Israel vs. Hamas

In any conflict there are at least two sides but the most important element is the truth.  Getting to the truth can only be achieved when one knows the facts.  In the present state of unrest between Israel and Hamas, the facts do not seem to be important.

Last month three Israeli teenagers were abducted and executed.  Without any evidence to support their claim, Israel accused Hamas.  Hamas has denied involvement but that fell on deaf ears.  When the bodies of the victims were found, Israeli citizens retaliated by kidnapping a Palestinian teenager and setting him on fire.  They burned him to death.  The perpetrators of this crime were apprehended but it is extremely doubtful that they will receive proper punishment for their crime, given that their victim was a Palestinian.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) though now known only as the Islamic State has apparently claimed responsibility for the initial abduction of the Israeli's.  ISIL is a jihadist militant group that grew out of Al-Qaeda.  They are not Hamas, they are not connected to Hamas and Hamas does not exert any control over them.  Yet, Benjamin Netanyahu continues to blame Hamas, even though he apparently knows that Hamas was not involved.

When Israel killed an innocent Palestinian youth, the Palestinians had a right to defend themselves.  They did so with rocket strikes against Israel.  Israel has retaliated with airstrikes against Palestine.  This must be put in perspective.  Palestine has launched over 800 rockets and killed no one.  Israel has struck over 1,300 times and killed nearly 200.  The vast majority of the casualties are civilians.  Israel knows this.  Israel does not care.

All Americans should be aware of what is going on in Israel.  United States Foreign Aid to Israel makes up more than half of the foreign aid to the entire world.  We give more money to Israel than to any other country but we get nothing in return.  Israel is not an oil-producing nation, so they do not supply us with oil.  In two wars that the United States started (Iran and Afghanistan), Israel has not supplied any military assistance.  We get nothing for the money we spend.

The Arms Export Control Act states that the United States may stop aid to countries which use U.S. military assistance for purposes other than “legitimate self-defense.”  Palestine has a right to retaliate when Israel burns one of their children alive.  Israel cannot correctly call their current actions against Palestine "self-defense."  As such, the United States should immediately withdraw all military assistance from Israel until such time as Israel agrees to enter into peaceful negotiations with Palestine.  Such negotiations must include an immediate cease-fire, releasing Palestinians held as prisoners without the benefit of due process and returning land illegally seized from Palestine since the agreement of the borders in 1967.

Israel is killing innocent Palestinians and the United States is supporting that effort.  When will the people of this great nation stand up for those who are being oppressed by our allies?