J Street supports conditioning US security aid to Israel
By Ariel Kahana
Israel Hayom
April 19, 2021
The dovish Jewish American J Street lobby has recommended the US limit security assistance to Israel. The unprecedented move follows a proposal by Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) that Washington suspend military aid to Jerusalem.
McCollum heads the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. As part of the Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act, she had proposed the US suspend the $3.8 billion in military aid to prevent Israel from using US taxpayer funds for "the military detention, abuse, or ill-treatment of Palestinian children in Israeli military detention; to support the seizure and destruction of Palestinian property and homes in violation of international humanitarian law; or, to extend any assistance or support for Israel's unilateral annexation of Palestinian territory in violation of international humanitarian law."
Collum's move angered pro-Israel lobbies across the US.
"Sadly, it's no surprise that Representative Betty McCollum, who regularly seeks to delegitimize Israel, is introducing yet another in a series of one-sided, demagogic anti-Israel bills—this one putting civilians at risk," Democratic Majority for Israel CEO Mark Mellman said.
Mellman further noted that McCollum's bill "criticizes Israel for the number of juvenile arrests it makes in the disputed territories without acknowledging that her home state of Minnesota incarcerates 2.3 times more juveniles per capita than Israel does in the territories, while the US as a whole holds 2.7 times more juveniles per capita than Israel does in the territories.
The Palestinian Authority itself arrests three and a half times more juveniles in the territories than Israel does, and is regularly accused of torture—but this one-sided bill is silent on that point."
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee also spoke out against the proposed legislation in a statement.
"We agree with @POTUS [US President Joe Biden]: Cuts or conditions on aid to Israel would be 'irresponsible,' 'outrageous' and a 'gigantic mistake.'"
The purportedly pro-Israel J Street, however, expressed support for the bill.
J Street Senior Vice President for Policy and Strategy Dylan Williams said every US dollar sent to Israel should be spent on Israel's genuine security needs and not toward the destruction of Palestinian communities, the expansion of settlements or activities that would facilitate annexation.
Nadav Tamir, executive director of J Street Israel, voiced his support for legislation he said would ensure defense aid bolstered Israel's security instead of actions aimed at deepening "the occupation and annexation."
While a House official told Israel Hayom the legislation in question had no chance of blocking aid to Israel, they said the very fact it was brought to the floor in the first place and supported by J Street was worrying.
__________
INVITING THE FOX INTO THE HEN HOUSE
PA leader Mahmoud Abbas to speak at J Street conference
i24NEWS
April 19, 2021
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is featured as one of the speakers at this year's J Street national conference.
Pals
The event, which stretches over two days, is set to begin on Sunday, with Abbas delivering his remarks in the time slot between 2:00 and 2:30 p.m. Eastern time -- along with Israel's former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and a performance by the Jerusalem Youth Chorus.
The address will be pre-recorded to be displayed to those attending the virtual event, with some 4,000 reportedly registering to take part.
The first day of the conference will also feature a panel on Israel's latest election comprised of Joint List, Meretz and Labor party chiefs, as well as addresses from senior US Democrats: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
The Times of Israel cited a J Street staffer as saying that Abbas plans to reaffirm his commitment to a two-state solution, while also lashing out at Israel over actions allegedly making dents in the prospect of it ever materializing.
Abbas is also expected to praise Washington's recent steps towards re-engagement with the Palestinians, including reinstatement of aid to West Bank and Gaza as well as payments to the UN agency handling the Palestinian refugees.
The administration of US President Joe Biden has made a number of overtures to the Palestinians in a bid to restore the ties that were severed under former President Donald Trump.
Palestinians cut their contacts with the Trump team after the former US leader declared his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
EDITOR'S NOTE: George Soros funded J Street to counter the pro-Israel lobby American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
1 comment:
Israel does not need our aid they should defend themselves. They’re gdp is such that they don’t need American welfare. They have nukes and are more than capable of defending themselves
The money we give them should go to the family’s of dead American soldiers who died for
Was s that benefited them
Post a Comment