U.S increases funding of Israeli terror
Byrnzie
Posts: 21,037
Sunday, 29 July 2007, 10:54 GMT 11:54 UK
Israel hails US military aid rise
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has confirmed that the United States is planning a significant increase in military and defence aid to Israel.
The package would reportedly amount to more than $30bn (£14.8bn) over the next 10 years.
Mr Olmert described it as an important element for the security of Israel.
Washington is reportedly preparing a package of major arms sales to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states because of concerns over Iran's nuclear programme.
US defence aid to Israel currently stands at $2.4bn a year - the new package would amount to a 25% increase.
Mr Olmert said the aid had been agreed at a meeting with US President George W Bush in Washington last month.
The BBC's Bethany Bell in Jerusalem says the package is seen as an attempt to allay Israeli concerns over the planned arms deal with Saudi Arabia, reportedly worth $20bn (£9.8bn) over the next decade.
Defence officials quoted by US media said the sales would include advanced weaponry, missile guidance systems, upgraded fighter jets and naval ships.
Mr Olmert said the increased support was a sign of US commitment to maintain Israel's military "advantage over the Arab states".
"We understand the need of the US to assist the moderate Arab states which are in one front with the US and us in the fight against Iran, and on the other hand we appreciate the renewed and re-emphasised support for Israel's military and security advantage," he said.
Israel hails US military aid rise
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has confirmed that the United States is planning a significant increase in military and defence aid to Israel.
The package would reportedly amount to more than $30bn (£14.8bn) over the next 10 years.
Mr Olmert described it as an important element for the security of Israel.
Washington is reportedly preparing a package of major arms sales to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states because of concerns over Iran's nuclear programme.
US defence aid to Israel currently stands at $2.4bn a year - the new package would amount to a 25% increase.
Mr Olmert said the aid had been agreed at a meeting with US President George W Bush in Washington last month.
The BBC's Bethany Bell in Jerusalem says the package is seen as an attempt to allay Israeli concerns over the planned arms deal with Saudi Arabia, reportedly worth $20bn (£9.8bn) over the next decade.
Defence officials quoted by US media said the sales would include advanced weaponry, missile guidance systems, upgraded fighter jets and naval ships.
Mr Olmert said the increased support was a sign of US commitment to maintain Israel's military "advantage over the Arab states".
"We understand the need of the US to assist the moderate Arab states which are in one front with the US and us in the fight against Iran, and on the other hand we appreciate the renewed and re-emphasised support for Israel's military and security advantage," he said.
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The US is to spend billions of dollars on military assistance for allies in the Middle East, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has confirmed.
Israel is to receive $30bn (£15bn) in aid over the next 10 years, and Egypt $13bn (£6.5). Deals are being discussed with Saudi Arabia and more Gulf states.
Ms Rice said the assistance was needed to counter influences from Iran, Syria, and regional militant groups.
She is embarking a tour of the region with Defence Secretary Robert Gates.
They will visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt together and other countries separately.
Ms Rice said the US administration was starting discussions with Egypt about the $13bn military assistance deal.
She said it would strengthen Egypt's ability to "address shared strategic goals".
The $30bn aid to Israel over 10 years represents a 25% increase from present levels.
In Saudi Arabia, Ms Rice and Mr Gates are expected to ask Saudi King Abdullah for greater cooperation on Iraq.
"We are helping to strengthen the defensive capabilities of our partners and we plan to initiate discussions with Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states on a proposed package of military technologies that will help support their ability to secure peace and stability in the Gulf region," Ms Rice said in a statement.
But the deals need to be approved by Congress, and appear set to encounter opposition.
Two Democratic congressmen, Anthony Weiner and Jerrold Nadler of New York, said on Sunday they would introduce legislation to block military aid to Saudi Arabia.
"Saudi Arabia should not get an ounce of military support from the US until they unequivocally denounce terrorism and take tangible steps to prevent it," Mr Weiner said at a news conference.
The congressmen pointed out that 15 out of 19 hijackers who carried out the 11 September 2001 attacks were Saudi nationals.
On Sunday US Ambassador at the UN Zalmay Khalilzad accused Saudi Arabia of undermining efforts to stabilise Iraq.
