[R-G] Action: Bush Increases Military Aid to Israel, Conf. Call 2-19

[james m nordlund]

Take Action: Bush Increases Military Aid to Israel
Conference Call, February 19, 9PM Eastern

President Bush wants to spend your tax dollars wisely.  Or so he claims.
In his State of the Union address on Jan. 28, Bush stated that "Just as we
trust Americans with their own money, we need to earn their trust by
spending their tax dollars wisely. Next week, I'll send you a budget that
terminates or substantially reduces 151 wasteful or bloated programs".

However, Bush' FY2009 budget request to Congress includes $2.55 billion in
military aid to Israel , a 9% increase over actual spending in FY2007. 
This increase in military aid is the first installment of a ten-year plan,
signed by Israel and the United States in August, to increase military aid
to Israel by 25%, totaling $30 billion over the next decade.
 
Since the deal was signed, you've sent more than 16,000 letters to the
President and your Members of Congress opposing this military aid.  To
send your letter today, click here.  

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/641/t/2439/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=22890

Not only is military aid to Israel a "wasteful or bloated" program in
Bush's language; it's also illegal and immoral.  It's illegal because
Israel uses this military aid in violation of the Arms Export Control Act
and Foreign Assistance Act to commit human rights violations of
Palestinians through its brutal military occupation and siege of the West
Bank, East Jerusalem , and Gaza Strip.  It's immoral because the Israeli
siege and occupation of Palestinians—and the humanitarian crises they
are causing—are enforced with U.S. weapons, making every single U.S.
taxpayer an accessory to Israel's crimes.

Rather than giving Israel military aid to continue its human rights
violations of Palestinians, can you think of a better way for the
President and Congress to spend $30 billion of your taxes over the next
decade?  If so, let them know by clicking here.

Even though Bush's budget request includes an increase in military aid to
Israel , the fight is far from over.  The US Campaign will be challenging
this military aid to Israel throughout the year and at every stage of the
appropriations process.  

To learn more about this year's military aid request to Israel and how you
can join the US Campaign to organize in your community to oppose military
aid to Israel , please join us for a special telephone briefing with Josh
Ruebner, National Advocacy Director, on Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 9PM Eastern. 
To RSVP and get the call-in information, please send an email to
congress at endtheoccupation.org.    

Stay tuned for future alerts and don't forget to send your message today
by clicking here.

http://endtheoccupation.org/index.php

US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation


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