USA. Church leaders ask Congress to reconsider US aid to Israel

NEWS

“Witnessed widespread Israeli human rights violations”

In a recent letter to US Congress, 15 Christian leaders representing U.S. churches and religious organizations have asked members of Congress to reconsider US aid to Israel.

The letter states the leaders have “witnessed widespread Israeli human rights violations committed against Palestinians, including killing of civilians, home demolitions and forced displacement, and restrictions on Palestinian movement, among others.”

The church leaders add: “Accordingly, we urge an immediate investigation into possible violations by Israel of the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act and the U.S. Arms Export Control Act which respectively prohibit assistance to any country which engages in a consistent pattern of human rights violations and limit the use of U.S. weapons to ‘internal security’ or ‘legitimate self-defense.’ More broadly, we urge Congress to undertake careful scrutiny to ensure that our aid is not supporting actions by the government of Israel that undermine prospects for peace. We urge Congress to hold hearings to examine Israel’s compliance, and we request regular reporting on compliance and the withholding of military aid for non-compliance…

“As Christian leaders in the United States, it is our moral responsibility to question the continuation of unconditional U.S. financial assistance to the government of Israel. Realizing a just and lasting peace will require this accountability, as continued U.S. military assistance to Israel — offered without conditions or accountability — will only serve to sustain the status quo and Israel’s military occupation of the Palestinian territories.”

The letter, (click here)  includes signatories by representatives of the Mennonite, Baptist,  Presbyterian, Lutheran and United Church ministries.

This past August the United Church of Canada past a resolution to boycott Israeli products.

In other issues. . .

The Times of Israel reports Mohammed Badie, Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, “Egypt’s foremost Muslim Brotherhood official called on the Arab world Thursday to replace negotiations with Israel with “holy Jihad…”  Click here to read the article in its entirety.

Check out all of our latest jewishinfoNews videos

 

Netanhayu’s speech. The UN Ambassador of the United States was absent.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“When Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke, the Ambassador of the United States Susan Rice was absent. She is said to have had more important things to do.”

Anne Bayefsky is Senior Editor of Eye on the UN.*  She is ‘an international human rights lawyer and has taught at Touro College, York University, Columbia University Law School, and the University of Ottawa. Professor Bayefsky served with the Canadian delegation to the UN General Assembly in 1984 and 1989, and the Commission on Human Rights from 1993 to 1997. She holds a B.A., M.A. and LL.B. from the University of Toronto, an M.Litt. from Oxford University, and is a barrister and solicitor of the Ontario Bar.’  This, in part, is what she had to say about Netanyahu’s speech given at the UN yesterday.

“… the two leaders appear to be on a collision course and there is nothing Netanyahu can do about it – short of failing to defend his people.

Netanyahu pressed hard to make the case that “red lines don’t lead to war; red lines prevent war.” He argued that faced with red lines Iran would “back down.” He urged listeners to be realistic: “today, a great battle is being waged between the modern and the medieval…The forces of medievalism seek a world…in which not life but death is glorified.”

But President Obama spent his time earlier this week at the General Assembly repeatedly conjuring up images of harmony and telling UN members “people everywhere long for” freedom, dignity, and justice.

Perhaps exemplifying the distance in judgment between the two governments was the behavior of their respective ambassadors. When President Obama spoke, the Ambassador of Israel Ron Prosor, was seated respectfully in the Israeli General Assembly seat. When Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke, the Ambassador of the United States Susan Rice was absent. She is said to have had more important things to do.

When Americans decide on their next commander-in-chief, they will not be able to say they haven’t been warned. Netanyahu told all who would listen: “Iran is the world’s most dangerous terrorist regime.” “Imagine the world with a nuclear-armed Al Qaeda.”

Click here to read this article in its entirety.

*EYE on the UN is an organisation ‘dedicated to making transparent the UN’s record on its fundamental promise – to identify, condemn, and protect against human rights violations and confront and respond to threats to international peace and security.’

Check out all of our latest jewishinfoNews videos