Whether or not "terrorists" are really behind this makes no difference. The plan is to move in, stay forever, and take the place over.
This is why I think we will not move away from using oil until it's gone. In order to take control of the middle east we all need to use/sell, and make insane money from, lots and lots of oil, so that more weapons can be made (which uses more oil) to continue the little military game, and the process happily feeds itself. I'm starting to really see it all as a war of ideologies (i.e. religion and race).
Seed it, start it, and keep feeding it.
We could have moved off oil by leaps and bounds years ago.
Alternative energy is being murdered from above.
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg
(\__/)
( o.O)
(")_(")
Iran 'biggest threat to Mid-East'
Ms Rice says Iran, not the US is the region's main problem
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has warned that Iran poses the biggest threat to US Middle East interests, as she begins a major regional tour.
Ms Rice and US Defence Secretary Robert Gates are meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Arab ministers at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
The meeting comes after Washington confirmed plans for a massive arms deal for the region.
The tour is aimed at uniting US allies against Iran, Syria and Hezbollah.
Ms Rice denied Iranian claims that US policies were spreading fear in the Middle East.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini had accused the US of tarnishing good relations between countries of the region.
Iran's nuclear programme and influence among Shia Muslim militant groups have long been sources of US concern.
During a stop-over in Shannon, Ireland, Ms Rice told reporters: "There isn't a doubt, I think, that Iran constitutes the single most important, single-country challenge to... US interests in the Middle East and to the kind of Middle East that we want to see."
The trip is the two officials' first joint tour of the region.
They will visit Egypt and Saudi Arabia together, and other countries separately.
Mr Gates told reporters travelling with him that US officials wanted "to reassure all of the countries that the policies that (US President George W Bush) pursues in Iraq have had and will continue to have regional stability and security as a very high priority".
The main beneficiaries of the deals are Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
The $30bn aid to Israel over 10 years represents a 25% increase from present levels.
US ARMS DEAL BENEFICIARIES
Israel - $30bn
Egypt - $13bn
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and UAE - to share $20bn
The Jewish state said the package would allow it to maintain its military "qualitative edge" in the region.
The sale of satellite-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia, the first such sale to any Arab country, is thought to be part of the proposed $20bn arms deal with the kingdom and give other Gulf states - the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.
During their lobbying tour of the region, Ms Rice and Mr Gates are expected to ask Saudi King Abdullah to do more to support the Iraqi government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.
The US ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, has gone as far as accusing Saudi Arabia of undermining efforts to stabilise Iraq.
The weapons deals need to be approved by Congress, and appear set to encounter opposition.
Two Democratic congressmen, Anthony Weiner and Jerrold Nadler of New York, said at the weekend they would introduce legislation to block military aid to Saudi Arabia.
I don't think the U.S. has a real interest in having a completely stable middle-east, and for several reasons: it allows them to perpetually say they need a military presence in he region b/c of what might happen. It allows them to continually prop up Israel and give them outrageous amounts of money in the name of "protecting themselves". It allows them to make money on arms sales. etc..
Take Action: Oppose $30 Billion Military Aid Package to Israel
Dear Steven,
Recent media reports suggest that the United States and Israel will sign in August a ten-year agreement for $30 billion in U.S. military aid to Israel. Full details of the package have yet to emerge; however, it is reported to include a new generation of F-35 fighter jets, advanced bombs, and laser-guided missiles.
This military aid package, amounting to $3 billion per year, represents a 25% increase over the current U.S. annual military aid appropriation to Israel of $2.4 billion. Israel is already the largest recipient of U.S. military aid before the proposed increase.
The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation opposes this proposed increase in military aid to Israel. Instead of increasing military aid to Israel, the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation calls on the Bush Administration and Congress to sanction Israel by cutting off military aid to it for its continued violations of the U.S. Arms Export Control Act and U.S. Foreign Assistance Acts.
Take action today and send a similar message to your elected officials by clicking here.
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/uscampaign/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=12265
The U.S. Arms Export Control Act prohibits foreign countries from using U.S. weapons against civilians or civilian infrastructure and limits their use to “legitimate self-defense” or for “internal security.” The U.S. Foreign Assistance Act states that "No assistance may be provided under this part [of the law] to the government of any country which engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights”.
