Speech Emmet Allen

“I believe in life. I believe in human beings. I am the enemy of anything that deprives anyone of life.” These words by writer and pacifist Kenneth Patchen are as important in reference to current affairs in the Middle East today as they were to the atrocities of the Third Reich. Because of the moral importance of the preservation of human life, we must consider the best approach for our nation to take in regard to human rights abuses internationally.  

Currently, United States spending to aid Israel is quite substantial. This money is given in the form of grants that are claimed to benefit Israeli society, but can actually hinder development because of the strings attached. The money must be spent on American weapons, and it is estimated that because of the rise in acquisition costs, the grants actually cost the Israeli people up to 600 million dollars.

There are three main reasons that the current spending is unacceptable.

First, the money coming from the U.S. is often used in pursuit of violence in the region that is entirely unnecessary.

Second, Israel’s current actions are in direct violation of international laws that the U.S. supports.

And lastly, Israel is entirely capable of supporting itself without aid.

According to Amnesty International on August 4, 2014, since July 8 of this year 1400 Palestinians have been killed. This includes at least 252 children.

While there are very real threats for the safety of Israeli citizens, current initiatives are doing nothing to protect them. The people really being targeted by “counter-terrorism” are innocent civilians of the Gaza strip, not those affiliated with organizations such as Hamas. Indiscriminate bombings and overly enthusiastic displays of military power do nothing to defend against attacks, they only succeed in further loss of life, injury, and destruction.

The next issue to discuss is the blatant disregard for international law that has been illustrated repeatedly.

A January 31, 2013 article published by the New York Times discusses the issue.

The Geneva Conventions, which the United States fully supports, prohibit the transfer of civilian populations into occupied territory.

Israeli citizens have been incentivized to buy property in such territories, and have thus shown the lack of authority they find in these laws.

International laws such as those laid out in the Geneva Conventions are not made so that countries can choose which best suit their interest; the agreements made must be upheld and any action that the U.S. government takes to help in the violation of these laws works directly against its own interests.

Many argue that these problems are necessary in order preserve Israel’s economy and military dominance, which leads to my next point regarding Israel’s complete ability to defend itself.

David Bandow of the CATO Institute has discussed this issue in detail. The fact of the matter is that Israel has a powerful economy that is largely driven by its hi-tech sector. It is not economically weak and is in fact the most powerful military entity in its region. There are minor problems in the economy, but in relation to those of the United States they are very insignificant.

Because of the violence done by the Israeli military without justifiable goals, the disregard for international law, and the lack of necessity for US dollars, it is clear that funding should cease.

Bibliography

Life in Occupied Palestine: Eyewitness Stories and Photos, Anna Baltzer, CJME, 2005, film.

Israel/OPT: International Criminal Court key to breaking cycle of injustice for war crimes, Amnesty International, August 14, 2014. Web.

 

Cumming-Bruce, Nick. “U.N. Panel Says Israeli Settlement Policy Violates Law” The New York Times.  Print. January 31, 2013.

Bondow, Doug. “The Case for Ending Aid to Israel.” CATO Institute. Web. June 5, 2012.

Stringer. Smoke and flames are seen following what police said was an Israeli air strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. 2014. The Nation. Web. July 9, 2014.