For Palestinian-American freedom fighters, these signs are an indication that their years of preparation are beginning to bear fruit. “Things are starting to change,” Habehh said. “For a long time American aid to Israel has been in short supply for nothing, and in that case, why would Israel change its policy?”