Israel To Ask U.S. Congressmen To Halt Aid To Palestinians

[Purveyor]

Source: Haaretz

Recently passed American legislation states that if the Palestinians initiate any action against Israel at the ICC, the State Department would have to stop American aid to the PA, which comes to some $400 million annually.

By Barak Ravid | Jan. 5, 2015 | 12:22 AM

After freezing the transfer of tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority, Israel is taking additional steps to punish the PA’s for its request to join the International Criminal Court at The Hague.

A senior Israeli official said on Sunday Jerusalem would be contacting pro-Israel members of the U.S. Congress to ensure the enforcement of legislation stipulating that if the Palestinians initiate any action against Israel at the ICC, the State Department would have to stop American aid to the PA, which comes to some $400 million annually. The stop-gap funding bill was passed in Congress last month.

Both houses of the new Congress to be seated later this month will be controlled by the Republican Party, with many key positions filled by senators and representatives who are pro-Israel and anti-Palestinian. The law regarding the Palestinians initiating action at the ICC is strongly worded and states that President Barack Obama cannot waive a decision to halt aid to the PA.

The U.S. administration is concerned about the ramifications of halting the financial assistance, which is liable to make it impossible for the PA to pay the salaries of tens of thousands of employees. Although Arab states have promised to provide the PA with a financial security net, the Americans believe that, as in the past, the Arab states won’t cough up the money they promised and won’t work to keep the PA afloat.

Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.635316

[L0oniX]

1. Seems that they have more of a voice with congress than the US people do.

[Arcadiasix]

2. aipac.org

Money talks.

[Scootaloo]

4. It's less money and more stupidity

AIPAC is just one of many foreign lobby groups bending ears in Washington. So, what gives it and its fellow Israel Lobby groups (there are many, and AIPAC is one of the few that is at least honest enough to use "Israel" in its name) their edge?

Republicans believe Israel is Jesus. either very literally, or in some metaphorical sense that Israel will become Jesus. And of course to this mindset, Jesus - Israel - is superior to all nations and all kings, and fealty must be sworn, demands must be met, sacrifices must be made. Israel basically rules the Republican party like tribal kings.

Democrats aren't tied up in the religious hokum, thankfully, but another, equally stupid mythology - the belief that Israel and Jews are one and the same, and that by granting total support to Israel in all things, they can keep the "Jewish vote." if this were true, of course the Republicans would capture the Jewish vote every election.

Stir in a solid amount of hatred against Muslims in both parties, from both bases, and you have the modern US rubric of endorsng and defending absolutely every action Israel ever takes, no matter what.

You don't need AIPAC - Republican stupidity and Democratic triangulation do all the heavy lifting.

[sinkingfeeling]

24. They do.

[Hoppy]

3. I'm gonna call my congressman to vote against sending any more $$$ to Israel.

[blkmusclmachine]

16. +1. Let Israel find its own way to the Christian Apocalypse/Rapture.

[procon]

5. As much as Republicans love to hate the UN

and a whole cottage industry is flourishing by churning crazy conspiracy theories about them dang libruls and some scary Foreign influence over US gubermint policies. Now it looks like they have no qualms when it come to inviting their own prefered choice of Foreign interference to shape US policies for the GOP.

What's that acronym... oh, yeah, IOIYAR -- It's Okay If You're A Republican!

[SamKnause]

6. No comment !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NobodyHere]

7. Why are we giving money to them in the first place?

Last time I checked we're still running a deficit over here.

[DMay]

8. ?

why are we giving money to Israel?

[NobodyHere]

10. I have no problems with stopping aid to Israel either

but that wasn't the subject of the OP.

[DMay]

12. aid

Israel can survive without aid, Palestinians cant

[AngryDem001]

18. Yes they can.

Hamas has plenty of money.

[Scootaloo]

11. Maybe a guilty conscience for funding and arming the destruction of their land, people, and culture

Not that $400m annually really helps, when we're still shoveling $3bn annually towards that destruction.

[The Shredder]

14. Take that up with Qatar. Not Israel or U.S.

They are, after all, funneling funds for terror in Gaza. Even currently housing the Hamas leader who's a wanted terrorist.

[Scootaloo]

23. More whataboutism n/t

[DMay]

9. ICC

how dare they call war criminals, war criminals !

[blkmusclmachine]

17. Must look forward, say the war criminals.

[Archae]

13. I do realize the Palestinians can do nothing wrong...

But since several here don't mind in the least them joining the ICC, let's allow ISIS and Al-Qaeda to join too.

[The Shredder]

15. I hope ICC accepts and begins with the terror attack of 1972 in Munich...

Black September, for one.

Palestine loses, and ICC will accept Israel's assurance they did follow the rules of engagement/rules of war.

PLO/Hamas ignore the rules of war/rules of engagement.

[azurnoir]

21. Just as soon as Israel signs the Rome Statutes I'm sure that can happen

well except at least in the case of Munich, most of perpetrators were extra-judicially assassinated long ago

[shaayecanaan]

19. I am tempted to agree...

Defund the PA, let it collapse, and throw the heavy lifting of the occupation back into Israel's lap. Let them see if they can pay for it, especially on top of the Gaza war bill and the coming tech collapse 2.0.

[Ken Burch]

20. Because, of course, immiserating ordinary Palestinians and making them live at Israel's mercy

has ALWAYS produced such spectacularly successful results in the past...like, oh I dunno, THE RISE OF HAMAS.

[marble falls]

22. I've written all my Cong/Sens to cut aid to Israel until the seettlements are all removed from.....

the West Bank for over twenty years. And will continue to write about it into the future.

I will write to continue and increase all aid given to Palestine and the Palestinians.

[lark]

25. How about we stop all aid to Israel because of their many illegal settlements?

That's what really needs to happen. I am so tired of having my tax dollars go to support this genocidal Israeli government.

[BillZBubb]

26. I hope the US does that.

Then the pathetic pretense that the US is a neutral party in the region and that the US backs the "good guys" will be shown for the lie that it has always been.

For decades US policy has, at least publicly, that the Israeli settlements are not acceptable. Yet funding for Israel has never been in jeopardy despite Israel's thumbing its nose at the US. Only recently has the Palestinians move to join the ICC been an issue, but now the aid to the Palestinians is going to be stopped. That is disgusting.

One side, Israel, is committing illegal acts in settling occupied territory, the other side is joining an international organization that seeks justice. Guess which one the "good" US supports?

If the end of US aid brings along the collapse of the PA, Hamas wins. The Israeli hawks love that outcome. No doubt US neocons do too.