Jewish Voice for Peace

Suspend Military Aid to Israel

President Bush's FY2009 budget request to Congress includes $2.55 billion in military aid to Israel, a 9% increase over actual spending in FY2007. This increase in aid is the first installment of a ten-year agreement between Israel and the United States to increase military aid to Israel by 25%, totaling $30 billion over the next decade.

U.S. military aid to Israel must be suspended until the occupation ends. Military aid allows Israel to avoid making serious efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as other conflicts with its other neighbors. It enables the occupation, contributes to the devastation of Palestinian society and fosters the increasing militarization of Israeli society.

The budget request now rests with the Senate and House Subcommittees on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (subcommittees of the Appropriations Committees). These subcommittees have jurisdiction over all foreign aid issues and later this year will hold hearings on the budget request for foreign aid.

Please take a moment to send a letter to the Members of Congress on these subcommittees letting requesting a suspension of military aid to Israel until the occupation ends.

If you are part of an organization, then please also consider having your organization sign-on to a letter that Jewish Voice for Peace, in partnership with the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the Council for the National Interest, Jewish Voice for Peace, Peace Action, and United for Peace and Justice, will be delivering to these subcommittees. To view and sign the organizational letter, please click here.

November 21, 2009

Subject:
Appropriations Subcommittee Should Suspend Military Aid to Israel

Dear Congressperson

I oppose the President's FY2009 budget request for $2.55 billion in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) for Israel, which would be a 9% increase over actual spending in FY2007.

Israel uses weapons purchased through FMF to enforce its illegal 40-year military occupation and siege of the Palestinian West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip and to commit human rights violations against Palestinians in the Occupied Territories and Gaza, and against civilians in Lebanon.  Israel's ongoing use of U.S. weapons to enforce an illegal military occupation and to commit human rights abuses places it in violation of the Arms Export Control Act and Foreign Assistance Act.

The Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs must examine the President's FY2009 budget request for $2.55 billion in FMF for Israel in light of Israel's violations of these U.S. laws.  I urge the Subcommittee to hold Israel accountable for its violations of U.S. laws and apply the appropriate sanctions for countries that violate its terms.  As long as Israel violates U.S. law, the United States must cut off military aid, not increase it.

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