Rather than use U.S. military aid for “legitimate self-defense” or “internal security”, Israel relies upon it to prosecute its illegal 40-year old foreign military occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip. “Gross violations of internationally recognized human rights” against Palestinians living under Israel’s illegal military occupation have been well-documented by numerous Palestinian, Israeli, U.S., and international human rights organizations, as well as by the U.S. government.
During Israel’s attacks last summer upon civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation documented many instances of Israel using U.S. weapons in violation of U.S. law and demanded that the Bush Administration and Congress hold Israel accountable for these violations of law. For additional details, click here.
Thanks in part to your demand for accountability, the State Department in January 2007 sent a top-secret report to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senator Joe Biden, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, claiming that Israel may have violated the U.S. Arms Export Control Act by indiscriminately dropping cluster munitions in civilian areas in Lebanon during last year’s war. A final report with definitive conclusions has not yet been issued.
The Bush Administration and Congress make a mockery of the rule of law by supporting an increase in military aid to Israel even before the government’s own investigation of Israel’s prior violations of the U.S. Arms Export Control is completed.
Please take a moment to contact your elected representatives today and urge them to oppose an increase in military aid to Israel and to sanction Israel by cutting off military aid for its prior violations of U.S. law. Click here to send your message.
It was this same apathy that caused Americans to be surprised when 9/11 happened.
When the next one comes, make sure and remind yourselves that your Government of liars and murderers sowed the seeds of it this week.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
The Palestinian occupation is a huge mistake I agree but its not like there isn't violence on both sides that gives a slimmer of reason for the other side to continue their stubbornness/escalation. It's the worst kind of chicken and the egg and no one is man enough over there to say we won't retaliate, we'll cut you some slack. And when they do, boom rockets land in someones back yard.
Can you even tell which side I'm talking about? You shouldn't be able to.
http://www.fightingthesuburbs.com
"Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and UAE - to share $20bn"
The whole world is nuts.
http://www.fightingthesuburbs.com
Please give me one example of when Israel cut the Palestinians some slack?
The Palestinians would be living the life right now if Arafat had taken that deal. They would have their own state etc. if not for Old Jerusalem and whats that other thing they want...oh yeah all Jews out of Israel.
Um...let's see Israel pulled out of the gaza strip and took their settlers out not too long ago...
I'm not saying they haven't made PLENTY of mistakes (that stupid barrier wall) but there have been legitimate attempts.
The stupidest part is most of the population on both sides really don't dislike each other like the radicals do, they just don't want to keep getting blown up. It's the people in power and the terrorists that keep this going.
http://www.fightingthesuburbs.com
You're referring to proposals put forward at camp David. If you look into the details of those proposals then you'll see that they were a disgrace. The Palestinians were offered nothing but some Apartheid bantustan style reservations separated from one another, with Israel controlling all checkpoints, sea, andair space.
There was a partial withdrawal from the Gaza strip whilst they continued settlement expansion elsewhere. They then returned to the gaza strip after about 2 months.
Bah...you have your ideas you won't listen to anyone. It's all black and white.
sorry to speak. You should be sec of state. So Hamas has no guilt or blame by you?
your solution would be? I think I know.
http://www.fightingthesuburbs.com
can i use that as my signature,...?
~Ron Burgundy
yes you may.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
no doubt
he had a voice that was strong and loud and
i swallowed his facade cos i'm so
eager to identify with
someone above the crowd
someone who seemed to feel the same
someone prepared to lead the way
These aren't ideas. They're facts.
My solution would be for Israel to abide by international law and withdraw from the occupied territories.
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/oPt.html
he had a voice that was strong and loud and
i swallowed his facade cos i'm so
eager to identify with
someone above the crowd
someone who seemed to feel the same
someone prepared to lead the way
http://www.fightingthesuburbs.com
Who knows what will happen if Israel withdraws to the 1967 borders? And if attacks continue then they can be dealt with. The U.S and Israel have blocked every effort at a two state solution for the past 40 years and have also rejected an international peace keeping being sent in to protect the borders. There's a reason for this. The U.S and Israel have no interest in a peaceful settlement, or in complying with the over 60 U.N resolutions that Israel is currently in breach of. They just want more and more land, and more of an excuse to keep the arms dealers happy.