Why the US Should Stop Aiding Israel
Fatin Jarara of Al-Awad, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition said:
At minimum, the US should stop sending aid to Israel. First step is to stop funding the war against Palestine. 400 tons of explosives have been dropped on Gaza with very little warning. The people have no place to go and can not protect themselves. This has been going on far too long.
Over the past 60 years, Israel has absorbed close to a quarter-trillion dollars in aid from the United States. Last year alone, Washington sent some $3.1 billion in military aid, supplemented by allocations for collaborative military research and joint training exercises. The United States covers nearly one quarter of Israel's defense budget.
The United States' support for the Israeli operation appears conditional, Israeli analysts said, as Washington called for "restraint from both sides." On Wednesday, Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal offered to renew the 2012 ceasefire based on three conditions: an end to the Israeli offensive, the release of prisoners initially freed under a prisoner swap but recently re-arrested in Israeli raids, and Israeli respect for the Palestinian unity government. Israeli officials have rejected Meshaal's terms and vowed to continue the attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
Today we expanded our operations against Hamas and the other terrorist groups in Gaza. We'll continue to protect our civilians against Hamas attacks on them. Now, Hamas, by contrast, is deliberately putting Palestinian civilians into harm's way. It embeds its terrorists in hospitals and schools and mosques, apartment buildings throughout the Gaza Strip. Hamas is thus committing a double war crime: It targets Israeli civilians, while hiding behind Palestinian civilians.
Marching among protesters was peace poet Luke Nephew. "I feel very full of emotion right now. I haven't been to any actions for Gaza since I've been back from Palestine. The Palestinian people offered me the warmest and most generous hospitality I've received any where in the world. They, like their struggle, are profoundly human," said Nephew. Nephew was in Palestine in March, 2013 before being deported from the country in April, 2013.
Cities across the world continue to protest against bombings in Palestine throughout the weekend.
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