State Budget Crisis and US
additional aid to Israel
Israel has a delegation which includes a war criminal in
Washington DC to ask for more money to prop-up the Israeli military machine in
its war against the people of Palestine. We ask you to take action to
insure this request is not approved as we believe the funds are needed here
at home and US additional support for Israeli oppressive policies harms US
interests. Below are talking points and action items requested.
Resources/Talking Points:
1) States need to
make up some 70 Billion in budget shortfalls this year. Meanwhile Israel,
the size of Maryland, already receives several billion dollars per year in
direct and indirect aid. Most of this aid is military and helps
oppress the Palestinians and thus harm US interests and reputation abroad.
Democratic proposals call for only Billion to help the states, Bush and
republican proposals call for no additional aid to the states. This while
the US population is 50 times more than Israel and the money from the
US population gives this foreign country more than we give the whole continent
of Africa. See "Lid Put on Domestic Spending"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14741-2003Jan5.html
2)
Israel is now asking for Billion MORE in direct cash aid and 8 billion
in loan guarantees. See "U.S. Hears Israel's Plea for Billions in
Arms Aid"
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20030107-550893.htm
3)
The US government asked the Israeli government to keep such requests "low key"
and away from public scrutiny. See "US Urges Israel to Keep Low Profile on Aid
Talks"
http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=649772&fid=942
4)
The Cost of Israel to the American Public (US Aid to Israel/Foreign aid) has
been staggering over the years:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/1209/p16s01-wmgn.htm
http://www.alhewar.com/CurtissEtAl.html
http://www.palestinecenter.org/framecpap.html
(search here for foreign aid)
http://www.worldpolicy.org/projects/arms/reports/israel050602.html
http://www.foreignpolicy-infocus.org/briefs/vol7/v7n03israel.html
http://www.foreignpolicy-infocus.org/commentary/2002/0205armsfacts.html
http://www.wrmea.com/html/us_aid_to_israel.htm
ACTION
REQUESTED:
1) Call the White House every day and make your points clear: no aid to
Israel. The number is 202-456-1111
2) Write to elected and other
officials. Use this handy link: http://cflweb.org/congress_merge_.htm
3)
Write to the media to alert the American Public.
Letters to editor (150-200 words) or Op-Eds (600-800 words) are
excellent ways to reach the American public. You can use these links for
contact info and hints on writing and working with the media:
http://www.commondreams.org/
http://www.fair.org/media-contact-list.html
http://www.MrSmithMedia.com/MrSmithNewspaper.html
http://al-awda.org/media
http://pmwatch.org/
Citizens for Fair Legislation is a grassroots organization
committed to encouraging a fair domestic and foreign policy with an emphasis on
the Arab and Muslim world.
CFL- Citizens for Fair
Legislation
contact: info@CFLweb.org
web: http://CFLweb.org
to join: subscribe@joinforjustice.org
Al-Awda, The
Palestine Right to Return Coalition is the largest network of grassroots
activists dedicated to Palestinian human
rights.