In at least three recent news articles (references provided below*), it is reported that in exchange for a three-month freeze in West Bank settlement construction, the U.S. will, if I understand the articles, give Israel 20 fighter jets. At least two news articles additionally cite that the U.S. will also pledge to oppose or otherwise not give support to any United Nations moves that are critical of Israel.
Two of the articles said that the construction freeze does not include East Jerusalem, which Palestinians consider to be their capital.
A three-month Israeli settlement freeze in exchange for expensive U.S. military hardware and diplomatic cover from the U.S. at the United Nations. From my perspective as a tax-paying U.S. citizen, this sure seems like Israel is gaining a whole lot at the expense of the image of the U.S. in the Middle East and Central Asia, as well as at the expense of the U.S. taxpayers (who "fund" the fighter jet gift).
It seems to me that the U.S. gets virtually nothing for what it is giving to Israel. And unless I'm greatly mistaken, this is not the first time America has behaved this way with Israel. If I was in a relationship with someone in which I was making big sacrifices of my time, money or efforts in order to get the other person to give, or give up something comparatively small in return, I think that most detached observers would consider this "dysfunctional" and unhealthy behavior.
I want my country to do the right thing. Yes, Israel deserves it's own nation with secure borders, but so does Palestine. And there's a lot more that can be said for the argument that in the 1967 war Israel wrongfully seized East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza than can be said for the opposite viewpoint.
Israel is very dependent on U.S. diplomatic support and economic aid. Therefore I believe that ONLY the United States can apply the necessary pressures on Israel to persuade it to do the right thing concerning the Palestinians. America needs to tie military and diplomatic aid to Israel to Israeli compliance with all applicable UN Resolutions and international conventions with regards to the lands it seized in the 1967 war.
Communicate with your federal legislators, asking them to do all they can to bring America to do what it alone can do: apply the right pressures on Israel to help bring about a lasting, just peace between Israel and Palestine.
* An 11/15/10 AP article carried by msnbc.com ("US deal would allow Israel some West Bank building" - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40182336); an online BBC news article ("Israel ponders US incentive offer on settlement freeze" - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11751713); and an online Christian Science Monitor article ("Netanyahu strikes a deal on Israeli settlements – could it freeze peace, too?" - http://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/print/content/view/print/343429)
No comments:
Post a Comment