Letters on - Israel
A friend recently asked what I was doing politically, and I thought that it would be interesting to share some of the letters I send to our representatives. Here's a recent letter I received from ANSWER and the message I sent to my representatives.
From ANSWER:
The humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people in Gaza has reached an especially grave level. The deprivation of food and water is the deliberate purpose of the U.S.-backed Israeli government's decision to close border crossings into Gaza.
All crossings for goods coming into the Gaza Strip, home to 1.5 million Palestinians, are closed. The Palestinians are completed blockaded. A United Nations report issued today states that the blockade and siege of Gaza, which began 18 months ago after the democratic election of the Hamas government, has now resulted in a 49% unemployment rate for the citizens of Gaza. Gaza City residents are without electricity for up to 16 hours a day and half the city's residents receive water only once a week for a few hours. The UN report added that 80% of Palestinians living in Gaza are obliged to drink polluted water.
The United National Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has been forced to suspend food distribution for both emergency and regular programs. The Agency has run out of flour and has now suspended food deliveries to 750,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
The Israeli Occupation Forces have escalated their military attacks on the people in Gaza. Civilians have been killed and Palestinian houses and other civilian premises have been targeted for destruction. This is a deliberate policy to starve and strangle a whole people by depriving them of food, water, fuel and medical supplies.
The U.S. government is bankrolling the Israeli government and its criminal actions. Israel receives $15 million dollars a day and is the largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid in the world. The U.S. Military Industrial Complex and the leadership of both the Republican and Democratic parties support Israel because they view the Israeli government as a extension of U.S. power in the Middle East. The Palestinian people deserve the support and solidarity of people around the world. They deserve our support not only in the face of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, but in their struggle for self-determination including the right to return to their homes from which they were evicted by the forces of colonial occupation.
And here is what I sent:
We have long held ourselves as defenders of freedom; where is the freedom for the people of Gaza? This country was pledged to fight terrorism and tyranny in 2001 - Who is more terrorized than the people of Gaza, families who never know when Israeli missiles will strike? Who don't know where there next meal may be coming from due to the Israeli blockade of food? Who don't know if their family members who lived despite their injuries from the last Iraqi missile attack will survive, due to the Israeli blockade of medical supplies?
I join with people all over the world in condemning Israel's deliberate starvation of the Palestinian people in Gaza. The U.S. government sends $15 million each day to Israel. In addition to the military attacks against the people of Gaza, Gaza City residents are without electricity for up to 16 hours a day and half the city's residents receive water only once a week for a few hours. These are war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Our laws specifically state that our money and our weapons are not to be used for aggression and occupation.
In accordance of our countries laws, the Geneva conventions that we wrote and signed, and for the greatest good of this country, I demand that the United States end all funding for Israel.
It is hardly a surprise that during this time of enormous suffering in Gaza, Israel is working its hardest to prevent anyone from reporting on it. Journalists have been ejected and thrown in jail for trying to report on the conditions there. Israel is now so well protected by the United States and their own arrogance that they can detain and throw out UN inspectors without consequence (or even mention in US corporate news).
What's your opinion? No, don't write it here, write it here! You may disagree with me and with ANSWER (Act Now To Stop War And End Racism), but that's okay - make your voice heard!!! The real problem right now is that so many people are afraid to speak up, are told to simply sit back and let 'top men' take care of the problems. Maybe getting people to take control of their representatives and get more involved with their communities will not create exactly the USA that I want, but it will make us a better country, of that I am sure.
So here's your chance - Do you think that we should be giving $15 million dollars a day to Israel? Do you think that the UN should be allowed to send food to starving children in Gaza? Write your representatives and tell them!
And then if you have the time, paste a copy of it here afterwards. :^)
From ANSWER:
The humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people in Gaza has reached an especially grave level. The deprivation of food and water is the deliberate purpose of the U.S.-backed Israeli government's decision to close border crossings into Gaza.
All crossings for goods coming into the Gaza Strip, home to 1.5 million Palestinians, are closed. The Palestinians are completed blockaded. A United Nations report issued today states that the blockade and siege of Gaza, which began 18 months ago after the democratic election of the Hamas government, has now resulted in a 49% unemployment rate for the citizens of Gaza. Gaza City residents are without electricity for up to 16 hours a day and half the city's residents receive water only once a week for a few hours. The UN report added that 80% of Palestinians living in Gaza are obliged to drink polluted water.
The United National Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has been forced to suspend food distribution for both emergency and regular programs. The Agency has run out of flour and has now suspended food deliveries to 750,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
The Israeli Occupation Forces have escalated their military attacks on the people in Gaza. Civilians have been killed and Palestinian houses and other civilian premises have been targeted for destruction. This is a deliberate policy to starve and strangle a whole people by depriving them of food, water, fuel and medical supplies.
The U.S. government is bankrolling the Israeli government and its criminal actions. Israel receives $15 million dollars a day and is the largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid in the world. The U.S. Military Industrial Complex and the leadership of both the Republican and Democratic parties support Israel because they view the Israeli government as a extension of U.S. power in the Middle East. The Palestinian people deserve the support and solidarity of people around the world. They deserve our support not only in the face of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, but in their struggle for self-determination including the right to return to their homes from which they were evicted by the forces of colonial occupation.
And here is what I sent:
We have long held ourselves as defenders of freedom; where is the freedom for the people of Gaza? This country was pledged to fight terrorism and tyranny in 2001 - Who is more terrorized than the people of Gaza, families who never know when Israeli missiles will strike? Who don't know where there next meal may be coming from due to the Israeli blockade of food? Who don't know if their family members who lived despite their injuries from the last Iraqi missile attack will survive, due to the Israeli blockade of medical supplies?
I join with people all over the world in condemning Israel's deliberate starvation of the Palestinian people in Gaza. The U.S. government sends $15 million each day to Israel. In addition to the military attacks against the people of Gaza, Gaza City residents are without electricity for up to 16 hours a day and half the city's residents receive water only once a week for a few hours. These are war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Our laws specifically state that our money and our weapons are not to be used for aggression and occupation.
In accordance of our countries laws, the Geneva conventions that we wrote and signed, and for the greatest good of this country, I demand that the United States end all funding for Israel.
It is hardly a surprise that during this time of enormous suffering in Gaza, Israel is working its hardest to prevent anyone from reporting on it. Journalists have been ejected and thrown in jail for trying to report on the conditions there. Israel is now so well protected by the United States and their own arrogance that they can detain and throw out UN inspectors without consequence (or even mention in US corporate news).
What's your opinion? No, don't write it here, write it here! You may disagree with me and with ANSWER (Act Now To Stop War And End Racism), but that's okay - make your voice heard!!! The real problem right now is that so many people are afraid to speak up, are told to simply sit back and let 'top men' take care of the problems. Maybe getting people to take control of their representatives and get more involved with their communities will not create exactly the USA that I want, but it will make us a better country, of that I am sure.
So here's your chance - Do you think that we should be giving $15 million dollars a day to Israel? Do you think that the UN should be allowed to send food to starving children in Gaza? Write your representatives and tell them!
And then if you have the time, paste a copy of it here afterwards. :^)